The special legislative session to pass a court-ordered congressional map with two Black majority districts failed to pass and now lawmakers await feedback from the judicial system. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says Republicans weren’t willing to pass any map except the one that passed in the original redistricting session.
Even though the session adjourned on the fourth legislative day Senate Governmental Affairs Chair, Slidell Senator Hewitt says Judge Shelly Dick’s order that only allowed them six days to pass a new map wasn’t realistic.
Judge Dick set a court date of June 29th for attorneys to present congressional maps for her consideration while the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has a July 8th court date set.
After recent incidents, that included altercations and an escape, at the Bridge City Center for Youth and the Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe, Governor John Bel Edwards has directed State Police and the Department of Corrections to provide personnel to assist with staffing shortages. Office of Juvenile Justice Spokesperson Nicolette Gordon says they welcome the governor’s assistance…
State Police says two 16-year-old Prairieview teens were killed after their vehicle submerged underwater Sunday afternoon near Bayou Manchac in Ascension Parish. Authorities say Caroline Smith was driving the vehicle and it appears Smith failed to negotiate a curve and the vehicle ended up in a private pond also claiming the life of Chole Hamilton. LSP says it’s not clear if seatbelt use was a factor in the crash and it remains under investigation.