News
U.S. House moves to revoke Russia, Belarus trade status; 8 Republicans vote no
The U.S. House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to revoke normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, another step the federal government hopes will end the Russian war in Ukraine.
Most HBCU bomb threats may be coming from one juvenile, FBI official tells Congress
A top FBI official told members of a U.S. House panel on Thursday that the agency believes a single juvenile is behind most of the bomb threats made to more than 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
New Orleans Crescent City Connection won’t be named for Edwin Edwards
Rep. Kyle Green, D-Marrero, has pulled his legislation to rename the Crescent City Connection bridges that link the east and west banks of New Orleans for Gov. Edwin Edwards, who died last year. Green’s proposal sparked backlash from the public and lawmakers. Edwards, who lived to be 93, is Louisiana’s only four-term governor, but also […]
Lawyers could be paid more in Louisiana if they successfully defend fired first-responders
A Louisiana Senate committee advanced a bill Wednesday that would require municipalities to pay higher attorney’s fees when civil service boards reverse the terminations of police officers and firefighters.
Decline in federal grant funding for local elections criticized by advocates
The $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill passed by Congress last week includes $75 million in Help America Vote Act grants — a major reduction compared to years past.
U.S. House speaker hints at bigger COVID aid push after $15 billion yanked from spending bill
Amid reports of rising case levels overseas, Pelosi said the United States may need more than the amount negotiated with Republicans that congressional leaders eventually pulled from the $1.5 trillion government funding bill Congress passed last week.
Proposal would position Louisiana to receive $200 million to fix orphaned oil wells
A Louisiana lawmaker has proposed legislation that would position the state to receive nearly $200 million in federal funding to fix abandoned oil and gas wells. Senate Bill 245, sponsored by Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, would give the state Department of Natural Resources more flexibility on how much it can spend to plug and restore […]
TOPS eligibility could be eased for students affected by Hurricane Ida
A bill to modify eligibility requirements for Louisiana’s free college tuition program advanced from a Louisiana Senate committee Wednesday afternoon. The changes would apply to high school students affected by Hurricane Ida. Senate Bill 178, authored by Sen. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, would waive certain GPA requirements for the state’s TOPS program and extend deadlines […]
Zelenskyy reminds Congress of Pearl Harbor and 9/11 in pleading for U.S. help for Ukraine
During the speech, delivered virtually to members of Congress in an auditorium on Capitol Hill, Zelenskyy drew a comparison between attacks on the United States and on his democracy and called on the U.S. to institute a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
Anti-abortion group opposes giving adopted people access to birth certificates
A committee of Louisiana lawmakers will take another week to decide whether to advance a bill that would allow adopted people to obtain copies of their original birth certificates once they reach age 24. State law currently provides adopted individuals only limited access to the information from their birth records, mostly connected to vital health […]
Black voters, NAACP sue over Louisiana Senate and House maps
Four Black residents and two civil rights organizations filed a lawsuit Monday in an effort to block new political maps for the Louisiana House and Senate from taking effect. The plaintiffs allege the Louisiana Legislature’s new maps, which are supposed to be used in the 2023 election cycle, don’t include enough majority-Black districts and violate […]
Former Louisiana State Police leader’s lack of info in Ronald Greene case frustrates lawmakers
A bipartisan committee of state lawmakers spent nearly three hours Tuesday pressing the former superintendent of Louisiana State Police about what he knew about the May 2019 death of Ronald Greene, a Black motorist, in the custody of troopers after a vehicle pursuit in north Louisiana. Col. Kevin Reeves retired in October 2020 with numerous […]