Candidates and campaigners work the polling site at Rogers Park as a steady stream of voters arrive on election day is running for reelection during the 2023 election Randy Feldschau is running for Beaumont mayor Jude Paradez is running for Beaumont Mayor in the May 2025 election The results for Beaumont's mayoral race are in Former mayor Robin Mouton had the most votes with 39.73% Following close behind and heading to the runoff is Roy West with 30.29% of the votes Candidate Randy Feldschau was close behind with 27.69% of the votes or 3,862 ballots; Christopher Jones had 1.91% of the votes or 267 ballots; and Jude Paradez had 0.38% of the votes "I feel good because the people asked me to run," Mouton said "They came out and it's showing the work that we put in." Mouton said she believes her proven leadership and the lack of a female presence on the council helped her prevail "Nobody will outwork me," Mouton said "An opponent is an opponent," Mouton said a plan for the homeless and growing the city’s population which includes working on expanding downtown She said she is thankful to everyone for having confidence in her West, the incumbent mayor, is running for his second term. West advocates for public safety and recently stated that he doesn’t believe the city has a budget deficit He said that he thinks his work on the real time crime center no camping ordinance and adding more ambulances to the street resonated with voters "I feel like we're in a good spot," West said "I'm about the next two years and the work that will get done and I'm excited about the opportunity to earn votes on June 7." and his platform hasn't changed from his last campaign who was an at-large council member for six years said he isn't done serving the community despite not advancing to the runoff "I ran hard and smart," Feldschau said "I left it with the people and have no regrets the president of the Charlton Pollard Neighborhood Association said he was disappointed by the voter turnout and turnout demographics Jones said the 45-and-under age group did not turn out en mass "There is more engagement that needs to happen," Jones said Jones said he will continue working in his community and advocating for the citizens of Beaumont Neither Feldschau or Jones are endorsing other candidates at this time The final candidate was recurring mayoral candidate Paradez Paradez didn't support the impending bond election and said that he wanted the police department to be steroid tested after incidents Tessa NobleBusiness and Government ReporterTessa Noble is the Business and Government Reporter for the Beaumont Enterprise. Noble has over three years of journalism experience, a degree in communications from the University of Alabama and several journalism awards in public service and investigative reporting. Mayor: Run-off between Mouton and West.Councilmember At-Large: Turner and Williams Ward 1: CrenshawWard 2: HilliardWard:3 Sherwood Beaumont — Beaumont police are actively searching for three gunmen involved in a double shooting at the Starcrest Apartments, located at 3255 Elmira. The incident occurred late Thursday night, leaving one victim critically injured and another treated and released from the hospital. The investigation began at 11:10 p.m. when a 911 call reported a shooting victim at the apartment complex. Officers arrived to find a victim with a gunshot wound to the neck. Beaumont Police Department officers administered life-saving measures until emergency medical services arrived. The victim was then transported to a local hospital and later flown by medical helicopter to a Houston hospital for further treatment. A second victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, arrived at a hospital by private vehicle and was treated and released. Video surveillance from the area captured a vehicle pulling up to the apartment complex, with three suspects exiting and opening fire. A witness, who declined to be on camera, said his uncle and brother were visiting him at the complex when all three men were caught in the gunfire. The witness said his uncle, who had recently beaten cancer, was struck in the neck and ran to his unit but was unable to get inside. Neighbors carried him upstairs to safety. The witness, who was unharmed, believes the shooting was a random act of violence and not targeted. Authorities urge anyone with information about the incident to contact Beaumont Police Department at (409) 832-1234 or Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers at (409) 833-TIPS. Most local elections across the region occur on the first Saturday in May on odd-numbered years Races to WatchBeaumont Mayor Beaumont At-Large Port Arthur Mayor Port Arthur ISD Proposition 1 Port Arthur ISD Proposition 2 BeaumontPort ArthurNederlandOrangeVidorBridge CityKountzeSilsbeeHardin-JeffersonLumbertonJasperAbout the dataResults are gathered by Hearst Newspapers from local election departments Did early turnout numbers match expectations Meet the candidates running to be Beaumont's next mayor 5 things to know about Beaumont council candidates' fundraising Beaumont voters have chosen the city's next two at-large council members AJ Turner and Mike Williams were the top two vote getters and likely will be the city's next two at-large council members and Williams ended with 27.25% of the votes Samuel was behind them with 24.98% or 5,390 votes While state law would allow Samuel to request a recount he told The Enterprise he did not plan to request a recount Brian Nepveux received a total of  7.38% or 1,592 votes is the only current at-large council member who ran for another term in the seat He wanted to thank everybody in the community that supported him and hopes he gains the support of the ones who didn't "What I'm most excited about is the direction we can go in once we put our minds together is it takes us working together in order to get things done No one person can do it by themselves," said Turner Turner previously told The Enterprise that his platform is focused on economic development public safety and efficient city staff and quality of life "My goal is to accomplish all six of these goals and I challenge people to look at my website and see if I accomplish the things that I said I would in two years if the people bless me to be there again," he said RELATED: Race for Beaumont mayor is close in the top three said he thinks it's time to pass the torch and allow someone else to run for office or serve on city committees "I think that I've served my community over the past four years," the 48-year-old said "I did my best and it is time to let somebody else take the reins and give other folks the opportunity to be appointed in the positions that I was in."  Nepveux is the owner of a gold company called Aurum Nepveux is a member of Beaumont's Community Development Advisory Committee and Beaumont police's Citizen's Advisory Committee President of Caldwood Area Neighborhood Association Samuel previously told The Enterprise that his priorities include public safety and improving water and sewer drainage systems we have to have a team that's working together toward the common goal of making Beaumont a better place to live "I hope this council can continue to make progress towards making Beaumont a better place."  is the owner and operator of Longhorn Liquor and has a Bachelor's degree from Lamar University Williams is the founder of a non-profit charity event Southeast Texas Whiskey Festival and has been endorsed by the International Association of Firefighters Local 399 the Sabine Labor Council and the police union RELATED: 'Every vote counts': Beaumont voters cast their ballots on election day Williams previously told The Enterprise that three of his priorities as an at-large council member would be improving infrastructure and city services strengthening public safety and to restore the community's faith in the city of Beaumont "I want to be a person that can give every citizen a voice transparent and open to criticism," said Williams Williams was unable to be reached for comment Bianca ThomasCommunity reporterBianca Thomas is the community reporter for The Beaumont Enterprise. Get in touch with her by email at bianca.thomas  @beaumontenterprise.com. The race for the Beaumont Ward II City council seat looks to go Joey Hilliard's way as voting centers report a 116-vote upset Hilliard carried the lead after all 4,790 votes were tabulated Voting totals show Hilliard leading 51.21% of all ballots Incumbent Mike Getz followed close behind with 48.79% of ballots cast The projected winner is the founder & Chief Operating Officer of the pressure washing Hydro-Clean Services and announced his intention to run for the Ward II seat on Jan Hilliard could not be reached for comment after results came in Saturday Hilliard previously told the Enterprise he moved to Beaumont when he was 15 and graduated from West Brook High School before joining the military Hilliard said he is involved in the community as a coach for Little League baseball and football and as a member of Beaumont's Board of Adjustments a Thomas Jefferson High class of ‘74 and Lamar University class of ‘78 graduate "I will compliment him on his win but not how he ran his race." Getz declined to comment further an his opponent's conduct "It has been my honor to serve the people of Beaumont for the past 14 years," he said "I hope (Hilliard) can somehow find a way to measure up to my record of constituent responsiveness and fiscal responsibility." Postal Service and practiced law for 30 years he has worked with other council members to improve the quality of life in Ward II by establishing the Beaumont Oktoberfest festival getting a dog park and shelter at Rogers Park advocating for sidewalks along Dowlen and Amelia as well as pushing for street and water improvements around the city Mbu MaqungoBusiness reporterMbu Maqungo is the business reporter for The Beaumont Enterprise. Get in touch with him by email at mbu.maqungo@beaumontenterprise.com. Beaumont city council will discuss game rooms during a work session at its Tuesday afternoon meeting The agenda indicates council will review and discuss Article 6 but we're told council is aware of a court ruling in north Texas that now allows cities to ban game rooms Police have expressed concerns about game rooms that operate illegally and the money they generate That ruling is prompting council members in Orange to approve the first reading of a new ordinance banning game rooms and 8-liner machines Once council in Orange approves a second reading of the new rule The theft, which happened late Sunday, affected dozens of trains traveling between Madrid and Andalucia, just as many people were returning home to the capital after a holiday weekend. Spain’s railway infrastructure company ADIF said on X that the high-speed train connecting Madrid and cities in the South was expected to resume service around 9:30 a.m, from Madrid and in Seville, Malaga and Granada. Álvaro Heredia, president of Spain's state-owned rail operator Renfe, said it expected a resumption of normal schedules by mid morning in an interview with Spanish national radio broadcaster RNE. Droves of travelers crowded Madrid's Atocha station Monday seeking information about their trains from rail employees and screens with updated departure times. Renfe advised passengers to not arrive too early to avoid further crowding. By 9 a.m, Alberto Valero and his family had spent hours at the station due to train delays between Madrid and Seville, where they were headed. Valero was on vacation in Spain from Mexico, and expressed frustration about the lack of information. “We're here with tourists from everywhere — France, Portugal,” Valero said. “Everyone is at a loss for what to do because of the total disarray.” The cable theft took place at four points on the high-speed line in Toledo in central Spain, ADIF said on X. The incident came a week after a massive power outage in Spain and Portugal ground high-speed train traffic in Spain to a halt, stranding thousands of passengers for several hours. Cory Crenshaw and campaign manager Taylor Nield gather with supporters at the Grill on Calder to watch election results in the City Council Ward I race Terry Preston Roy gathers with supporters at the MCM Elegante Hotel to watch election results in the City Council Ward III race Cat Altamirano reacts as Mark Stiles relays other election results in city council races as he gathers with supporters at his home to watch election results in the City Council Ward I race Chip Roy reintroduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) with no shortage of voting suppression claims Beaumonters were decisive in choosing candidates to fill two spots without an incumbent on the Beaumont City Council replacing outgoing Council member Taylor Neild while LaDonna Sherwood will pick up the mantle in Ward III replacing outgoing Council member Audwin Samuel When reached after results came in on Saturday said he wasn't sure if he'd run for elected office again he hopes the community will unify under the new council The retired Senior Vice President of Trinity Industries planned to increase public safety employee staffing and put an emphasis on juvenile crime said he hopes Sherwood will strengthen Beaumont's infrastructure because a lack of investment could mean the city's downfall he plans to run for office again one day but for now he is taking a break "I've been doing it such a long time spend time with my wife and my grandkids," Roy said Crenshaw and Sherwood could not be reached for comment is a lawyer who previously served as a judge Jefferson County District Attorney and is endorsed by the International Association of Firefighters Local 399 Crenshaw plans to give police more resources and equipment as well as giving firefighters a "fair" contract and fully staffed department licensed childcare administrator and corporate compliance officer as well as Precinct 23 chair for the Jefferson County Democratic Party and is indorsed by the International Association of Firefighters Local 399 and the Sabine Labor Council Sherwood plans to address Beaumont public safety through transparency while also getting the youth involved to combat the juvenile crime rates Megan ZapalacPublic Safety ReporterMegan Zapalac is the public safety reporter for The Beaumont Enterprise. Get in touch with her by email at megan.zapalac@beaumontenterprise.com. (AP) — The University of Florida plans to hire school president Santa Ono away from the University of Michigan Ono was recommended as the search committee's only finalist to be considered by the board of trustees on Sunday night Ono’s proven record of academic excellence innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions made him our unanimous choice,” said Rahul Patel chair of the school's presidential search committee The school's board selects the president and the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors Ono is expected to be on campus Tuesday for a series of opportunities to connect with students “Few moments in higher education are as exciting as this one at the University of Florida,” Ono said “No other public university combines UF’s momentum its role as the flagship of one of the nation’s most important states the extraordinary support from state leaders and a shared vision across its entire community." who became the school's interim president last summer after ex-U.S to become the university’s president in 2023 Sasse announced in July he was leaving the job to focus on his family after his wife was diagnosed with epilepsy there were reports that Sasse gave six former staffers and two former Republican officials jobs with salaries that outstripped comparable positions and spent over $1.3 million on private catering for lavish dinners football tailgates and extravagant social functions in his first year on the job The amount was about double the spending of his predecessor who was brought back to head the university on a temporary basis “If I could select a dream candidate for the University’s next president ”His demonstrated record of success at the best universities and caring personality have allowed him to work effectively with faculty staff and other stakeholders everywhere he has been." the University of Michigan hired Ono after he led the University of British Columbia He previously served as president of the University of Cincinnati and senior vice provost and deputy to the provost at Emory University in Georgia equity and inclusion practices as they respond to the Trump administration’s orders against diversity practices the University of Michigan was among the first schools to make major DEI rollbacks to avoid federal scrutiny Ono had said the school will find other ways to support students including an expansion of scholarships for low-income students The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Bishop David Toups announced the resignation of Superintendent Robert Reid and a leadership transition for the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Beaumont on Thursday. Toups extends his extreme gratitude to Reid for his dedication and contributions, especially his faithful presence in the schools and the community, which has strengthened the Catholic education presence in Southeast Texas. We invite the community to join us in praying for both Robert Reid and Alison Kiker as they embark on their new journeys. May God continue to bless our schools, all our faculty and staff, and our students and their families. Campaigners for Robin Mouton’s mayoral bid chant “where the voters at” as they clap their flags while working the polling site at Theodore R Shirley Holmes holds up her Mouton for Mayor sign and waves to vehicles while working the polling site at Rogers Park as a steady stream of voters arrive on election day and campaigners work the polling site at Rogers Park as a steady stream of voters arrive on election day work the polling site at Rogers Park as a steady stream of voters arrive on election day A stream of voters make their way into the polls at Rogers Park on election day Campaign signs fill the entry of the polling site at Theodore R Campaign signs fill the entry at Rogers Park as a steady stream of voters arrive on election day Voters head in and out of the polling site at Rogers Park as a steady stream of voters arrive on election day A woman makes her way in to vote at the Theodore R Candidates and campaigners made one final push for votes lining polling site entries amid the sea of signs touting candidates in multiple city contests Traffic was steady at Rogers Park - one of Beaumont's largest polling sites Incumbent and first-time candidates talked and joked with one another despite being challengers for mayoral and council seats campaigners for Mayoral candidate Robin Mouton kept the mood lively clapping their fans as they chanted "where the voters at," while waiting for traffic to pick up at the Pear Orchard polling site the day wasn't over for those working a 12-hour day campaigning Many gathered at watch parties throughout the city to await the final results Kim BrentPhotojournalistKim Brent is a photojournalist with The Beaumont Enterprise. She came to Beaumont in September 2014 amid a search for full-time positions. When she's not out covering our community, she loves to paint, knit, read, write and love and be loved by her two kitties, Memphis and Skeets. Get in touch with her by email at kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com. The department is raising $10,000 for building renovations Incumbent Audwin Samuel is running for reelection for the Beaumont City Council Ward III seat during the 2023 election Albert "AJ" Turner is running for a Beaumont City Council At- Large seat Mike Getz is applying for Jefferson County Precinct 1 Commissioner Spindletop Rotary's Celebrity Roast of Mayor Roy West was held at the MCM Elegante Hotel and the Enterprise wanted to make sure voters had a better idea of where incumbent candidates stand on public safety amid a number of recent homicides Since the most recent Beaumont municipal election several issues regarding public safety have spent time in public conversation overtime in the fire department and the firefighters' union’s contract negotiations it has made Beaumont City Council candidates' stances on public safety a big deciding factor for voters RELATED: Much needed sidewalk improvements beginning soon. To give voters an opportunity to decide if they think incumbent council members kept their public safety promises to voters the Enterprise conducted a comprehensive review of every statement made at council meetings and on Facebook by current members of the Beaumont City Council running for re-election Staff searched social media and 62 council meetings They then compiled a list of all comments that included public safety promises and statements The review found that many council members believe the Real Time Crime Center will help reduce the city’s crime rate juvenile crime is an issue that needs to be addressed the safety of Beaumont residents is always a priority and the council has made a commitment to supporting public safety many council members said they stood behind their words who is running for one of two open at-large seats added that with the Real-Time Crime Center the city now has the ability to “have a real-time evaluation of our streets “I feel like there has to be a partnership between civic business and religious leaders to address this because it’s a moral issue,” Feldschau said The full breakdown of comments is available on the Beaumont Enterprise's website But here are some of the more interesting quotes: and I would never suggest that we do anything to endanger our citizens We have a responsibility to provide them with security and safety It's just more business-friendly because we want to attract business to Beaumont but not compromise our safety and I’m glad to hear that you seem to be looking at it through that optic of trying to simplify and streamline things to be more pro-business.” I feel like we are making those improvements and those advancements in terms of what we're seeing with the improvements that we've been seeing here in the county and with the city administration in terms of vacant buildings enhanced code enforcement and the homeless those are real improvements to improving Beaumont.” “I can go all the way back to Starvin Marvins where the city basically helped put him out of business because of the complaints of noise from surrounding apartment owners I think decibel meters were a part of that whole exercise I also struggle with the subjectivity that an individual police officer has with discretion on that When you have something like a decibel meter that can give you objective findings I don't know why any order was ever issued to the police department saying I don't know if there was a I don't know all the background I don't know if there was some bad experiences that came as a result of trying to use the decibel meters or “The one thing I consistently hear in most meetings is that we really have a lack of youth engagement and activity Our crime rate is very high with our young people but this is a problem that has been existing in Beaumont and we can only say it's a parenting problem for so long We can't have the mentality that it’s not our kids and if we don't start putting more of a focus on addressing some of the situations they just don't have we will keep continue down the route with this crime problem.” RELATED: Beaumont's Real Time Crime Center is looking to expand you can work with the programming with the police department We know we've seen an increase in the amount of crimes being committed by young people So maybe it's time that we look at something like this to be interdepartmental We talk about visibility and connecting with the community itself This may be the opportunity to do that and so I didn't understand what it was at first sometimes lights go on and we see new light and I think this is an opportunity for us to make great strides into the community increase the visibility of our departments and have them working together and it should start right here at City Hall.” they gave a test to anybody off the street If you didn't have a bad record or anything like that you didn't have to be a certified firefighter would that be something that we might be able to do here with the fire department … because a lot of them who are certified already live all over the place If you could get people to just come in and apply and pass We can get some folks that live in Beaumont and especially if we give them extra points on the test for being citizens of Beaumont.” Voters make their way out of the polling site at Theodore R Stephanie Johnson wanted to see the "spectacle" of election day in Beaumont That's why she waited until Saturday to cast her vote joined by her father Larry while voting at Rogers Park walked by a line of tents filled with passionate campaigners making their final pitch It was a who's-who of local candidates headquartered at Rogers Park "Look at everyone out here," she said "I always like voting on the main day and seeing all the people."  RELATED: Live results from Southeast Texas elections After months of lead-up and a week of early voting Saturday marked the last day for voters to cast their ballots in Southeast Texas Important races were set to be decided in Beaumont Voters at various locations around Beaumont said Election Day falling on a weekend made the process easier It was time to get it done and make sure I did my civic duty."  Morning voters were scarce during the early hours at multiple polling places around the city although Morez was one of those voters at Theodore Johns Library in Beaumont His plan was to beat any rush that might come later in the day RELATED: Investigation shows Beaumont incumbents' public safety priorities There was no line at Rogers Park when Johnson showed up to vote around 1 p.m a steady stream of voters followed behind Johnson to cast their ballot Johnson even ran into a friend who was also voting at Rogers Park They both planned to watch the Kentucky Derby later in the day "It's just funny who you can run into out here," Johnson said Traffic patterns in Beaumont didn't do voters any favors, with parts of Interstate 10 in the city shut down for construction. Those closures are related to the demolition of Maury Meyers Bridge The shut downs will continue throughout the weekend according to the Texas Department of Transportation RELATED: May election delaying city projects in Beaumont the Raymond Gould Community Center remained a popular voting spot throughout the day John Shafler pulled his truck up to the community center around 4 p.m looking to quickly cast a ballot before dinner He was most interested in the race for Vidor's next mayor and didn't have much trouble getting in and out of the polls "Luckily there was no line," Shafler said Voters in Beaumont had big races to decide in city government Incumbent Mayor Roy West was challenged by Robin Mouton Multiple city council seats in Beaumont were also at stake Saturday The race for the At-Large seat included incumbent AJ Turner RELATED: Beaumont candidates submit donation reports ahead of election day Beaumont's Ward 1 race was between Cory Crenshaw and Mark Stiles The Ward 2 race featured incumbent Mike Getz and Joey Hilliard while Ward 3 came down to LaDonna Sherwood and Terry Roy Thurman Bartie was unable to run for a third term as mayor Candidates to replace Bartie included Charlotte M All races went past print time Saturday night Go to BeaumontEnterprise.com for full results Matt FayeSports EditorMatt Faye is the sports editor for the Beaumont Enterprise. Get in touch with him by email at mfaye@beaumontenterprise.com. where Hayward police allegedly shot a male suspect while responding to reports of looting in the early morning hours.Michael Short Special to The Chronicle / Special to The ChronicleTwo persons of interest in a fatal apartment complex shooting have turned themselves in The shooting was reported just after 5:45 p.m they found 18-year-old Linny Nixon with a gunshot wound according to Beaumont Police spokesperson Haley Morrow Nixon was taken to a local hospital where he later died Detectives identified 17-year-olds Trevor Green and John Jones as persons of interest in Nixon's death RELATED: Prince Hall Apartments in Port Arthur reports another shooting on scene investigation and crime stoppers tips Green and Jones turned themselves in to speak with detectives Further investigation produced enough evidence to charge both of the teens with murder Green also was arrested for a parole warrant for aggravated robbery and Jones was arrested for an outstanding unauthorized use of a motor vehicle warrant Investigators are asking anyone with cameras in the area to look at their footage from the time of the shooting In a post Sunday night on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he has authorized the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to slap a 100% tariff “on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.” “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death," he wrote, complaining that other countries “are offering all sorts of incentives to draw" filmmakers and studios away from the U.S. "This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!” It wasn’t immediately clear how any such tariff on international productions could be implemented. It’s common for both large and small films to include production in the U.S. and in other countries. Big-budget movies like the upcoming “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning," for instance, are shot around the world. Incentive programs for years have influenced where movies are shot, increasingly driving film production out of California and to other states and countries with favorable tax incentives, like Canada and the United Kingdom. Yet Trump's tariffs are designed to lead consumers toward American products. And in movie theaters, American-produced movies overwhelming dominate the domestic marketplace. China has ramped up its domestic movie production, culminating in the animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” grossing more than $2 billion this year. But even then, its sales came almost entirely from mainland China. In North America, it earned just $20.9 million. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was awaiting more details of Trump’s measures before commenting on them but would continue to pitch to filmmakers abroad, including in India’s Bollywood. “We’ve got an absolutely world class industry,” he said. “This is the best place to make movies, period, in the world.” The Motion Picture Association, which represents major U.S. film studios and streaming services, didn’t immediately respond to messages Sunday evening. The MPA’s data shows how much Hollywood exports have dominated cinemas. According to the MPA, the American movies produced $22.6 billion in exports and $15.3 billion in trade surplus in 2023. Trump, a Republican, has made good on the “tariff man" label he gave himself years ago, slapping new taxes on goods made in countries around the globe. That includes a 145% tariff on Chinese goods and a 10% baseline tariff on goods from other countries, with even higher levies threatened. By unilaterally imposing tariffs, Trump has exerted extraordinary influence over the flow of commerce, creating political risks and pulling the market in different directions. There are tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum, with more imports, including pharmaceutical drugs, set to be subject to new tariffs in the weeks ahead. Trump has long voiced concern about movie production moving overseas. Shortly before he took office, he announced that he had tapped actors Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone to serve as “special ambassadors" to Hollywood to bring it "BACK — BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!” U.S. film and television production has been hampered in recent years, with setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hollywood guild strikes of 2023 and the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Overall production in the U.S. was down 26% last year compared with 2021, according to data from ProdPro, which tracks production. The group's annual survey of executives, which asked about preferred filming locations, found no location in the U.S. made the top five, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Toronto, the U.K., Vancouver, Central Europe and Australia came out on top, with California placing sixth, Georgia seventh, New Jersey eighth and New York ninth. The problem is especially acute in California. In the greater Los Angeles area, production last year was down 5.6% from 2023 according to FilmLA, second only to 2020, during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. Last, October, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, proposed expanding California’s Film & Television Tax Credit program to $750 million annually, up from $330 million. Other U.S. cities like Atlanta, New York, Chicago and San Francisco have also used aggressive tax incentives to lure film and TV productions. Those programs can take the form of cash grants, as in Texas, or tax credits, which Georgia and New Mexico offer. “Other nations have been stealing the movie-making capabilities from the United States,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Sunday night after returning from a weekend in Florida. “If they’re not willing to make a movie inside the United States we should have a tariff on movies that come in." Associated Press writers Gary Field in Washington and Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report from Washington. Penn study finds (Dreamstime/TNS)Dreamstime HO / TNSA person was critically injured in a Beaumont stabbing on Monday The stabbing was reported just before 12:30 p.m RELATED: An Orange woman is dead after a crash involving a dump truck The person who was stabbed was taken to a local hospital in critical condition and the other person involved is being interviewed by detectives Terry Preston Roy looks over early returns with LaToyya Ozane at the MCM Elegante Hotel to watch election results in the City Council Ward III race LaDonna Sherwood celebrates her new city council seat in Ward III with Ward IV incumbent winer Chris Durio at Nell’s Place Saturday night Supporters record the moment and celebrate LaDonna Sherwood’s victory in the City Council Ward III race at Nell’s Place to watch election results in the City Council Ward III race LaDonna Sherwood gathers with supporters at Nell’s Place to watch election results in the City Council Ward III race Supporters gather to celebrate LaDonna Sherwood’s victory in the City Council Ward III race LaDonna Sherwood’s mother Jewel Ryan celebrates her daughter’s victory as she gathers with supporters at Nell’s Place to watch election results in the City Council Ward III race Terry Preston Roy supporters gather at the MCM Elegante Hotel to watch election results in the City Council Ward III race LaDonna Sherwood supporters prep for her celebration party at Nell’s Place Supporters celebrate LaDonna Sherwood’s victory in the City Council Ward III race BISD Trustee candidate Treva Johnson speaks as Terry Preston Roy gathers with supporters at the MCM Elegante Hotel to watch election results in the City Council Ward III race Campaigners for the Beaumont City Council Ward III candidates awaited the results of months of work at election watch parties Saturday night LaDonna Sherwood gathered with her campaign crew at Nell's Place while those who got out the vote for Terry Preston Roy took in the count at the MCM Elegante Hotel It was Roy's second go-round at a city council bid but this campaign experience was different from 2023 when he ran for an at-large seat "It seemed like this time it was more popularity based," Roy said Anyone who knows me knows I'm a fighter It was a sentiment echoed by the Ward III Beaumont school board trustee candidate Treva Johnson RELATED: Get more live election results here "This election business isn't easy; it can get dirty," she told those assembled before offering a prayer "Regardless of whatever the outcome is (Roy and I) are people who are still going to put in the work for the community." It's a segment of the Beaumont community which won't see either Johnson or Roy at the helm but Sherwood assured supporters she was ready to get to work for the South end community she'll now represent on Beaumont City Council While a crowd awaited her arrival to celebrate the victory food and drinks flowed through the Franklin Street club in the heart of Sherwood's new constituency "We did it," she told the crowd of supporters Among those celebrating the victory were other history makers and political names including outgoing Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie and Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens - Texas' first female Black sheriff Mark Stiles and wife Karen talk with supporters at his home to watch election results in the City Council Ward I race Cory Crenshaw gathers with supporters at the Grill on Calder to watch election results in the City Council Ward I race Cory Crenshaw supporters gathered at the Grill on Calder to watch election results in the City Council Ward I race Mark Stiles gathers with supporters at his home to watch election results in the City Council Ward I race Cory Crenshaw supporters celebrates early lead at the Grill on Calder as they gather to watch election results in the City Council Ward I race Mark Stiles supporters gather at his home to watch election results in the City Council Ward I race Supporters of Beaumont City Council Ward I candidates Cory Crenshaw and Mark Stiles rallied around their candidates one final time Saturday night as they awaited the election results While Stiles gathered with family and friends at his home Crenshaw held a watch party at The Grill on Calder Crenshaw was hesitant to offer up any words until more numbers rolled in but many were already celebrating on the Grill's patio bar as he edged Stiles in the initial tally soon maintaining that lead deeper into the count Among those celebrating what seemed a victory were members of the Beaumont Firefighters Union who embraced Crenshaw and offered congratulations in the hour following the polls' closing Despite trailing his opponent through the night Stiles said he was "just peachy" while taking in the results at his home-based watch party The results of his race were nearly overshadowed by the incoming numbers in fellow city council hopefuls' bids with long-serving incumbents like Mike Getz and Audwin Samuels lagging behind newcomers like Joey Hilliard and Mike Williams in the Ward II and At-Large seats It's a night when the face of the council seemed poised to change with guaranteed first-timers serving in Wards I and III and former Mayor Robin Mouton poised for a potential comeback and possible run-off with incumbent Roy West The consequences of the upcoming May election have taken up a considerable amount of air and attention from those invested in the future of business and labor in Beaumont The election could have a monumental effect on the make-up of the City Council with at least two new members guaranteed but up to seven possible the city of Beaumont is holding several projects until after the election Candidates and their signs line the curb at Rogers Park one of the city of Beaumont's most popular early voting locations RELATED: Who's running for local city, school board seats? City Manager Kenneth Williams said that officials do this when they're facing controversial issues and expect a drastic change in the council due to an election “You don't want to hold the new council at bay (to) a decision the prior council made and they're not there anymore,” Williams said and that way you won't have a conflict between the two boards making a decision.” Kenneth said this had happened in the past without the best outcome “That happened in Conroe where they had a change in council,” Williams said “They made a decision at their last meeting on a high-profile issue and then the next council didn't agree with it it's better sometimes to just wait for the board that's coming on.” The city is holding a number of items until the new council comes in including the next round of negotiations with the firefighters' union and a feasibility study for a potential downtown hotel RELATED: firefighters union members say inaccuracies in the document caused the recent draft rejection Fire Union President Jeff Nesom said the union changed their lead negotiator to their attorney who planned to reach out to the city for dates this week Nesom said he feels the result of the election will determine how the city negotiates moving forward The second item being held is Stonehenge Holdings’ presentation of a downtown hotel feasibility study The original deadline for the presentation was July; however the council on Tuesday to extended the deadline until Nov 30 to allow for a post-election presentation The election has also impacted the city’s Community Development and Planning department and its ability to publicly plan for future initiatives.The department continues to routinely process new city permits ordinances and pre-development consultations economic development manager Christina Lokey emphasized the urgency of action in the Central Business District she was unable to speak on specific strategies and collaborations with local businesses prior to this weekend “None of the other futures of our downtown can happen if we don’t focus on the bones and the structure of what is currently downtown,” Lokey said “I would like to get into our actual strategies more… After this election you and I can have that conversation… I can tell you this: the city has a plan RELATED: Did Beaumont make progress downtown in 2024? Despite the inability to paint a comprehensive 2025 road map Lokey discussed the inroads Community Development has made in the last year to advance new businesses including the CityWorks online permit portal weekly Thursday pre-development meetings between members of Community Development and Public Works and the creation of the Central Business District vacant building registry “They have been red-tagging and focusing on [our] vacant building registry and a code enforcement sweep because we are trying to clean up downtown,” Lokey said “When you see a red or orange tag on a building it’s not because we just don’t like the owner it's because there’s some type of imminent danger or a danger that’s been reported to the city.” The Beaumont Enterprise will be providing comprehensive live coverage on its website Saturday and in print on Monday Mbu MaqungoBusiness reporterMbu Maqungo is the business reporter for The Beaumont Enterprise Get in touch with him by email at mbu.maqungo@beaumontenterprise.com Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBEAUMONT Texas (KPLC) - A large amount of suspected cocaine was seized during a traffic stop on Interstate 10 today according to the Beaumont Police Department Around 7:25 a.m., BPD said narcotics officers were patrolling along I-10 Eastbound near Hamshire when they noticed a white 15-passenger van towing a U-Haul trailer commit a traffic violation which alerted to the presence of narcotics Officers searched the trailer and found 12 black and yellow totes containing about 579 kilograms (1,276.48 pounds) of suspected cocaine Parker was arrested and booked into the Jefferson County Jail on a charge of possession of a controlled substance over 400 grams Beaumont — The Beaumont Fire Department is on scene putting out a fire in a building behind a home on Roberts Avenue near Avenue A Another viewer shared a photo from downtown Beaumont Beaumont — The Diocese of Beaumont announced Thursday morning that Robert Reid is stepping down as Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Alison Kiker will step into that new position Bishop David Toups says Kiker will remain principal of St Toups says he extends his "extreme gratitude to Reid for his dedication and contributions especially his faithful presence in the schools and the community which has strengthened the Catholic education presence in Southeast Texas," While an announcement of the reason for the resignation wasn't revealed the Diocese said it's important to maximize resources the commitment to providing quality education while maximizing the resources available remains constant Bishop Toups is pleased to announce that Ms Alison Kiker will step into the role of Superintendent of Catholic Schools while remaining Principal of St She will primarily oversee the 3 grade schools and be available to assist the administration of Msgr Kiker brings exceptional leadership and expertise to this position having been principal the past 11 years at St Anne Catholic School with a total of 31 years in education With a proven track record of transforming St Anne Catholic School into a thriving community she has demonstrated outstanding skills in curriculum development Kiker’s commitment to Catholic education reflects the dedication to nurture academic excellence and spiritual growth in all the Catholic schools We invite the community to join us in praying for both Robert Reid and Alison Kiker as they embark on their new journeys and our students and their families." An official website of the United States government Our outpatient clinic offers primary care to help you stay healthy and well throughout your life and the health services we offer at Beaumont VA Clinic Select a service on this page to check the hours You may be able to see a physician virtually for non-life threatening conditions such as: Call 1- and press 3 to speak with a triage nurse The Beaumont VA Outpatient Clinic is not equipped to handle life-threatening emergencies. If you have a life-threatening emergency, immediately call 911. To contact the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline 24-hours a day, seven days a week, please call 988 Dial 713-794-8985 or call toll-free 800-639-5137 to reach a registered nurse 24 hours per day Find a VA location or in-network community care provider.  Wheelchair availability: Beaumont VA Clinic has wheelchairs available upon arrival for patients who need them to access the building VA operates a shuttle from the Beaumont Clinic to the Houston VA campus Shuttle departs the Beaumont Clinic at 7:30 a.m Veterans can reserve their spot on the shuttle by calling The Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) provides transportation for disabled Veterans to and from VA health care facilities and authorized non-VA health care appointments VTS also partners with service providers in local communities to serve Veterans’ transportation needs Veterans can schedule transportation for verified appointments by calling 713-794-7126 Transportation at government expense may be available to beneficiaries traveling to or from VA facilities Find out if you qualify for beneficiary travel benefits Beaumont area Veterans are now eligible for free weekday transportation to and from the Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston for medical appointments.   leaves the Beaumont VA Outpatient Clinic (3420 Plaza Circle in Beaumont) every Monday through Friday at 7:30 a.m and brings Veterans to the Houston VA Medical Center for scheduled medical appointments.  The shuttle departs Houston VA at 2:30 p.m daily for the return trip to the Beaumont Clinic.   Veterans with an appointment at the Houston VA can reserve a ride on the 35-passenger wheelchair-accessible shuttle by calling the Beaumont Outpatient Clinic.  Each Veteran traveling on the shuttle is also eligible to reserve a space for one caregiver or their spouse you may receive a questionnaire or survey about your most recent visit We encourage Veterans to use these surveys to let us know of any concerns We also appreciate compliments about what we are doing right and use these compliments to recognize our staff Our Audiology clinic and our Speech Pathology clinic provide diagnostic and rehabilitative services and screening for employee hearing conservation We offer a full range of audiology and speech pathology services like: Learn more about Audiology at VA Houston. Learn more about Speech-Language Pathology at VA Houston. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines at VA Our internists are primary-care doctors who treat adults for a wide range of health issues Blood tests and advanced testing services help providers monitor your health find and understand problems and make informed treatment decisions Our laboratories provide a full range of clinical and diagnostic testing services: is a weight-management program designed to help you live a longer Learn more about MOVE! at VA Houston Healthcare System. Our medical center and clinics provide consultation and treatment for a range of issues that may impact your mental health or emotional well-being Our confidential outpatient services include individual and group therapy for: Learn more and connect with a care coordinator Please contact our My HealtheVet coordinator at Our registered dietitians can help you maintain or improve your health with good nutrition tailored to your needs we provide nutrition education and counseling in areas such as: Learn more about ophthalmology services at VA Houston. Our optometrists provide many eye-related services and treatments like: Learn more about optometry services at VA Houston. We use surgical and nonsurgical means to treat illnesses and disorders of the musculoskeletal system ligaments and other connective tissue.  Houston VA provides all aspects of orthopedics care including robotic assisted total hip and knee replacement Contact: David Green, MDChief, Orthopedic Surgery and PodiatryDeputy Chief of the Operative Care Line 713-794-7508 Our patient advocates work hard to make sure you receive the best possible care at our health care facilities Learn more and connect with a patient advocate Our pharmacy provides you and other Veterans with convenient efficient service to make it easy to get your medications and medical supplies Learn more about pharmacy services at VA Houston Your VA primary care provider will work closely with you to plan for all the care you need to stay healthy and well throughout your life They will also work with family members or caregivers who support you A strong network of family and internal medicine specialists and services can offer you the best possible care Internal medicine doctors (internists) prevent Doctors who specialize in family medicine provide primary health care to the entire family Your primary care team can coordinate the many services you receive such as: state-of-the-art adaptive home equipment and other equipment to help you preserve and increase your mobility and independence VA is the world’s largest and most comprehensive provider of sensory aides and prosthetic devices Veterans enrolled in the VA health care system and referred by a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician can receive a full range of services and equipment like: Learn more about Prosthetics and Sensory Aid service.  Learn more about Physical medicine and rehabilitation If you’re struggling with a mental health problem—or just need to talk with someone—we can help We offer treatment and support such as therapy alternative treatments and medications when needed and treatment to help with a range of mental and behavioral health problems like: DeBakey VA Medical Center offers radiology and imaging services to diagnose and treat many medical conditions Learn more about radiology services at VA Houston.  The sleep medicine service diagnoses and treats your sleep problems if you are spending enough time in bed and still wake up tired or feel very sleepy during the day Sleep medicineHours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.Phone: 713-794-8730 We can help you and your family manage stress-related problems due to injury or illness and find VA community resources to meet your needs like: We work with behavioral health providers and community organizations to help you and your family during times of crisis Learn more and connect with a care coordinator We use the latest in secure digital technology to set up remote visits with our health care providers and store-and-forward telehealth that lets you securely send your health information to experts at VA facilities We offer telehealth visits with providers in: Learn more about telehealth Veterans can receive a screening at the Michael E All of outpatient clinics also perform the screening Ask your care team for the screening.  Every Veteran enrolled in VA health care will receive an initial screening and a follow-up screening at least once every 5 years Veterans who are not enrolled and who meet eligibility requirements will have an opportunity to enroll and receive the screening The screening will ask you if you think you were exposed to any of these hazards while serving: We’ll then give you information about any benefits Learn about the PACT Act: The PACT Act And Your VA Benefits | Veterans Affairs We offer women’s health services to meet your specific needs such as disease screenings maternity care and female-specific medical equipment Our women's health program offers complete health care for women Veterans of all ages Our primary care providers go through specialized training in women’s health care They work closely with specialists in gynecology Learn more and connect with a Women Veterans Program Manager Beaumont — A jury in Judge Raquel West's courtroom has decided on a 55 year sentence for a man it found guilty of murder in a Beaumont home invasion killing The jury made the decision Thursday morning and Judge West sentenced Paul Edward Westbrooks He faced a maximum punishment of life in prison the jury convicted Westbrooks of the April 10 He still faces possible trial on a capital murder charge for the killing of a second victim If he's tried and convicted of that charge he'd be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole because the prosecution isn't seeking the death penalty The jury couldn't reach a verdict in Westbrooks' first trial in January The victims were killed at a home in the 1800 block of Elgie Street in the south end The investigation revealed several people were at the home when a group men broke in He was previously sentenced to 35 years in a plea agreement