Louisiana

From laundry window to House, Jack McFarland pivotal in budget debates

Published

3 months ago

February 16, 2026

Press Room

From laundry window to House, Jack McFarland pivotal in budget debates

Louisiana House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland began his political career after interacting with local officials at his dry-cleaning business.
McFarland, a Republican, is known for his deep knowledge of the state budget and his willingness to work across party lines.
He has prioritized fiscal discipline while also supporting funding for programs like SNAP food benefits and teacher stipends.
Colleagues describe McFarland as people-centered, focusing on what is best for Louisiana residents rather than partisan politics.

BATON ROUGE — When people think of Jack McFarland, they think of the clean-cut, white-haired logger from Winnfield who knows the state budget inside and out as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. What many don’t know is that his career in politics came from something as simple as doing others’ laundry.

When McFarland worked behind the drive-thru window at his dry-cleaning business in Winnfield, Louisiana, he would strike up conversations with customers, including the mayor and sheriff.

“It puts you in the middle of all the politics,” McFarland said. “I met a lot of people.”

He would listen to the complaints the officials had about one another. Then, he would help negotiate solutions.

It was those conversations that helped kick-start McFarland’s interest in a political career — one that led him to be president of the Winn Parish Police Jury, a Republican state representative from District 13 and now one of the most influential people at the Capitol as the Legislature prepares for its spring session.

McFarland, 56, is a conservative who supports fiscal discipline, gun rights and a ban on abortions. But his power comes from his deep knowledge of the budget and his willingness, even in hyper-partisan times, to work with Democrats and talk to advocates across the political spectrum about how to improve the lives of Louisiana residents, including those who are struggling financially.

“Jack’s leadership and decisions were really people-centered, not partisan-centered,” said former Rep. Jason Hughes, a Black Democrat who was the vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee before joining the New Orleans City Council last month. “His guiding question was, ‘Is this good for Louisiana? Is this good for our people?’”

Hughes said McFarland wanted to ensure that every House member had a chance to weigh in on the budget.

“He really loves Louisiana,” Hughes said. “He was committed to fairness for all members of the House and really wanted to see every parish, all 64 parishes, in our state thrive. Parties honestly never came up in our conversations and in our negotiations.”

One example came last fall when the federal government shutdown threatened to disrupt SNAP food benefits, which 18% of Louisiana residents rely on. McFarland worked closely with Gov. Jeff Landry and Republican State Senate President Cameron Henry to make state funds available if needed to keep the assistance flowing.

McFarland said at the time that it was “the Christian thing to do.” He added, “I’m disappointed in the federal level that this population is being held hostage by either party, but I’m also disappointed that anybody would think that people like this should be used as leverage.”

McFarland’s district — which encompasses four parishes in North Louisiana — is rural, isolated and impoverished. Roughly 40% to 45% of those residents rely on Medicaid, and some had to travel at least an hour to see a doctor until federally supported healthcare centers were established in the district.

“Jack is very compassionate when it comes to his constituents,” said Katie Murray, McFarland’s legislative assistant.

McFarland also pays attention to detail. In one part of his laundry business, for instance, he let customers pick the detergents they wanted to use.

“These are the types of things that gained the public’s trust,” he said. “Looking back, it was a good precursor for where I am at.”

When he became the president of the Winn Parish Police Jury in 2008, he quickly resolved debt and other financial issues.

“He treated the jury like a business,” said Karen Tyler, the jury’s secretary-treasurer. “He ran a great office.”

McFarland recognized that the parish garbage tax was collecting more than was needed. With a vote from residents, he put two-thirds of the extra money toward improving existing roads and one-third toward new roads.

When McFarland was elected state representative in 2015, he made a point of entering tough conversations with colleagues, asking them questions and giving his stance on issues. One topic he wanted to master was Louisiana’s budget.

According to McFarland, fewer than 25% of the legislators really understand the budget. But money runs everything.

During his first term, McFarland attended meetings about the budget and met with Henry, who was then the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee before becoming president of the State Senate.

McFarland’s determination landed him a spot on the Appropriations Committee, and he became the chair in early 2024.

As chairman, McFarland is responsible for leading the review and advancement of a $46.9 billion budget for all state agencies and programs.

He has helped find millions of dollars for public teacher stipends. But he also has been cautious about tapping too far into state reserves to expand other spending.

“Everyone wants lower taxes,” McFarland said. “To do that, we have to find a way to be better stewards with the taxpayers’ dollars.”

He has also been involved in recent compromises over spending on one of Gov. Landry’s centerpiece programs, LA GATOR, which provides state money to families to help pay for private school education.

Landry sought more than $90 million for the program last year. But Senate Republicans would agree to only half that amount, and a replay of that debate is coming this spring.

Landry has proposed a standstill budget overall for the coming fiscal year. But the state could face budget shortfalls of more than $300 million a year after that. McFarland also wants to prepare for that.

“The only way we can do that is to continue to work with our agencies to diminish wasteful spending, to continue to identify those opportunities when we can save dollars and not create more recurring expenditures,” he said.

McFarland got out of the laundry business years ago but still runs McFarland Timber, a logging-services company that caters to both professional builders and DIY enthusiasts.

He has two years left in the House before he hits his term limit. Talk of McFarland running for state treasurer has been circulating, though he has not decided what comes next.

“As long as I feel like I’m doing something for the people, that’s what I want to do,” he said.

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Louisiana

Silver Alert issued for missing New Orleans man

Published

6 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Silver Alert issued for missing New Orleans man

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Louisiana State Police issued a Silver Alert Friday for a 76-year-old New Orleans man who has been missing since Wednesday.

Elbert Welch was last seen in the 1700 block of Holiday Drive on May 6 at approximately 11 a.m. State police received the request to issue a Silver Alert at approximately 6:54 p.m. Friday on behalf of the New Orleans Police Department.

Welch is a white male with brown eyes and black and gray hair. He is 5′10″ and weighs approximately 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a khaki shirt, black pants and a blue baseball cap.

Family reports that Welch has a medical condition that may impair his judgment.

Welch is believed to be walking on foot in an unknown direction.

Anyone with information regarding Welch’s whereabouts is asked to immediately contact the New Orleans Police Department, 4th District, at (504) 821-2222 or dial 911. All questions should be directed to the New Orleans Police Department.

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Louisiana

Louisiana baseball vs App State live score, TV and more from SBC series

Published

18 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana baseball vs App State live score, TV and more from SBC series

Pressure is back on for Louisiana baseball, especially on the weekend in Sun Belt Conference play.

The Ragin’ Cajuns (30-19, 12-12) dropped their final midweek game of the season, losing 9-6 to the University of New Orleans in extra innings. Now, the Cajuns are back on the road for SBC play, needing every win they can get to better their chances of snagging a regional spot. They travel to Appalachian State for what will likely be a chilly three-game series against the Mountaineers.

Seventh-year head coach Matt Deggs will go with junior Cody Brasch to start Game 1, a spot the right-hander is becoming accustomed to. Saturday’s are for Andrew Herrmann, the most reliable of the Cajuns’ arms through the year. App State will start junior righty Nick DiRito on Friday, followed by junior righty Gage Peterson and junior lefty Tanner Nolan to close out the series.

Here’s how to watch Ragin’ Cajuns baseball in its SBC series vs App State (28-18, 15-9), including time, TV schedule, live score and streaming information.

Watch Louisiana baseball vs App State on ESPN+

Louisiana baseball vs App State live score

What channel is Louisiana baseball vs App State on?

TV: None

Livestream: ESPN+

Radio: Varsity Network, 96.5 FM

Louisiana vs. App State will be available live on ESPN+ streaming service for the teams’ ninth SBC series of the 2026 college baseball season. Matt Present will provide commentary from Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.

What time does Louisiana baseball play App State today?

5 p.m. Friday, May 8
2 p.m. Saturday, May 9
12 p.m. Sunday, May 10

The Louisiana vs. App State series starts at 5 p.m. Friday at Beaver Field in Boone, N.C., followed by Game 2 at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Cajuns will close out the series at noon on Sunday.

Louisiana baseball vs App State weather update

Friday’s matchup will be played in semi-cloudy weather with sunshine throughout the day. It’ll be a high of 62 degrees and a low of 44 degrees. Winds will get up to about five to 10 mph, and there is less than a 7% chance of rain in the afternoon. Saturday’s game will be played in warmer weather with a high of 67 degrees, followed by Sunday’s high of 73 degrees.

Louisiana baseball vs App State history

Series record: Louisiana leads 14-9

In Lafayette: Series tied 6-6

In Boone: Louisiana leads 6-3

Louisiana’s last win: April 2, 2023 (6-0)

App State’s last win: April 1, 2023 (8-5)

Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.

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Louisiana

Behind the Curtain: How Louisiana’s Parole System and Courts Shape Who Goes Free | The Lens

Published

1 day ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Behind the Curtain: How Louisiana’s Parole System and Courts Shape Who Goes Free | The Lens

This week on Behind The Lens, the public gets a rare look inside one of the most powerful and least understood parts of Louisiana’s criminal justice system: the parole process.

A sign posted on the door at the live parole hearing on the campus of Loyola University. (Photo by Gus Bennett / The Lens)

In Louisiana, Parole Board hearings are sometimes held in public, offering families, victims, attorneys, advocates, and reporters an opportunity to witness how decisions are made about who is granted freedom and who remains incarcerated. But those hearings reveal more than individual cases. They expose the broader tensions shaping punishment, rehabilitation, public safety, and political pressure across the state.

Reporters Bernard Smith and Gus Bennett join editor Katy Reckdahl to examine how parole decisions are influenced not only by testimony inside the hearing room, but also by a growing wave of legal and political changes moving through Louisiana’s courts and legislature. From rulings connected to the Louisiana Supreme Court to election season politics and criminal justice reforms, the episode explores how policy decisions made at the highest levels can directly affect incarcerated people, victims’ families, prosecutors, and entire communities.

The discussion also breaks down how recent state actions involving sentencing, parole eligibility, election dynamics, and judicial oversight are reshaping Louisiana’s criminal justice landscape in real time. Together, the team examines the human consequences behind those decisions and what they reveal about accountability, power, and transparency inside the system.

Theme music by Podington Bear. Additional music “Fading Prospects” by Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com)

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