State Politics

Gov. Jeff Landry participates in Kristi Noem's swearing-in as Trump's homeland security pick

By STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press and Advocate staff reports
Updated 7 hrs ago

The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary on Saturday, putting the South Dakota governor in charge of a sprawling agency that is essential to national security and Presid…

The Washington Mardi Gras king's mission: Help veterans, and those still serving

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
14 hrs ago

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, whose wife is an Army general, said Washington Mardi Gras hadn’t specifically honored veterans and the military in its 76 previous celebrations.

Where can you find Drew Brees, Roger Goodell and Hakeem Jeffries? Try Washington Mardi Gras.

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Jan 24, 2025

WASHINGTON — Though a blizzard in south Louisiana slowed the arrival of many Washington Mardi Gras revelers, the Washington Hilton was packed Friday for the highlight economic development luncheon.

Trump proposes 'getting rid of FEMA' while visiting North Carolina

By WILL WEISSERT, CHRIS MEGERIAN and MAKIYA SEMINERA | Associated Press
Jan 24, 2025

President Donald Trump says he is considering "getting rid of" the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He made the remark Friday during a trip to two disaster zones, offering the latest sign …

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Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy will oversee hearing of RFK Jr., Trump's top health official pick

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Staff writer
Updated Jan 24, 2025

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's nominee to run the Department of Health and Human Services, has a Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday — and Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-B…

Trump pardoned Jan. 6 attacks on officers. That doesn't sit well with some Louisiana leaders.

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 24, 2025

WASHINGTON — Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy is one of the few in Congress not hemming and hawing about President Donald Trump freeing the protesters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

FEMA faces shakeup under President Trump while it wrestles with disasters on both coasts

By CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press
Updated Jan 24, 2025

President Donald Trump is preparing to reshape the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has been on the frontlines of responding to disasters in California and North Carolina. He was cri…

Qualifying for St. George's first election is next week. Here are the seats to be filled.

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | Staff writer
Jan 24, 2025

Since June, the newly incorporated city of St. George has drafted a budget, a home rule charter and secured much-needed sales tax dollars to fund its government.

A snow storm and airport closures can't stop Louisiana's Washington Mardi Gras from rolling

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 23, 2025

WASHINGTON – Louisiana had only begun to reopen airports Thursday morning after a blizzard, but Washington Mardi Gras was in full swing.

Jeff Landry is returning to Washington after skipping two fundraisers for Louisiana snowstorm

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Jan 23, 2025

Gov. Jeff Landry flew back to Washington, D.C. on Thursday to resume activities there after spending the past two days in Louisiana overseeing the state government’s response to the big snowstorm.

Lawmakers question the FBI's preparedness and response to New Orleans attack that killed 14 people

By JIM MUSTIAN, JACK BROOK and ERIC TUCKER | Associated Press
Jan 22, 2025

Congressional committees are demanding answers about the FBI's response to the deadly Bourbon Street truck attack in New Orleans. They have raised questions about the absence of the bureau's r…

House passes immigrant detention bill that would be President Trump's first law to sign

By STEPHEN GROVES | Associated Press
Jan 22, 2025

The House has passed a bill to require the detainment of unauthorized migrants accused of theft and violent crimes. It marks the first legislation that President Donald Trump can sign as Congr…

Gov. Jeff Landry: Beware black ice, fires as cold weather continues in Louisiana

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN | Staff writer
Updated Jan 23, 2025

Though snow has stopped falling in Louisiana, continued freezing overnight temperatures mean residents should beware of black ice and fire hazards, Gov. Jeff Landry said in a press conference …

Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave

By ALEXANDRA OLSON and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
Jan 22, 2025

President Donald Trump's administration is moving to end affirmative action in federal contracting and is directing that all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on paid leave …

Justice Department to investigate state or local officials who refuse to enforce immigration orders

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press
Jan 22, 2025

The Justice Department is directing its federal prosecutors to investigate for potential criminal charges any state or local officials who stand in the way of beefed-up enforcement of immigrat…

After 'magical' Louisiana snow day, Gov. Jeff Landry warns of dangerous hard freeze coming

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN | Staff writer
Updated Jan 21, 2025

Tuesday provided a chance for many Louisiana families to experience a rare sight: a snow day.

Snowstorm disrupts Washington Mardi Gras, but Louisiana's big party hasn't been canceled

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 23, 2025

WASHINGTON — Many Louisiana lobbyists, business executives and government leaders came to the nation's capital for the inauguration of President Donald Trump, with plans to stay through Sunday…

President Trump issues Capitol riot pardons: Here's who was convicted in Louisiana

BY MARK BALLARD, WILLIE SWETT AND ALEX LUBBEN | Staff writers
Updated Jan 22, 2025

WASHINGTON — Within a few hours of being sworn in, President Donald Trump signed pardons for about 1,500 people involved in the U.S. Capitol riot four years ago on Jan. 6 and commuted the sent…

Republicans from Louisiana celebrate inauguration of Donald Trump: 'It's a new day'

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 20, 2025

WASHINGTON — Louisiana Republicans saw the inauguration of Donald Trump as president for a second time as a “new day” for the state and the nation.

Biden pardons Fauci, Milley and the Jan. 6 committee in effort to guard against 'revenge' by Trump

By COLLEEN LONG and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
Jan 20, 2025

The heads of the Jan. 6 committee say they're grateful for the decision by President Joe Biden to pardon them "not for breaking the law but for upholding it." The Democratic president pardoned…

TikTok says it's restoring service to US users based on Trump's promised executive order

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jan 19, 2025

TikTok said Sunday it was restoring service to users in the United States after the popular video-sharing platform went dark in response to a federal ban that President-elect Donald Trump said…

How Louisiana is playing into a debate over federal money for California wildfires

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Jan 18, 2025

WASHINGTON – Southern California’s ongoing wildfires — which so far have killed 27 and burned down at least 10,000 homes — are expected to need billions of dollars in disaster aid.

Sen. Bill Cassidy said he will vote for Donald Trump’s Defense pick

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 17, 2025

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy announced Friday that he would vote to confirm Pete Hegseth to lead the U.S. Department of Defense.

Rep. Julia Letlow files legislation to strengthen agriculture disaster assistance

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 17, 2025

WASHINGTON – Before the temperatures started to drop and imperiled the crawfish season, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow filed a bill to increase disaster assistance for ranchers and crawfish farmers an…

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill sues Biden over oil and gas drilling ban

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Updated Jan 17, 2025

The attorney general made good on a promise to file a lawsuit over the ban, bringing the federal suit in the Lake Charles Division of the Western District of Louisiana.

New $21.1 million grant helps rail service between New Orleans and Mobile inch closer

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Updated Jan 17, 2025

WASHINGTON – Hoping to soon restore rail service along the Gulf Coast from New Orleans and Mobile after 20 years, the Federal Railroad Administration last week granted $21.1 million for Amtrak…

Louisiana government offices will close for winter weather. Here's what to know.

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Jan 17, 2025

All state offices will be closed on Tuesday "due to extreme winter weather," according to a social media post on Friday from Louisiana State Civil Service, the agency that acts as the human re…

Louisiana will raise American, MAGA flags for Trump's inauguration, Landry proclaims

By JULIA GUILBEAU | Staff writer
Jan 17, 2025

Louisiana will join other Republican states in fully raising their flags the day of President-elect Trump's inauguration — and will fly a Make America Great Again flag at the governor's mansio…