Boy are the Sparks flying over my two football teams I follow most. My alma mater, North Carolina and my hometown, favorite, the LSU Tigers. major meltdowns at both schools with the programs in disarray, and football coaches with their backs against the wall. One fired, and one that should be fired. And can you...Read More

Wisdom! A thief tried to steal the paintings at the Louvre in Paris. He was caught two blocks away when he ran out of gas. He said:” I had no Monet to buy Degas to make the Van Gogh. But I tried because I had nothing Toulouse.”  Read More

Monday, November 3rd, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana THERE’S A MELTDOWN AT LSU AND CHAPEL HILL! I’m getting deluged with calls, texts and emails. What the heck is going on with my two favorite teams in college football? Of course they’re talking about the deluge of criticism taking place at LSU and the University of North...Read More

The terror of the  Ku Klux Klan were brought back to life this week in Baton Rouge at a special ceremony honoring Concordia Sentinel reporter Stanley Nelson.  Stanley did more to avail unsolved murders of the Klan than the FBI.  He was a dogged reporter that wrote two books and exposed a number murders in...Read More

Monday, October 27th, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana STANLEY NELSON-ONE OF LOUISIANA’S BEST! A Pulitzer Prize nominee, one of Louisiana’s best and brightest, was honored this week in Baton Rouge at the Old State Capital. His name was Stanley Nelson, and he was a journalistic giant in rooting out the Ku Klux Klan activity in Louisiana....Read More

My favorite city has been in turmoil. If you can’t love New Orleans you can’t love life. But it’s been on the down spiral for a number of years. A good title is “the City that Care Forgot.” Many public officials in New Orleans just don’t give a damn.  The present mayor has been indicted...Read More

Halloween is right around the corner. Quite a pumpkin patch onus at  my home up in the mountains of North Carolina. I’ve gotta start getting my costume ready, right?Read More

Monday, October 20, 2025. Baton Rouge, Louisiana NEW ORLEANS GETS A SECOND CHANCE!  For those who do not live in the deepest of the deep southern states, you may not realize that New Orleans, the Queen city of the South, has been under siege. No, not from hurricanes. The siege has been from within. New...Read More

As we get older, we like to look back. Evaluate. Think of changes we could’ve should’ve.   Sure I would’ve done lots of things differently. But Ive led a good life and I want to tell all my readers about it. I’ve written the column this week, thinking a little about the past mistakes, but...Read More

October 13th, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  WE CAN LEARN ABOUT A FULL LIFE FROM OUR FAILURES! Every now and then we reassess our lives. Especially when you get up an age like me. Hey, I’ve had a good life. But there have been my share of bumps in the road.  The key is do we...Read More

I was up in both New Hampshire and the North Carolina mountains last week. What a wonderful time to see the changing of the leaves. We get nothing like this in the deep South, but it’s really breathtaking. Almost like a painter goes out of paint every leaf a different color. If you never been...Read More

My longtime friend, Louis Lambert, will be buried this week. We started off together back to the 1970s and we were both young Louisiana state senators. Louis, second from right, played with me on the Senate basketball team.(others are yours truly on the far left, Bob Jones and Mike Charles, Bill Dykes from Greensburg, Lois...Read More

You may have never heard of this guy, James Colby, but he was the FBI Director, and a top justice department official for years. And he got indicted last week. Good or bad? I’m not sure, but I can tell you this. Comey was no friend of Louisiana. He ruined an LSU professor’s life without...Read More

Monday, October 3rd, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana COMEY ALLOWED INJUSTICE IN LOUISIANA! Former FBI, Director James Comey was indicted last week for lying to Congress. Some say Comey’s indictment was payback for his continuing criticism of President Trump. I’m not sure in reading the facts, but I could tell you from my research that Comey...Read More

If you live down and might part of the country, only a gun is way of life. Mostly rivals and shotguns, but more and more pistols. Areas, you have them for self protection. But there seems to be more and more shootings and the question comes up, should you have gun insurance? I write about...Read More

  To listen to new podcast by Jim and Rannah on the terrible consequences of money going to athletes, go to www.datelinelouisiana.com.Read More

Monday, September 29th, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  NEED TO BUY GUN INSURANCE? There is a big push now by insurance companies sell you insurance in case you shoot somebody. Not that far affect it if you look at all the shootings taking place in the news.  So have you purchased your gun insurance yet?  In...Read More

Novaelist Walker Percy could well be the greatest  novelist ever to come out of Louisiana. He is recognized as the nation’s premier Catholic writer. His novels were legendary covering so many topics that affect each one of us in today’s world, and I read them all. He  had a great influence of my early writings...Read More

Was there a bigger charismatic movie star than Robert Redford? Fans like me didn’t care about the story he played in. It was Redford! Whatever the movie, there was something you just had to see. And there were many really big ones. Of course “Butch Cassidy and the Sun Dance Kid.”  But there were so...Read More

September 22ed, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana WALKER PERCY’S IMPACT ON LOUISIANA! Many readers who love Louisiana literature will gather this weekend in St. Francisville to celebrate the live and works of novelist Walker Percy. He was, to me, a literary icon who spent most of his life in Louisiana. Many consider him to be America’s...Read More

9/11. Do you remember? It’s been 24 years, and many Americans weren’t even born the.  But this date in in infamy became a demarcation line for America’s fight against terrorism. Many of us were glued to the TV. To hear my personal experience of just what happened on this terrible day, read my new column....Read More

Monday, September 15th, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana THAT FRANTIC 9/11 DAY! I have watched through a window a world that has fallen. – W. H. Auden It has been twenty four years since terrorists attacked the Twinn Towers in New York City. I was there last week to commemorate this terrible event in America’s history....Read More

Well, now we have the President saying that there should be a major revision in our election process. Actually, boating on election day.y makes good sense. Something special about gathering up the kids, and heading to your polling location. There certainly should be exceptions for those in the military, those who are handicapped, and public...Read More

Monday, September 8th, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana CURTAILING ELECTION FRAUD IN LOUISIANA!  Paper ballots and limited absentee balloting in our election?  That’s what the president is calling for. Does he have a point? The overwhelming majority of democratic countries require paper ballots in their elections. According to the Pew Research Center, paper ballot are used...Read More

September 1st, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana ATTACKING CRIME IN LOUISIANA! President Trump is suggesting that the national guard could be used in additional American cities besides the nation’s capital, and has included New Orleans on his list. I have no problem with this, but we need to do a lot more on our own here...Read More

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It’s hard to believe it’s been that long ago. Twenty years has passed, since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. No one had any idea what would happen in the aftermath. When the hurricane hit, it did not look that bad. But we were surprised for the worst.  So many of us down in my part...Read More

August 16th, 2025 New Orleans, Louisiana Twenty Years Ago Katrina Tried To Wash Us Away! Just as most Americans remember where they were on 9/11, those of us living on the Gulf Coast remember the fear and concern that enveloped our region twenty years ago on August 29th.. A lady named Katrina changed many of our...Read More

What do old guys like me do when they start to slow down a bit. Actually, I’m only 85 so I have a long way to go. But I have started a new hobby. I paint and also work with ceramics. My only regret is I did not start painting and making pottery long ago....Read More

The world’s best watched and listen edto in the world. His name is Jimmy Swaggart, and he was from my hometown in Ferriday, Louisiana. Brother Swaggart, (Pentecostal ministers and their flock called each other, Brother), passed away recently, and the press did a number of stories about my relationship with him.  When he died, I...Read More

Wednesday, July 2ed, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana REMEMBERING BROTHER JIMMY SWAGGART! Fifty Eight years. That’s how long ago it’s been since Brother Jimmy Swaggart’s father, also a minister, came into my small Ferriday law office where I was a sole practitioner, and asked me to incorporate his church.  He told me about his son who...Read More

Hard getting the Brown family together since we are spread out all over the country. But we did have a great time over the Memorial weekend with kids and grandkids gathering in Baton Rouge.  Read More

 I’ve decided to slow down a bit and smell the roses. You may not know it, but I’ve been writing a weekly column for some eighty newspapers and websites in Louisiana for over 20 years. That’s a lot of shooting my mouth off and sharing my opinions. It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve...Read More

A Sunday luncheon with my two grandsons at Antoine’s restaurant in New Orleans. James Harvey Brown the fourth (Ruger), on the left, celebrated his first communion at St. Rita’s Catholic Church.Read More

Monday, May 5th, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana JIM BROWN-TIME TO RETIRE! What’s the saying? All good things must come to an end?  We experience a number of “lasts.” In the secular world, I recall The Last Picture Show, the Last of the Mohicans, The Last Samurai.  In the religious world, Christianity says there are four last...Read More

There’s heavy floods coming down the Mississippi river from throughout the Midwest. All the snow that is taking place is created the potential for some heavy flooding. And it all heads right down towards Louisiana. Flood control protections in Louisiana, including the Bonnie Care spillway are about to kick off and put in place. So...Read More

Monday, April 28, 2025. Baton Rouge, Louisiana FLOOD CONTROL HINDERED BY LEVEE BOARDS? Louisiana’s Governor has proposed the he institute a new policy that  would strip levee districts in Louisiana off their autonomy. Board members of several large levee boards are crying foul, and charge that flood protection will suffer and emergency responses will slow...Read More

A number of legislatures in the south are dealing with high automobile insurance rates. Louisiana is at the very top. But our these legislatures on the right track in finding ways to lower the cost of insurance? Some areas they could make a difference or being ignored. I write about money and politics in this...Read More

Monday, April 14th, 2025  Baton Rouge, Louisiana CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND LA JUDGES! Is Louisiana a judicial hellhole where decisions by state judges are influenced by campaign contributions?  Apparently, the Louisiana legislature and business lobbying groups think so. In recent legislative sessions, laws were passed taking away the authority of state judges to make decisions involving small...Read More

If you live in Louisiana, you are either Catholic or surrounded by many Catholic friends. There are so many wonderful things about the Catholic Church, and such a large number of Catholic priests and Catholic laymen  who have given their lives in bringing? The spirit of the Lord in their influencing of so many church...Read More

Thursday, April 7th, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana LOUISIANA AND THE TURMOIL IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH! We all know that there is a crisis in the Catholic Church right now. Allegations of sexually abusive clergy are pouring in worldwide.  Unfortunately, the roots of this terrible tragedy engulfing the Catholic Church have strong ties to the Bayou Sate.  Here’s...Read More

We so often fail to recognize real commitment and special talents when it comes to public officials. They leave office, pass on, we only hope that those who take their place show the same abilities. United States Senator Bennett Johnson was a very special case. He had the ability to work with elected officials from...Read More

To listen to latest podcast, go to www.datelinelouisiana.com.Read More

Monday, March 31, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana BENNETT JOHNSTON-A SPECIAL POLITICIAN! As is the case in just about any profession, you will find members who are either work horses, or show horses. That is certainly true with those who go into the field of politics. Particularly those coming from the state of Louisiana. If you...Read More

The death penalty was rendered operative  recently.  Louisian’s current governor is pushing aggressively for a number of new death penalty sentences to be imposed. I was in public life in Louisiana for 28 years, but I never witnessed a death penalty decree, even though I was invited to witness such a punishment on a number...Read More

Monday, March 24th, 2025  Baton Rouge, Louisiana LIVING AND DYING IN LOUISIANA!  It’s been a number of years since the death penalty was carried out in Louisiana. A vicious rapist and killer, a fellow named Jesse Hoffman, was put to death at Angola State prison just two weeks ago. I can look back 21 years...Read More

Every year, Louisiana voters seem to be facing new constitutional amendments. Yes, our current constitution is 50 years old and needs some updating. But take it to the voters? Most voters don’t even know what they’re voting on. And our current constitution gets bigger and bigger. How about a new one? That’s the focus of...Read More

A nice turn out for my talk on my latest book Jesus, Jews, Jihad  and Me last week at the Country Club of Louisiana. Also picture below with me is Missy Couhig, owner of the Cundrum bookstore  in Saint Francisville, who who coordinated my talk to this group.Read More

Monday, March 17th, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana THE CASE FOR A NEW LOUISIANA CONSTITUTION! Here we go again. Voters will soon be asked to consider changing the state constitution. Every time Louisiana has an election, it seems like  there is an effort to change what is one of the longest constitutions of any state in...Read More

The president has called for English to be the official language of America. Many people assume it already is. So how does the country deal with so many immigrants coming into the country, and what is the obligation of both the nation and each state to supply governmental materials in languages other than English? I...Read More

  Springtime means books festivals across the country, and The Lisburn Press is generally in attendance to show its numerous publications. We plan to be in attendance in New York next month for the New York International Book Fair. A number of book fair stops are planned for the summer months and in to the...Read More

Monday, March 10th, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana MUST WE ALL SPEAK ENGLISH IN AMERICA? Should America have one official language-English? The President says yes, and asserts that a single shared language “is the core of a unified, cohesive society that serves to streamline communication and empowers new citizens to achieve the American dream.” Who could...Read More

  So the President want to change every reference to the Gulf Coast from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of Louisiana. And it has stirred up a hornet’s nest. A question is, will a name change really berelevant to people’s views of the Gulf on the East Coast or the West Coast? What...Read More

March 3rd, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana SO CALL IT THE GULF OF WHAT? Our new president has stirred up a hornet’s nest by declaring that we no longer have a Gulf of Mexico. From now on, all government references will be to a Gulf of America. I grew up along the gulf coast, spending just...Read More

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Remember when you were a kid, iƒ by chance a swear word came out of your mouth, your mama would wash your mouth out with soap?  Soap bars would fly off the grocery store if such a practice took place today. It seems like every conversation I have, the use of vulgar swearwords are unfortunately...Read More

Monday, February. 24th, 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana WHY SO MUCH VULGER AND CRUDE LANGUAGE IN LOUISIANA? It would seem that the use uncouth swear words have become a way of description throughout the Bayou State, as well as across the country, from the President on down in recent years. The routine use of words that are...Read More

WOW, was it ever a fun show this past Saturday night as old friend Steve Judice was honored in Baton Rouge at the Red Dragon musical listening room. Steve is one of the best country and folk singers and songwriters in the deep South. A dozen artists played their favorite songs written by Steve and...Read More

Looks like our new Prez has an opinion on just about everything.  Recently, he weighed in on the Civil War. Quite frankly, he may have a point about whether or not the war should have taken place. Could cooler heads have worked out a solution without having over 1 million people be killed? I write...Read More

Now look folks. You cannot expect me to work all the time. Below is the picture from my recent visit to St. John in the Virgin Islands with my college roommate, Bill Weinberg, and his wife Lois.  If you want to just “chill out, what better place than in  these laid  back Islands. I’ll see...Read More

Monday, February 17th, 2025 Baton Rouge Louisiana PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE CIVIL WAR! A number of former Presidents are being honored this week, as several new books have been released detailing actions of President Lincoln during the Civil War. President Donald Trump continues to express his opinion on virtually every subject involving America, both past...Read More