The chief justice of Louisiana’s Supreme Court, Bernette Johnson, told lawmakers to look for ways to reduce the state’s incarceration rate, which is the highest in the country. Johnson, the state’s first black chief justice, says the US locks up more people than Iran, China and Germany….
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Johnson says South Carolina has passed legislation to significantly reduce the prison population while also reducing violent crimes, plus saving its state 350 million dollars. She says comprehensive solutions to over-incarceration should include changes to pre-trial services, like South Carolina and Kentucky have done….
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The Revenue Estimating Conference meets today to discuss the exact budget deficit the state faces. Emelie Gunn has more…
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The House Governmental Affairs committee meets Wednesday where they’ll discuss legislation that would prohibit a convicted felon from holding an elected office or being appointed to office. It’s in response to a court ruling that removed a provision in Louisiana’s constitution that kept convicted felons from qualifying for an elected office.

Governor John Bel Edwards spent this afternoon away from the State Capitol. He was viewing flood damage and response efforts in St. Tammany Parish. 16 more parishes have been declared a federal disaster area, which makes residents in those areas eligible for government aid.-