Focus of Alton Sterling case shifts to Louisiana prosecutor

After federal authorities announced they would not prosecute two white police officers in the shooting death of a black man, a refrain rang out from the man's family, lawyers and supporters: It's up to Louisiana's attorney general to seek justice. The Justice Department said it found insufficient evidence to charge either officer, Blane Salamoni or Howie Lake II, in the death of 37-year-old Alton Sterling last summer outside a Baton Rouge convenience store.

TOPS likely to be fully funded in House GOP budget, but at what expense?

Louisiana state Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, said he expects TOPS to emerge fully funded in the budget bill that passes out of the Louisiana House Appropriations Committee Monday . State Rep. Cameron Henry, R- Metairie , expects Louisiana's popular TOPS college scholarship program to be fully funded when the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 leaves the House Appropriations Committee on Monday .

Short-term fixes to La’s long-term budget woes offer familiar anxiety along edge of ‘fiscal cliff’

Advocate staff photo by BILL FEIG -- Azalea bloom in the Capital Gardens in front of the State Capital Building on the first day of the regular legislative session which convened at noon. Gov. John Bel Edwards addressed the joint session at 1:00 for the State of the State.

Why a former Louisiana sheriff wants to boost prisoner’s pay – at the expense of sheriffs

David Ramkhalawan , a member of the St. Tammany Sheriff's Office work-release program, cleans debris Tuesday, September 18, 2001, from a lagoon surrounding an island at the K-Bar-B Youth Ranch east of Lacombe in preparation for Gourmet Gala, a fund-raiser being held today at the ranch. . "I don't think that was what was intended when [the prisoner job program] was set up.

Here’s how Louisiana plans to revamp nation’s highest, most convoluted sales tax

Rep. Julie Stokes, R-Kenner, has served as chairwoman of the Sales Tax Streamlining and Modernization Commission since 2015. The commission has been trying to come up with ways to make Louisiana's sales tax less convoluted as the Legislature prepares for a crucial fiscal session that begins April 10. Here, Stokes answers questions about one of her bills during a 2015 special legislative session.

SICK. Pelosi Won’t Condemn Dem Lawmaker’s Crude Bl*wjob…

Democrat Congressman, Cedric Richmond in Louisiana disrespected Kellyanne Conway by making a crude 'joke' about her looking 'familiar' on her knees in reference to the picture of her kneeling on the couch in the Oval Office. Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond made a crude joke about White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway on Wednesday night during the Washington Press Club Foundation dinner.

Rep. Richmond apologizes for Conway remarks

Rep. Cedric Richmond apologized to White House adviser Kellyanne Conway on Sunday night for making crude remarks at a Washington dinner last week about a photo showing Conway on her knees on an Oval Office sofa. "After a discussion with people I know and trust, I understand the way my remarks have been received by many," the Louisiana Democrat said in a statement.

Louisiana Spotlight: Without more federal aid, thousands of flood victims will be left on their own

Advocate staff photo by BRYAN TUCK -- Oak Springs homeowner Alonso Credes sweeps the dry portion of his driveway along Oak Springs Lane Thursday in Carencro after flood waters receded enough for him to begin cleaning. Advocate staff photo by BRYAN TUCK -- Oak Springs homeowner Alonso Credes sweeps the dry portion of his driveway along Oak Springs Lane Thursday in Carencro after flood waters receded enough for him to begin cleaning.

Review: ‘Long Shot: A Soldier, A Senator, A Serious Sin, An Epic Louisiana Election’

"Long Shot: A Soldier, A Senator, A Serious Sin, An Epic Louisiana Election" by Tyler Bridges and Jeremy Alford, Lisburn Press, $26.95 With the Democratic Party at is lowest ebb in Louisiana and the nation for almost a century, the contrarian tale of long-shot Democratic winner John Bel Edwards is irresistible for the party faithful, but it's a good read for anyone seeking an insightful look into how the game is played in the most idiosyncratic state of the union. Two of the state's best political writers - Jeremy Alford, editor of LaPolitics.com , and Tyler Bridges, who covers politics for The Advocate and others - engagingly profile the small-town lawyer who came from nowhere to seize the Governor's Mansion from the Republicans in 2015.

Jeff Sadow: Stop pestering Louisiana electors for Trump

Ignorance does not lead to bliss, as the content of unhappy communiquA s raining down on Louisiana's presidential electors proves. Since Nov. 8, Louisiana's Republican electors collectively have received more than 100,000 messages variously suggesting, imploring or demanding that each of the eight pledged to Republican President-elect Donald Trump not vote for him when the Electoral College "meets" on Dec. 19. On that date, in state capitals and the District of Columbia, electors will congregate to cast their ballots; in winner-take-all Louisiana, the Republican ticket received 58 percent of the vote.

Mike Johnson wins Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District seat

The state lawmaker drew 87,369, or 65 percent, of the 133,947 votes cast in the runoff, according to complete but unofficial results from the secretary of state's office. Jones got 28 percent of the 285,872 votes cast Nov. 8 in the bid to fill the Northwest Louisiana-based seat left open because Republican U.S. Rep. Dr. John Fleming ran for U.S. senator rather than seek re-election.

Trump Effect: Louisiana Republican John Kennedy Wins U.S. Senate Runoff Election

Republican John Kennedy has been declared the winner of Louisiana's runoff election for the U.S. Senate, defeating Democrat Foster Campbell and thwarting one of the last opportunities in 2016 for Democrats to gain a seat in the upper chamber. Kennedy's win on Saturday night, the first GOP win since Trump's election, gives Republicans a 52 seat majority in the U.S. Senate, making it that much harder for Democrats to make any headway in Washington.

Obama fails to condemn lawless protesters

Like most Americans, I was shocked when I saw President Obama fail to condemn protesters who wouldn't accept the election results. " I would not advise people who feel strongly a to be silent ," he said while visiting Germany in November, taking no action to stop protests like those that caused $1 million in damages in Portland, Ore.

Trump mobilizing Louisiana Republicans in final Senate race

President-elect Donald Trump, right, greets Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, left, as he welcomes him to the stage during a rally at Hy-Vee Hall, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, in Des Moines. Branstad has accepted Trump's offer to become U.S. ambassador to China.

Of bunnies and suits, Louisiana’s long campaign for the U.S. Senate winds down

Gerald Faulk casts his ballot during early voting Monday, November 28, 2016, at the Lafayette Parish Government Building in Lafayette, La. Early voting for the Dec. 10 runoff elections began Saturday and will continue through Saturday, Dec. 3. John Kennedy and Foster Campbell are the two candidates vying for a U.S. Senate seat while Scott Angelle and Clay Higgins are in a runoff in Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District.