• A Louisiana bill to increase the daily reimbursement rate for housing state inmates advanced with bipartisan support.
• The proposed rate would increase from $26.39 to $29.39 per day, starting in the 2027-28 fiscal year.
• Lawmakers acknowledge the proposed increase is a step forward but still does not cover the full costs for local facilities.
• A separate bill also advanced, seeking to impose stricter penalties for repeat DWI offenders.

BATON ROUGE — A bill to raise the daily reimbursement rate for housing state inmates advanced with broad bipartisan support Tuesday, as Louisiana lawmakers seek to ease financial pressure on local correctional facilities while acknowledging the increase still falls short of covering true costs.

The House Appropriations Committee also advanced House Bill 82 by Rep. Debbie Villio, R-Kenner, which seeks to impose stricter penalties on individuals convicted of a third or fourth offense for impaired driving.

Penalties include increasing mandatory minimum sentences and raising fines. A person guilty of a third DWI would spend at least five years in prison, while a fourth offense would result in 12 years with no parole or probation.

House Bill 143, the prison-reimbursement bill authored by Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Prairieville, focuses on increasing the per diem rate paid to local correctional facilities that house state inmates. The bill would increase the rate from $26.39 to $29.39 beginning in Fiscal Year 2027-28 and each year after.

The prison-reimbursement bill moved forward with no opposition, signaling widespread agreement among lawmakers that adjustments are overdue.

The bill carries a fiscal note of approximately $17 million, but Bacala said this would not be entirely new spending. He described the measure as a way to align existing appropriations with statutory requirements, noting that the increase has effectively already been budgeted for Fiscal Year 2026-27.

The discussion around HB 143 centers on the growing role of local correctional facilities, often overseen by parish sheriffs. These facilities have expanded services for inmates in recent years, offering programs such as GED education, technical training and work-release opportunities that allow certain inmates to transition back into the workforce.

Despite these enhancements, reimbursement rates from the state have not kept pace with the rising costs and expanded responsibilities.

The Louisiana State Police have identified the dirt bike rider who was involved in a deadly crash while evading police on Canal Boulevard.

Landon Smith, 24, of Winnfield, was killed in the crash.

Police say the crash happened around 5 p.m. on Canal Boulevard at City Park Avenue.

Preliminary investigation revealed that New Orleans police were attempting to conduct a traffic stop on Canal Street in the French Quarter involving a dirt bike, driven by Smith.

Police say Smith was driving recklessly and refused to stop, and continued to flee from police.

Troop NOLA was made aware of the attempted traffic stop, and minutes later, they say Smith was traveling at a high rate of speed on Orleans Avenue while driving the wrong way into oncoming traffic.

Troopers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Smith continued to evade police.

Both NOPD and the troopers lost sight of the dirt bike.

Troopers eventually located a crash involving the dirt bike and a truck at the intersection of City Park Avenue and Canal Boulevard.

Law enforcement rendered aid to Smith, and he was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.

According to state police, Smith was traveling west on City Park Avenue at a high rate of speed on the right shoulder, while passing westbound traffic stopped at a red light.

As he approached the intersection of Canal Boulevard and disregarded the red light and continued straight through the intersection, hitting the right side of the truck, which was making a left turn onto Canal Boulevard from eastbound City Park Avenue.

This is an ongoing investigation.

During the Gilded Age in New York City, rooftop bars originated as a way to escape the busy streets and enjoy refreshing drinks while observing the city with a birds-eye view.

Rooftop bars have held onto their novelty, as they serve as social hotspots for locals and as a perfect place for visitors to take in a new city.

Whether watching the day unfold or on a night out under the stars, rooftop bars remain popular spots for enjoying libations.

Mambo’s in New Orleans named best rooftop bar in Louisiana

Mambo’s in New Orleans is the best rooftop bar in Louisiana, according to Foodie, and is the only rooftop bar on Bourbon Street.

This rooftop bar offers a unique vantage point of the infamous Bourbon Street, with panoramic views and a lively atmosphere making the bar a perfect place to take in New Orleans’ ambience.

The open-air space seats over 50 guests, and is the perfect place for a night out or for laid-back afternoon cocktails with a view of New Orleans’ iconic French and Spanish architecture.

The rooftop bar is not the only feature attracting patrons, as this three-story building holds a hidden entrance to a secret courtyard on the main floor that leads to a patio garden. On the second floor, there is another, more intimate bar adorned with Louisiana-themed decor.

Each floor retains a rustic, historical feel, with exposed brick and reclaimed cypress planks making up the building’s interior structure. Decorating the space are pieces of local art and cultural Louisiana artifacts, making the space feel somewhat like a museum.

Not just a spot for good drinks, Mambo’s offers a dining menu full of traditional Cajun and Creole flavors. Using only the freshest local ingredients, Mambo’s chefs create a menu rich in New Orleans heritage, offering dishes like jambalaya, seafood gumbo, crawfish étouffée and a variety of po’boys.

The best rooftop bar in every state according to Foodie

• Alabama: GunRunner Rooftop Bar in Florence
• Alaska: 49th State Brewing in Anchorage
• Arizona: The Perch Brewery in Chandler
• Arkansas: Celeste at The Preacher’s Son in Bentonville
• California: Florentín Rooftop Bar in Los Angeles
• Colorado: 54thirty Rooftop in Denver
• Connecticut: Sign of the Whale in Stamford
• Delaware: The Quoin Hotel + Restaurant in Wilmington
• Florida: Rosa Sky in Miami
• Georgia: 9 Mile Station in Atlanta
• Hawaii: Tikis Grill & Bar in Honolulu
• Idaho: Crave Kitchen & Bar in Eagle
• Illinois: Raised | An Urban Rooftop Bar in Chicago
• Indiana: 3UP Rooftop Lounge in Carmel
• Iowa: Wellman’s Pub & Rooftop in Des Moines
• Kansas: Tallgrass Tap House in Manhattan
• Kentucky: Lost Palm in Lexington
• Louisiana: Mambo’s in New Orleans
• Maine: Luna Rooftop Bar in Portland
• Maryland: Hip Flask Rooftop Bar in Bethesda
• Massachusetts: Apex Rooftop Bar and Lounge in Boston
• Michigan: The Monarch Club in Detroit
• Minnesota: Brit’s Pub in Minneapolis
• Mississippi: 10 South Rooftop Bar and Grill in Vicksburg
• Missouri: 360 Rooftop Bar in St. Louis
• Montana: Bozeman Taproom & Spirits in Bozeman
• Nebraska: The Rooftop in Lincoln
• Nevada: Chéri Rooftop in Las Vegas
• New Hampshire: Rooftop at The Envio in Portsmouth
• New Jersey: RoofTop at Exchange Place in Jersey City
• New Mexico: Coyote Cantina in Santa Fe
• New York: 230 Fifth in New York City
• North Carolina: Aura Rooftop in Charlotte
• North Dakota: Camp Lonetree in Fargo
• Ohio: VASO Rooftop Lounge in Dublin
• Oklahoma: Social Capital in Oklahoma City
• Oregon: The Roof Deck at Revolution Hall in Portland
• Pennsylvania: Standard Tap in Philadelphia
• Rhode Island: Rooftop at the Providence G in Providence
• South Carolina: Rip Tydz in Myrtle Beach
• South Dakota: Juniper at Vertex Sky Bar in Rapid City
• Tennessee: The Lookout at Ole Red in Nashville
• Texas: Upstairs at Caroline in Austin
• Utah: The Green Pig Pub in Salt Lake City
• Vermont: Juniper Bar & Restaurant in Burlington
• Virginia: The Lost Fox Hideaway in Ashburn
• Washington: The Pink Door in Seattle
• West Virginia: LaFontaine’s Rooftop Lounge in Huntington
• Wisconsin: People’s Park in Waukesha
• Wyoming: Bear Bottom Bar and Grill in Centennial

Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com