Louisiana
Justice Department says Louisiana State Police violate the constitutional rights of people it encounters
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department says the Louisiana State Police engages in practices that violate the constitutional rights of people with whom it interacts.
Findings announced after a “pattern and practice investigation” Thursday afternoon said the agency routinely uses excessive force, including the unjustified use of Tasers, and escalates minor incidents involving people who do not pose a threat. The entire report is available at the Justice Department website.
Among other findings, the Justice Department said the agency uses unreasonable force without warning and without giving people an opportunity to comply with directions. It also found troopers used force on people in handcuffs and on people accused only of misdemeanors.
In a brief statement issued with its report, the Justice Department noted the agency is reforming itself and has made changes in its use-of-force policy, but it says more work must be done.
Gov. Jeff Landry said the report “seeks to diminish the service and exceptionality” of the State Police.
“We will not let that happen,” Landry said, without offering specifics. “The reputation of our men and women in blue is one of respect, admiration, and appreciation, and we will always have their bac.”
Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement that the U.S. Justice Department was acting to advance a political agenda and did not address the agency’s actual findings.
“We will continue to ensure that LSP is the finest law enforcement organization in the country and have a deep respect and appreciation for all of Louisiana’s law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line for the citizens of our great State each and every day and they have our steadfast support,” she said.
The Justice Department has been looking at the State Police since 2022. The report comes just after the department said it would not file criminal charges following the death of motorist Ronald Greene.
The investigators laid the blame on poor supervision of troopers, noting that the agency doesn’t do meaningful reviews following the use of force. It also said training modules “encourage aggressive behavior and escalate encounters.”
The report’s executive summary details Greene’s traffic stop in northern Louisiana on May 19, 2019. Police chased Greene for 14 minutes until he crashed, then punched him, dragged him by his ankles and left him face down in the road.
When a supervisor arrived, he stepped over Greene and checked on how the officers were doing. “None of the troopers rendered aid to Mr. Greene, who became unresponsive and died before he reached the hospital,” the report said.
“Mr. Greene’s death and its aftermath demonstrated serious failures at LSP — excessive force, improper supervision, ineffective training, and breakdowns in accountability,” the report said. “These failures were not isolated, but part of a larger pattern or practice of law enforcement conduct that deprives people in Louisiana of their rights under the Constitution.”
As the joint U.S.-Israeli war on Iran stretches into its third week, Louisiana maritime leaders are keenly monitoring disruptions to the global supply chain, and energy markets in particular.
The effects of the conflict on the state’s shipping industry will be largely determined by its duration, experts say. But while the shock of high fuel prices and damage dealt to Gulf Arab economies threaten to inflate costs across the board, the destruction could also offer opportunities to Louisiana industry — in the form of more market share and reconstruction contracts.
The Mac Ubery VIII container ship passes under Crescent City Connection as it heads up the Mississippi to the Port of New Orleans
“Clearly, the shorter the duration, the less disruption to the supply chain and to the global overall cost of moving cargo,” said Greg Rusovich, CEO of the logistics and freight company Transoceanic Development. “The longer the duration, the more severe the impact on the global supply chain and on a whole variety of related transportation costs.”
‘Biggest crisis’
Since the war began, oil prices have spiked to nearly $120 a barrel before falling and climbing again. The world’s largest liquified natural gas plant, in Qatar, was knocked offline by an Iranian drone strike and ceased production. Iraqi oil production is down by about 70%.
An oil tanker burns after being hit by an Iranian strike in the ship-to-ship transfer zone at Khor al-Zubair port near Basra, Iraq, late Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo)
And the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively blockaded, cutting off the route through which about 20% of the world’s petroleum usually passes. Only 66 commercial vessels transited the strait during the first nine days of March, compared with more than 100 a day before the outbreak of war, according to the maritime intelligence firm Windward. Iranian forces on Wednesday attacked several commercial vessels in the strait, and as of Thursday, at least seven mariners have been killed in the conflict, according to The Associated Press.
Because of global supply chains in a world that is deeply interconnected through international trade, the increased energy costs will spread throughout the economy, impacting energy costs, goods and, by extension, construction costs.
“It is going to have an impact on everybody personally,” said Chett Chiasson, executive director of the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, which handles Port Fourchon and services about 95% of the Gulf’s deepwater energy production. “But it’s also going to have an impact on projects because higher fuel costs increase the cost for contractors and projects in general.”
Chett Chiasson, executive director at Port Fourchon and South Lafourche Airport, speaks during March 16, 2023, news conference at the Port of New Orleans building in New Orleans.
Chiasson said significant disruptions would have to linger for several months to spur major investment shifts, as Louisiana’s oil and gas producers lack OPEC members’ ability to quickly “turn the spigot” to increase output.
“There’s the ability to ramp up, if and when necessary,” he said. “We just have to see the operators pull those triggers.”
Import vs. export
For the Port of New Orleans, Louisiana’s only international container port, the immediate shock to the system from the stopped-up strait has been blunted — in part, experts said, because operators rerouted around the southern tip of Africa in late 2023 in response to attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi rebels.
“The shipping industry had already been largely avoiding that area unless cargo was destined for the Middle East,” said Port NOLA Chief Commercial Officer Kristi App.
While the cost of bypassing the Red Sea has already been factored in by the industry, many major carriers have recently imposed new emergency surcharges to cover increased fuel cost.
Kristi App became the chief commercial officer of the Port of New Orleans in December 2025.
“There’s been a pause button pushed from a lot of the carriers, whether they are carrying containerized cargo or bulk or breakbulk, to see if this is just going to be a few days into a few weeks — much like Venezuela was,” App said.
But the longer the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, the more likely congestion will spread to transshipment hubs around the world, with repercussions for the entire global supply chain.
Last year, Port NOLA handled about 514,600 TEUs — the unit equivalent to standard 20-foot shipping containers — up 3% from the prior year, while the total number of container ships was up 7.7% to 394.
App predicted the conflict is unlikely to take a significant cut out of that traffic.
“We feed cargo into and out of the Middle East, but it is not our major market, so from that perspective, we’re well-insulated from any heavy or intense volume impact,” she said. “We’re diversified, which is good.”
Downriver, the Port of South Louisiana, which handles over 250 billion tons of cargo annually, is keeping in close contact with the seven grain transfer complexes, four major oil refineries, 11 petrochemical manufacturing plants and other industrial facilities within the 54-mile long port district, according to Chief Commercial Officer Micah Cormier.
“While too early to assess effects of this conflict, we are in communication with stakeholders and partners to gauge the impact to our Port and industry,” Cormier said in a statement.
Post-war profit?
Transoceanic Development CEO Greg Rusovich, pictured a 2016 file photo, speaks during a press conference at Louis Armstrong International Airport.
“There are a large number of Louisiana contractors that perform that type of work that could go in and help bring the country back under the right regime and help it become part of the global system,” Rusovich said.
On the downside, he said, the economic damage inflicted by Iran’s attacks on the United Arab Emirates and regional U.S. allies could trigger the Gulf monarchies to pull back from their commitments to significant capital investments in Louisiana.
Chiasson, the director of Louisiana’s primary base for offshore oil and gas operations, said increased oil prices will ultimately generate more revenue for the state’s producers, even if the long-term impact on the state’s maritime industry and the broader economy remains to be seen.
“We can’t make rash decisions either way because sooner or later, this is all going to be over and we’re getting back to where we thought we were going to be,” he said.
Port Fourchon, La., photographed on Saturday, June 3, 2023. (Flight courtesy of SouthWings)(Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – It’s no secret that American farmers, including crawfish farmers like David Savoy, rely on migrant labor.
“Our main concern is labor. We don’t have the labor anymore,” said David Savoy, a crawfish farmer for over two decades and president of the Louisiana Promotion and Research Board.
When we visited Savoy’s crawfish farm in Richard, Louisiana, back in January, it was early in the crawfish season. Now, closer to the season’s peak, producers have to process their catch. For that, they need foreign labor secured through the H-2B visa program, but those producers are struggling to bring in migrant workers this year.
USDA secretary says administration working to ease farm labor restrictions for Louisiana crawfish, shrimp industries
“In the state, our 20 major processors employ anywhere from 40 to 150 people. Only 15 of the 20 processors so far have gotten any labor,” said Mike Strain, commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
Commissioner Mike Strain said the state needs about 2,000 H-2B workers. Strain says last year’s federal government shutdown delayed work visa applications. On top of that, the program is capped, allowing domestic workers to apply. The visa limit for the first half of this year has already been reached, and Strain says if the cap isn’t lifted, Louisiana’s crawfish industry could be in trouble.
“If we don’t get these workers in, the bottom line the farmers will lose in excess of $120 million to $125 million,” said Commissioner Strain.
“We’re working to make a very quick change, as quickly as we can to basically open up the market so these labor questions can be resolved. There’s a question of how expensive it is and we’re working to bring the cost down for farmers, but just getting the labor, we’re really singularly focused on this labor issue,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
MORE: Louisiana crawfish industry faces worker shortage after DHS caps seasonal visas
On Thursday, Secretary Rollins came to Fox 8’s studios to discuss the labor shortage. When asked if the Trump administration will lift or raise the cap for H-2B visas, Secretary Rollins said that is a decision the White House cannot make.
“So the administration cannot remove the cap. That’s a Congressionally authorized statute, so the Congress has to do that. What we can do and what we’re looking to do is changing some of the rules within that to perhaps allow other programs that these farmers can apply for that are outside of the current restricted cap,” Secretary Rollins said.
With just weeks left in crawfish season, a multimillion-dollar industry hopes that help arrives in time.
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Downtown Lafayette Louisiana: Cajun music, food, and festivals
See how downtown Lafayette blends live music, public art, local restaurants, and festivals into a walkable hub of Cajun culture in southwest Louisiana.
Louisiana is often referred to as the “Festival Capital of the World,” earning this title because of the hundreds of festivals that take place annually throughout the state.
More than 400 festivals take place each year in Louisiana, ranging from cultural and food celebrations to music and seasonal events.
Three festivals, Rougarou Fest, Jazz Fest and Beignet Fest, were named among the top 10 festivals in various categories by USA Today.
Rougarou Fest in Houma named on USA Today’s 10Best Cultural Festivals
Rougarou Fest in Houma was named by USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards as the seventh best cultural festival.
Rougarou Fest is a free, family-friendly festival that celebrates the rich folklore of Southeast Louisiana. The Rougarou is a folklore creature that’s described as having the head of a wolf or dog and the body of a human, like a werewolf. Stories of the Rougarou have been used by Cajun parents for generations to get children to behave.
The event, which takes place at 86 Valhi Blvd. in Houma, showcases live music, cultural activities, children’s activities, Cajun food, the Krewe Ga Rou parade and more. This year, the festival will take place from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25.
Here are the 10 best cultural festivals in the U.S. according to USA Today:
- Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
- Black Wall Street Rally (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
- Dublin Irish Festival (Dublin, Ohio)
- Fyr Bal Festival (Ephraim, Wisconsin)
- Anchorage Fur Rendezvous (Anchorage, Alaska)
- Black Food Truck Festival (Charleston, South Carolina)
- Rougarou Fest (Houma, Louisiana)
- World Food & Music Festival (Des Moines, Iowa)
- Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival (Nashville, Tennessee)
- Celtic Music and Heritage Festival (St. Augustine, Florida)
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival named among 10 best music festivals by USA Today
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, also known as Jazz Fest, was named the seventh best music festival on USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards.
This festival is a legendary celebration of music, featuring some of the biggest names in music, with this year’s lineup featuring the Eagles, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Kings of Leon, Lorde, Tyler Childers and Earth, Wind and Fire, just to name a few.
The festival also puts the spotlight on local legends in the genres of jazz, blues, gospel, rock, R&B and Zydeco. This event is a great way for attendees to experience the rich musical heritage of New Orleans.
This year, the festival takes place on two separate weekends, from April 23 until May 3. In addition to music, there will also be authentic Louisiana cuisine, artisan crafts and cultural displays.
These are the 10 best music festivals in the U.S. according to USA Today:
- Musikfest (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)
- Mile 0 Fest (Key West, Florida)
- Joshua Tree Music Festival (Joshua Tree, California)
- Festival Napa Valley (Napa, California)
- Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion (Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia)
- Summerfest (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- Waterfront Blues Festival (Portland, Oregon)
- Lollapalooza (Chicago, Illinois)
- Ohana Festival (Dana Point, California)
Beignet Fest in New Orleans among best specialty food festivals according to USA Today’s 10Best
Beignet Fest in New Orleans was named the eighth best specialty food festival by USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards.
This festival celebrates the food culture of New Orleans, especially beignets. Along with traditional beignets covered in a delicious heaping of powdered sugar, attendees can try specialty beignets stuffed with crawfish, gumbo and candied sweet potatoes.
This year, the festival will take place on Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the New Orleans City Park Festival Grounds.
Here are the 10 best specialty food festivals according to USA Today:
- Delta Hot Tamale Festival (Greenville, Mississippi)
- Maine Whoopie Pie Festival (Dover-Foxcroft, Maine)
- Picklesburgh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- Cheese Curd Festival (Ellsworth, Wisconsin)
- National Buffalo Wing Festival (Buffalo, New York)
- National Shrimp Festival (Gulf Shores, Alabama)
- Oregon Chocolate Festival (Ashland, Oregon)
- Beignet Fest (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- Kauai Poke Fest (Koloa, Hawaii)
- Drinks With Benefits (New York City, New York)
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
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