State Politics

Louisiana's Bill Cassidy remains unclear on backing Trump nominee RFK Jr. as health secretary

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
2 hrs ago

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy met with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — but afterwards didn't tip his hand on whether he would vote for Donald Trump's choice to run the U.S. Department of Health …

The field is set for the February election for two Louisiana Senate seats. See who's running

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Updated 13 hrs ago

Three Democrats are running for a Baton Rouge seat in the state Senate. Two well-known Republicans and a Democrat are running for a seat in Lafayette.

Photos: Past presidents, other officials mourn Jimmy Carter at Washington funeral

Staff report
17 hrs ago

Jimmy Carter's funeral in Washington was packed with family, friends and past U.S. presidents.

Jimmy Carter celebrated for his service in Washington funeral packed with past presidents

By BILL BARROW and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press
17 hrs ago

Jimmy Carter was celebrated Thursday for his personal humility and public service before, during and after his presidency during a funeral at Washington National Cathedral featuring the kind o…

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Two more candidates join Baton Rouge and Lafayette state Senate races on day 2 of qualifying

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Jan 8, 2025

Two vacancies were left in the state Senate after Baton Rouge Democrat Cleo Fields and Lafayette Republican Jean-Paul Coussan won November races for other elected offices.

Jeff Landry announces new Regents, University of Louisiana System board appointments

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Jan 8, 2025

Several new members are joining the Board of Regents and the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. Landry also reappointed several members to those boards.

The story behind the touchingly messy, communal Bourbon Street attack memorial in New Orleans

BY DOUG MACCASH | Staff writer
Updated Jan 8, 2025

When President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrived in New Orleans on Monday, their first stop was the top of Bourbon Street where the notorious New Year’s Day killings began.

Republican lawmakers craft plans to reverse President Joe Biden's new oil and gas drilling ban

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 8, 2025

WASHINGTON – Republicans in Congress are looking at ways to roll back President Joe Biden’s order banning offshore oil and gas drilling near huge swaths of the U.S. coastline — a move that he …

See who’s running for state Senate in Baton Rouge and Lafayette after first day of qualifying

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Jan 7, 2025

A special election is set to fill the open seats of Congressman Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, and Public Service Commissioner Jean-Paul Coussan, R-Lafayette, won races in November.

Mayor Sid Edwards rolls out two more hires, as administration continues to take shape

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | Staff writer
Jan 7, 2025

Mayor-President Sid Edwards' office continues to take form, with two more hires to top staffing positions announced Tuesday.

Slidell mayor is leaving for job in Jeff Landry administration. Who will run next?

BY BOB WARREN | Staff writer
Updated Jan 7, 2025

Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer is leaving his post at the helm of the city’s government nearly 18 months early to take a job with Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration, which will cause a series of dom…

Louisiana's plan to help reduce size of Gulf 'dead zone' called ineffective

BY MARK SCHLEIFSTEIN | Staff writer
Updated 20 hrs ago

The low-oxygen conditions that form in the Gulf each summer kill bottom-living organisms and result in fish and shrimp moving offshore to escape its effects.

St. George’s interim mayor is running for a full term. Here’s what to know.

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | Staff writer
Jan 7, 2025

After leading the new city through its transitional period for the past eight months, St. George interim Mayor Dustin Yates intends to keep the job.

Louisiana waters to remain open for business under Biden's ban on new offshore drilling

By ALEX LUBBEN | Staff writer
Jan 7, 2025

President Joe Biden has blocked new oil and gas drilling along most U.S. coasts, but the order excludes waters off Louisiana, leaving them open to new and existing production.

U.S. Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana pushes a 'powerful' bill for Donald Trump's agenda

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Jan 7, 2025

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson soon will face his first big test in helping fulfill many of President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises.

President Biden offers solace to grieving city after Bourbon Street attack

BY TYLER BRIDGES and STEPHANIE RIEGEL | Staff writers
Updated Jan 7, 2025

After five days of shock and grief, President Joe Biden visited New Orleans Monday to offer private words of consolation to victims’ families and public words of solace to a packed interfaith …

See photos of Joe and Jill Biden placing flowers in front of the Bourbon Street memorial

By JULIA GUILBEAU | Staff writer
Jan 6, 2025

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden briefly stopped on Bourbon Street to place flowers at the site of a memorial honoring the victims of the New Orleans attack on New Year's Day.

Biden, New Orleans pack St. Louis Cathedral to pray and grieve after Bourbon Street attack

By STEPHANIE RIEGEL and MARIE FAZIO | Staff writers
Updated Jan 6, 2025

As part of a whirlwind 5-hour stop, President Joe Biden on Monday joined hundreds of New Orleans residents at an interfaith prayer service at the St. Louis Cathedral, organized to honor the vi…

Jeff Landry announces five appointments to expanded Louisiana Board of Ethics

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Jan 6, 2025

The new members are joining an expanded board that now consists of 15 members, up from 11 previously.

New Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards announces another top administrator. Here's who he is.

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Staff writer
Jan 6, 2025

Sid Edwards, who took over last week as East Baton Rouge mayor-president, has named Lon Vicknair, a retired naval officer and chemical facility manager, his chief of staff, his administration …

AG Liz Murrill orders New Orleans security review by Louisiana Bureau of Investigation

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Jan 6, 2025

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has formally ordered “a full review of security plans” in place in New Orleans for the recent New Year’s holiday and Sugar Bowl college football game, ac…

First Lady Sharon Landry launches fund to help New Orleans attack victims

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Updated Jan 6, 2025

The fund to help the victims of the attack on Bourbon Street is the first major outreach effort by the first lady's foundation, Love One Louisiana.

Joe Biden will attend a prayer service for victims in New Orleans attack. Here's what we know.

BY TYLER BRIDGES and JULIA GUILBEAU | Staff writers
Updated Jan 6, 2025

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will attend a prayer service and visit with grieving families during their visit to New Orleans in the wake of a New Year's Day alleged terrorist …

Hours after the Bourbon Street tragedy, the political response turned partisan and personal

BY TYLER BRIDGES and ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writers
Updated Jan 6, 2025

Fox News reported Wednesday morning that the then-unknown attacker in New Orleans had driven across the southern border earlier that week. President-elect Donald Trump chimed in eight minutes …

How much should St. George leaders get paid? One proposal is stirring some debate.

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | Staff writer
Jan 6, 2025

Voters have approved a tax to fund St. George, city elections are coming soon and the new city is starting to take shape.

LaToya Cantrell seeks White House help in security planning for Super Bowl, Mardi Gras

BY JEFF ADELSON and BEN MYERS | Staff writers
Updated Jan 6, 2025

Mayor LaToya Cantrell is seeking federal assistance to review the city’s plans, identify potential vulnerabilities and provide additional personnel and resources for the upcoming Carnival seas…

Public employees soon to receive full Social Security benefits after Biden signs bill

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Jan 5, 2025

WASHINGTON — Thousands of Louisiana public servants and millions around the country will start getting their full Social Security benefits now that President Joe Biden signed into law Sunday t…

Republicans hold House and Senate but still have much work to do before moving Trump's bills

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 5, 2025

WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans haven’t been specific, but they certainly have been prolific with their repeated promises of passing sweeping legislation to install conservative solutio…