Louisiana

Louisiana legislators threaten to remove state ethics board members, issue subpoenas • Louisiana Illuminator

Published

1 year ago

November 14, 2024

Louisiana legislators threaten to remove state ethics board members, issue subpoenas • Louisiana Illuminator

Louisiana legislators threatened to subpoena and remove members of the state ethics board Wednesday in an intensification of the fight over enforcement of the state ethics code.

Members of the Louisiana House and Governmental Affairs Committee lashed out at the ethics board for not heeding legislative requests to hold off on hiring a new administrator until January. At that point, Gov. Jeff Landry gains more control of the board through a new set of appointees.

“I think this is a situation where we should have some action to remove board members,” Rep. Candace Newell, D-New Orleans, said during a public hearing Wednesday at the State Capitol. “There should be some kind of punishments for them.”

Two state senators are suing the ethics board over the same issue and got a judge to issue a restraining order to temporarily block members from filling its administration position. Yet House committee members want to go farther.

“With regards to removing board members, do you think that is a legislative item? A gubernatorial deal? Who would be in charge of removing board members if they’re found to be doing something unlawful?” committee chairman Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, asked current ethics administrator Kathleen Allen at Wednesday’s hearing.

The ethics board is responsible for enforcing campaign finance laws and preventing conflicts of interest for elected officials, public employees and lobbyists. It can levy fines against politicians for several types of violations, including not submitting campaign finance information and personal disclosure forms on time.

Landry had a fraught relationship with the ethics board long before becoming governor. Under different sets of appointees, its members have reprimanded him multiple times.

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In the most high-profile incident, the board charged Landry last year for not disclosing a flight he took on a political donor’s plane to Hawaii as attorney general. The matter is not resolved, with Landry still negotiating with the board about what his punishment should be.

Over the past few months, legislators in both political parties have attacked the board for what they describe as aggressive and abusive investigations. Lawmakers have balked at the board’s interpretation of campaign finance rules that restrict spending from their political action committees.

Unless the board fines or charges a public official for wrongdoing, its inquiries remain private. That confidentiality makes it hard to determine whether legislators who are upset about the ethics board’s actions have ever been investigated by the group.

It’s also difficult to determine to what extent Landry’s activities might have been questioned by the board.

“No one in the public has any idea what you’re doing and why you’re doing it,” Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, told Allen, who represented ethics board members at Wednesday’s hearing.

“I hope that is something that you all are sued for. I hope you lose ‘cause you’re the Board of Ethics, and that is unacceptable,” he said.

Rep. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, suggested the House committee use its subpoena power to force the ethics board chairwoman, La Koshia Roberts of Lake Charles, to appear at a future meeting. The board has levied thousands of dollars of fines against Marcelle for filing her campaign finance reports late.

Beaullieu told Marcelle the committee would look into that option.

Legislators allege the ethics board violated government transparency laws when its members discussed the hiring of an administrator to replace Allen behind closed doors. They said the matter should have been discussed openly at a public meeting.

In their lawsuit, Sens. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, and Stewart Cathey, R-Monroe, also allege the ethics board broke the law by not taking the required vote to go into a private session to discuss the administrator position.

Allen pushed back on these accusations Wednesday, telling lawmakers she believes the board has complied with state open meetings law requirements.

She attributed the confusion to all the ethics board meeting minutes not having been posted publicly yet. A review of those missing records would show board members acted correctly, she said.

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“Anything we did during [the private] executive session I feel like is appropriate,” she told lawmakers.

Outside of picking a new ethics administrator, Rep. Ed Larvadain, D-Alexandria, lobbed a personal accusation at Allen.

“You have a history of not including African Americans [on the ethics board’s staff],” Larvadain told Allen.

“I take offense that I have excluded African Americans. I have never directed an employee to exclude anyone based on race or gender,” Allen responded.

Approximately 20% of the ethics board staff is African American, Allen said, but over 30% of Louisiana’s population is Black.
Black employees are underrepresented in white-collar state government jobs, such as those seen at the ethics boards, and Black legislators often question agencies about the makeup of their workforce.

In the new year, when Landry gains more control over the ethics board, it will lose some of its current independence.

Landry and the legislators approved a new law that allows them to pick the members of the ethics board directly starting in 2025.

Previous governors and legislative leaders were required to select board appointees from lists of candidates that leaders of Louisiana’s private colleges and universities recommend. The old system was an attempt to insulate the board from the outside political pressure.

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Related Topics:Beau Beaullieu Candance Newell denise marcelle Ed Larvadain Featured louisiana legislature

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Louisiana

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

Published

10 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

1 day 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.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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Louisiana

Lana Del Rey gives rare look at modest Louisiana life

Published

2 days ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Lana Del Rey gives rare look at modest Louisiana life

Lana Del Rey has enjoyed a low-key life with her gator tour guide husband Jeremy Dufrene in Louisiana and the talented singer recently gave an intimate peek into their relationship.

The 40-year-old Young And Beautiful hitmaker (born Elizabeth Grant) took to her Instagram to post a gallery celebrating the swamp guide’s 51st birthday.

The couple looked just as in love as ever following their wedding in September 2024.

Del Rey shared several recent videos from their modest life together including a cute selfie of the couple by the ocean while she let her natural beauty show by going make-up free.

She also posted a cute video of Dufrene loading up the truck with plants they had just purchased from Home Depot and when he realizes he is being filmed, the Louisiana native flashed a big smile and proudly posed with a Jack-o’-lantern pot.

Del Rey also shared a snap of her hand gripping his wrist as her massive engagement ring could be seen in full view.

Lana Del Rey has enjoyed a low-key life with her gator tour guide husband Jeremy Dufrene in Louisiana and the talented singer recently gave an intimate peek into their relationship as she shared a tribute to him on his 51st birthday

Another snap showed Del Rey wearing one of Dufrene’s tour guide shirts featuring his name embroidered above the pocket.

Weeks ago the musical artist gave what appeared to be a glimpse into her married life in her new video.

Del Rey’s Insta Stories video opened with footage from the 1933 Betty Boop cartoon Snow-White, though it focused on a section starring the character Koko the Clown as he’s turned into a ghost.

Then the video abruptly cut to shaky handheld footage of Del Rey dancing with an ecstatic smile plastered on her face.

The two have kept a relatively low profile since their wedding day but did make a notable appearance last month at the pre-New York Fashion Week Ralph Lauren show on February 10.

The happy couple even stopped for a romantic kiss as they walked the red carpet for the iconic designer.

The couple first met in 2019 during one of Dufrene’s swamp excursions and reconnected years later, before tying the knot in September 2024.

In August, Del Rey revealed how she fell for her husband, a Louisiana bayou tour guide who spends his days surrounded by alligators.

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She posted a cute video of Dufrene loading up the truck with plants they had just purchased from Home Depot and when he realizes he is being filmed, the Louisiana native flashed a big smile and proudly posed with a Jack-o’-lantern pot

Del Rey also shared a snap of her hand gripping his wrist as her massive engagement ring could be seen in full view

Another snap showed Del Rey wearing one of Dufrene’s tour guide shirts featuring his name embroidered above the pocket

Del Rey also posted a video of the cover of their wedding album

‘Like many people who work with large, dangerous beasts, Jeremy has a calm, strong presence,’ Del Rey told W magazine.

‘When we met, I realized pretty immediately that I loved him, but that it might get difficult because of what I was bringing to the table,’ she continued.

Del Rey added that Dufrene reassured her from the start: ‘I work with alligators — I have tough skin.’

And true to his word, he listened through all the drama: ‘All the things that made me upset — and there were so many! — he would just listen and say, “You be you — and I’ll just love you more.”’

Weeks ago the musical artist gave what appeared to be a glimpse into her married life and her new video

The two have kept a relatively low profile since their wedding day but did make a notable appearance last month at the pre-New York Fashion Week Ralph Lauren show on February 10

The happy couple stopped for a romantic kiss as they walked the red carpet for the iconic designer

The couple first met in 2019 during one of Dufrene’s swamp excursions and reconnected years later, before tying the knot in September 2024

Tying the knot in 2024 didn’t make the spotlight any gentler.

Del Rey recalled the intense scrutiny they faced, with drones reportedly hovering over their home to snap photos of their wedding and early days as newlyweds.

‘If I was him, I would have been nervous — my emotions were more overwhelming than usual, and my usual emotions can be quite overwhelming!’ she said with a laugh. ‘But Jeremy was fine. He told me, “Don’t worry about me.”’

And when it comes to music inspired by love, fans have already heard a peek. ‘Stars Fell on Alabama. I open my show with that song — that’s it, so far,’ she revealed.

‘Jeremy is the most impactful person in my life. He’s quiet in public, but around me he talks all the time.’

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