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5th Circuit cancels redrawing of Louisiana’s congressional district map
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has canceled the redrawing of Louisiana’s congressional districts that was scheduled to begin Oct. 3, adding another delay to the efforts of Black voters to gain equitable representation. NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney Jared Evans confirmed the news Thursday afternoon, saying the Republican defendants are claiming a lower […]
Task force looks into Louisiana’s inability to enforce its own seafood labeling laws
Louisiana’s failure to enforce its own seafood labeling laws has prompted one state lawmaker to revive a long-dormant panel. It met Wednesday for the first time in years to address a struggling domestic fishery and the increasing health threats from imported foreign catch. The Louisiana Legislature created the Seafood Safety Task Force in 2009. The […]
Four more Louisiana Constitution amendments are on the Oct. 14 ballot
Louisiana voters will be asked, yet again, to decide on a number of amendments to the state constitution in the upcoming fall elections. The constitution, ratified in 1974 as a framing document to define the basic principles and structure of state government, has consistently been changed through amendments. Items normally placed in state statute, where […]
Louisiana Dept. of Education failed to investigate 40% of disability complaints, audit finds
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) failed to investigate a significant number of formal complaints against schools not following federal laws to protect students with disabilities during the 2021-2022 school year, according to a new report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. Auditors found state education officials investigated and resolved 61 complaints during the 2021-2022 school […]
Pointe Coupee residents want to hear from Louisiana House candidates
Pointe Coupee Parish residents have invited the three candidates vying to represent them in the upcoming Louisiana House District 18 race to a town hall convention on Monday to discuss issues of affordable housing, broadband expansion and public schools. The Westside Sponsoring Committee, a nonpartisan political group, is hosting the meeting in an effort to […]
Louisiana Secretary of State candidates debate 2020 election denial, voting machines
A virtual candidate forum held Thursday for those vying to become Louisiana’s next top election official was mostly tranquil apart from a few fictional claims on the part of one of the candidates. The forum, held via video conference by the Public Affairs Research Council, included three Republicans — Mike Francis, Nancy Landry and Brandon […]
Consultant spends 13 years, nearly $600,000 drafting energy efficiency rules
A consulting firm has charged state taxpayers over a half-million dollars while trying for 13 years to write energy efficiency policy for the Louisiana Public Service Commission. On Wednesday, it approved giving the firm more money and time because the work is still not complete. In 2010, the LPSC hired Roswell, Georgia-based consulting firm J. […]
Groups canvass Louisiana on National Voter Registration Day
Volunteers and advocacy groups spent much of Tuesday canvassing neighborhoods and knocking on doors for National Voter Registration Day. Held annually every September, National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic event during which volunteers and organizations take to the streets in a coordinated effort to assist people in registering to vote. It comes just […]
Renewable power expected to grow as Louisiana marks clean energy transition
Louisiana will soon mark the seventh annual National Clean Energy Week. While the state’s renewable power industry is slightly behind that of most other states, it is forecast to accelerate significantly over the coming years. According to a press release Thursday, Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 25-29 as Clean Energy Week […]
Louisiana voluntarily transfers youth from Angola despite appeals court ruling
State officials voluntarily transferred all incarcerated youth Friday from a temporary detention center on the grounds of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola despite an appeals court ruling earlier this week that delayed a deadline for their court-ordered relocation. According to an Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) press release, its staff transferred the youth to […]
$2 billion ammonia plant proposed for Ascension Parish
CF Industries announced Thursday it’s proposing a new $2 billion low-carbon ammonia production facility in Ascension Parish. According to a Louisiana Economic Development agency (LED) press release, CF Industries is evaluating the feasibility of constructing a low-carbon clean ammonia production plant at its Blue Point Complex. The company is already the world’s largest producer of […]
Company that reneged on 100 Jefferson Parish jobs still provides conflicting numbers
A fertilizer company that drew public backlash over the number of jobs it said it would bring to Jefferson Parish has corrected the number on its website. But it still claims it will pay an average salary of $120,000, a figure that differs drastically from paperwork the company filed with state officials. American Plant Food […]