BATON ROUGE, La. - In response to the devastating storms that swept through Louisiana on Wednesday, April 10, Governor Jeff Landry has taken swift action, signing an emergency declaration to facilitate the allocation of state resources for storm cleanup efforts. The storms, which unleashed multiple tornadoes across several parishes, left a trail of destruction in their wake. Gov. Landry's office has announced that debris removal assistance will be extended to Pointe Coupee Parish, West Feliciana Parish, St. Landry Parish, and St. Tammany Parish, with additional shelter assistance earmarked ..read more

WASHINGTON — In a defiant stance, House Speaker Mike Johnson reaffirmed his commitment to advancing a U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other international allies on Tuesday, rebuffing growing discontent among fellow Republicans. Despite facing calls to resign and threats of a potential ousting vote, Johnson remained resolute during a tense meeting with House Republicans at the Capitol. "I am not resigning," declared Johnson, asserting his role as a "wartime speaker" and dismissing calls for his removal as "absurd" and "not helpful." His determination to proceed with the aid package ..read more

LAS VEGAS — O.J. Simpson, the former football star and actor known for his high-profile trial in the 1990s, has passed away at 76 after battling prostate cancer, his family announced Wednesday. Simpson's life was marked by both triumph and tragedy. Born in San Francisco in 1947, he rose to fame as a college football star at the University of Southern California, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1968. He then went on to have a successful NFL career, earning the nickname "The Juice" for his electrifying playing style. However, Simpson's legacy was forever altered by the events of June 1994, when ..read more

BATON ROUGE, La.— Park smarter, not harder! The City of Baton Rouge is revamping its downtown parking system with a high-tech makeover launching April 29th. This exciting initiative promises a smoother experience for drivers and a boost for local businesses. Gone are the days of hunting for quarters and fumbling with outdated meters. The new system features a network of 100 user-friendly kiosks scattered throughout downtown. These kiosks, along with the Flowbird app, allow drivers to pay for parking with a tap or swipe – no more digging for change! “This is all about making parking downtown ..read more

BATON ROUGE, La. — Entrepreneurs in Baton Rouge are gearing up for a unique networking opportunity as the Southern University Ag Center prepares to host a business conference on Thursday, April 11. The event is slated to take place at the Smith-Brown Student Union and the Valdry Center for Philanthropy, located on the campus of Southern University. Titled "Connecting Businesses to Contracts: From Local to Global Business Development and Procurement Conference," the gathering aims to facilitate connections between small business owners, larger corporations, and government entities. Attendees ..read more

BATON ROUGE, La. - A proposed bill in Louisiana may soon level the playing field for homeschooled students seeking TOPS scholarships, aligning their ACT score requirements with those of their peers in traditional educational settings. Currently, homeschooled students are mandated to achieve scores at least two points higher than their non-homeschooled counterparts to qualify for TOPS scholarships. However, House Bill 68, championed by Rep. Brian Glorioso (R-Slidell), aims to eliminate this discrepancy, establishing uniform ACT score requirements for all students, regardless of their educat ..read more

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana House of Representatives has passed a measure aimed at directing public funds toward private education, marking a significant step in the ongoing debate over educational reform in the state. With a 72-32 vote, House Bill 745, sponsored by Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, gained approval. The bill proposes the creation of education savings accounts (ESAs), allowing families to use public money to enroll their children in private schools. Proponents argue that ESAs empower parents with greater choice in their children's education, while critics fear the potent ..read more

ZACHARY, La. - In a bid to empower residents and business owners with vital flood risk data, the City of Zachary unveiled its latest initiative, the Flood Fact Finder website. Teaming up with Forerunner, a leading floodplain management platform, Zachary City aims to offer accessible flood risk information and resources at no cost to its community members. Bryant Dixon, serving as the Director of Planning and Zoning, underscored the significance of this development, emphasizing its role in providing real-time flood data during storms, facilitating damage claims, and assisting individuals in ..read more

BATON ROUGE, La. – Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, in collaboration with Employ BR, and Big Buddy invites local businesses to participate as host sites in the 2024 Mayor's Youth Workforce Experience. This year's initiative aims to employ over 500 young individuals by offering summer jobs, fostering professional growth and development, and providing young people with positive activities during the summer months. Local businesses play a critical role in the success of this program and are encouraged to apply to be a host site for youth by May 10. By becoming a host site, busin ..read more

First-quarter fundraising data underscores a significant trend in contemporary politics: Senate candidates are amassing funds at levels far surpassing those seen just two decades ago. The surge in fundraising has brought Senate races closer to the financial echelons historically associated with presidential campaigns in the early 2000s. Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown recently announced a staggering $12 million haul in the first three months of this year for his reelection bid in Ohio. This figure mirrors the $12.9 million spent by Republican Richard Burr for his entire 2004 campaign in No ..read more