News
Some Democrats push to rescue climate plan in Biden spending package
A group of congressional Democrats on Tuesday called for preserving the climate portions of President Joe Biden’s stalled domestic spending bill as Democrats in the U.S. Senate rewrite the measure. U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Tina Smith of Minnesota and John Hickenlooper of Colorado, along with Reps. Kathy Castor […]
Voting rights tops U.S. Senate agenda as Jan. 6 anniversary nears
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday stressed that Democrats are prepared to change Senate rules to pass voting rights legislation — and linked the move to the attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. “The election subversion efforts we’re seeing all across the country today are […]
New year brings new laws to Louisiana
The beginning of 2022 brought with it several new laws. Among the changes are new tax rates for individuals and businesses, a shorter deadline for how long prosecutors can detain a suspect for a misdemeanor offense, and greater access to medical marijuana. In November, Louisiana voters changed a provision in the state constitution to allow an […]
Federal judge blocks Biden vaccine mandate for Head Start workers in 24 states
A Louisiana federal judge has put a hold on President Joe Biden’s mandate that Head Start workers be vaccinated against COVID-19. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, who previously ruled against a vaccine mandate for health care workers, issued a preliminary injunction on New Year’s Day restricting the executive branch from enforcing in 24 states a […]
Schumer says U.S. Senate to consider changing the filibuster if voting rights stalls
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned on Monday that the Senate is prepared to debate changes in the filibuster if Republicans continue to block the advancement of voting rights legislation. In a sternly worded letter to other senators, the New York Democrat set a deadline of Jan. 17 for the chamber to consider […]
Louisiana Public Service Commission awards contracts to man with suspended law license
The Louisiana Public Service Commission has given $220,000 worth of government contracts to a consultant with professional and personal connections to one of its commissioners, even after the consultant’s law license was suspended in 2019. The commission awarded Scott McQuaig two contracts in 2020 worth nearly $180,000 total for consulting work on 5G utility pole attachments […]
Federal law still treats marijuana as an illegal drug, creating headaches for states
Most states in the U.S. are in violation of a major federal drug statute. The 1971 Controlled Substances Act lists marijuana in the most dangerous category defined in the law, on par with cocaine and heroin because of its supposed potential for abuse and lack of medical applications. But 36 states plus the District of […]
Biden appoints Louisiana Legislature Black Caucus Chair Ted James to Small Business Administration
President Joe Biden has appointed state Rep. Ted James (D-Baton Rouge) to serve as a regional administrator in the U.S. Small Business Administration. James was among six others appointed to what the White House called “key regional leadership roles.” As the SBA’s Region 6 administrator, James will oversee district offices in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, […]
Candidates fighting 2020 misinformation run to administer local elections
As a chemist and immigrant from Vietnam, Linh Nguyen never thought she could have a role in U.S. politics. But then Donald Trump was elected president in 2016 and he “unknowingly inspired minority leaders, women of color like me, to be more actively engaged in politics,” she said. She joined the nonpartisan League of Women […]
No Permit, No Problem: More States Allow Residents to Carry a Hidden Gun
Six more states no longer require residents to hold a permit to carry a concealed firearm. Arkansas, Iowa, Montana, Tennessee, Texas and Utah this year enacted what gun rights advocates often refer to as “constitutional carry” measures. A legislative priority for groups such as the National Rifle Association, 21 states now have such measures in […]
Louisiana doesn’t allocate enough money to domestic violence services, audit finds
Louisiana isn’t able to provide services to all the domestic violence victims that seek them and five state laws meant to combat domestic violence aren’t consistently enforced, according to a report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor released this week. The state turned down an average of 2,659 requests for shelter from domestic violence victims annually […]
Louisiana distributing Johnson & Johnson vaccine ‘upon request’ after CDC change
Louisiana will continue to distribute the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, though the Centers for Disease Control announced last week that Americans should receive Pfizer or Moderna shots over J&J if possible. The J&J vaccine can cause rare, but serious, blood clots and the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines appear to be more effective, according to […]