Cajun Navy to deliver donations to Carolinas ahead of Hurricane Florence

The Baton Rouge Police Department, Behind the Line, and Back the Blue collected truckloads of donations for Texas during Hurricane Harvey and now, the leftovers are going to help others. The donations are being handed off to the United Cajun Navy for people in the path of Hurricane Florence.

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.

Stephanie Grace: Scalise-Richmond buddy act offers these lessons for Washington, Baton Rouge

Majority Whip Steve Scalise scores on a wild pitch thrown by Cedric Richmond during a Congressional baseball game. Scalise can be seen wearing a uniform from Archbishop Rummel High School, his alma mater.

House GOP: Session could crash again without reforms

House GOP: Session could crash again without reforms Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected to issue Friday a call for a third Special Session of the spring. Check out this story on thetowntalk.com: BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's House Republican Caucus has sent a letter to Gov. John Bel Edwards saying its members can't support more taxes to address the state's budget without spending reforms and transparency.

Cajun Navy leader arrested on contractor fraud charge

CORRECTS SOURCE TO EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE INSTEAD OF LOUISIANA CORRECTIONS- This photo provided by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office shows Jon Bridgers. Bridgers, who founded Cajun Navy 2016, a volunteer flotilla renowned for responding to natural disasters, has been arrested on a charge he defrauded a customer who hired him to rebuild a home.

If marijuana boom is real, and it lasts, how long will Louisiana, other states resist?

Council member Tara Wicker, left, listens as colleague Matt Watson addresses his concerns regarding confusion behind the proposed marijuana ordinance during a meeting of the metro council, Wednesday, February 28, 2018, at City Hall in Baton Rouge, La. Council member Tara Wicker, left, listens as colleague Matt Watson addresses his concerns regarding confusion behind the proposed marijuana ordinance during a meeting of the metro council, Wednesday, February 28, 2018, at City Hall in Baton Rouge, La.

Baton Rouge body camera committee questions how soon footage should be released

The Baton Rouge body camera committee issued three new recommendations to the city-parish and Baton Rouge Police Department on Tuesday, including that footage of so-called "serious incidents" be released to the public before criminal and internal affairs investigations are completed. The committee, chaired by Representative C. Denise Marcelle, wants the police chief to adopt a policy that would release video of certain use of force incidents sooner than they currently do.

The four Marines killed during a helicopter crash were in their 20s…

The four Marines killed during a helicopter crash were in their 20s and 30s and from the South and the Midwest. Four Marines killed when their helicopter crashed on a training mission in the Southern California desert were identified Thursday as men in their 20s and 30s from the South and Midwest, including one who served in Iraq and another who recently became a father.

Failed legislative special session: Nearly $1 million ‘down the drain,’ one La. lawmaker says

Legislature meets in special session to address the state's fiscal crisis Monday March 5, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. Speaker of House Rep. Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, lower left, announces the vote to call HB8 off the calendar which was authored by Rep. Walt Leger, D-New Orleans, which was 49-49 and thereby defeated.

Grace Notes: In La. Legislature, partisanship plus distrust adds up to special session disaster

House members listen as Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks at a press conference after the legislature adjourned sine die to end the special session to address the state's fiscal crisis Monday March 5, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. First the old news out of the collapsed special legislative session: There's still no plan to account for the coming loss of nearly $1 billion in tax revenue once that revenue drops off the books this summer.

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.

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.

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.