Gov. Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency Thursday to suspend congressional elections in Louisiana until after lawmakers draw new district maps. (Photo by John Balance / The Advocate) BATON ROUGE — Gov. Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency Thursday to temporarily suspend this year’s congressional elections in Louisiana in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that maps of the state’s six districts are unconstitutional. Landry said that the ruling had enjoined th

A bill by state Rep. Vincent Cox that would have held parents legally responsible for children accessing a loaded firearm and harming themselves or others failed in a House committee Wednesday. (Photo by Cross Harris/LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — A bill holding adults legally responsible if children gain access to a loaded firearm was rejected 6-3 by a House committee this week. House Bill 586, by state Rep. Vincent Cox III, R-Gretna, would have criminalize

State Sen. Eddie Lambert, left, expressed concern about going ahead with early voting Saturday with congressional district maps that have been declared unconstitutional. At right, state Sen. Larry Selders said the state should let the current elections continue with the current congressional maps to avoid confusing voters. (Photo by Cross Harris / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — Even though early voting is scheduled to start Saturday, Louisiana’s Republican lea

A heavily amended bill by state Sen. Mark Abraham that would limit public information on a state university’s presidential search and the identity of high-profile donorspassed unanimously in a House committee meeting Tuesday. (Photo by Cross Harris / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — A heavily amended Senate bill that would limit the public release of information on who is a candidate for high-profile university positions and also shield the identity of universit

State Rep. Jeffery “Jeff” Wiley said a House bill that raises state compensation to the families of police and firefighters killed in the line of duty is the right thing to do. The bill unanimously advanced to the Senate on Monday. (Photo courtesy of Louisiana House of Representatives) BATON ROUGE — A bipartisan bill increasing the financial compensation to more than $400,000 for family members of law enforcement officers and firefighters who lose their lives in the line of d

State Rep. Barbara Carpenter’s bill requiring the Corrections Department to post to its website data on prison populations and demographics advanced to the Senate Monday. (Photo by Cross Harris / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — A House bill requiring the Department of Public Safety & Corrections to publish prison data on its website advanced 59-32 Monday with no debate. House Bill 525, authored by state Rep. Barbara Carpenter, D-Baton Rouge, would require the C