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Entergy to shift another $1.5B in storm costs to customers
Utility regulators approved a request Wednesday from Entergy Louisiana to bill customers $1.5 billion over 15 years to cover the costs of repairs the company made after Hurricane Ida. The measure involved a new strategy in which the regulators negotiated with Entergy to obtain a small reduction in the cost of the storm fee rather […]
University of New Orleans audit finds illegal contract, cash thefts
A University of New Orleans administrator deliberately circumvented school policy to install a $215,000 boiler under an illegal contract, and a UNO employee allegedly stole $3,600 from the athletics department, according to a state audit that detailed the incidents in a report released last week covering the university’s 2021-2022 fiscal year. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office […]
Louisiana lawmakers want ‘In God We Trust’ signs in every classroom
One of the first bills filed ahead of Louisiana’s 2023 legislative Session would require all public schools and universities to put a new sign in every classroom: “In God We Trust.” House Bill 8, cosponsored by Republican Reps. Dodie Horton of Houghton and Jack McFarland of Jonesboro, was among the first handful of bills published […]
State Sen. Sharon Hewitt announces bid for Louisiana governor
Louisiana State Sen. Sharon Hewitt announced Friday that she will run for governor, joining Treasurer John Schroder and Attorney General Jeff Landry in the race. A successful campaign would make Hewitt the second female governor of Louisiana and the first female Republican governor. The late Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat, served as governor from 2004 to […]
Homeowners and businesses could face drastic costs if lawmakers exempt inventory tax
A Louisiana House panel mulling proposals for sweeping changes to the state’s tax structure was warned Wednesday that drastic tax hikes await homeowners and businesses if lawmakers exempt commercial inventory stockpiles from local property taxes. Inventory taxes, which local governments use to pay for things such as public schools, law enforcement, hospitals and other public […]
Slave descendant wants Louisiana lawmakers to probe tax incentive deals
A descendant of slaves from St. John the Baptist Parish wants Louisiana legislators to take a more active role in auditing lucrative tax incentive deals between local governments and corporations. Her push comes after officials in St. John signed away millions in tax revenue to have a massive grain elevator built next to a historic […]
More than a dozen Louisiana agencies missed accounting deadlines, auditor says
More than a dozen state agencies failed to submit accounting data to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor over the past two years as required by law. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office issued a report that lists 14 state agencies that did not submit complete quarterly performance indicator information during fiscal year 2022. Eleven failed to submit […]
Analysts expect Louisiana oil & gas sector to shrink or pivot to clean fuels this year
Louisiana’s oil and gas industry is expected to shrink slightly this year due to a combination of economic and geopolitical factors, experts who follow the sector say, though they also forecast potential growth in the new energy and industrial sectors. Most analysts are predicting some kind of economic slowdown during the first half of 2023. […]
A solution to the climate and energy crises could be right above your head
Wind and solar technologies often dominate the conversation on curbing the high cost of fossil fuels and their detrimental greenhouse gas emissions. Another less prominent and far simpler application could have a significant impact on the energy and climate crises. The potential solution, almost as old as time itself, is used instinctually by animals and […]
Freeze warning: Temps will plunge to low teens across Louisiana
Louisiana is bracing for an Arctic blast expected to freeze most of the state early Friday morning, plunging temperatures into the low teens through Christmas Eve. The National Weather Service and state officials are urging residents across the state to complete cold-weather preparations no later than Thursday. The threatening weather comes just one week after […]
Louisiana conservatives consider ban on liberal business agendas
A panel led by two conservative Louisiana legislators is working to understand and eventually end the use of progressive corporate principles known as ESG that often support sustainable energy and socially responsible ways to do business. The acronym — which stands for environmental, social and corporate governance — is used primarily in the investment and […]
Louisiana Secretary of State bans TikTok from department devices
Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced Monday that he has banned TikTok on all department-issued devices, following similar action the U.S. Senate took over concerns about the social media company’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The ban affects only 11 cellphones, Secretary of State spokesman John Tobler said, but Ardoin has also blocked […]