Heroes Who Serve: 5 First Responders Keeping Louisiana Safe

Patch and T-Mobile are spotlighting local EMTs, firefighters and police officers who are making a difference in their communities.

Teacher Pay Raises, Health Care Programs Cut In House Version Of Louisiana Budget

The Republican House leadership unveiled a budget proposal, reducing a proposed K-12 teacher salary increase and health care for the poor.

Kim Mulkey Scores Again: State Funds May Be On The Way For PMAC Renovation

LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey's wish for a stadium renovation may be coming true this year, legislative leaders said Monday.

Few Changes Made Since Hurricane Ida To Protect New Orleans's Most Vulnerable Residents

NEW ORLEANS — Shirley Holmes said that, above all, her husband of 42 years was two things: a joker and a dancer.

Bogalusa's Youngest Mayor Confronts Youth Crime Problem

BOGALUSA —Tyrin Truong's inspiration for becoming mayor came from the 2021 documentary “Milltown.”

Billions Are Left To Address The COVID Student Slump, But Some See An Unfunded Mandate

Billions of federal dollars are available to help Louisiana students make up ground lost in the classroom to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Louisiana's Unemployed Could See Jobless Benefits Cut In Half

People in Louisiana who lose their jobs would see half the unemployment benefits currently available if a proposal passes.

Senate Committee Pushes Through Library Restriction Bill Without Hearing From Opposition

It would establish a system for Louisiana public libraries to restrict children's access to content deemed sexually explicit.

Commentary: The Public Shouldn't Be Silenced For A Lawmaker's Inability To Schedule

More than a dozen proponents and nearly as many opponents came to the State Capitol Thursday to address lawmakers regarding this bill.

‘Don't Say Gay' Bill Gains Traction In Louisiana

It could soon be illegal to say “gay” in La., public schools. State lawmakers advanced two proposals Wednesday that would prohibit it.

Louisiana Governor Candidates Pressed For Stances At Public Affairs Research Forum

All seven of the well-funded candidates for Louisiana governor agree more public money should be invested on early childhood education.

Proposal Would Allow Associate Degree Holders To Take Teaching Jobs

A Louisiana Senate panel approved a proposal Thursday that would allow holders of two-year associate degrees to fill teaching vacancies.

Shorter Training Time For Cosmetologists Not In Style For Everyone

A proposal to shorten the training requirements for a cosmetology license in Louisiana isn't a good look, according to some.

Candidates For Louisiana Attorney General Prioritize Crime Fighting At Forum

The four candidates running for attorney general cited crime as the top problem facing the state.

Stefanski Hinges Attorney General Campaign On Fentanyl Crackdown

Stefanski, running to be the “tough on crime” attorney general, wants to put people in prison permanently for fentanyl possession.

Want To Be Buried With Your Pet? Louisiana Might Dig That

A Louisiana House committee gave its nod Monday to a proposal that would allow pet owners to have the cremated remains of their companion.

Louisiana House Votes Unanimously To Weaken Nursing Home Evacuation Plan Enforcement

The Louisiana House of Representatives voted 103-0 to allow nursing homes to continue to operate even if their plans fail to meet standards.

Bill Would Require Industrial Plants To Install Public Air Monitoring Systems

A proposal to require industrial air monitoring to protect Louisiana residents from chemical air pollutants cleared an early obstacle.

St. Tammany Library Signs Off On Policy To Relieve Burden Of Book Challenges

The St. Tammany Library Board has approved a policy that would prevent books from being removed from shelves.

Stricter Juvenile Justice Proposals Among Raft Of Criminal Policy Changes To Advance

Approval of a bill that would stop treating 17-year-olds as youth offenders in Louisiana's criminal justice system capped a 6-hour hearing.

Lawmakers Punt On LSU, Southern Football Ticket Tax For Trains

A legislative committee sacked a bill that would have levied a tax on certain college football tickets to help pay for a rail project.

Louisiana's Proposed Tax Credit For Anti-Abortion Pregnancy Centers Clears First Hurdle

It's a proposed income tax credit for anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers, one that could cost the state as much as $5 million annually.

Proposal Shields Teachers From Criminal Consequences For Breaking Up Student Fights

Teachers would be immune from criminal charges if a student gets hurt when they break up a fight, according to a proposal being advanced.

Offshore Wind Workforce A Weak Link In Plan To Build Out Renewables

A national push toward offshore wind energy could create thousands of well-paying domestic jobs in Louisiana and elsewhere.

Local Governments Object To Franchise Tax Repeal, Loss Of ITEP Control

Tax proposals that could cost Louisiana and its local governments millions quietly advanced out of a state Senate committee Monday.

Black Educators Faced Overwhelming Challenges During Pandemic

NEW ORLEANS — For many Black educators in New Orleans, teaching during the height of the pandemic was overwhelming, the report states.

Louisiana Legislators Consider Weakening Standards For Nursing Home Disaster Plans

Gov. John Bel Edwards's administration is backing a law change that could allow nursing homes to continue to operate.

LSU's Decades-Old Faculty Governance Problem Could Get A Virtual Solution

LSU faculty governance is paralyzed by a decades-old oversight system, and a legislative proposal has stumbled upon a potential solution.

Home Improvement Contractors Could Become Extinct In Louisiana

Under a proposed law, homeowners would have to hire a licensed general contractor for any home improvement work valued over $10,000.

Lawmakers Combat Rising College Costs For Veterans

A Louisiana legislative committee unanimously advanced two bills Thursday to make college more affordable for military veterans.

House Advances Hemp Bill That Keeps THC Legal

State House lawmakers advanced a proposal Thursday that would tweak Louisiana's regulations on high-inducing consumable hemp products.

Lawmakers Feel Murder Ballads Fall Flat As Evidence In Criminal Trials

Johnny Cash never shot a man in Reno just to watch him die, but those lyrics could have come to haunt him had he spoken from experience.

A Day After Delaying All Incentives, Louisiana Republicans Advance Tax Breaks For Oil Industry

Republican lawmakers abandoned their cautious approach to tax incentives and advanced a bill that would be costly to the state.

Construction Projects, Teacher Raises Or Retirement Debt? Lawmakers Debate How To Spend Money

Louisiana legislative leaders are not on the same page about how to spend billions of dollars in unexpected money available to the state.

John Schroder Spends More Than $500,000 On Campaign Ads For Governor

Campaign finance reports for candidates in this fall's governor race show Treasurer John Schroder, by far, has outspent opponents.

Tim Temple Lends Himself $950,000 For Insurance Commissioner's Race

In a move that may shun others, Tim Temple has committed $950,000 of his own money to run for insurance commissioner.

Effort To Elect Stephen Waguespack Louisiana Governor Relies On Secret Donors

Former business lobbyist Stephen Waguespack and his supporters have touted their ability to raise $3.1 million in just one month.

Cautious Lawmakers Put $1.48B In Tax Credit Proposals In Holding Pattern, With More To Come

A Louisiana House committee took no action Tuesday on over a dozen tax credit proposals that would withhold a total of $1.48 billion.

Hemp Industry Fears THC Proposal Will Stunt Its Growth

Some consider Louisiana a haven for legal cannabis in the Deep South, even though recreational marijuana remains off limits.

Legislative Committee Advances Bills To Address Post-Roe Louisiana

A Louisiana legislative committee has moved the first of many bills introduced to address the expected increase in births.