Latest Louisiana state government News

A Supreme Court redistricting ruling gave hope to Black voters. They're still waiting for new maps

Sep. 18, 2023 15:15 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court’s decision siding with Black voters in an Alabama redistricting case gave Democrats and voting rights activists a surprising opportunity before the 2024 elections. New congressional maps would have to include more districts in Alabama and...

Supreme Court pauses order curbing Biden administration efforts to block social media posts

Sep. 14, 2023 15:17 PM EDT

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday temporarily blocked a lower court order curbing Biden administration efforts to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security. White House communications staffers, the surgeon general and the FBI are...

Outrage intensifies over New Mexico governor's temporary gun ban as sheriff vows not to enforce it

Sep. 11, 2023 21:12 PM EDT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal lawsuits, cries for impeachment and outside protests. Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she would welcome a fight after announcing an emergency order to suspend the right to carry firearms in most public places around...

Appeals court scales back order squelching Biden administration contact with social media platforms

Sep. 08, 2023 20:19 PM EDT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court Friday significantly whittled down a lower court's order curbing Biden administration communications with social media companies over controversial content about COVID-19 and other issues. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New...

Louisiana gubernatorial candidates debate crime, economy and other issues 5 weeks from vote

Sep. 07, 2023 23:13 PM EDT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — With Louisiana's Election Day just five weeks away, candidates running for governor outlined their ideas on how to address the state's most pressing issues during the first major televised gubernatorial debate Thursday in the hopes of standing out from the pack and...

Shuttered EPA investigation could’ve brought 'meaningful reform' in Cancer Alley, documents show

Sep. 06, 2023 10:56 AM EDT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — As industrial plants have overtaken historic Black communities and burdened neighborhoods with toxic air pollution, environmental advocates and residents of Louisiana’s chemical corridor have spent decades calling for change. So when the country’s top...

A federal judge strikes down a Texas law requiring age verification to view pornographic websites

Sep. 01, 2023 11:21 AM EDT

A federal judge has struck down a Texas law requiring age verification and health warnings to view pornographic websites and blocked the state attorney general's office from enforcing it. In a ruling Thursday, U.S. District Judge David Ezra agreed with claims that House Bill 1181,...

Editorial Roundup: Pennsylvania

Aug. 23, 2023 11:13 AM EDT

Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News. August 20, 2023. Editorial: Join the Pa. legislature and start making money today! Lawmakers in the Pennsylvania General Assembly work about 50 days a year with a starting salary of $100,000. Nice work if you can get it. ...

Hearing begins over incarcerated youths being held at Louisiana's maximum-security prison

Aug. 15, 2023 21:29 PM EDT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A court hearing over whether to remove incarcerated youths from a temporary lockup at the Louisiana State Penitentiary — a remote maximum-security adult prison with a notorious history of violence — began Tuesday. For months, youths have said that they...

Here's a look at some of Louisiana's new 2023 laws

Aug. 01, 2023 19:57 PM EDT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A slew of new Louisiana laws, recently passed by the Republican-dominated Legislature and signed by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, went into effect Tuesday. Among the laws are those that increase punishments for fentanyl-related crimes, require every...