Residents of the town on the banks of the Mississippi River have watched as family members and neighbors have been lost to cancer. Official figures show the risk of cancer from toxic air is 50 times higher in Reserve than the national average. Feeling neglected by politicians, they are fighting back against the chemical plant has been emitting chloroprene into the air for half a century
Continue reading...Category Archives: Louisiana
‘Like a ghost town’: how short-term rentals dim New Orleans’ legacy
As rentals with companies such as Airbnb proliferate in the area, raising rent and property taxes, officials are enacting laws to protect local residents
New Orleans’ Treme is regarded as the nation’s oldest African American neighborhood, but some of its residents, like Darryl Durham, now say that legacy is fading quickly.
Related: Nowhere for people to go: who will survive the gentrification of Atlanta?
Continue reading...After Supreme Court mandate: How is Louisiana giving juvenile lifers their shot at freedom?
Since the Supreme Court in early 2016 once again ruled that Louisiana was - and had been for decades - unconstitutionally sentencing juveniles to life in prison without the opportunity for release, the state has made some substantial strides. But many advocates say Louisiana is far from where it should be.
Gov. John Bel Edwards heading to Israel this month for economic development, cybersecurity meetings
Gov. John Bel Edwards will travel to Israel later this month as part of an economic development mission with a focus both on cyber security and business opportunities for Louisiana companies. Edwards, a Democrat who took office in January 2016, will leave Louisiana on Oct. 26 and return on Nov. 2. The trip schedule includes a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government leaders in Jerusalem on Oct. 28, as well as meetings in Tel Aviv with businesses.
Louisiana’s senators lament bitter battle over Kavanaugh even as they contribute to the vitriol
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., removes his glasses as he departs after viewing the FBI report on sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018 in Washington. ORG XMIT: DCAB132 Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., removes his glasses as he departs after viewing the FBI report on sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018 in Washington.
BP sues maker of blowout preventer
This April 21, 2010, file photo show the Deepwater Horizon oil rig burning after an explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, off the southeast tip of Louisiana. BP, the oil giant at the center of one of the world's biggest environmental crises, is making strong profits again, its stock has largely rebounded, and it is paying dividends to shareholders once more.
Louisiana Daybook
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Louisiana Republicans seek one primary color
Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, left, welcomes Gov. John Bel Edwards to the stage Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at Earl K. Long Gym on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, La. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, left, welcomes Gov. John Bel Edwards to the stage Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at Earl K. Long Gym on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, La.
A question of ‘frustration’: Does Gov. John Bel Edwards support the death penalty?
Does Gov. John Bel Edwards support the death penalty? It's a question that chief political rival Attorney General Jeff Landry has been pushing for weeks now, with no clear answer from the governor, who has repeatedly deferred to state law on the matter and dismissed questions about his personal views on the topic. "The biggest frustration is that the governor just won't give us an answer.
U.S. Senate votes to extend federal flood insurance program; critics urge private alternative
On the day it was scheduled to expire, the U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to extend the National Flood Insurance Program for four months through Nov. 30. The bipartisan vote for the extension was 86 to 12. Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise authored the bill that also passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, 366 to 52. It now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature or veto.
James Gill: Trump and Giuliani, fighting over Louisiana
Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City, left, and 3rd District congressional candidate Josh Guillory speak to media Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Petroleum Club in Lafayette, La. Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City, left, and 3rd District congressional candidate Josh Guillory speak to media Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Petroleum Club in Lafayette, La.
Political Horizons: History is not on Gov. Edward’s side regarding re-election
Former Gov. Sam Jones of Lake Charles, left, a member of the State Democratic Central Committee, listens speculatively as Gov. Earl K. Long talks to him during the committee session at the State Capitol. Jones and Long are political foes.
On flood insurance, here’s why John Kennedy thinks reform is languishing
The National Flood Insurance Program , a vital but cracking foundation for homeowners and businesses alike in south Louisiana, expires in one month. Lawmakers have been trying for years to stabilize it for the long term, but they might simply pass yet another short-term extension by mid-summer, again putting off the painful repairs.
Louisiana Spotlight: With the special session’s deadline nearing, will Louisiana have a budget?
Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at Earl K. Long Gym on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, La. Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at Earl K. Long Gym on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, La.
Two Lawmakers in Louisiana Get Into a Fist Fight
Two state lawmakers got into a fist fight in a downtown Baton Rouge bar just before 1 a.m. Wednesday, both admitted hours later in their respective chambers, apologizing to other members, their constituents and each other.
Looking for Louisiana women to join a nationwide conversation across divides
Are you a woman in Louisiana interested in joining a respectful online conversation with women from around the country who have different political opinions, experiences and backgrounds? The Times-Picayune and Spaceship Media are hosting a moderated conversation in a closed Facebook group that will bring together women of all political stripes, from conservative to libertarian to liberal. The conversation, The Many: A Conversation Across Divides , is supported by journalists and librarians who supply research to inform the group's discussions.
Tammy Savoie, retired Air Force colonel, running for Congress against Steve Scalise
Tammy Savoie, a retired Air Force psychologist, is taking on U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise in the Nov. 6 election. She's the fourth candidate in Louisiana's 1st Congressional District race but the first who is a not a married man with a computer programming background.
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson , case in which the U.S. Supreme Court , on May 18, 1896, by a seven-to-one majority , advanced the controversial " racial segregation laws.
State defends law on abortion doctors’ hospital privileges
Lawyers for the state of Louisiana asked a federal appeals court Thursday to uphold a law requiring that doctors who perform abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. The arguments involve a law blocked by a federal judge in Baton Rouge last year after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a similar Texas law.
Mayo: Crime consultant CenturyLink’s idea
The city of Monroe retained a consultant last year to propose "best practices" to combat crime and improve community confidence at the request of Glen Post, CenturyLink's chief executive officer, Mayor Jamie Mayo says. In recent years, the city has faced record highs in violent crime, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's uniform crime reporting data, as previously reported by The Ouachita Citizen .