State Politics

Governor John Bel Edwards says he'll veto anti-LGBTQ+ bills passed by Louisiana Legislature

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
6 hrs ago

Louisiana Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards plans to veto three bills that target LGBTQ+ people, he said Thursday, setting up a possible veto showdown with the state's Republican-controlled…

Steve Scalise meets with Brian Kelly and Nick Saban on NIL legislation

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated 5 hrs ago

WASHINGTON – LSU football coach Brian Kelly and University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban met privately with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise Thursday to discuss legislation that woul…

Gas stoves bills held up by conservative mutiny over debt limit solution

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated 4 hrs ago

WASHINGTON – Legislation barring the federal government from banning gas stoves in American homes and restaurants was sidetracked this week in the U.S. House by a few conservatives angered by …

Louisiana Legislature approves budget in chaotic vote marked by yelling, confusion

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Updated 5 hrs ago

With four minutes to spare before the Louisiana Legislature's final deadline to pass bills, lawmakers approved a sweeping spending package Thursday in a series of chaotic votes marked by angry…

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'I'm glad I made it that far:' Francis Thompson is longest serving legislator with 49 years

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Updated 11 hrs ago

It’s now official: Francis Thompson is the longest serving state legislator in Louisiana history.

Gabe Firment, an insurance adjustor, sparked a firestorm with transgender care bill

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Updated 5 hrs ago

Nothing that Gabe Firment has done in his 52 years compares to the firestorm that has surrounded the freshman legislator during the past several weeks.

See which bills passed, failed in 2023 Louisiana Legislative session

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Updated 4 hrs ago

Louisiana's Legislature adjourned its 2023 regular session at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Supreme Court ruling could lead to new Louisiana congressional maps — with 2nd Black district

BY SAM KARLIN | Staff writer
14 hrs ago

Opponents of Louisiana’s Republican-drawn political maps are optimistic the state could soon have new maps that include a second majority-Black congressional district, after the U.S. Supreme C…

Supreme Court rules in favor of Black voters in Alabama redistricting case

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated 14 hrs ago

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a surprising ruling in favor of Black voters in a congressional redistricting case, ordering the creation of a second district with a large Bl…

Pat Robertson, broadcaster who helped make religion central to GOP politics, dies at 93

By BEN FINLEY | Associated Press
Updated 16 hrs ago

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson has died. He had an enormous impact on American politics and religion. Robertson turned a tiny Virginia television station into the far-reaching Christian B…

Due to anti-LGBTQ and other bills, NAACP urges 'extreme caution' if visiting Louisiana

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Updated Jun 7, 2023

Black and LGBTQ+ people should exercise "extreme caution" when visiting Louisiana, the state NAACP chapter has warned, citing what the group described as a dangerous environment created by a s…

What to know about Louisiana's budget before the last day of the legislative session

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Updated 7 hrs ago

A bloc of conservatives in the Louisiana House have sparred for weeks with more moderate Republicans and legislative leadership, vowing that at least 36 of them would hold the line and cut spending.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell defends NOPD's failure to test Cedric Richmond for intoxication after wreck

BY GORDON RUSSELL and KATIE MOORE | Staff writer and WWL-TV
Updated 7 hrs ago

Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Wednesday defended a New Orleans police officer's decision not to test former U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond for intoxication after he crashed his Mercedes into a tree, eve…

Almost 2 years after Hurricane Ida, lawmakers propose millions in recovery spending

BY SAM KARLIN | Staff writer
Updated Jun 7, 2023

Nearly two years after Hurricane Ida made landfall, Louisiana lawmakers continue to spend millions of dollars to help those still recovering from that storm.

Bill targeting foreign land ownership approved by Legislature after tweaks

BY SAM KARLIN | Staff writer
Updated 15 hrs ago

A bill to bar the Chinese government and its people from buying land in Louisiana has been approved by the state Legislature, after Republicans tacked on amendments aimed at alleviating concer…

Garret Graves endorses Stephen Waguespack in Louisiana governor's race

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Updated Jun 7, 2023

Stephen Waguespack scored his first major endorsement of his gubernatorial campaign Wednesday when U.S. Rep. Garret Graves announced his support.

President Joe Biden announces nominees for two Louisiana federal judgeships

BY GORDON RUSSELL | Staff writer
Jun 7, 2023

President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced two new nominees for federal judgeships in Louisiana, one in the New Orleans-based Eastern District of Louisiana and one in the Western District, whi…

Joe Biden taps 2 to fill vacancies on Louisiana's U.S. District Courts - and is blasted

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jun 7, 2023

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated two assistant U.S. attorneys to federal benches in Louisiana – and was quickly asked to withdraw those nominations by U.S. Rep. Troy Car…

Corporate franchise tax would disappear under legislation approved by state lawmakers

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Updated Jun 6, 2023

Louisiana’s corporate franchise tax – which business lobbyists have been trying to kill for years – would be phased out under a bill given final legislative approval on Tuesday.

Bill to let people carry concealed guns without permits dies in Louisiana Legislature

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Jun 6, 2023

A bill to let people carry concealed firearms without permits in Louisiana — something supporters argue would restore a right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution — appears dead this legislative…

Hollywood would get another six years of tax breaks under measure approved by Legislature

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Updated Jun 7, 2023

Hollywood would continue to receive generous tax subsidies from Louisiana taxpayers under a measure given final legislative approval on Tuesday.

New Orleans police didn't test Cedric Richmond for DWI after single-car wreck into tree

BY GORDON RUSSELL and KATIE MOORE | Staff writer and WWL-TV
Updated Jun 6, 2023

New Orleans police did not test former U.S. Rep. and presidential adviser Cedric Richmond for intoxication after he crashed his late-model Mercedes into an oak tree along North Claiborne Avenu…

5 things to know about Louisiana bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Updated Jun 6, 2023

State lawmakers in Baton Rouge are close to enacting a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, which would add Louisiana to a list of Republican-controlled state governments that have recentl…

Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed these bills into law

BY JESSICA WILLIAMS | Capitol News Bureau Editor
Jun 6, 2023

The 60-day legislative session will end on Thursday, but lawmakers have already sent several bills to Gov. John Bel Edwards' desk.

Public would have to stay 25 feet away from police officers who give orders to stand back

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Updated Jun 5, 2023

Police officers would have a 25-foot “safety zone” while carrying out their duties under a bill given final passage by the state Legislature Monday.

TV ad war launched against Republicans Stephen Waguespack and Jeff Landry by outside groups

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Updated Jun 6, 2023

On Wednesday, a pro-Stephen Waguespack group began slamming Jeff Landry in a TV ad.

Gulf 'dead zone' forecast to be smaller than average, but still twice reduction goal

BY MARK SCHLEIFSTEIN | Staff writer
Updated Jun 5, 2023

Low-oxygen area could amount to more than six Lake Pontchartrains this summer. Efforts to reduce nutrient pollution flowing down the Mississippi River from the Midwest have so far not worked.

Third graders would be held back unless they pass reading test under bill OK'd by Legislature

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Updated Jun 5, 2023

Third graders in Louisiana would be required to pass a state reading test to advance to fourth grade under legislation given final passage on Monday.