Louisiana

Letters log Jan. 16-23: Unique culture, politics define Louisiana

Published

1 year ago

February 9, 2025

Letters log Jan. 16-23: Unique culture, politics define Louisiana

Our state has always had a culture distinct from our neighbors in the South.

Sometimes, though, it’s easy to forget that when you live here. But when visitors come to town, as they have this week for Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome, it reminds you all of a sudden of how different we are. In the events leading up to the big game, we showcased the best Louisiana has to offer — from food and music to arts and culture. I was proud, as I am sure many of you were, to see some of our local legends get to share the national spotlight.

Our state also produced some pretty colorful politics once upon a time.

In a state where there were so many competing constituencies and interests, politicians had to have strong personalities to bring everyone to the table. And even today many of our most effective leaders know how to weave a narrative that can attract people from all parts of the state despite their diverse backgrounds.

That part of Louisiana’s story is probably most relevant to the times we live in now. We look to leaders who can help unite us and put us on a path to the future.

What should that future look like in Louisiana? We have heard from some of you in response to our first Town Square question of the year: If you could make a New Year’s resolution for the state of Louisiana, what would it be? The issue could be large or small, and it doesn’t have to involve politics, though many of the responses we get do. Send your answers to letters@theadvocate.com. As usual, we will publish a selection of the best responses. If yours isn’t selected, it will be considered for publication as a letter to the editor.

Turning to our letters inbox, for the week of Jan. 16-23, we received 50 letters. Outside of national politics, which was the subject of nine letters, the biggest topic on your minds was the recent snow, not surprisingly. We got six letters about the snow, some including pictures. Some of you also sent thanks that once our home delivery resumed, you received papers that were unable to be delivered during the storm.

We also received three letters on President Donald Trump’s pardons of those who were convicted of criminal activity at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. All opposed the pardons. And there were also three letters on Gov. Jeff Landry’s decision to fly a MAGA flag at the Governor’s Mansion on Inauguration Day. All of the letters we received disagreed with the decision.

We look forward to hearing your opinions on the Super Bowl festivities and the security measures taken. We know the eyes of the world are on New Orleans, but we place a priority on what you think.

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Louisiana

AI regulation clashing with business lobby in Louisiana

Published

9 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

AI regulation clashing with business lobby in Louisiana

Nolan Mckendry
| The Center Square

(The Center Square) − Louisiana lawmakers have filed more than 20 bills this session touching on artificial intelligence, but only a narrow slice of them has moved so far.

The clearest momentum has come on bills dealing with child exploitation. Senate Bill 42 by Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, which prohibits using artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse materials, passed the Senate 36-0 and was sent to the House the next day.

Senate Bill 110 by Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, bars using a child’s image to train an artificial intelligence model to produce child sexual abuse materials, also advanced out of the Senate and is now pending in the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee. But the broader regulatory push has moved far more slowly.

Rep. Josh Carlson, R-Lafayette, told The Center Square the efforts have run into familiar resistance from business groups wary of state-by-state regulation.

“Anything that effects business they say is bad for business,” Carlson told The Center Square.

Carlson has a bill that would create a Louisiana AI Bill of Rights, restrict certain chatbot uses involving minors, create disclosure rules for bots and AI-generated advertising, and bar the state from contracting for AI products tied to foreign countries of concern. Carlson is still working to get his bill added to the Commerce committee’s agenda.Another bill that has managed to make progress is HB190 by Rep. Laurie Schlege, R-Metarie. It passed the House 98-0. Two days after, an op-ed submitted to The Center Square from Citizens for a New Louisiana charged the law as “one that threatens to stifle innovation, burden small businesses and startups.” The op-ed suggested amending the bill, but Schlegel hasn’t budged so far.

Senate Bill 246 by Sen. Jay Luneau, D-Alexandria, was scheduled for Senate floor debate Monday but was postponed twice, first to Tuesday and then to Wednesday. The delay followed Luneau’s promise to the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry that he would amend the bill after the group sent a memo warning it could create “unnecessary compliance burdens for businesses operating across the state.”

“AI systems are inherently interstate and global, making them better suited for a consistent federal framework rather than fragemented state oversight,” the memo continued. “SB246 risks placing Louisiana at a competitive disadvantage while duplicating efforts more appropriately handled by Congress.” The memo mentioned a December executive order from the Trump administration which instructed federal officials to identify “onerous” state AI laws and said states with such laws could be barred from receiving certain remaining BEAD broadband funds, to the maximum extent allowed by federal law.

Louisiana has $800 million in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program funding that could be revoked. Responding to questions about concerns that his bill might violate that order, Edmonds told The Center Square, “I don’t see this as over regulation.” He said that, so far, he has heard no concerns with his bill.

Edmonds acknowledged concerns that overregulation could inhibit the use and development of AI, but said that his bill was specific and would not.

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Louisiana

Venture Global CP2 construction site in Cameron cleared after no threat found

Published

21 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Venture Global CP2 construction site in Cameron cleared after no threat found

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – The Venture Global CP2 construction site in Cameron has been cleared after a bomb threat was made Sunday, according to a spokesperson from Venture Global.

The bomb threat came in around noon on Sunday, according to officials. Louisiana State Police hazmat and bomb squads were called to investigate.

No shelter in place was deemed necessary and no roads were closed, according to the Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office.

A Venture Global spokesperson released the following statement:

“Venture Global was made aware of a bomb threat at our CP2 site and immediately activated our established emergency response protocols. We are coordinating closely with state and local authorities as they investigate. The safety and security of our employees and the surrounding community remain our highest priority.”

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Louisiana

Louisiana Children’s Museum hosts fifth annual Mud Fest

Published

2 days ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana Children’s Museum hosts fifth annual Mud Fest

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — For the fifth consecutive year, the Louisiana Children’s Museum hosted its annual environmental festival, Mud Fest, on Saturday, March 28.

From 10 a.m.-4 p.m., parents and their little ones had the opportunity to have fun in the sun and enjoy the “highlight” of the museum’s spring season.

This event was inspired by the iconic New Orleans festival culture which includes good food, live music and a nice, high-energy atmosphere. Mud Fest is tailored for the “youngest environmental stewards” to have fun and make all the mess they want with mud.

Due to the Crescent City being surrounded by wetland habitats, we interact with water daily in both our rural and urban communities.

The festival generates positive associations with our region and also builds critical thinking skills for future educators, engineers, fishermen and farmers. According to LCM, engaging with nature, water and plants “builds a child’s confidence and fosters a lifelong connection to the Earth.”

“As the Louisiana Children’s Museum celebrates its 40th anniversary, events like Mud Fest reflect our long-standing commitment to hands-on learning that sparks curiosity and connects children to the world around them,” LCM CEO Tifferney White said.

This year, Mud Fest had performances from young musicians of the School of Rock, the Louisiana Sunspots and more. There were also a storytelling stage and various family-friendly activities for visitors to engage in.

Mud Fest partnered with Pontchartrain Conservancy, STEM NOL, Whimscapes and Sugar Roots to put on the event.

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