State Sen. Gary Carter, who has criticized the new maps, talked before Friday’s vote with state Sen. Jay Morris, one of the main creators of the maps. (Photo by Avery White / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Senate passed the final version of a new congressional map in a 28-10 vote down party lines Friday, eliminating one majority-black district. Senate Bill 121, authored by state Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, creates five majority-Republican d

The House approved an amendment Thursday to tweak Louisiana’s redrawn congressional map before Senate Bill 121 went to a final vote. (Illustration courtesy of Louisiana House of Representatives) BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana House voted 66-35 Thursday to approve its final version of a new U.S. House map that would give Republicans majorities in five of the state’s six districts. The amended Senate Bill 121 was passed Thursday afternoon after eight hours of floor debate, the fin

State Senate President Cameron Henry said a task force could find money in education budgets for a permanent teacher pay raise in 2027. (Photo by Avery White / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — Despite the failure of a constitutional amendment that would have guaranteed Louisiana public school teachers a permanent $2,000 pay raise, Gov. Jeff Landry said Tuesday he will find the money for stipends. But he left unclear where the money would come from, as lawmaker

State Sen. Glen Womack, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said a projected drop in state finances prompted budget cuts to several programs. (Photo by Cross Harris / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — After a 30-minute meeting with no debate, a Senate committee voted 9-0 to advance the state budget Thursday, removing the $43.5 million expansion of the school voucher program that had been included in the House and governor’s budgets. The Revenue Estimating Conf

State Sen. Jay Morris said his congressional redistricting plan tracks 2011 and 2022 maps that received “tacit” approval from the U.S. Justice Department and the Supreme Court. (Photo by Cross Harris / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — An amended congressional district map eliminating one of Louisiana’s two majority-black districts was approved by the House and Governmental Affairs Committee in a 10-7 vote down party lines Thursday after a 10-hour hearing highlig

House Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Johnson said local parishes should have more authority in determining whether or not to allow carbon-capture sequestration projects. (Photo by Cross Harris / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — A flurry of bills that would have given broader local control to carbon-capture projects failed Tuesday in a House committee. The House Natural Resources and Environment Committee heard more than a dozen bills and almost five hours of debate