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Louisiana’s formerly incarcerated struggle to secure housing
Advocates for the formerly incarcerated consider the denial of housing outright discrimination that should be banned by law. Their hopes are that cultural pressure leads to the changes they seek, much in the way the civil rights movement cracked through generations of Jim Crow policy.
With leaked draft overturning Roe v. Wade, let’s look at Louisiana’s abortion law
If the leaked draft of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on a Mississippi abortion law overturns the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, laws in place in several states will take effect. More legal challenges are expected, but Louisiana’s 16-year-old abortion law would go into effect immediately and include only limited exceptions. The Louisiana Legislature approved […]
Bill advances to reduce Louisiana’s temporary sales tax, but not right away
Louisiana lawmakers want to address the so-called fiscal cliff that arrives in mid-2025 when a temporary portion of the state sales tax expires.
Logic takes a backseat during debate over conversion therapy
Logic took an extreme backseat Wednesday during debate over a bill that would prevent certain medical professionals in Louisiana from practicing conversion therapy
Lawmakers ignore, twist facts in COVID proposals
It’s bad enough when bills are based on bad information. When their authors won’t stand behind them, that’s even worse.
Cable, internet providers could have to provide refunds automatically after disasters
Customers typically have to call for refunds, but a proposal that advanced Wednesday in the Louisiana Legislature would make them automatic if cable or internet outages last more than 24 hours because of a state-declared emergency.
Proposals highlight growing pains for Louisiana’s medical marijuana industry
High prices and a lack of access for patients in need have been the chief growing pains for Louisiana’s fledgling medical marijuana industry. State lawmakers want to address these problems, but backers of medicinal weed say proposed changes won’t come close to meeting demand that they describe as critical.
Legislature jumps into New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board fray
Exorbitant water bills, frequent boil advisories and storm flooding are the norm for Sewerage & Water Board customers, said state Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, R-New Orleans. She has sponsored House Bill 652 to make the utility answerable to the city council.
How much does Louisiana lose on big business incentives? Report 2 years overdue
Without this information, the governor and lawmakers might not be able to determine the effectiveness of state incentives, the auditor’s report said.
Business-backed charter schools wouldn’t answer to local school boards under proposal
The bill would remove oversight of such charter schools from local school boards and put them under the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Louisiana State Police leader could be placed under civilian oversight
The head of Louisiana State Police has for nearly four decades served as an unofficial member of the governor's cabinet, answerable only to the state's chief executive.
Louisiana can’t afford to be oil and gas exclusive
Fears of an all-green outlook for Louisiana are misguided, as the state will always be oil and gas reliant to a great extent