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Louisiana seeks trial on redistricting, says ‘plenty of time’ before 2024 vote

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Louisiana seeks trial on redistricting, says ‘plenty of time’ before 2024 vote


BATON ROUGE – The plaintiffs in a federal case that could force congressional re-districting in Louisiana want the matter to play out next at the appellate court level, but Louisiana officials hope it will return to district court — and insist that there’s time for a trial there in advance of the 2024 elections.

A recent decision by the United States Supreme Court, which paved the way for redistricting in Alabama, put Louisiana’s case back in motion in recent weeks. The process had been held up while Allen v. Milligan — the Alabama case — was heard by the nation’s High Court.

In a 5-4 decision, justices found that Alabama’s Republican-drawn congressional lines violated the Voting Rights Act by creating districts that diluted the power of minority voters.

Like Alabama, Louisiana has only one “majority Black” congressional district — though nearly one-third of the state’s population is Black.

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In filings last week, the plaintiffs in the Louisiana lawsuit argued that the Alabama case confirms what has already played out on the district court level here.

“Because Milligan reaffirmed the standards the district court applied, Appellees respectfully submit that the Court need not remand for the district court to consider Milligan, and should instead allow the appeal to proceed in the ordinary course following the submission of the parties’ supplemental briefs,” attorneys wrote.

That would set the matter on an accelerated course toward possible redistricting.

But a firm representing the Louisiana legislature, its Attorney General and Secretary of State wants the case to be reheard at the lower level.

Attorneys with Holtzman Vogel filed papers noting that the district court could revisit the case and finish its business by the end of this year, “allowing plenty of time for resolution before the 2024 elections.” The filing is co-signed by lawyers representing the Speaker of the House and Senate President, Attorney General Jeff Landry and Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin.

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Congressional elections in Louisiana will take place on Nov. 5, 2024. Redistricting would change maps in a way that could affect hundreds of thousands of voters, and could put two current congressmen in the same district, where they would compete against each other.



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Obituary for James Nelson Holbrook at Southern Funeral Home Winnfield

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Obituary for James Nelson Holbrook at Southern Funeral Home Winnfield


James Red Nelson Holbrook, 90, of Winnfield, LA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. He was born on March 23, 1934, in Brainerd, MN, the second oldest of twelve siblings. James honorably served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his service, he dedicated



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Budget deal preserves flood insurance for Louisiana, other states through hurricane season

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Budget deal preserves flood insurance for Louisiana, other states through hurricane season


Congress’ temporary budget deal to keep the government open for three months also keeps the National Flood Insurance Program from expiring in Louisiana and other states during hurricane season.

President Joe Biden officially signed Congress’ continuing resolution Thursday to avoid a government shutdown until Dec. 20, but sets up another funding battle at the end when both sides know who control the White House.

“Our state is still picking up the pieces that Hurricane Francine left behind, and our communities need all the help they can get,” Louisiana Republican U.S. Sen. John Kennedy said of the CR. “I’m thankful we’ve delivered Louisianians additional disaster aid and protected their flood insurance so that the program doesn’t expire in the middle of hurricane season.”

Louisiana Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy also voted for the temporary budget deal that propped up the flood insurance program again before it expired Sept. 30.

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“Nobody wants a shutdown,” Cassidy said. “We must keep the National Flood Insurance Program going, put more money into FEMA’s disaster relief fund, continue to pay our troops and give the Secret Service additional resources to protect (former) President Trump. While I’m disappointed the SAVE Act was not included, this bill gives us the time to find a lasting solution without harming Americans.”

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) would require people to prove they are U.S. citizens before they can vote. It is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in all federal elections and critics believe it would add barriers for legal voters who can’t easily access their citizenship documents.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Shreveport had proposed a six-month budget extension that would have included the SAVE Act, but it failed to pass, necessitating the final deal.

“The best play under the circumstances was the CR with the SAVE Act,” Johnson said ahead of this week’s final deal. “But we came a little short of the goal line, so we have to go with the last available play.”

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Trump urged House Republicans to let the government shut down if they did not get the voting legislation passed along with a funding extension. But Johnson told his conference that it would be “political malpractice” to do that so close to an election, citing polling indicating voters probably would blame Republicans for a shutdown.

More: Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins’ Haitian tweet draws sharp criticism as racist

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.



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Lana Del Rey Marries Jeremy Dufrene in Louisiana Wedding

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Lana Del Rey Marries Jeremy Dufrene in Louisiana Wedding



Lana Del Rey.
Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)

Lana Del Rey and Jeremy Dufrene are reportedly married!

The “Born To Die” singer, 39, and the alligator tour guide tied the knot in Louisiana, on Thursday, September 26, according to photos and videos published by DailyMail.com.

Del Rey wore a floor-length white wedding gown for her nuptials, which took place by the water in Des Allemandes – the same bayou Dufrene uses to host his popular tours, per the outlet.

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The Grammy nominee’s father, Robert Grant, reportedly walked Del Rey down the aisle to where Dufrene, dressed in a black suit, white dress shirt and leather shoes was awaiting his bride.

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elebrity Weddings of 2024: Stars Who Got Married This Year

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Del Rey’s mother Patricia Ann Hill, 68, her sister Caroline Grant and brother Charlie Hill-Grant all attended the couple’s wedding, reported the outlet.

According to Dailymail.com, following the nuptials, the newly wedded couple and guests reportedly celebrated the reception along the public harbor – near where the exchanging of vows took place.

The news comes just hours after it was confirmed that Del Rey and Dufrene had obtained a marriage license in Louisiana’s Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court on Monday, September 23, according to court records obtained by Us Weekly.

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While they were first linked late last month, Del Rey has uploaded pictures of herself with Dufrene on Facebook dating back to 2019 when she first went on one of his wildlife tours.

Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey.
(Photo by Katja Ogrin/Redferns/Getty Images for ABA)

 

Del Rey and Dufrene made their public debut earlier this month when the alligator tour guide accompanied Del Rey to Karen Elson’s wedding at New York City’s Electric Lady Studios. (Elson, 45, married Lee Foster, who owns the recording studio.)

The “Summertime Sadness” singer has previously been linked to Barrie-James O’Neill, Francesco Carrozzini, G-Eazy, Sean Larkin and Clayton Johnson. While speaking with Rolling Stone in 2014, she revealed that she thrives in intense relationships.

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Celebrity Engagements of 2024: See Which Stars Got Engaged This Year

Many stars are taking their relationships to the next level in 2024 by getting engaged. Less than one month after Bachelor in Paradise season 9 alum Brayden Bowers revealed that he was dating fellow Bachelor Nation personality Christina Mandrell, he proposed. “I just knew that there was something special, and there was something different, and […]

“It’s been beautiful, but it’s been confusing because when that’s your prerogative, things don’t end in a traditional way,” Del Rey told the outlet in July 2014. “You don’t have that traditional relationship where maybe you go out with couples at night, or you do normal things. It’s more of an extension of the creative process.””

In the profile, Del Rey confirmed that she was “really looking for an equal” and wasn’t afraid of an age-gap romance.

“I sort of have an affinity for really good, strong, self-assured people,” she said. “I would say I haven’t met them as much in people who are in their 20s. So for me, I have nothing in common necessarily with somebody who’s in their 20s — yet. That I know of, thus far.”

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