Author: SHANNON NAJMABADI
Louisiana House committee approves education savings account program for victims of bullying
Legislation to provide student bullying and sexual assault victims with state funds to attend non-public schools cleared the Senate Education Committee this week. Committee members voted 4-2 to approve House Bill 452, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Freiberg, R-Baton Rouge, to create state-funded Education Savings Accounts parents can use to educate their children outside of the public […]
Louisiana Legislature puts finishing touches on nearly $40B budget
The Louisiana Legislature finalized budget bills on Thursday that authorize nearly $40 billion in spending for the state’s annual operating budget, and roughly another $8 billion on construction, courts and other priorities. The House voted 88-7 in a final concurrence vote on Thursday to approve House Bill 1, the nearly $40 billion state operating budget for […]
North Carolina to spend $45M in taxpayer funds to help racetracks affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
Gov. Roy Cooper is “celebrating the return of racing” and taxpayers will spend $45.8 million to help 17 motorsports venues impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, though policy experts contend the tax dollars could be put to better use. “North Carolina’s speedways are strong economic drivers for communities across the state that bring friends, families, and […]
North Carolina tourism increased to near-record numbers in 2021
Gov. Roy Cooper is touting the recovery of North Carolina’s tourism industry following the COVID-19 pandemic, which last year nearly matched record visitor spending in 2019. Visitors to North Carolina spent $28.9 billion in 2021, or just 1% below record 2019 spending levels and 45% more than 2020, when travel restrictions tied to the pandemic […]
Mobile sports betting in Louisiana generates $2.2M in taxes for February
Louisiana collected more than $2.2 million in taxes for the first full month of mobile sports betting in February, more than a half-million dollars higher than retail sports betting through four months. Data from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board showed the state’s six online sports betting platforms took in $211 million in bets for February, […]
Louisiana among states opposing Biden ban on moving liquefied natural gas by train
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is leading a coalition of 25 states in opposition to a proposed federal rule to ban natural gas transport by rail car, arguing the decision drives up energy costs and threatens national security. Landry wrote a letter to Tristan Brown, acting administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), […]
Select Shreveport residents to start getting income boost later this month
The city of Shreveport is launching a new guaranteed income program that will distribute the first payments to more than 100 of the city’s low-income residents later this month. More than 22,000 Shreveport residents applied to participate in Mayor Adrian Perkins’ no-strings-attached guaranteed income program ahead of the Jan. 17 deadline, and 110 are expected […]
Mobile sports betting launches Friday in Louisiana
Mobile sports betting will go live in most of Louisiana on Friday with several online platforms cleared for launch. Online sports betting will be available in 55 of the state’s 64 parishes that approved sports betting in November 2020, beginning 8 a.m. Friday. The state will allow each of the 20 approved licenses to run […]
Louisiana lawmaker files legislation to fight homeowners associations
A Louisiana lawmaker wants to limit the authority of homeowners associations to ensure contracts respect constitutional rights. State Rep. Paul Hollis, R-Mandeville, has filed House Bill 9 for the upcoming legislative session to insert language in state law in reference to “community documents” between homeowners associations and lot owners. “Any provision of a community document which restricts […]
Louisiana to receive $1 billion for bridge improvements
Louisiana is set to receive $1 billion over the next five years to improve 400 bridges throughout the state as part of the Bridge Formula Program included in the bipartisan infrastructure package. Gov. John Bel Edwards last week announced the funding for Louisiana, which includes $202.6 million this fiscal year. In total, the bridge program […]