![Louisiana Network](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2014/09/lrn.jpg?w=300&q=75)
Louisiana Network
![Louisiana Network](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2014/09/lrn.jpg?w=300&q=75)
![Lawmakers Running Out Of Time To Come To An Agreement On $28 Billion Spending Plan](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2016/05/State-Capitol-at-Dusk-Wikimedia-Commons.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Lawmakers Running Out Of Time To Come To An Agreement On $28 Billion Spending Plan
It looks like it will come down to an 11th-hour decision at the State Capitol...again.
![Drug Felons Will Soon Be Eligible For Food Stamps](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2016/08/La-SNAP-Card-dcfs..jpg?w=980&q=75)
Drug Felons Will Soon Be Eligible For Food Stamps
The bill releases the one-year ban on SNAP benefits for felony drug offenders upon their release from prison.
![Daisy Lynn’s Family Still Searching For Answers](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2017/06/13996701_G.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Daisy Lynn’s Family Still Searching For Answers
The search continues, on land and water, for Daisy Lynn Landry.
![Bill Prohibiting Corporal Punishment For Students With Disabilities Heads To Governor’s Desk](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2013/10/Paddle-photo-WikiMedia-Commons.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Bill Prohibiting Corporal Punishment For Students With Disabilities Heads To Governor’s Desk
Students with disabilities will now be protected from corporal punishment in public schools after a measure to prohibit the spanking of children with ADHD and other developmental disabilities received final legislative approval.
![Criminal Justice Reform Bills Heading To Governor’s Desk](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2012/07/jail-cell.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Criminal Justice Reform Bills Heading To Governor’s Desk
Bills seeking to reform the state’s criminal justice system are heading to the governor’s desk.
![Some Legislators Disappointed As No Bills Passed To Reform State’s Tax Structure](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/12/Louisiana_State_Senate-e1462935067674.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Some Legislators Disappointed As No Bills Passed To Reform State’s Tax Structure
Heading into the 2017 legislative session, lawmakers talked about reforming Louisiana’s tax structure with $1.3 billion in temporary taxes set to expire next year.
![Bill Dealing With Incarcerated Parents & Child Support Payments Moves To Full House](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2014/11/prison-Getty-Image.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Bill Dealing With Incarcerated Parents & Child Support Payments Moves To Full House
A measure that suspends child support payments for individuals incarcerated for over 180 days nears final legislative passage as the bill heads to the House for approval of Senate changes.
![Report: 1 In 5 Malls To Close Down Within 5 Years](http://townsquare.media/site/35/files/2016/08/acadiana-mall.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Report: 1 In 5 Malls To Close Down Within 5 Years
The report estimates over 8,600 stores will close in 2017.
![Louisiana Legislature Approves 2017 Coastal Master Plan](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2017/05/Grand-Isle-Louisiana-getty-images1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Louisiana Legislature Approves 2017 Coastal Master Plan
Implementation can now begin on the 2017 Coastal Master Plan.
![Daily Advertiser Editorial: House Speaker Barras Is Ineffective; Calls On Resignation](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2016/01/Taylor-Barras-house.louisiana.gov_.png?w=980&q=75)
Daily Advertiser Editorial: House Speaker Barras Is Ineffective; Calls On Resignation
Barras is accused by his local publication of not being able to lead lawmakers effectively.
![Senate Finance Approves Spending Plan For Next Fiscal Year](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2016/05/State-Capitol-at-Dusk-Wikimedia-Commons.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Senate Finance Approves Spending Plan For Next Fiscal Year
The Senate's version of the budget package does not include deep cuts to higher ed, prisons or DCFS.
![A Look At LSU’s Regional Foes](http://townsquare.media/site/37/files/2015/06/lsu-baseball.jpg?w=980&q=75)
A Look At LSU’s Regional Foes
Weather permitting, LSU will begin the Baton Rouge Regional by hosting Texas Southern on Friday at 2:30 PM.
![Legislation Seeking To Make It Harder To Get TOPS Fails To Become Law](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2016/12/OPS-e1481926942761.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Legislation Seeking To Make It Harder To Get TOPS Fails To Become Law
Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil ends his effort to raise the minimum GPA required for high school students to receive the TOPS scholarship.
![Statewide Regulations For Uber, Lyft Shelved For Session](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2017/03/GettyImages-481423966.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Statewide Regulations For Uber, Lyft Shelved For Session
A bill to put statewide regulations on ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft is dead for the session.
![Study Finds Teens Mental Health Threatened By Late Night Phone Use](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2012/05/CellPhone.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Study Finds Teens Mental Health Threatened By Late Night Phone Use
A study out of Australia finds late night phone usage could hurt teens’ sleep quality and mental health.
![Drug Felons Would Be Eligible For Food Stamps Under House-approved Bill](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2012/10/Food-Stamps-Getty.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Drug Felons Would Be Eligible For Food Stamps Under House-approved Bill
Drug felons would be eligible for food stamps for the first time in decades under a House-approved measure by New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno.
![Bills Seeking To Close Loopholes In Domestic Violence Laws Win Final Passage](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2016/04/Louisiana-State-Capitol-Photo-by-Chris-GraythenGetty-Images-280x30011.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Bills Seeking To Close Loopholes In Domestic Violence Laws Win Final Passage
Two bills are heading to the Governor’s desk that seek to close loopholes in Louisiana’s domestic violence laws.
![Senate Committee Rejects Bill To End Sanctuary Policies](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2016/02/Louisiana-State-Capitol-wikimedia-commons-e1454730076776.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Senate Committee Rejects Bill To End Sanctuary Policies
A Senate Judiciary Committee rejects a proposal to end sanctuary policies in Louisiana.
![Girl Scout Troop Rescued By LDWF Agents In Natchitoches Parish](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2017/05/Girl-Scouts-Pixlr-Image.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Girl Scout Troop Rescued By LDWF Agents In Natchitoches Parish
The Texas Girl Scout troop is safe after being rescued from Saline Bayou.
![CDC: Alzheimer’s Deaths Increased 55 Percent In 15 Years](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2017/05/Elderly-Man.jpg?w=980&q=75)
CDC: Alzheimer’s Deaths Increased 55 Percent In 15 Years
Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.