Louisiana
The violent and racist fight against laborers’ basic rights in the South
In February 1887, Oregon became the first state to create a Labor Day holiday in recognition of the achievements of workers. Later that year, four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York — passed laws establishing a Labor Day holiday. Also in 1887, about 10,000 Black sugar plantation workers in Terrebonne, St. […]
Trump makes quick but lucrative campaign stop in Louisiana
METAIRIE, La. — Former President Donald Trump spent a few hours Tuesday evening in Louisiana among well-heeled supporters who want to return him to the White House in the 2024 election. Trump’s state campaign chairmen in his two previous presidential runs — retired shipbuilder Boysie Bollinger and developer and former banker Joe Canizaro — hosted […]
Arkansas AG joins multi-state retail crimefighting alliance
The Arkansas Attorney General’s office will work with a multi-state group of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations division to fight organized retail crime, Attorney General Tim Griffin said Wednesday. “Organized retail crime is costing businesses billions of dollars in losses every year, and that affects all Arkansas businesses whether they […]
Judge limits Biden administration contact with social media platforms in censorship case
A federal judge on Tuesday prohibited Biden administration officials from communicating with social media platforms about “protected speech,” a ruling emerging from litigation originally filed by former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt. The ruling, by Judge Terry A. Doughty of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, granted a temporary injunction barring […]
EPA wants to require fenceline monitoring for air toxins at chemical plants
LA PLACE — The nation’s top climate official came to a section of Louisiana known as “Cancer Alley” Thursday to announce the Biden administration’s proposed rules meant to reduce harmful industrial emissions and the risk they pose to communities that neighbor the sites that produce them. This was a return trip for U.S. Environmental Protection […]
Some Arkansas high school athletes would profit from fame under proposed legislation
A bill filed in the Arkansas Legislature focused on student athletes’ publicity rights looks like a win-win for all involved on the surface. But student-athlete advocates call foul on it. House Bill 1649 by House Speaker Matthew Shepherd of El Dorado and Rep. RJ Hawk (R-Benton) would allow high school athletes who have been admitted […]
Senate approves bill requiring pornography sites to verify age
The Arkansas Senate on Wednesday approved legislation to require pornography websites to verify users’ ages. Sen. Tyler Dees (R-Siloam Springs) first introduced the bill in committee Tuesday, saying the purpose of the legislation is to protect minors from harmful material online. Senate Bill 66 defines “material harmful to minors” as material that’s designed to appeal […]
The story behind why Louisiana voted against a ban on slavery
Last week, Louisiana voters struck down an amendment to its constitution that would have prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude. The four other states where slavery was on the ballot – Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont – approved similar referenda. . Louisiana was put in the national spotlight for rejecting the change. Trevor Noah did an […]
USDA gives $73 million to create, expand smaller livestock processors
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its first grant awards on Wednesday — totaling about $73 million — to increase the processing capacity of smaller, independent meatpackers in 16 states. They range from a $292,000 grant to provide independent Montana farmers with a USDA-inspected meat processing facility — which is required to sell the products […]
States are vying for money to start ‘hydrogen hubs.’ What are they?
Across the country, states are inking agreements with neighbors or striking out on their own to pursue billions in federal funding to set up “hydrogen hubs,” clustered centers for production, storage and use of the gas that many see as a crucial piece of the puzzle for decarbonizing the U.S. economy. How broad a role […]
Manchin seeks bipartisan ‘sweet spot’ for a new try at his energy permitting bill
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators from both parties said Wednesday they hope to negotiate an energy permitting reform bill yet this year, reviving efforts to streamline the process after West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III had to pull back his plan amid broad opposition. The Manchin proposal was attached to a must-pass government funding bill […]
USDA hopes to boost fertilizer production as soon as next year
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $500 million to increase domestic fertilizer production, doubling its previous commitment, the agency announced. The federal dollars would boost long-term projects and ready-to-go proposals that might have an effect as early as next year. Some of the first projects to get funding from the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program […]