State Politics

Mourning Charlie Kirk, Louisiana's Steve Scalise cites his own shooting, condemning violence

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Staff writer
Updated 13 hrs ago

As political figures across Louisiana and the country reacted to the fatal shooting of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jeffers…

Clay Higgins clashes with Democrats over crime in Washington D.C. and Louisiana

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
22 hrs ago

The Lafayette lawmaker demanded a description of him as Donald Trump's 'lapdog' be removed from the Congressional Record.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell pleads not guilty to federal corruption charges, setting up court battle

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Updated Sep 10, 2025

Mayor LaToya Cantrell appeared in federal court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to a host of corruption charges, setting up a months-long court battle that's poised to overshadow her final…

Gov. Jeff Landry scolds Bill Cassidy on COVID vaccine: 'I am sure big pharma would love you'

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Sep 10, 2025

WASHINGTON – Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry took exception to U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy’s suggestion that the state surgeon general could easily get around recent federal hurdles for people trying to…

Resources

AG signals possible Supreme Court showdown over death penalty in Baton Rouge child rape case

BY AIDAN MCCAHILL | Staff writer
Sep 10, 2025

After a man accused of raping a 4-year-old child turned himself into Baton Rouge Police Monday, District Attorney Hilar Moore is considering pursuing the death penalty for the defendant - a de…

This Baton Rouge area library system must get a tax passed, and risks closing if it doesn't

BY HALEY MILLER | Staff writer
Sep 10, 2025

Five months ago, residents voted down a renewal of the 4.1-mill property tax that funds the West Baton Rouge Parish Library. As the second vote on the same question gets closer, library staff …

How a Shreveport case over Bernie Sanders could upend how councils across Louisiana vote

By ADAM DUVERNAY and PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | Staff writers
Sep 10, 2025

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill contends a resolution welcoming Bernie Sanders to Shreveport was illegal because the parish commission voted with machines — an argument that raises ques…

Florida's new vaccine policy will cause children to die, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana says

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Sep 10, 2025

Ending vaccine mandates for children, as Florida did last week, will lead to unnecessary deaths, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy said.

What Trump's big crime push means for Louisiana — and the legal hurdles it faces

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Sep 6, 2025

Federalizing National Guard troops to patrol the streets of American cities — perhaps including New Orleans and Shreveport — is being discussed at the same time Republicans on Capitol Hill are…

95 Louisiana National Guard troops to help ICE as immigration crackdown intensifies

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN | Staff writer
Sep 5, 2025

The Louisiana National Guard has mobilized 95 troops to support ICE operations in the state, another step Gov. Jeff Landry has taken to support President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

Louisiana's Black Caucus challenges Attorney General Liz Murrill shift on redistricting

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Sep 5, 2025

WASHINGTON — The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus and some White Democratic legislators have asked a judge to stop Attorney General Liz Murrill's office from arguing that the U.S. Supreme Co…

Gov. Jeff Landry fined $900 for not disclosing private flights while he was attorney general

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Sep 5, 2025

The fine is part of a settlement between Landry and the Louisiana Board of Ethics over charges against the governor for breaking state ethics laws.

Sen. John Kennedy compares radioactive imported shrimp to 'Alien' monster: 'It will kill you'

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Staff writer
Updated Sep 5, 2025

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana used an unusual prop to argue for tougher inspections of foreign seafood in a speech on the Senate floor: A poster-sized picture of the monster from sci-fi …

Louisiana's Bill Cassidy criticizes RFK Jr. on vaccines, says Trump should get Nobel for them

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Sep 4, 2025

In his strongest criticism to date, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, who is the senator most responsible for confirming Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accused the nation’s health chief Thursday of preventing A…

Louisianan nominated for top energy regulating commission says he's 'agnostic' on solar, wind

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Sep 4, 2025

WASHINGTON – The latest nominee for the federal panel that regulates utility companies – David LaCerte of Baton Rouge – said Thursday that he would be “agnostic” when it comes to permitting ne…

Political clash over Trump nominees snares Kurt Wall, set to be Baton Rouge-area prosecutor

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Sep 4, 2025

WASHINGTON – Kurt Wall’s confirmation to become prosecutor for the federal district based in Baton Rouge was put on hold as part of a broader partisan fight between Senate Democrats and Republicans.

Of Louisiana's nearly 3M voters, 79 noncitizens illegally voted since '80s, investigation finds

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Updated Sep 4, 2025

Of the almost 3 million Louisiana residents registered to vote, 390 noncitizens did so illegally — and 79 of them actually voted in at least one election since the 1980s, Secretary of State Na…

'Epstein files' controversy continues in Congress. Here's how Mike Johnson is handling it.

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Sep 4, 2025

As pressure continued to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, Speaker Mike Johnson got a show of support Wednesday from Republicans.

Louisiana Republicans push 'real momentum' in Gonzales on industry, education, crime

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT | Staff writer
Sep 4, 2025

Echoing a speech given by Gov. Jeff Landry two weeks ago in Donaldsonville, Republican representatives portrayed Louisiana as a state with forward momentum in industry, education and crime red…

Julia Letlow rules out bid to be next LSU president. Here's what's next in the search.

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Sep 4, 2025

U.S. Rep Julia Letlow on Wednesday ruled out applying to be the next president of LSU, ending widespread speculation just as the search to replace former President William Tate is gearing up.

See inside new 'Louisiana Lockup,' the ICE facility at Angola Gov. Jeff Landry announced

HILARY SCHEINUK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER and JULIA GUILBEAU | VIDEO PRODUCER
Sep 3, 2025

Gov. Jeff Landry and top leaders in President Donald Trump's administration unveiled Wednesday a new ICE detention center on the grounds of Angola State Penitentiary at Angola.

Clay Higgins tried to censure a Democrat over an ICE confrontation. The House dropped it.

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Sep 3, 2025

WASHINGTON – With help from five Republicans, the U.S. House tabled a motion Wednesday by Rep. Clay Higgins to censure a Democratic colleague who got in trouble with immigration officers while…

Gov. Jeff Landry, Trump officials unveil 'Louisiana Lockup,' an ICE detention center at Angola

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN | Staff writer
Sep 3, 2025

Flanked by several top leaders of President Donald Trump's administration, Gov. Jeff Landry on Wednesday unveiled plans to open a new ICE detention center on the grounds of the Louisiana State…

President Donald Trump proposes sending National Guard, federal agents to patrol New Orleans

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Sep 3, 2025

Sparking strong local and state reactions, President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that he could send federal agents and National Guard troops to patrol New Orleans, part of a series of int…

Rep. Julia Letlow says she will not be the next LSU president, ending months of rumors

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Staff writer
Sep 3, 2025

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, R-Baton Rouge, says she will not seek to be the next president of LSU.

Officials expected to announce new ICE detention center at Angola

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN | Staff writer
Updated Sep 3, 2025

Gov. Jeff Landry and top officials from President Donald Trump's administration are expected to announce today the opening of an ICE detention center on the grounds of the Louisiana State Peni…

Clay Higgins wants to defund health departments, other groups that promote COVID vaccine

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Sep 2, 2025

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Acadiana, is urging his colleagues to ban funding to organizations that promote the COVID-19 vaccine for kids.

20 years after Hurricane Katrina, where do the Trump Administration's plans for FEMA stand?

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Aug 30, 2025

WASHINGTON – Most people who lived in south Louisiana 20 years ago can’t help but recall what they were doing, what they saw, and what they experienced when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.