Louisiana becomes first state to allow surgical castration as punishment for child molesters

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana has become the first state where judges can order offenders guilty of certain sex crimes against children to undergo surgical castration under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on Tuesday. While the punishment of surgical...

Ranked-choice voting has challenged the status quo. Its popularity will be tested in November

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska’s new election system — with open primaries and ranked voting — has been a model for those in other states who are frustrated by political polarization and a sense that voters lack real choice at the ballot box. Used for the first time in 2022,...

Saints make Superdome renovation payment and diffuse public standoff with state officials

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Saints made an $11.4 million payment toward Superdome renovations Friday, diffusing a public standoff between the NFL club and state officials who oversee the stadium that will host the next Super Bowl. Announcement of the payment by the club and the...

Saints and Superdome commission at odds over renovation payments with the Super Bowl on the horizon

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The state commission that oversees the Superdome and the New Orleans Saints are at odds over the club's financial contributions to renovations scheduled for completion before the stadium hosts the next Super Bowl. Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District board...

Supreme Court orders Louisiana to hold House elections in 2024 using a map with an additional Black majority district

Louisiana court may reopen window for lawsuits by adult victims of childhood sex abuse

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana’s Supreme Court agreed Friday to reconsider its recent ruling that wiped out a state law giving adult victims of childhood sexual abuse a renewed opportunity to file damage lawsuits. The law was passed by the Louisiana Legislature in 2021 and amended...

Advocates ask Supreme Court to back Louisiana's new, mostly Black House district

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Voting rights advocates filed an emergency motion Wednesday asking the Supreme Court to keep a new Louisiana congressional map in place for this year's elections that gives the state a second majority Black district. A divided panel of federal judges in western...

Judges say they'll draw new Louisiana election map if lawmakers don't by June 3

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A panel of federal judges who recently threw out a congressional election map giving Louisiana a second mostly Black district said Tuesday the state Legislature must pass a new map by June 3 or face having the panel impose one on the state. However, voting...

Advocates say Supreme Court must preserve new, mostly Black US House district for 2024 elections

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Voting rights advocates said Wednesday they will go to the Supreme Court in hopes of preserving a new majority Black congressional district in Louisiana for the fall elections, the latest step in a complicated legal fight that could determine the fate of political careers and...

Louisiana Supreme Court rules for new City of St. George

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana is steps closer to getting a new city. The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on Friday in favor of the proposed City of St. George, saying organizers followed the proper process for incorporation, overturning rulings by lower courts. The state’s...