U.S. attorney for La. western district retiring

Stephanie A. Finley, United States Attorney for the western district of Louisiana, announced Friday that she is retiring after 25 years of federal service. Finley began her career with the Department of Justice as an assistant United States attorney in October of 1995.

Oil Companies Land a Victory in Louisiana Coastal Lawsuit

A federal appeals court on March 3 refused to revive a Louisiana levee board’s lawsuit blaming dozens of oil and gas companies for damage to the state’s fragile coast, a major victory for energy companies and their political supporters who cast the suit as an attack on a vital state industry. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling upheld a federal judge’s 2015 decision in favor of energy companies that argued the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East lacked legal standing to bring its damage claims, which could have cost the oil companies billions of dollars.

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.

The Latest: State of emergency in Louisiana after tornadoes

Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency for Louisiana after a severe storm moved across the state’s southeast corner, including the parishes of Ascension, Livingston, Orleans, St. James, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa. Edwards says he’s heartbroken to see Louisiana families suffering again.

New reports suggests La. could be doing more to help smokers quit

According to the recent State of Tobacco Control 2017 report from the American Lung Association, Louisiana received an F grade in several categories when it comes to helping smokers in the state. “While the report states that the State of Louisiana’s Tobacco Control programs are failing Louisiana smokers, it does not adequately reflect the service made available for no charge to Louisiana residents by the New Orleans-based Smoking Cessation Trust , that are successfully helping smokers quit.

Smaller states rejoice as Amazon collects sales tax

Many online shoppers in the United States have for years had to pay state sales taxes whenever they buy goods from Amazon. But the Seattle e-commerce giant has dragged its feet on collecting sales taxes in small and sparsely populated states where it doesn’t have any distribution centers or corporate offices.

Louisiana leaders praise Trump’s action to advance Keystone XL pipeline

President Donald Trump signs an executive order implementing a federal government hiring freeze, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. ORG XMIT: DCEV106 President Donald Trump signs an executive order implementing a federal government hiring freeze, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.

Louisiana groups vow pipeline fight

A Jan. 12 public hearing for a required U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit drew more than 400 supporters and opponents. Many of the opponents gathered before the hearing and decried a project that they fear will foul the state’s wetlands and water.

La. supporters pour in for inauguration

La. supporters pour in for inauguration Many visitors from Louisiana said they traveled to Washington to witness history. Check out this story on dailyworld.com: Military personnel walk along the National Mall in Washington, Wednesday alongside vendors selling President-elect Donald Trump merchandise ahead of Friday’s presidential inauguration.

Jeff Sadow: Medicaid expansion becomes an obsession

If you agree with the agenda of Medicaid reformers taking power in Washington, Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards and his intemperate chief health bureaucrat say you’re the bad guy. With a mixture of conceit and high dudgeon, Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Rebekah Gee declared efforts to repeal Medicaid expansion “irresponsible, inhumane and ill-advised.”

Amazon.com to start collecting taxes for online sales in Louisiana

Amazon.com , the giant online retailer, will begin charging Louisiana customers sales taxes on Jan. 1, the head of the Department of Revenue said Tuesday. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson said in an interview her department hasn’t calculated how much money would be raised from charging taxes on sales over the Internet, but estimated that tens of millions of dollars could be added to Louisiana’s often depleted coffers.