Community column for April 10

John James Audubon Chapter members attended the Louisiana Daughters of the American Revolution State Conference March 15-17 at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge. Shown are, from left, seated, Chapter Regent Georgia LaCour, President General Ann Dillon, State Regent Zora Olsson, State Third Vice Regent Margaret Tyler, State Treasurer Charlotte White; standing, Nola Labat, Yvonne Lewis Day, Amy Fontenot, Denise Malesic, Betty Jo Snellgrove, Stella Tanoos, Bridget May, Carole Gloger, Norma Gerace, Essie Mongeau, Shirley Newsham, Gloria Wilbert, Paula Wilbert, Sue Ann Shore, Sue Badeaux, Denise Lindsly and Glenda Carlile.

Analysis: Louisiana lawmakers seek to keep records hidden

Louisiana's lawmakers are considering ways to lock away more information from public view this session, proposing a list of public records exemptions that would chip away at people's rights to see information from government agencies. The number and breadth of exemptions filed for consideration represent an uptick, raising concerns that public officials are working to shield too many documents that tell citizens about the inner workings of their taxpayer-financed government agencies.

Lawyers: Prosecutors withheld evidence of teen’s innocence

A legal team has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its claim that Louisiana prosecutors withheld evidence for a murder trial that ended in a guilty verdict against an intellectually disabled teenager accused of killing a pizza deliveryman. Corey Williams was 16 years old when police arrested him in the shooting death of Jarvis Griffin two decades ago in Caddo Parish, where prosecutors have been widely criticized for their aggressive approach to seeking the death penalty.

Stephanie Grace: Retiring Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran was there was Louisiana needed him

In this Jan. 21, 2018, photo, lights shine inside the U.S. Capitol Building as night falls in Washington. President Donald Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address Tuesday night but, as always, lawmakers are angling to steal part of the spotlight.

Scalise back for congressional game a year after shooting

Republicans and Democrats put aside the sectarian hostilities that have increasingly defined this town and came together on the baseball diamond Thursday, a year after bullets from a would-be mass assassin shook Congress to its core. Democrats prevailed 21-5 in the 57th Congressional Baseball Game for Charity at Nationals Park.

Louisiana Republicans elect first new leader in 14 years

Newly-elected Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Louis Gurvich speaks to the state GOP's governing body, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. Newly-elected Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Louis Gurvich speaks to the state GOP's governing body, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La.

Another day, more stalled bills in Louisiana special session

Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall, asks questions about a Medicaid bill while Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton listens during a hearing of the House Health and Welfare Committee on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall, asks questions about a Medicaid bill while Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton listens during a hearing of the House Health and Welfare Committee on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La.

Single higher ed board may sound good, but it’s a long shot

But if recent history is any indication, Hewitt will have a tough time getting traction for her idea. Three governors in as many decades, including Buddy Roemer, Mike Foster and Bobby Jindal, explored the single board concept in earnest but never could make it happen.

Louisiana quietly loses its place in teacher rankings

Average public school teacher salaries in Louisiana finally reached the regional average in 2007, a breakthrough that was celebrated by politicians, education groups and others. But now teachers are paid $1,705 less than their peers in the region, another casualty of Louisiana's seemingly endless cycle of budget problems.

As special session begins Monday, Speaker Taylor Barras faces…

Paperwork has been distributed and extra chairs have been set up in the Louisiana House chamber ready for Gov. John Bel Edwards' address to legislators at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, 2018. The 17-day special session aims to address a $1 billion deficit in the state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The 144 members of Louisiana's Legislature will convene Monday in a special session that will mark their fifth attempt in two years to solve the state's recurring budget problems.

Livingston celebrates Mardi Gras in Washington, D.C.

From left, Carissa Graves, wife of Congressman Garret Graves; Public Relations Consultant Delia A. Taylor, wife of Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor; and Cynthia Graves, mother of Congressman Garret Graves, sit together during the Washington, D.C., Mardi Gras parade on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The parade and ball were held in the International Ballroom of the Washington Hilton.

Defining the Louisiana mood

I was eating boiled crawfish last Friday night with my wife and children in Baton Rouge-Crawfish season! Finally!-when I received a text a message. The digital missive was from a longtime Capitol player, someone who knows the House and the Senate and all of the illuminated and darkened corners in between.