News
326,000 remain in dark two days after Hurricane Zeta
Two days after Hurricane Zeta hit the state with 110 mph winds, an estimated 326,000 customers in Louisiana remained without electricity Friday morning, down from a peak outage of more than half a million. A large percentage of those outages are in Jefferson Parish, where about 72 percent remained without power, Gov. John Bel Edwards […]
400,000 Southeast Louisiana customers still without power after Hurricane Zeta
Hurricane Zeta’s death toll increased to six in the Southeast as of 5 p.m. on Oct. 29. A man was electrocuted by a downed power line in New Orleans, another drowned in Biloxi and a man in Acworth, Georgia was killed when an oak tree fell on his home. Two people were also killed near […]
Polling places may be relocated due to Zeta
State and local officials are working to figure out how much damage Hurricane Zeta caused to polling locations across Southeast Louisiana and if any need to be relocated ahead of Tuesday’s presidential election. The Category 2 storm made landfall in Cocodrie, an unincorporated fishing village in Terrebonne Parish about 85 miles southwest of New Orleans. […]
Hurricane Zeta tears through New Orleans area toppling trees and power lines
A 55-year-old man was fatally electrocuted by a downed powerline in New Orleans Wednesday evening, becoming the first known casualty of Hurricane Zeta, a rare late-October storm that quickly tore through New Orleans and the surrounding area toppling trees, downing powerlines ripping off roofs with winds of over 100 miles per hour. Another death was […]
During 10 days of early voting, a third of Louisiana’s voters cast ballots
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story included incorrect deadlines for requesting and returning absentee ballots. About a third of Louisiana’s registered voters cast ballots during the 10 days of early voting for this year’s presidential election, according to statistics provided by the Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin’s office. Ardoin said the 964,181 votes […]
“Zeta is literally on our doorstep,” Gov. John Bel Edwards says
“Zeta is literally on our doorstep,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a press conference on Wednesday. Edwards said residents in Southeast Louisiana need to “now be where you want to be as you ride the storm out and get you and your family in the best posture possible for the storm.” Edwards said, “All […]
Most of Louisiana’s ‘pet projects’ go to parishes of lawmakers who wrote budget
Lighthouse repairs in Madisonville. A new generator for a water tower in Iota. Economic development in downtown Houma. Crime cameras in New Orleans. Fire hydrants in Assumption Parish. HVAC equipment for the Washington Parish jail. Town hall repairs in Maurice. Those are a few of the 118 local pet projects lawmakers voted to spend $25.2 […]
Governor vetoes bill to give legislators power over COVID-19 restrictions
Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoed legislation Tuesday that gives legislators the power to rescind COVID-19 restrictions and weakens his authority over emergencies overall. “I have said repeatedly that an emergency cannot be managed by committee and that is exactly what this bill would allow,” wrote the governor in his veto explanation to the legislature. Edwards […]
Southeast Louisiana residents have only today and tomorrow morning to prepare for Hurricane Zeta, Edwards says
Southeast Louisiana residents have only today and tomorrow morning to prepare for Hurricane Zeta’s Wednesday afternoon landfall, Gov. John Bel Edwards said. Tropical Storm Zeta strengthened into a hurricane Monday and is expected to hit the Gulf Coast Wednesday as a Category 1 storm somewhere between Southeast Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle. At a press […]
Louisiana State Police chief retires amid scandals
The head of Louisiana State Police, Superintendent Col. Kevin Reeves, will retire at the end of this week. The 30-year veteran will leave an agency that has been embroiled in scandals for several years. The governor said he plans to name Reeves’ successor in the coming days. The announcement comes on the heels of revelations […]
Nov. 27 deadline to apply for Hurricane Laura FEMA assistance
People who suffered damage from Hurricane Laura now have until Nov. 27 to register for federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the agency has announced. Federal assistance includes help for temporary housing, rental assistance and repair or replacement of damaged property. FEMA can also provide grants to cover costs of medical and dental […]
Vote now! Or wait till Election Day
With one last day to go of early voting, 62 percent more Louisianians had voted before Election Day this year than voted early during the last presidential election. State officials counted 531,555 early ballots in 2016. Through Monday, 860, 840 early ballots had been cast, figures from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office show. Early […]