Louisiana
Louisiana Senate advances bills to reinstate attorney-lawmaker privileges • Louisiana Illuminator
The Louisiana Senate approved two bills Monday that would partially restore lawmakers’ ability to delay certain court proceedings when it conflicts with their legislative schedule.
The measures come after the state Supreme Court declared a similar law unconstitutional that applied to legislators who are attorneys.
No senators voted against Senate Bill 7 by Sen. Jay Luneau, D-Alexandria, or Senate Bill 9 by Sen. Greg Miller, R-Norco. The proposal will go next before a House committee. Luneau and Miller are attorneys who supported each other’s bills in the hopes that one would make it through the entire legislative process.
The proposals are a narrower version of what the Supreme Court struck down. They apply to attorney-lawmakers who might need to delay court proceedings due to legislative duties and when legislators are personally party to a court proceeding.
If either of the bills pass, they would override guidance the Supreme Court issued.
Both bills include safeguards that did not exist in the original law, including allowing opposing counsel to challenge a legislator’s request for a delay and excluding certain types of court proceedings.
Cases involving child custody, domestic violence and protective orders are among the types of hearings for which legislators cannot seek delays.
If either proposal becomes law, a judge could deny the request for a delay if it’s determined the attorney-legislator was seeking it for an “improper” purpose or if the opposing party would suffer “substantial and immediate harm” if the delay is granted.
The Supreme Court threw out the original continuance law in response to a case involving law partners Sen. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, and Rep. Michael Melerine, R-Shreveport, during a personal injury case.. Their opposing counsel argued that the lawmakers had held up a case for years through legislative continuances.
Seabaugh was not present for the vote on either bill or for the committee hearing on the bill last week.
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BATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY) — Governor Landry has officially declared Louisiana under state of emergency.
The state emergency declaration covers Avoyelles, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes.
The declaration was issued Thursday following the impacts of Tropical Storm Arthur, which brough rainfall and strong storms to parts of the state on June 17 and 18.
Officials said the National Weather Service has confirmed three tornadoes tied to the storm system.
Officials also reported record or near-record rainfall totals in Avoyelles and Pointe Coupee parishes over a 12-hour period.
The order allows the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to coordinate resources and provide assistance to local governments if needed.
Certain state purchasing and bidding requirements have been temporarily suspended to speed up emergency response efforts.
The declaration took effect immediately and will remain in place through July 18 unless it is lifted or extended.
State officials are urging residents to stay weather aware, avoid flooded roadways and follow guidance from local emergency managers.
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MONROE, La. (KNOE) – The North Louisiana Crime Lab released a June 2026 law enforcement bulletin warning of additional cases tied to cyclorphine, a synthetic opioid the lab says can be significantly more potent than fentanyl.
The bulletin, titled “Cyclorphine Update — Additional Cases & Footprint,” notes that drug evidence submissions testing positive for cyclorphine have been received from multiple parishes in North Louisiana.
What is cyclorphine?
According to the bulletin, cyclorphine is a synthetic opioid in the emerging orphine drug class. The lab said current toxicity data are limited, but laboratory studies indicate cyclorphine may be up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl.
Reported effects
The crime lab said cyclorphine can produce effects similar to other narcotic analgesics, including:
- Central nervous system depression
- Lethargy or stupor
- Respiratory depression with slow, shallow breathing
- Pinpoint pupils
The bulletin said Narcan should be administered to someone suffering from cyclorphine toxicity, and that multiple doses may be needed.
What the bulletin says about trends
The crime lab said national data indicate cyclorphine will likely continue spreading through the region, including becoming more common in seized and submitted drug evidence.
Where cyclorphine has been detected
The bulletin includes a “detection timeline and counterfeit tablet types,” showing evidence submissions tied to specific parishes and dates, including:
- Caddo Parish (Feb. 19; April 14)
- Ouachita Parish (March 18; May 13)
- DeSoto Parish (March 25)
- Natchitoches Parish (May 14)
The lab also noted counterfeit pill types associated with these submissions, including tablets labeled “M30,” “M15,” “K56,” “1259,” and “M367.” Officials warned it may be impossible to know what a pill contains, even if it resembles a known tablet.
The North Louisiana Crime Lab said it will continue tracking trends and sharing updates as additional evidence is submitted.
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