BY DOUG GRAHAM | Staff writer Gad Ezekial Black, the man accused of intentionally ramming his truck into a Baton Rouge policeman’s motorcycle and critically injuring the officer riding it, will face a hate crime charge, authorities said Tuesday. Black was irate, defiant and uncooperative when he appeared in court via video Tuesday afternoon. When 19th Judicial District Court Commissioner Nicole Robinson asked Black to state his name and date of birth for the record, he said, “I’m a tribal nation. And I stand deep in this corporation. Understand that.” Meanwhile, Sgt. Caleb Eisworth remained in critical condition in a hospital, although his situation had stabilized, officials said. Read more about Tuesday's developments. A U.S. Senate committee has recommended deeper cuts to Medicaid than the House did in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, alarming representatives of Louisiana’s largest hospitals. Those officials gave U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy an earful Tuesday morning, but Cassidy said the tax breaks in the bill will energize the U.S. economy and Louisiana workers. Read more about why hospitals are worried. After LSU finished off a 9-5 win over UCLA on Tuesday morning, the Tigers find themselves in a favorable position, columnist Scott Rabalais writes. This is the eighth time LSU has started 2-0 in the College World Series. Six of the previous seven times, LSU won the championship. Read about the Tigers' positive vibes. | 