The entire Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing the case of Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law this afternoon. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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The latest economic report from the Pelican Institute highlights a couple of success stories regarding Louisiana’s economy. Jeff Palermo has the story.
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Two years ago, Governor Landry pushed for a constitutional convention. Those calls fell on deaf ears; but thanks to a state representative, that effort now has new life. Jeanne Burns reports.
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The entire Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals is hearing oral arguments this afternoon in Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law. The law requires posters of the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom throughout the state. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says unlike the previous hearing before the Fifth Circuit, all 17 judges will hear these arguments.
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In 1980, the Supreme Court ruled in Stone v. Graham that an identical law in Kentucky is unconstitutional, in violation of the Establishment Clause since it lacked a nonreligious purpose. The state is arguing that the Ten Commandments is rooted in American history and, thus, is constitutional. Ciolino says given the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Fifth Circuit’s hands are likely tied.
Cut 5 (12) “…longer good law.”
Ciolino says Louisiana may know that it has no case before the Fifth Circuit – and that could be part of its strategy.
Cut 6 (10) “…its own precedent.”
The Louisiana case before the Fifth Circuit is being combined with a nearly identical case out of Texas, which also requires the Ten Commandments to be posted in classrooms throughout the state. Like Louisiana, that state’s law has been ruled unconstitutional.
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A new report from the Pelican Institute highlights positive signs for the state’s economy, but the institute says tax policies still need to be revised to foster job creation and encourage business growth. The report’s author, Vance Ginn, says Louisiana’s gross domestic product grew by four-percent in the second quarter of 2025, and Louisiana led the region in personal income growth during that time.
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Ginn says gains in these areas are the result of tax reforms approved by state lawmakers and signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry in 2024. He says the state’s tax system has improved, resulting in the Tax Foundation moving Louisiana up to 31st in the country in overall competitiveness.
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But Ginn says outmigration remains a problem, and the state’s job growth over the past year has remained sluggish. He says reducing the state’s sales tax and lowering local property and state income taxes can help the situation.
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Confidence is building for a winter storm to hit the state this weekend. National Weather Service Meteorologist Dayvon Hill says arctic air is once again expected to surge south by the weekend, and it will meet up with Gulf and Pacific moisture.
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Hill says rain will move into northwest Louisiana on Friday and will eventually turn over into freezing rain, a wintry mix and possibly snow. He says as it stands now, there’s a 60-percent chance that north Louisiana will see minor impacts from winter weather and about 50-percent for central Louisiana.
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Hill say the potential for a winter storm impacting the upper half of the state will need to be monitored throughout the week.
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In 2024, Governor Landry pushed for a constitutional convention, but the State Senate showed no interest. So now, there’s another push. In the first House bill filed for the 2026 legislative session, Baton Rouge Republican Dixon McMakin is proposing a constitutional convention that would start on December 29th. McMakin says unlike Landry’s plan that would have been accelerated, this process would be drawn out.
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McMakin points out that the current state constitution is 51 years old; and whereas the U.S.’ 236-year-old constitution is less than nine-thousand words long, including the 27 amendments, Louisiana’s constitution is more than 100-thousand words long.
Cut 14 (09) “…back to basics.”
McMakin says the current state constitution includes things that don’t belong there, such as the finances and intricacies of the local parishes.
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The 2026 LSU baseball team begins its national title defense in 24 days, as the Tigers host Milwaukee February 13th. The Tigers lost two of the best pitchers in the country in Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, but they also return one of the best arms in the country in sophomore Casan Evans. Johnson says Evans will likely be in the starting rotation.
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The Tigers also return senior right hander Zac Cowan to their pitching staff this season. Cowan, who served as a reliever last season, had a 3-and-3 record with a 2.94 ERA. Johnson says Cowan is another player in the mix for the starting rotation.
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Johnson also named sophomore right-hander William Schmidt as another pitcher who could be a starter in 2026.
LSU also brought in a couple of experienced pitchers from the transfer portal. Among them is junior right hander Cooper Moore, who had a 3.96 ERA with Kansas last season. Johnson says Moore has the starting experience to be in the weekend rotation.
Cut 18 (09) “…of those guys.”