Louisiana
Louisiana families seek to block law requiring display of Ten Commandments in classrooms
A group of Louisiana families filed a motion for an injunction Monday to stop officials from implementing a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom in the state. Louisiana is set to become the first state to impose such a requirement, though the action has been debated in other jurisdictions.
The law in question, House Bill No. 71, mandates that the full text of the Ten Commandments be prominently displayed with a “context statement” in each classroom. The context statement stresses that the Ten Commandments are a “prominent part of American public education.” Lawmakers claim that the context statement avoids an expressly religious interpretation of the document.
However, the plaintiffs argue that the law conflicts with the constitutional requirement of state neutrality towards religion. They filed a lawsuit on July 1 after the bill was signed into law on June 19. In their original complaint, the plaintiffs allege that “H.B. 71 is not neutral with respect to religion. By design, it expressly requires the display of religious scripture … and it requires a specific, state-approved version of that scripture to be posted.” Plaintiffs contend that not even all Christians view the particular version of the Ten Commandments to be authoritative, let alone those of other faiths. They argue that requiring this expression by schools violates the Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.
The injunction seeks to restrain the application of the law until there has been a full trial. To do so, plaintiffs must prove that implementation of the act would cause irreparable harm.
Louisiana
Centenary College of Louisiana kicked off its year-long bicentennial celebration Wednesday
On a bright and chilly winter day, Centenary College of Louisiana kicked off its bicentennial year with a birthday celebration including a proclamation from the City of Shreveport and music by Centenary choir.
It was a grand start to the bicentennial year. Centenary College of Louisiana president, Dr. Christopher L. Holoman said, “we are really excited to be looking back at 200 years, an amazing history. We are so proud of that, but we are even prouder of what we are going to be in the future.”
Centenary College of Louisiana is a national liberal arts college in the heart of Shreveport. This college is deemed the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River, founded in 1825.
Holoman said, “200 years is an amazing length of time…Centenary is older than time zones. Centenary is older than golden doodles.”
City of Shreveport mayor, Tom Arceneaux read the citywide proclamation and said, “I am thrilled to be here for more than one reason. One, I’m really glad that Centenary is 200 years old. And two I’m glad to be here 12 days after hip replacement surgery.”
Wednesday’s birthday party is just the start of year-long celebration of special events and gatherings. These events include:
- special exhibit at the College’s Meadows Museum of Art
- festive neighborhood party during the Krewe of Highland Mardi Gras parade
- alumni trip to Centenary’s original campus in Jackson, Louisiana
- campus art stroll showcasing the talents of the Centenary community
The bicentennial commemoration will conclude with a gala event, Spotlight Centenary, in December 2025.
To keep up with all the bicentennial year events visit centenary200.com.
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.
SHREVEPORT, LAFAYETTE, MONROE, ALEXANDRIA, LAKE CHARLES La. (KALB) – On January 8, the U.S. Attorney’s office announced that Brandon Brown would resign as as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana.
As U.S. Attorney for the Western District of La., Brown acted as the chief law enforcement officer for 42 of 64 parishes in the state, overseeing every federal civil and criminal case in the district.
Brown’s last day in office is set for January 20.
Brown was nominated to the position on November 15, 2021 by President Joe Biden, was confirmed by the Senate on December 7 and sworn in on December 10.
U.S. Attorney Brown released the following statement about his tenure:
During his tenure, Brown became the U.S. Fifth Circuit’s representative on Attorney General Merrick Garland’s Attorney General Advisory Committee (AGAC), which assists the AG in creating policy for each of the 94 districts.
According to the release, U.S. Attorney Brown prosecuted hundreds of firearms cases and set a high priority on those related to drugs, public corruption, child pornography, and human trafficking.
They said due to these efforts, both Monroe and Shreveport saw significant decline in violent crime rates.
Alexander Van Hook will reportedly assume the role of U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana until a successor can be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
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Louisiana
Two more candidates join Baton Rouge and Lafayette state Senate races on day 2 of qualifying
Two more candidates qualified on Wednesday to run for open seats in the Louisiana Senate.
One of the vacancies is to represent District 14 in Baton Rouge and the other is to represent District 23 in Lafayette.
Carolyn Hill signed up to run in Baton Rouge on the second of the three-day qualifying period, which closes Thursday afternoon. She is running as a Democrat.
Hill, 42, has a career in policy social work and currently works for East Baton Rouge Parish Schools. She also founded and owns Hill and Hills Associates, a political consulting firm that supports candidates running for office.
In 2011, she won a race to represent District 8 on the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. She lost a 2015 bid for reelection to BESE.
In Lafayette, Republican Jesse Regan formally qualified to run for state Senate.
Regan was elected to represent District 3 on the Broussard City Council in 2019. He won reelection in 2022.
Regan is a mortgage lender at Preferred Lending Solutions. He also co-founded DJD Development Group and co-owns Madison Banquet & Reception Centre in Broussard, according to an online biography.
The candidates who signed up Wednesday join four others who qualified Tuesday.
Democrats Quentin Anthony Anderson and state Rep. Larry Selders qualified in Baton Rouge, and Republican state Rep. Brach Myers and Kristopher Harrison, who is running unaffiliated, qualified in Lafayette.
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