Category: Louisiana

Man Fired, Arrested After Video Captures Him Allegedly Urinating Into City’s Drinking Water Supply

A worker for the Louisiana government who was captured on camera allegedly appearing to be urinating into the city’s drinking water supply was fired and arrested, according to reports. Michael Mastin, 57, was fired and arrested by the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office on March 23. The alleged incident was captured on camera a day prior at a…


2 Officers Killed in Louisiana Police Helicopter Crash

BATON ROUGE, La.—Two Baton Rouge police officers died Sunday when their helicopter crashed into a sugarcane field, Louisiana authorities said. The Robinson R-44 helicopter went out at 2 a.m. to help with a pursuit and never returned, local media reported. The aircraft’s disappearance wasn’t noticed for several hours when a search was launched. The wreckage…


Louisiana Republicans Get Supermajority in State House After Democrat Switches Party

Republicans have gained a supermajority in the Louisiana State House after a Democratic member switched parties. State Rep. Francis Thompson, who has represented an area of northeast Louisiana as a Democrat for almost five decades, officially moved to the Republican side on Friday, March 17. The 81-year-old lawmaker has described himself as a “conservative” and…


Judge Rules Against California’s Ban on Crocodile, Alligator Products

A federal judge has ruled against California’s ban on selling and importing alligator and crocodile products. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Kimberly Mueller issued the ruling March 6, more than three years after Louisiana joined retailers across the nation to sue the state for its decision to criminalize the products. In the judgement, Mueller found…


Arrests Made in Louisiana Shooting That Wounded 12

BATON ROUGE, La.—Police in Louisiana’s capital city have arrested two people for a shooting that left 12 others wounded at a nightclub in January. Two 19-year-olds, Nikeal Franklin and Jy’Shaun Jackson, were arrested Friday, the Baton Rouge Police Department said. Franklin was charged with 12 counts of attempted first-degree murder while Jackson was charged with…


Louisiana AG Audit of Sexually Explicit Books in Public Libraries Calls for Update to Policies to Restrict Children’s Access

The Louisiana Attorney General has issued an audit on sexually explicit reading material found in public libraries that calls for an update to policies restricting children’s access. “The Protecting Innocence report gives parents and officials the tools they requested to protect Louisiana’s children from sexually explicit material,” said Attorney General Jeff Landry said in a…


Louisiana AG Audit of Sexually Explicit Books in Public Libraries Calls for Policies That Restrict Children’s Access

The Louisiana attorney general’s office has released an audit on sexually explicit reading material found in public libraries that calls for an update to policies restricting children’s access. “The Protecting Innocence report gives parents and officials the tools they requested to protect Louisiana’s children from sexually explicit material,” Attorney General Jeff Landry said in a…


DOJ Says Louisiana Holding Nearly 30 Percent of Prison Inmates Beyond Release Dates, Violating Rights

There is “reasonable cause” to believe that the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (LDOC) routinely holds inmates in prison beyond their legal release date, in violation of their rights, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). In a press release on Jan. 25, the DOJ said that an investigation into the state’s prison…


Maritime Companies Partner With Louisiana to Invest in Future Container Facility Terminal

Port companies in New Jersey and Switzerland have committed $800 million to build a $1.8 billion container facility in Louisiana. The two global maritime companies are partnering with the state of Louisiana and the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) to build the Louisiana International Terminal in St. Bernard Parish in Violet, Louisiana, according to…


Louisiana Voters Approve Measure Barring Voting for Non-US Citizens

Louisiana voters on Dec. 10 approved a number of state constitutional amendments, including one that bans non-U.S. citizens from voting in elections. All three amendments, which also include requiring the state Senate to approve the governor’s appointments to the Civil Service Commission and Senate confirmation of State Police Commission members, received 73 percent of voters’ support….