BATON ROUGE — As the Legislature gets ready to start a special session Tuesday on redistricting, one major focus is whether two of the state’s six congressional districts should be redrawn to give minority residents a better chance to elect two black members of Congress instead of one. Black leaders and civil rights groups say that is only fair since blacks make up almost a third of the state’s population and the 2020 Census shows that northern Louisiana, which has two white

BATON ROUGE — With the state flush with cash, Gov. John Bel Edwards unveiled a proposed budget Monday that includes more than $1.1 billion in infrastructure spending and investments in education at all levels. “I think we have once in a generation, and maybe once in a lifetime opportunity in some respects, to move our state forward,” Edwards said. He outlined his budget priorities at a news conference at the Capitol. The budget is for the fiscal year that begins July 1, and t

Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain wants folks to take care of livestock and pets as temperatures are forecast to dip below freezing. Click below to find out more.

The LFA's annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway is set for 7:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 21 with four species of bare root seedlings being given away as folks drive through the office's driveway at 2316 S. MacArthur Drive in Alexandria. The Louisiana Forestry Association will give out Sawtooth Oak, American Elm, Green Ash and Persimmon tree seedlings to celebrate Arbor Day, which in Louisiana is the third Friday in January. The day is celebrated during the cool months. “A good way to look

The American Loggers Council, and the timber industry that we represent, is extremely appreciative of the PATHH program assistance. The program received bi-partisan support in Congress and has also been supported by the Administration. Unfortunately, the program application process has also revealed the extent of economic loss and need within the timber industry sector, with eligible requests ($385 million) exceeding available funding ($200 million) by nearly double. Therefor

By Piper Hutchinson / LSU Manship School News Service BATON ROUGE — Louisiana will have an additional $1.6 billion to spend over the next year and a half after a state panel approved new revenue projections Tuesday. The state expects to collect $1.2 billion more in general fund revenue than projected in the current budget cycle, which ends June 30, and $770 million more in the next cycle, which starts July 1. This revenue is mostly due to personal income taxes and sales taxes