Louisiana
Bible’s Ten Commandments are to be displayed in some Louisiana classrooms, appeals court rules
A Louisiana law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom can stand, the 17 active judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals have ruled — vacating an earlier preliminary injunction.
The court wrote that it’s too early for the judges to decide whether it would violate the Constitution to have the Ten Commandments posted in every classroom.
“An unripe challenge does not become ripe merely because a party asserts that the challenged action would be unlawful on any conceivable set of facts,” the judges wrote.
A lower court in Louisiana initially blocked the law, and a three-judge panel on the 5th Circuit had previously agreed with the lower court. The full 5th Circuit Friday, however, did not.
The decision comes as the court has considered a pair of Ten Commandments laws — one from Louisiana and one from neighboring Texas. Last month, the active judges on the 5th Circuit heard the cases from both states.
Friday’s decision pertains only to Louisiana.
“Asking us to declare — here and now, and in the abstract — that every possible H.B. 71 display would violate the Establishment Clause would require precisely what Texas forbids: the substitution of speculation for adjudication,” the court wrote, using italics and referencing what the 5th Circuit decided in a similar Texas case. “It would oblige us to hypothesize an open-ended range of possible classroom displays and then assess each under a context-sensitive standard that depends on facts not yet developed and, indeed, not yet knowable.”
The court continued: “That exercise exceeds the judicial function. It is not judging; it is guessing. And because it rests on conjecture rather than a concrete factual record, it does not cure the ripeness defect—it compounds it.”
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement that “don’t kill or steal shouldn’t be controversial.”
“My office has issued clear guidance to our public schools on how to comply with the law, and we have created multiple examples of posters demonstrating how it can be applied constitutionally,” Murrill said. “Louisiana public schools should follow the law.”
The plaintiffs’ legal representation — the ACLU, ACLU of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Freedom From Religion Foundation and pro bono counsel Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP — said in a statement that Friday’s ruling is “extremely disappointing and would unnecessarily force Louisiana’s public school families into a game of constitutional whack-a-mole in every school district.”
“Longstanding judicial precedent makes clear that our clients need not submit to the very harms they are seeking to prevent before taking legal action to protect their rights,” they said. “But this fight isn’t over. We will continue fighting for the religious freedom of Louisiana’s families.”
ACLU of Louisiana Executive Director Alanah Odoms said in a written statement that the decision is “cowardly.”
“By forcing a singular religious text onto the walls of our public schools, the Fifth Circuit has flung open the door to the religious coercion of Louisiana’s children. This law transforms the public school classroom, a place that should be safe and inclusive, into a government-sanctioned house of worship,” Odoms said.
Yasin Gungor
19 April 2026•Update: 19 April 2026
At least eight children were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in the US state of Louisiana, local police said Sunday.
Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Christopher Bordelon said officers responded to the shooting just after 6 am (1100GMT), following a domestic disturbance call.
The age of the deceased ranged from one to 14 years, he said, adding that the incident involved at least 10 individuals across four separate locations.
The suspect attempted to flee by carjacking a vehicle and driving to neighboring Bossier City, where police located and shot him dead.
Bordelon said Shreveport police officers pursued the suspect’s vehicle into Bossier, where three officers discharged their firearms, killing him. He said investigators believe the suspect was the only person who opened fire at the locations.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux described the attack as “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” adding: “It’s a terrible morning.”
No immediate information was available about the condition of the injured.
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When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
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