Louisiana lawmakers reject bill to abolish death penalty
May 25, 2023 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — For the fifth time in six years, Louisiana lawmakers have blocked attempts to abolish the state’s death penalty.
Despite a new push by Democratic Gov. John Bel and testimony of proponents from all walks of life — exonerated death row inmates, religious leaders, a judge, family members of murder victims and other members of the public — a GOP-controlled legislative committee voted 11-4 Wednesday against a bill to repeal the state’s longstanding death penalty.
Advocates say parole is not enough for those convicted by juries that are not unanimous
May 11, 2023 GMTNEW ORLEANS (AP) — People convicted of felonies years ago by nonunanimous juries in Louisiana would have a chance for parole under a measure advanced at the Legislature on Thursday — over the objections of criminal justice advocates who said it doesn't go far enough to right a historic, racist wrong.
GOP lawmakers reject bill to raise Louisiana’s minimum wage
May 3, 2023 GMTBATON 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.
Louisiana’s film tax credit program could last until 2035
May 1, 2023 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — In Louisiana, dubbed by some as “Hollywood South,” lawmakers advanced a bill that would extend a motion picture tax credit program, which attracts movie producers and film companies to the state, by another decade.
Alabama and Mississippi mark Confederate Memorial Day
April 25, 2023 GMTMONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama and Mississippi closed most government offices Monday for Confederate Memorial Day as efforts have stalled to abolish state holidays that honor the old Confederacy.
Bill advances to fine porn sites not verifying age of users
April 17, 2023 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Pornography websites that don't require their users in Louisiana to present proof of age, such as by uploading their license, could face fines of $5,000 a day under a bill advancing in the House.
Abortion, insurance, LGBTQ issues top Louisiana state agenda
April 9, 2023 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana’s budget and bills about abortion access, the state insurance crisis, teacher pay and LGBTQ rights will top the state legislative agenda when lawmakers return to the Capitol Monday.
Judge who signed recall petition won’t quit related lawsuit
March 17, 2023 GMTNEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Louisiana judge presiding over a case related to recall efforts against New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell wants another judge to decide whether she should be removed from the case, now that a newspaper has revealed that she signed the recall petition.
Arguments on deal that put Black justice on Louisiana court
March 6, 2023 GMTNEW ORLEANS (AP) — A 1992 federal court agreement that led to a Black justice being elected to Louisiana's once all-white Supreme Court is no longer needed and should be dissolved, an assistant to the state's attorney general told a federal appeals court Monday.
Abortion clinics crossing state borders not always welcome
March 3, 2023 GMTBRISTOL, Va. (AP) — The pastors smiled as they held the doors open, grabbing the hands of those who walked by and urging many to keep praying and to keep showing up. Some responded with a hug. A few grimaced as they squeezed past.
Baton Rouge infant dies from fentanyl, mother arrested
March 2, 2023 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The mother of an infant, who died from a fentanyl overdose in Baton Rouge earlier this year, was arrested and charged Thursday for the baby's death, police say.
Tiffany Thomason, 40, faces a charge of negligent homicide in the case.
Supreme Court keeps wetland damage lawsuits in state courts
March 1, 2023 GMTNEW ORLEANS (AP) — A lawsuit against oil and gas companies over damage to Louisiana’s wetlands will remain in state court, the U.S. Supreme Court said, rejecting an appeal by major energy companies who wanted to get the case moved to a federal court.
2 Democrats make runoff in Louisiana House special election
February 19, 2023 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Two Democrats are headed to a runoff in a special election for a vacant Louisiana House seat representing parts of New Orleans after getting the most votes Saturday.
Louisiana governor’s proposed budget presented to lawmakers
February 17, 2023 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — With $2.2 billion in extra state revenue forecasted for Louisiana's upcoming budget, Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards wants to use a portion of those funds for teacher pay raises, pour hundreds of millions of dollars into additional spending for transportation projects and focus on funding education at all grade levels.
Woman sues after Louisiana lawmaker blocked her on Twitter
February 9, 2023 GMTNEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Louisiana woman filed a lawsuit Thursday arguing that a state senator's Twitter account is a public forum and therefore the lawmaker shouldn't be allowed to block posts critical of her anti-abortion efforts.
GOP state Sen. Hewitt enters Louisiana governor’s race
January 13, 2023 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — State Sen. Sharon Hewitt announced Friday that she is running to become Louisiana's governor, making her the third Republican to enter this year's race.
Hewitt, an engineer and a former oil and gas executive, was first elected to the legislature in 2015.
Oregon: People convicted by split juries can have new trial
December 31, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Hundreds of defendants in Oregon who were convicted of crimes by non-unanimous juries before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down such jury verdicts have a right to a new trial, under a decision issued by the state's supreme court on Friday.
EXPLAINER: What happens if COVID asylum restrictions end?
December 28, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Since the pandemic began, the United States has been using a public health rule designed to limit the spread of disease to expel asylum-seekers on the southern border.
Title 42, as it’s called, has been used more than 2.5 million times to expel migrants since March 2020, although that number includes people who repeatedly attempted to cross the border.
On the ballot in 2023: Southern governors, big-city mayors
December 28, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot will be asking voters for a second term leading one of the nation’s biggest cities. Republicans will try to take full control of the Virginia Legislature.
US Supreme Court keeps asylum limits in place for now
December 28, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is keeping pandemic-era limits on asylum in place for now, dashing hopes of migrants who have been fleeing violence and inequality in Latin America and elsewhere to reach the United States.
Newcomer wins seat on Louisiana Public Service Commission
December 11, 2022 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Newcomer Davante Lewis, a Democrat backed by an environmental political action committee, easily won Saturday’s runoff for a seat on Louisiana’s Public Service Commission — an obscure regulatory body that has received national attention from media, celebrities, climate change activists and major public utility companies.
Edwards visits church rebuilt after 2019 arson
December 9, 2022 GMTOPELOUSAS, La. (AP) — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards sounded themes of gratitude, resilience and compassion during a visit to a church building that was rebuilt after being destroyed by an arsonist three years ago.
Louisiana state government turnover rate tops 17% last year
November 6, 2021 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana state government agencies lost more than 17% of their civil service employees in the last financial year.
Byron Decoteau, director of State Civil Service, said the turnover rate was nearly 2 percentage points higher in the 2020-21 budget year that ended June 30 than in the previous year.