State Politics

How Louisiana is playing into a debate over federal money for California wildfires

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
17 hrs ago

WASHINGTON – Southern California’s ongoing wildfires — which so far have killed 27 and burned down at least 10,000 homes — are expected to need billions of dollars in disaster aid.

Sen. Bill Cassidy said he will vote for Donald Trump’s Defense pick

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 17, 2025

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy announced Friday that he would vote to confirm Pete Hegseth to lead the U.S. Department of Defense.

Rep. Julia Letlow files legislation to strengthen agriculture disaster assistance

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 17, 2025

WASHINGTON – Before the temperatures started to drop and imperiled the crawfish season, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow filed a bill to increase disaster assistance for ranchers and crawfish farmers an…

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill sues Biden over oil and gas drilling ban

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Updated Jan 17, 2025

The attorney general made good on a promise to file a lawsuit over the ban, bringing the federal suit in the Lake Charles Division of the Western District of Louisiana.

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New $21.1 million grant helps rail service between New Orleans and Mobile inch closer

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 17, 2025

WASHINGTON – Hoping to soon restore rail service along the Gulf Coast from New Orleans and Mobile after 20 years, the Federal Railroad Administration last week granted $21.1 million for Amtrak…

Louisiana government offices will close for winter weather. Here's what to know.

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Jan 17, 2025

All state offices will be closed on Tuesday "due to extreme winter weather," according to a social media post on Friday from Louisiana State Civil Service, the agency that acts as the human re…

Louisiana will raise American, MAGA flags for Trump's inauguration, Landry proclaims

By JULIA GUILBEAU | Staff writer
Jan 17, 2025

Louisiana will join other Republican states in fully raising their flags the day of President-elect Trump's inauguration — and will fly a Make America Great Again flag at the governor's mansio…

See who's presiding over this year's Washington Mardi Gras, Louisiana's big political bash

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Updated Jan 17, 2025

Louisiana's storied political gathering held every year in the nation's capital officially kicks off Thursday.

Supreme Court upholds law banning TikTok if it's not sold by its Chinese parent company

BY MARK SHERMAN | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated Jan 17, 2025

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld the federal law banning TikTok beginning Sunday unless it's sold by its China-based parent company, holding that the risk to nationa…

Gov. Jeff Landry tells leaders to prepare for 'standstill' budgets. Here's what that means.

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN | Staff writer
Jan 17, 2025

The request does not necessarily mean departments will face cuts—or that the budget will not increase.

Gov. Jeff Landry urges quick approval for Trump's Homeland Security pick as Mardi Gras nears

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 17, 2025

WASHINGTON – Gov. Jeff Landry says the delay in confirming Kristi Noem as head of Homeland Security throws a wrinkle into security precautions for the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.

Pineville, a Louisiana town scarred by a government sex scandal, settles a case to move on

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Jan 16, 2025

In August, an anonymous person on Facebook posted a report by Pineville’s city attorney in which the mayor and his chief of staff acknowledged they had affairs with the same underling.

A nearly $600 million surplus is available to lawmakers to spend the upcoming budget year

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Jan 16, 2025

How lawmakers can spend the extra cash is constrained by limits set out in the state Constitution.

Louisiana needs more authority to deal with drone threats, some state officials say

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Updated Jan 15, 2025

Louisiana could see new legislation this year that would empower state law enforcement to electronically take down — or mitigate — drones, a task that is currently within the purview of federa…

Louisiana road, bridge projects stall for years in federal red tape, Jeff Landry tells Congress

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Jan 15, 2025

Washington — Projects to improve Louisiana's roads and infrastructure — like a new Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge or upgrades to the state's ports — are delayed for years because of f…

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Livingston of Louisiana says he was investigated because he's a Republican

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Updated Jan 16, 2025

“I was innocent, I went through 20 months of hell and I’m out of the woods now.”

How a Louisiana strip club is tied up in accusations against Trump nominee Pete Hegseth

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN | Staff writer
Jan 15, 2025

Pete Hegseth, President-Elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, defended himself against allegations of public drunkenness, misconduct and sexual assault during his confirmation heari…

As companies chase underground carbon storage, Louisiana parishes want dollars for risks

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL | Staff writer
Jan 15, 2025

The scene in rural Allen Parish this week was a familiar one as big companies look for large tracts over the state's prime geology to store carbon dioxide.

Two prominent Louisiana government advocacy groups are merging: 'People want to see change'

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Jan 15, 2025

Two advocacy groups that have spent decades influencing policy at Louisiana State Capitol have announced they are now merging into one organization.

St. George council revises salaries amid protests, but public remains dissatisfied

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | Staff writer
Jan 14, 2025

After opposition erupted from members of the public to salaries proposed for the City of St. George's mayor, city council and police chief Tuesday night, the council decided to reduce the wage…

Jeff Landry will testify to Congress on Louisiana infrastructure. Here's when, how to watch.

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Jan 14, 2025

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry will be in Washington on Wednesday to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

When abuse happens in Louisiana nursing homes, investigations often take too long, audit finds

BY ALYSE PFEIL and MEGHAN FRIEDMANN | Staff writers
Updated Jan 13, 2025

When the state health department investigates allegations of abuse or neglect against certain care workers, reviews can drag on for over a year, a new report shows.

Gov. Jeff Landry to bus New Orleans homeless out of state or to temporary shelter in Gentilly

BY BEN MYERS | Staff writer
Jan 13, 2025

As part of a sweeping effort to spruce up New Orleans before the Super Bowl on Feb. 9, Gov. Jeff Landry said Monday his administration will begin clearing homeless encampments downtown, moving…

The Louisiana delegation gets their committee assignments in U.S. House and Senate

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Jan 13, 2025

WASHINGTON — As Congress moves into the new year, Louisiana’s delegation has nailed down committee assignments that influence energy, banking, the budget and the border.

Will Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards keep Thomas Morse as police chief?

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | Staff writer
Jan 13, 2025

With his inauguration behind him, Mayor-President Sid Edwards' staff is starting to take shape. But he has yet to make a pivotal decision: Does he want Thomas Morse to remain police chief?

'A new era:' Jeff Landry combined MAGA-style and pragmatic moves to act quickly in first year

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Jan 12, 2025

Gov. Jeff Landry called Democratic state senators to his office on Nov. 19, urgently needing their help: Far-right conservatives had imperiled his tax plan because of their reluctance to suppo…

'Gulf of America'? Louisiana pols and others put their spin on Trump's Gulf of Mexico idea

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 12, 2025

WASHINGTON — The Maya called the Gulf of Mexico “Chactemal,” referring to its reddish hues at sunset.

Drones were spotted over a nuclear plant. Jeff Landry wants state authority to take them down.

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Jan 10, 2025

“While we were dealing with a terrorist attack in New Orleans, we had drones being flown over our nuclear reactors in Louisiana.”