By a party-line vote of 27 to 10, the State Senate passed a congressional map with five Republican-leaning districts and one Democratic-leaning district. During questioning, New Orleans Democrat Sidney Barthelemy told West Monroe Republican Jay Morris that since 80-percent of the Republican party is white, his map is also based on race, which is not allowed.
16 and 17-year-olds can now get a job without all the red tape. Governor Landry has signed House Bill 232 into law, removing the requirement that those teens obtain a work permit from their school board. The author of the legislation, Lafayette Republican Josh Carlson says the old system actually prevented some minors from being able to work.
When the calendar flips to 2027, you will no longer have to schlep to your local service station to get your vehicle inspected. That’s because a bill to replace vehicle inspection stickers with QR codes will soon be on the way to Governor Landry’s desk, and Landry has said he will sign it. While some have said no amount of technology can replace inspections, Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau said times are changing.
Two-time state championship-winning football coach Joe Spatafora is leaving Union Parish for a high school coaching job in Arkansas. Spatafora, who brought a run-first, physical style of football to Farmerville, says he cherishes the relationships he built at Union Parish.