Alford: Turnover trend continues at the state Capitol

Much like the state its members represent, the Louisiana Legislature is experiencing a troubling trend of outmigration. Last term, from 2016 through 2019, was...

Alford: Lawmakers prepping for summertime session

Conservative lawmakers have taken the guesswork out of the process allowing the House and Senate to trigger an automatic veto session to override the...

Alford: New strategy lifting Legislative Black Caucus

While the Legislative Black Caucus has a long and proud history in the Louisiana Legislature, the last two terms have seen the organization ramp...

Alford: Legislative session will continue to reverberate

When he made his way out of the House chamber last week, just moments after lawmakers adjourned the 2021 regular session, Rep. Raymond Crews...

Alford: Jockeying for governor’s race underway

At this point during the last open gubernatorial cycle, in the summer of 2013, then-Rep. John Bel Edwards was preparing to take his long...
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JR Ball: What the BREC is going on with Bodi White?

Why is state Sen. Bodi White so determined to break the Baton Rouge suburbs away from BREC and start an independent parks department?

Riegel: A realistic look at flooding in Baton Rouge

Flooding is a worsening problem in Baton Rouge and across Louisiana but are we really getting serious about addressing the situation?

Publisher: Honoring Louisiana’s revolutionary, Buddy Roemer

Remembering former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, a man who was a revolutionary and a leader in both business and politics.

Alford: Sales tax becomes a last-minute issue

With roughly a week to go until the regular session can be adjourned, lawmakers are tying up loose ends. The state operating budget has been...

Alford: Progress and pain at the state Capitol

"This bill has a long way to go and a short time to get there.” That’s what Ways and Means Chair Stuart Bishop, R-Lafayette, told...

Alford: Tax reform easier said than done

This week marks the midpoint of the Louisiana Legislature’s regular session, so lawmakers are halfway to somewhere. I wish I could offer a more...
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JR Ball: The Louisiana curse of resource abundance

If Louisiana hopes to actually compete in an economy powered by knowledge and innovation then it needs to end its resource curse.

Riegel: Remembering a retailer who put people before profit

The death of Henry Bingham Jr., who defied the odds by keeping Our Hardware operating, leaves a hole in the world that is the Perkins Road Overpass.
Baton Rouge McCollister Louisiana

Publisher: Civil service board must go, jeopardizes public safety

The police civil service board is stacked with union representatives and either needs to go or be reformed as it undermines the authority of the police chief.

Alford: Lawmakers make time for campaign finance

The bills that get introduced by Louisiana lawmakers for consideration in legislative sessions have become predictable. More times than not, for example, there are...

Alford: In Louisiana, elections beget elections

If you’re starting to think these elections are never going to end, that may be because these elections never seem to end.   President Joe Biden...

Alford: Guilt by association a familiar theme in congressional runoff

Democrats playing in the runoff election in the New Orleans-based 2nd Congressional District are trying to tear each other apart over alleged connections to...
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JR Ball: Louisiana’s taxing problem

How much we do or don’t pay in taxes isn’t Louisiana’s fundamental fiscal problem. It’s the state’s moronically byzantine tax code as well as which cash kegs get tapped to fill the state’s coffers.

Riegel: Time for gender equity on the LSU board

Recent events at LSU make it abundantly clear the governor needs to bring gender equity to the men's club that is the board of supervisors.
Baton Rouge McCollister Louisiana

Publisher: Google will disrupt colleges and universities

Google offering career certificates, which most enrollees will earn in six months, could have a seismic disruption on four-year universities.