Louisiana

Guest column: Louisiana’s voting maps are an important piece of our democracy

Published

2 years ago

January 19, 2024

Guest column: Louisiana’s voting maps are an important piece of our democracy

Louisianans are living in a time of profound consequence where political ideology and political identity are at the center of fundamental questions impacting the state’s constitution, congressional maps and Supreme Court districts. If that weren’t enough, our Legislature’s ability, or lack thereof, to pass into law maps that comply with the Voting Rights Act and the United States Supreme Court’s recent decision in Milligan vs. Alabama place Louisiana in the national spotlight.

Voting rights advocates from around the country are paying close attention to whether our Legislature preemptively redraws our congressional maps to include two majority-Black congressional districts or continues its ill-advised legal pursuit to validate our state’s current congressional map. If our elected officials are able to do the former, Louisiana will have seized a crucial opportunity to lead both Southern states and conservative-led state governments towards realizing, as the founders penned, “a more perfect union” for our democracy.

Failure to construct fair and equitable maps leaves Louisiana vulnerable to judicial intervention, wastes taxpayer dollars and places our state once again on the wrong side of voting rights history.

Creating a more perfect union requires leaders with the courage to take incremental steps toward realizing the promises of our representative democracy. It is through these consequential steps that a more perfect union is realized. The inclusion of two majority-Black districts is one of these important steps. As such, political leaders in the Deep South can no longer afford to perpetuate the status quo of voter suppression and disenfranchisement.

Louisiana politicians who fail to ensure that all Louisianans — irrespective of their race, religion, education or geography — have the right to elect officials representing their values contradict what it means to be American. This special legislative session has provided Louisiana with the rare opportunity to distinguish its current trajectory from our complex past. This is an opportunity for our state to embrace what we as a country are supposed to be about — one person, one vote, one country.

The benefits Louisiana stands to gain by embracing its diversity are substantial. We live in a world where echo chambers of political affiliation continue to erode our institutions and harm our neighbors rather than promoting an environment of collective growth and prosperity. To that end, it is disappointing, yet unsurprising, that there is opposition to ensuring that all Louisiana residents are meaningfully able to participate in our political process. However, because those with power and influence continue to use political ideology and to a lesser extent one’s political identity to invoke fear in residents — fear of the unknown and fear of loss, particularly loss of power, prestige and prosperity — our democracy falls short of safeguarding that Black and other marginalized communities are able to enjoy the freedoms and protections our constitution and laws provide.

Consequently, it is important to highlight these factors when contemplating any decision of importance by the Legislature, as fear usually takes center stage in debates such as these where White residents look to mitigate the feelings associated with “losing” their voting power. That is why advocates in favor of implementing congressional maps to include two majority-Black districts must do all that we can to highlight that this legislative session isn’t about taking anything away, but instead ensuring everyone gets what they deserve under the law based on the growth and diversity of our population.

Finally, as the state’s conservative supermajority is poised to make its first major impression on our residents, it’s the hope of the Urban League of Louisiana that the Legislature wields its sacred authority to enact laws and our congressional Supreme Court maps justly. This is the occasion to do what is morally and legally correct without judicial intervention. Whether or not the Legislature is successful in enacting compliant maps, the Urban League of Louisiana will continue to ensure that Black Louisianans and other marginalized communities have the parity, power and civil rights they deserve and that our democracy demands.

Charles E.J. Phipps is the Urban League of Louisiana’s senior director for policy, advocacy and legal affairs.

Source link

Louisiana

State Treasurer John Fleming accuses Jeff Landry of interfering in Louisiana Senate race

Published

2 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

State Treasurer John Fleming accuses Jeff Landry of interfering in Louisiana Senate race

BATON ROUGE (KNOE) – Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming is accusing Governor Jeff Landry of interfering with the state Senate race, which Fleming is a part of.

Fleming took to social media to accuse Landry of working “behind the scenes” to get Congresswoman Julia Letlow elected to the Senate.

According to Fleming, Dr. Ralph Abraham offered him the position of Deputy Director of the CDC shortly before announcing he was stepping down. Fleming said he politely declined.

A week later, news broke that Abraham is now leading Letlow’s Senate campaign.

“We know that Jeff has been heavily lobbying the Trump campaign team for the endorsement, he is pressuring the Republican Party of Louisiana and the Republican Executive Committees to support and endorse Letlow as well,” Fleming wrote on Facebook. “And, he is personally calling his donors to raise big money to save the Letlow campaign.

Landry formally endorsed Letlow for the U.S. Senate on March 4. Letlow also has the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

“We need a warrior who stands with the President to Make America Great. And there’s no greater warrior than a Louisiana mom,” Landry wrote on Facebook.

Fleming continued his commentary, asking when Landry will stop interfering with the state’s Senate race.

“Who is best to decide who represents you in Washington? Jeff Landry, or YOU?” Fleming asked.

Also in the heated race is incumbent Bill Cassidy, M.D.

Party primary elections in Louisiana are set for May 16, 2026.

Source link

Louisiana

Louisiana Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for March 3, 2026

Published

14 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 3, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 3 drawing

07-21-53-54-62, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 3 drawing

6-8-3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 3 drawing

3-6-7-4

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from March 3 drawing

0-8-3-2-0

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.

By mail, follow these instructions:

Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.

Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:

Louisiana Lottery Headquarters

555 Laurel Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70801

To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:

555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.

When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

Louisiana

Brother of Louisiana mayor accused of raping 16-year-old has a hauntingly similar criminal past

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Brother of Louisiana mayor accused of raping 16-year-old has a hauntingly similar criminal past

The brother of Louisiana mayor Misty Roberts — accused of raping her son’s teenage friend — is facing child sex crimes of his own.

Brandon Lee Roberts, 39, was accused of raping a teen girl and assaulting a young woman over the course of several years, KALB reported.

Brandon Lee Roberts, 39, is accused of raping a teen girl and assaulting a young woman over the course of several years. Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office

The alleged sexual abuse began when one of the victims was as young as 13, according to Beauregard Parish Sheriff Mark Herford.

He was arrested in October.

Booking photo of Misty Clanton Roberts. — Brandon’s sister, Misty, the ex-mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, allegedly raped her son’s teenage friend. AP

That comes years after his big sister – ex-mayor of DeRidder, 43-year-old Misty Roberts – allegedly got hot and heavy with her son’s 16-year-old friend at a drunken party at their home.

Roberts was allegedly caught in the tryst by her own kids.

She was arrested months later, and is currently on trial for rape charges.

Source link