Hot Topics News
Hot Topics
Insurance commissioner concludes Houston law firm engaged in mass fraud against policyholders, insurers
The Louisiana Department of Insurance has issued a cease-and-desist order against a Houston law firm that the department says has engaged in a campaign of fraud against hundreds of Louisiana policyholders and insurance companies.
Hot Topics
Foes of New Orleans mayor file recall petition with registrar
Amid charges, countercharges and court filings, the effort to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell passed a milestone this week as organizers filed their signatures with the Orleans Parish registrar of voters.
Latest News
Hot Topics
Auditor's report slams University of New Orleans for financial lapses
The University of New Orleans didn’t follow proper policies and procedures for the installation of a boiler costing nearly $215,000 by allowing an existing maintenance contractor to call all the shots, a state auditor’s report concludes.
Hot Topics
Grain elevator project foes say developer is avoiding local tax liabilities
Opponents who sued to stop a $400 million grain elevator project in St. John the Baptist Parish now argue that a financial arrangement with the Port of Louisiana allows the developer to avoid $200 million in local tax liabilities in violation of state law.
Hot Topics
Adult websites see constitutional concerns in new Louisiana age-verification law
A new Louisiana law that requires pornographic websites to verify the age of state residents seeking access to such platforms will curb adults’ access to constitutionally protected content, according to a trade association.
Hot Topics
FERC affirms Louisiana power customer overcharges by Entergy subsidiary
Federal energy regulators say Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans customers were overbilled by hundreds of millions of dollars, but the utility says no additional refunds are due beyond those already paid out.
Hot Topics
Edwards, Louisiana's education superintendent agree to ban TikTok app on state devices
Gov. John Bel Edwards has agreed to a request by Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin to ban the use of the social media app TikTok on all devices under the state’s control, according to a statement released by Ardoin’s office.
Hot Topics
Legal sports betting has generated tens of millions in tax revenues for Louisiana since November 2021
Louisiana sports betting wagers and tax revenues have revved up in parishes where it’s legal, with total wagers since November 2021 exceeding $2 billion and tax revenues surpassing $30 million, according to data from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
Hot Topics
Another property insurer set to pull out of Louisiana, prompting concerns about market stability
A Florida-based property insurer with about 36,000 policies in Louisiana is pulling out of the state, raising concerns about the ability of the Louisiana insurance market to absorb the blow.
Hot Topics
New Orleans police to employ facial recognition technology despite critics' concerns
Amid an increase in violent crime, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) is moving forward on the use of facial recognition software in the wake of the City Council reversing a ban on the surveillance technology earlier this year.
Hot Topics
Federal regulators approve LNG facility for Cameron Parish, despite greenhouse gas concerns
Federal energy regulators gave the green light to a liquefied natural gas (LNG) and export plant in Cameron Parish last month, prompting Louisiana environmentalists and local fisheries to express dismay at the anticipated consequences of the project.
Hot Topics
State transportation officials should detour from Baton Rouge freeway plan, Landry says
State Attorney General Jeff Landry has weighed in on a multiyear freeway renovation project in Baton Rouge, saying in a letter to the Louisiana transportation secretary that the planned narrowing of I-10 in 2024 may not be in the best interests of the public.
Hot Topics
Local watchdog rebuts BlackRock's reply to state treasurer withdrawing $794 million from its portfolio
The president of a local watchdog has rebutted an international asset manager’s reply to the withdrawal of nearly $800 million by the state of Louisiana from its investment portfolio
Hot Topics
Louisiana treasurer pulls $794 million out of BlackRock in protest over green energy policy
Louisiana is pulling nearly $800 million in state treasury funds out of the investment firm BlackRock Inc. to protest its green energy commitments, joining several other Republican-leaning states that see Blackrock as a threat to the oil and gas industry.
Hot Topics
Fishing industry officials plan lawsuit over impact of Louisiana wetlands restoration efforts
Louisiana fishing industry officials who fear the loss of their livelihoods are vowing to sue the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority over its planned $2 billion wetlands restoration project south of New Orleans.
Hot Topics
Louisiana ranks fourth among all states in waterway toxic pollution releases, study finds
The amount of toxic pollution released into Louisiana rivers and waterways reached 11.3 million pounds in 2020 – the fourth highest annual pollution release among the 50 states, according to a new report published by environmental groups.
Hot Topics
Hurricane Ian expected to batter Louisiana's property insurance market
Higher prices for Louisiana policyholders, more insurer insolvencies and a property insurance industry with less capacity to serve homeowner needs may be the cascading impact of the damage caused by Hurricane Ian in Florida, industry observers say.
Hot Topics
Louisiana Citizens seeks 63% rate hike for residential insurance customers
Louisiana Citizens, the state’s property insurer of last resort, is seeking a 63% increase in residential insurance premium rates beginning Jan. 1, 2023, to deal with the fallout from the past two hurricane seasons.
Hot Topics
Panel OKs $95 million deposit for victims of 1983 Tangipahoa Parish flooding
A joint legislative committee last week approved a $95 million allocation for the victims of a 1983 flood in the Baton Rouge area that was blamed by numerous courts on the construction of Interstate 12 in southeastern Louisiana.
Hot Topics
Tulane fares poorly in new ranking of free speech at top U.S. universities
Tulane University finished near the bottom of a new ranking examining how well U.S. universities’ policies promote campus free speech, coming in 156th out of a total of 203 universities studied.