State

State DOTD announces bid results

Harlan Kirgan

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced that 22 projects around the state received bids in May. Nineteen contractors presented apparent low bids totaling $217.3 million.

Acadiana Juvenile Justice District bill signed

Harlan Kirgan

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

The nine-parish Acadiana Regional Juvenile Justice District is a reality. Gov. John Bel Edwards signed Act 166 into law Monday creating the district as a political subdivision of the state.

Bees collect pollen from blanket flowers.

Nurturing nature’s champions with plants for pollinators

(not verified)

Friday, June 9, 2023

Gardens come alive with the buzzing of bees, fluttering butterflies and graceful hummingbirds each spring and summer. In June, we celebrate National Pollinator Month in the U.S.

Gov. John Bel Edwards (Photo by Allison Allsop / LSU Manship School News Service)

Edwards says he expects to veto three transgender bills

Harlan Kirgan

Friday, June 9, 2023

Gov. John Bel Edwards said he expects to veto three anti-LGBTQ+ bills passed in the legislative session that ended Thursday.

State Sen. Heather Cloud

Bill to limit minors’ access to sexually explicit materials passes

(not verified)

Friday, June 9, 2023

A bill that would limit minors’ access to sexually explicit materials in public libraries received final legislative passage Thursday. While lawmakers are rushing to pass their bills before the session ends at 6 p.m. Thursday, the final version of Republican Sen.

Some Louisiana schools will receive posters with the motto “In God We Trust” written in Arabic to be placed in classrooms to comply with a new bill the Louisiana Legislature passed on Tuesday. (Image courtesy of Chaz Stevens)

Arabic ‘In God We Trust’ signs will test limits of Louisiana’s law

(not verified)

Friday, June 9, 2023

Some schools across Louisiana will soon receive free “In God We Trust” signs to hang in their classrooms, though the designs might not be what some state lawmakers had in mind when they passed the new mandate Tuesday. House Bill 8, co-sponsored by Republican Reps.

Louisiana’s $50B coastal plan approved by Legislature

Harlan Kirgan

Friday, June 9, 2023

The Louisiana Legislature has unanimously approved a $50 billion plan to protect and restore the state’s diminishing coast over the next 50 years. “We’re not just throwing money at the problem,” Gov.

Teacher pay raise turns into $2K stipend

Harlan Kirgan

Friday, June 9, 2023

Under a compromise approved in the chaotic closing minutes of the spring session Thursday, state lawmakers limited a $2,000 pay increase for teachers to a one-year stipend and cut $100 million from what the Senate had sought for the Louisiana Department of Health.

Senate President Page Cortez proposed lifting the state spending cap, and the House agreed on Wednesday. (Photo by Francis Dinh/LSU Manship School News Service)

House raises state spending limit

(not verified)

Thursday, June 8, 2023

The House voted 85-19 Wednesday to raise the Legislature’s limit on spending to make use of much of the large pile of extra cash flowing into state coffers. Senate Concurrent Resolution 3 would raise the expenditure limit for this fiscal year and next.

Permitless concealed carry dies

Harlan Kirgan

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

A bill to allow permitless concealed carry of firearms was withdrawn by a Republican lawmaker Tuesday, meaning that his efforts to push it are over this year. House Bill 131, authored by Rep.