State Politics

Bill Cassidy's effort to overturn Joe Biden's student debt forgiveness has tough path

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
2 hrs ago

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court could decide as early as this summer whether to back President Joe Biden’s $400 billion student loan forgiveness plan.

New DOTD leader called knowledgeable, experienced and no frills

BY WILL SENTELL | Staff writer
2 hrs ago

Louisiana's new transportation chief has already learned that the demand for roads and bridges in this state never ends.

Louisiana's insurance market is in shambles. Here's how lawmakers hope to fix it

By JAMES FINN and MICHAEL FINCH II | Staff writers
Mar 26, 2023

Since a series of punishing hurricanes battered Louisiana’s coast and upended the state’s insurance marketplace, officials have tried to right the ship by enticing companies to write policies …

In race for Baton Rouge judge, Louise Hines Myers and Jordan Faircloth headed to runoff

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Staff writer
Mar 25, 2023

Louise Hines Myers and Jordan Faircloth are headed to a runoff in the election for a judgeship in East Baton Rouge Parish.

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Livingston Parish voters reject new sales tax to raise pay for school employees

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Metro Editor
Mar 25, 2023

Livingston Parish voters rejected Saturday a new 1-cent sales tax that would have paid for raises for teachers and other school district employees.

Louisiana coastal projects are funded by an unlikely source. What happens when the money runs out?

BY MARK SCHLEIFSTEIN | Staff writer
Mar 25, 2023

The state is in search of revenue to replace money related to the BP oil spill, which has funded coastal restoration projects and expires in around a decade. It won't be easy.

Julia Letlow's Parents Bill of Rights narrowly clears the U.S. House

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Mar 24, 2023

WASHINGTON – Amid a national culture war in education, House Republicans on Friday narrowly passed legislation by a Louisiana congresswoman that would give parents more oversight of what is ta…

Judge blocks effort to privatize Baton Rouge's sewage plants after company sues over bid process

By PAUL COBLER | Staff writer
Mar 24, 2023

A judge has blocked East Baton Rouge Parish from moving forward with a plan to privatize its two sewage plants until she can hear claims that the city-parish violated public bid law when award…

After years of silence, John Bel Edwards says he opposes the death penalty

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Updated Mar 24, 2023

For the seven years he's served as Louisiana's governor, John Bel Edwards has shied away from expressing his views on the death penalty.

Appeals court in New Orleans blocks Biden's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for US gov't workers

By KEVIN MCGILL | Associated Press
Updated Mar 24, 2023

The White House is defending President Joe Biden's order that federal employees get vaccinated against COVID-19 after a federal appeals court blocked it. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals…

State Rep. Mandie Landry rejoins Louisiana Democratic Party, will run for re-election

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Mar 24, 2023

State Rep. Mandie Landry of New Orleans rejoined the Louisiana Democratic Party on Friday, several months after becoming a political independent to protest moves by the party hierarchy.

Democrats, Republicans begin negotiations on Steve Scalise's energy bill

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Mar 23, 2023

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said earlier this month that House Republicans’ sweeping bill to jump start energy production will be dead on arrival when i…

Rule-breaking inmates would face longer jail stays under bills filed by Covington lawmaker

BY SARA PAGONES | Staff writer
Updated Mar 25, 2023

The shocking double slaying in Covington that took the lives of a beloved retired priest and a church worker last November has spurred state Rep. Mark Wright to file two bills in the Legislatu…

Baton Rouge police launched 926 chases in 7 years. 101 resulted in crashes, report says.

By PAUL COBLER | Staff writer
Mar 23, 2023

Between 2016 and 2022, Baton Rouge Police officers launched 926 car chases, and 101 of those chases — almost 1 in 9 — resulted in crashes, according to a new report from the department.

Book ban attempts hit record high in 2022, library org says

By HILLEL ITALIE | AP National Writer
Updated Mar 23, 2023

A new report from the American Library Association says attempted book bannings and restrictions at school and public libraries continue to surge, setting a record in 2022. The report released…

Lane closures set near overpass at Airline and Florida

BY WILL SENTELL | Staff writer
Mar 23, 2023

State highway crews on Saturday will begin repairs on the overpass at Airline Highway and Florida Boulevard that was damaged 10 months ago.

9 military bases removing Confederate links in process costing $62.5 million

BY FAIMON A. ROBERTS III | Staff writer
Mar 23, 2023

In addition to the Louisiana National Guards’ Camp Beauregard, nine U.S. Army bases around the South will be renamed as part of the Pentagon’s efforts to move away from names linked to Confede…

Louisiana Department of Health may have misspent $13 million in provider fees, audit says

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Mar 22, 2023

The Louisiana Department of Health may have spent $13 million improperly, according to a state auditor's report that takes issue with how the health department pays behavioral health vendors.

Jeff Landry subpoenaed three immigrant aid nonprofits. They say it would cause 'chilling effect'

By SAM KARLIN | Staff writer
Mar 22, 2023

Three small nonprofits that help immigrants in Louisiana navigate the asylum process and get on their feet are caught in the middle of a legal battle launched by Attorney General Jeff Landry a…

With this new map, see infrastructure projects federal cash is bringing to your parish

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Updated Mar 23, 2023

A sweeping relief bill passed through Congress in late 2021 promised communities billions of dollars for new infrastructure — a promise that's now being realized.

An 11-year-old's funeral fund and a Baton Rouge father's plea: 'Something's got to change'

By PAUL COBLER and ELLYN COUVILLION | Staff writers
Mar 22, 2023

Matthew Fortenberry loved basketball, and earlier this month his school team had won a championship. His Glen Oaks Park Elementary School team was supposed to be honored at Wednesday’s Metro C…

Six options considered for renaming Louisiana National Guard facility that honored Confederate general

BY FAIMON A. ROBERTS III | Staff writer
Mar 22, 2023

Camp Beauregard, the sprawling Louisiana installation in Pineville that functions as one of two main sites for the Louisiana National Guard, will get a new name later this year as it follows t…

Here's how Louisiana Republicans are responding to Donald Trump's possible arrest

By JAMES FINN and MARK BALLARD | Staff writers
Mar 21, 2023

WASHINGTON — A web of legal problems ensnaring former president Donald Trump have stuck Republicans in Washington, including Louisiana's congressional delegation, with the familiar task of def…

Trump waits out grand jury as New York braces for protests

By ERIC TUCKER and MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press
Updated Mar 21, 2023

Former President Donald Trump is in Florida, waiting out the possibility of criminal charges in New York City — as the city braces for disruptions that could follow an indictment. Meanwhile on…

Recall campaign fails to get enough signatures to force vote on Mayor LaToya Cantrell

BY MATT SLEDGE | Staff writer
Updated Mar 22, 2023

The high-powered recall campaign against Mayor LaToya Cantrell, which put New Orleans politics in the national spotlight for months as it raised doubts about the mayor's future, crashed to the…

Signature count in LaToya Cantrell recall complete, but results remain a mystery

BY MATT SLEDGE | Staff writer
Updated Mar 21, 2023

New Orleans election officials have completed their count of signatures on the LaToya Cantrell recall petition, but the result of the campaign remains a mystery.

Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles under fire over customer service

BY WILL SENTELL | Staff writer
Updated Mar 21, 2023

State lawmakers grilled Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles officials on Monday over complaints about poor customer service, including allegations that staffers often respond rudely to customer…

Author Walter Isaacson to receive National Humanities Medal from President Biden

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Mar 20, 2023

WASHINGTON – New Orleans native and Tulane University professor Walter Isaacson will receive a 2021 National Humanities Medal from President Joe Biden during an East Room White House ceremony …