How will Louisiana use its surprise budget surplus?

It will be a few weeks before the size of Louisiana's budget surplus from the fiscal year that ended June 30 gets verified, but state leaders are already contemplating how the money might be used. "We are hopeful that the surplus will be around $300 million," said Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne , who builds the state budget for Gov. John Bel Edwards .

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.

Political Horizons: The inescapable political element of criminal justice reform

Almost at the very beginning of a recent speech, Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards reminded his Southern University audience that they were used as a backdrop "to scare people" in an ad attacking him during the 2015 gubernatorial campaign. Against the faces at the historically black university, Republican David Vitter's commercial - the first one out of the gate during the runoff - charged that the election of Edwards would lead directly to the release of "fifty-five hundred dangerous thugs, drug dealers, back into our neighborhoods."

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.

A historically black college rescinded a Republican senatora s invitation to speak at its commencement

Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn , center, speaks to the media about health care on May 9. Once reserved for cheesy senior photos at campus landmarks, college commencement exercises have graduated into something different six months after Donald Trump was elected president: a battleground for protesting conservative policies and the people who promote them.

Historically black university cancels Senator’s speech over opposition

U.S. Senator John Cornyn will no longer deliver the commencement address at Texas Southern University this weekend, the school said on Friday, after U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was booed at another historically black university. More than 800 people signed a petition started by a Texas Southern University student who opposed the university's invitation to the Republican senator to speak at Saturday's graduation in Houston.

John Cornyna s commencement speech canceled by historically black Texas college

A historically black university in Texas has canceled an upcoming commencement speech by Republican Sen. John Cornyn after students protested. The Senate majority whip was scheduled to speak Saturday at Texas Southern University's graduation ceremony in Houston, but the school announced Friday morning that the speech had been canceled.

Gov. Edwards doubts budget cuts can be avoided, but agrees to delay them

Gov. John Bel Edwards said Friday that none of the cuts he has proposed to erase the deficit are what he wants to do, but he believes they're necessary given the ongoing financial crisis. Edwards was to sign an executive order Friday that would trigger hundreds of millions in cuts, but he granted a request by a legislative panel to delay the planned cuts for 30 days in hopes that higher education can be spared.