Louisiana
17 states, including Louisiana, file lawsuit challenging Section 504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a national law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability.
The nondiscrimination requirements of the law apply to employers and organizations that receive financial assistance from any Federal department or agency, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Now a lawsuit filed by 17 states, including Louisiana, challenges the Biden administration’s 2024 update to Section 504, which includes gender dysphoria in the definition of disability.
KATC spoke with Charlotte Cravins and her one-year-old son Landry, who has Down syndrome and is blind in one eye. We asked her how she felt about lawmakers trying to declare Section 504 unconstitutional in the lawsuit.
“I was honestly shocked by it. People like Landry and other disabled people need protections more than anyone. Prior to these protections, they were institutionalized and sent to the margins of society. Without these protections, I’m really scared that could happen again,” Cravins said.
KATC
KATC asked Cravins about Landry’s portable oxygen machine.
“One side effect of Down syndrome is something called a floppy airway, which is caused by low muscle tone. This helps him get some oxygen support and keep his airway open,” Cravins says.
The states have now submitted a joint status report saying that they do not wish to have all of Section 504 deemed unconstitutional, but this does not ease Landry’s mother’s worries.
“I think Louisiana should withdraw from the lawsuit because you’re willing to gamble disability protections for this one part of the law you’re objecting to,” Cravins said.
According to a statement from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill,
“I support Section 504 protections for people with disabilities. I do NOT support continuing with that particular part of the lawsuit. The case is in the process of settling, and I believe that particular claim will ultimately be dropped out of the lawsuit.”
For Cravins, lawsuit or not, she is prepared to advocate for her son and ensure his future is secure.
“I’m here to fight for Landry and people like him,” Cravins said.
Charlotte Cravins
That statement by the Attorney General also states:
“We are actively seeking a resolution with the Trump administration that would withdraw these rules while still protecting The Americans with Disabilities Act’s traditional coverage and interpretation. The Biden administration’s rule would threaten federal funding for disabled Louisianans and take away healthcare options for those covered by Medicaid if Louisiana did not comply with its radical agenda.”
To read the lawsuit in full, click here.
A state lawmaker whose district includes Iberville and nine other parishes will lead the way on the drawing of a new congressional map when the committee convenes Friday.
Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter, R-Port Allen, will chair the hearings to draw a new congressional district map. He currently serves as chairman of the U.S. Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee.
On Wednesday, Kleinpeter said he has not worked on any maps. He is letting the committee members and the members of the Senate work on this with staff.
The move will come nine days after the U.S. Supreme Court on a 6-3 vote ruled one of Louisiana’s two majority-Black U.S. House districts unconstitutional.
“We can’t base it on race anymore, so the minority party is the Democrats,” he said. “The Democrats have migrated away from the New Orléans area, so we’re looking at Democrats versus Republicans, so the minority party — the Democrats — which means it’s more favored toward Baton Rouge.”
The move would work in favor of incumbent 6th District Congressman Cleo Fields, who was a candidate for the race which Gov. Jeff Lndry suspended in the wake of the Supreme Court decision.
The ruling stemmed from Louisiana vs. Callais – a consolidation of Robinson vs. Callais – that centered on racial gerrymandering and redistricting in the state of Louisiana following the 2020 United States census. The lead plaintiff, Phillip “Bert” Callais, is a resident of Brusly.
The Supreme Court vote came despite the African American population comprising nearly one-third of the state’s population.
According to the 2020 Census, the Black or African American population in Louisiana was approximately 1,464,023,representing 31.4%of the state’s total population. Louisiana has one of the highest percentages of Black residents in the United States, ranking second behind Mississippi.
The Baton Rouge district would likely be the area to undergo the remap, he said.
It amounts to an intricate balancing act.
“What far-right Republicans don’t understand is that with Congress maps, you have to be within 776, 280 votes – within 50 votes of the other districts,” Kleinpeter said. “It’s not like our legislative maps where you can be off by thousands … when you start changing a precinct, it can run down a rabbit hole chasing this precinct over here and over there.
“We can easily draw a really strong nine Republican and one strong Democrat, so if you start watering districts down you could wind up with a 4-2 map.”
Republicans currently have a two-vote super majority vote.
“But some Republican districts are strong and others are weak,” Kleinpeter said. “If you take 58 percent Democrats and put them in Republican districts, you could end up losing Republicans.
“Drawing congress maps is very difficult – you have the leader of the party, and you have the Speaker of the House you have to protect,” he said. “You don’t want to jeopardize their maps at hole.”
One other issue is looming for the state, Kleinpeter said.
“What people don’t understand is that we will have to do this all over again in five years, after the next census comes out,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll people by that time.”
The 2030 Census will play a key role in the process, but it still requires participation.
“I had plenty of next-door neighbors who didn’t want to fill out their census” he said. “I’m going to push to fill out their census. We miss out on federal money and potentially risk losing a seat. “
Neuty, the iconic Bucktown nutria visits the state capitol, with Myra Lacoste, Denny Lacoste, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, Dennis Lacoste Sr., and Louisiana state Senator J. Cameron Henry Jr. Neuty was an orphan, rescued by the Lacostes. In March 2023, LDWF agents attempted to confiscate the illegal pet.
VIDALIA, La. — Louisiana State Police arrested 18-year-old Gregory Steele early Sunday morning on two counts of vehicular homicide, one count of underage operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, one count vehicular negligent injuring and one count careless operation, according to Concordia Parish Jail records.
Steele, 18, a white male, was arrested in connection with an accident that occurred at approximately 1:54 a.m. on Sunday morning on Minorca Road in Vidalia. Two passengers in the vehicle were killed. Steele and another passenger were able to escape the vehicle.
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