State

House passes DeVillier’s education funding bill

The House passed HB 33 by Rep. Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, which creates ESAs (education savings accounts) for children from military and foster families and students attending schools with D and F ratings who have been denied a transfer to better-performing schools.

Tri-Parish workforce grew 1.2% in March

The Tri-Parish workforce grew to 68,216 in March, which is 1.2% or 799 people over the March 2021 number, according to data released Friday by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The workforce includes workers and those looking for a job. The workforce count by parish in March was: — St.

Teacher, professor pay raises in budget

The House passed a package of budget bills on Thursday, including a proposed $38.6 billion state operating budget with pay raises for K-12 teachers and college faculty. The bill also included more money for infrastructure, though it would not give Gov.

‘Hunger-free campus’ program may soon come to Louisiana colleges

Louisiana college students struggling with getting enough food could soon get support from their universities. A bill to establish the “Hunger-Free Campus” program advanced Tuesday from the Louisiana House Education Committee. The proposal’s author, Rep.

Survey shows La. residents worry about storm losses

Louisiana residents are concerned about damage from hurricanes and fear the unsettling reality of the state’s eroding coastline, with 40% of respondents who have insurance saying they had filed property damage claims since 2020, according to an LSU survey released Tuesday.

Anti-vaccine bills stall in Legislature

Three anti-vaccine bills ran into trouble with lawmakers Tuesday during lengthy debates. Rep. Larry Bagley, a Stonewall Republican, had proposed a bill that would make it a misdemeanor crime for government agencies and schools to discriminate against people based on their vaccine status.

Flowering vines for La. landscapes

There are many plant materials available for us to use when designing a landscape or garden. We can choose from trees, shrubs, cool- and warm-season annuals, perennials and ground covers. And let’s not forget about vines — an element of landscapes that too often is overlooked.

Butler elected to Rural Caucus secretary-treasurer position

Rep. Rhonda Butler, R-Ville Platte, has been elected by members of the Louisiana Legislative Rural Caucus to serve as secretary-treasurer for 2022. “It’s my pleasure to serve as Rural Caucus secretary-treasurer,” Butler said.

State’s unclaimed property program receives national award

BATON ROUGE — During the Unclaimed Property Professionals Organization (UPPO) annual conference, Louisiana’s Unclaimed Property Program was awarded the prestigious UPPO Members’ Choice Unclaimed Property State of the Year Award.

Survey: Most Louisiana residents think state heading in wrong direction

For the first time since 2016, a majority of Louisiana residents believe the state is heading in the wrong direction.