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Louisiana proposes ‘overnight’ solution to trucker shortage
Louisiana is exploring a legislative solution to provide overnight relief to the supply-chain bottleneck that a nationwide shortage of truck drivers has caused. Senate Bill 477, sponsored by Sen. Gary Smith, D-Norco, cleared the Senate Transportation, Highways & Public Works Committee without objection Thursday and will advance to the Senate floor for consideration. The bill […]
Proposal would prevent rogue police from keeping badge
A police officer who causes someone’s death or serious injury while violating their civil rights can be dismissed from their job, but there’s nothing in Louisiana law that prevents rogue officers from being hired by another department. In fact, there’s nothing that compels their termination in the first place. A bill making its way through […]
Louisiana moves to give local government permanent control of industry tax breaks
In one of his first acts in office, Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a pair of executive orders that reformed the Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP), a lucrative enticement for big business. The governor curtailed the tax break from 100% to 80% of property taxes owed and, most critically, gave local government some say over […]
Louisiana State Police second-in-command placed on leave for ‘sanitizing’ cell phone
In the wake of heavy criticism from state lawmakers, Louisiana State Police’s second-in-command was placed on administrative leave Friday pending an internal investigation into his involvement in the alleged cover-up of the Ronald Greene case. Lt. Col. Doug Cain has been under investigation for several months after he and two other high-ranking administrators ordered their […]
Prosecutor will pursue charges against troopers in Ronald Greene case
John Belton would not specify what charges he is pursuing but said he is “looking at everything.” He mentioned the possibility of homicide charges and did not rule out obstruction of justice.
Louisiana lawmakers block attempt to pull tax breaks from solar, wind projects
Fossil fuel proponents in the Louisiana House of Representatives were met with resistance Tuesday in a committee where they brought three different bills, one of which would have targeted solar and wind energy projects to make them ineligible for state tax breaks. House Concurrent Resolution 6, sponsored by Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, would have […]
Entergy proposes its customers cover cost of backup generators for businesses
Entergy has proposed a new project to give backup generators to grocery stores and other commercial customers across the state to form micro-grids that can be used during outages and peak demand times, but the utility company wants the rest of its customers to pay for them. Entergy would also be able to run the […]
Senate passes bill to position Louisiana for $200 million in orphaned oil well grants
The Louisiana Senate approved a bill Monday that would position Louisiana to receive nearly $200 million in federal grants to fix orphaned oil and gas wells. Senate Bill 245, sponsored by Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, passed unanimously in a 38-0 vote without any debate on the floor. It will head to the House for consideration. […]
Appeals court reverses dismissal of Louisiana election grant lawsuit
A Louisiana appeals court on Wednesday reversed a lower court’s dismissal of a lawsuit that Attorney General Jeff Landry filed against a nonprofit organization that tried to help parish clerks and registrars pay for tents, signage, water and other basic supplies they needed for the 2020 presidential election. A three judge panel from Louisiana’s 3rd […]
Louisiana Legislature overrides Gov. Edwards’ veto of congressional map
The shape of Louisiana's congressional districts will likely be decided in a federal court now that the Republican-led state Legislature has overridden Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards' veto of a map that limits the state to one majority-Black district out of six in the U.S. House of Representatives.
UPDATES: 2022 Louisiana Legislature veto override session
Louisiana lawmakers have gathered for a veto override session at the State Capitol where they need to get two-thirds of members behind a Republican-backed map of the state's six congressional districts.
Louisiana lawmakers target adoption scammers
Louisiana lawmakers want to deter anyone who would cheat adoptive parents out of money under the guise of giving up a child, but some are concerned the penalties might lead to birth mothers being arrested for changing their mind. After lengthy debate Monday, a bill was approved to expand what qualifies as adoption deception, a […]