Latest John Bel Edwards News
Editorial Roundup: Louisiana
The Advocate. May 24, 2023. Editorial: What’s the real answer to abused children in Louisiana? Louisiana has a Children’s Cabinet and an inspector general, an auditor’s office and other agencies. Is there a need for a specific “state child ombudsman” as...
Bill to restrict youth access to 'sexually explicit' public library books advances in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Activists in Louisiana are voicing concerns over a bill advancing through the GOP-controlled Legislature to restrict children and teens' access to public library books deemed “sexually explicit,” saying the proposal could be used to target LGBTQ+ content. ...
Editorial Roundup: Louisiana
The Advocate. May 16, 2023. Editorial: A state agency’s leadership called into question The good news is that a veteran of Louisiana State Police is restoring order to a state agency that has racked up a pile of credible reports of mismanagement and poor judgment on...
Rape, incest exceptions to Louisiana abortion ban rejected by GOP lawmakers
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Louisiana rejected legislation Wednesday that would add exceptions in cases of rape and incest to one of the strictest abortion bans in the country. This legislative session, there is a package of bills aimed at loosening Louisiana's...
Louisiana House OKs budget proposal without teacher pay hike
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana’s Republican-dominated House advanced a budget plan Thursday that does not include a $2,000-a-year teacher pay raise sought by the governor and would instead steer a windfall of hundreds of millions of dollars in extra state revenue toward paying down...
GOP lawmakers reject bill to raise Louisiana's minimum wage
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Efforts to increase Louisiana's minimum wage, which currently aligns with the federal rate of $7.25 an hour, were rejected in a Republican-controlled legislative committee Wednesday — a day after lawmakers advanced a bill that would double their own salaries. ...
Editorial Roundup: Louisiana
The Advocate. April 25, 2023. Editorial: Complacency over energy transition puts state’s economy at risk As he prepares to leave office next year, Gov. John Bel Edwards is urging folks to take a long look at Louisiana’s future as an energy state. He’s right to...
Louisiana wildlife chief quits amid bribery scandal
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The secretary of Louisiana's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries resigned Friday amid a developing scandal that saw a former member of the state wildlife commission plead guilty to a federal bribery charge. Jack Montoucet, who has not been charged with...
Editorial Roundup: Louisiana
The Advocate. April 10, 2023. Editorial: With so much money, how can the Capitol gang screw it up? When it comes to the Legislature and money, nothing succeeds like excess. The estimated $1.5 billion in new revenues that lawmakers have to spend as they...
Abortion, raises and death penalty top of Edwards' agenda
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — In Louisiana, teacher pay raises, added exceptions to the state’s near-total abortion ban and abolishing the death penalty are among items on Gov. John Bel Edwards’ wish list this legislative session. Unable to run for re-election in October because of...
