Louisiana
Louisiana votes to make abortion pills controlled substances
Louisiana has become the first state to pass a law that designates abortion pills as dangerous controlled substances.
Once Gov. Jeff Landry signs the bill into law, as he is expected to do, possession of the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol without a prescription would be a crime punishable with possible fines and jail time.
Louisiana already has a near-total abortion ban, so the medications, which are also used for miscarriages and ulcers, are only available in that state under limited circumstances.
Medical experts warned of the bill’s dangers.
“What it’s going to do is make it harder to use these drugs safely and legally,” Dr. Jennifer Avegno, director of the New Orleans Health Department and organizer of a letter opposing the bill, told the New York Times. “It’s going to create confusion, fear, barriers to using these drugs for all of their non-abortion indications.”
But Republicans and the anti-abortion groups have claimed that abortion rights groups of creating unnecessary fear over the legislation, the Times reported.
“This legislation does NOT prohibit these drugs from being prescribed and dispensed in Louisiana for legal and legitimate reasons,” State Attorney General Liz Murrill posted on social media.
Abortion opponents have argued that abortion pills are unsafe, making that claim in a lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court that seeks to curtail access to mifepristone, the first pill in the two-drug medication abortion regimen that now accounts for nearly two-thirds of abortions in the United States.
Many patients who live in Louisiana or other states with abortion bans have traveled to states where abortion remains legal to get medical care, or they have received prescriptions and pills from doctors and nurses in other states under shield laws. Those methods of getting abortions are unlikely to be affected by the new bill, the Times reported.
David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia, told the Times that a relatively small number of people might be vulnerable to penalties under the bill, including volunteers who help provide nonprescription pills to some communities and women who order abortion pills as protection in case they get pregnant.
“It may make some people think twice, and it may expose some people to criminal prosecution who right now are not exposed,” he said. But, “this is not going to stop people in Louisiana from getting and using abortion pills,” he noted.
Still, Michelle Erenberg, executive director of Lift Louisiana, a reproductive rights organization, said abortion rights groups would explore a legal challenge to the bill.
“I definitely have concerns about this being replicated in other states,” she told the Times.
More information:
KFF has more on the abortion pill.
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Louisiana
‘You ain’t getting it here.’ Louisiana store owner denies border patrol
Video of South Jersey ICE visit goes viral on Facebook
Watch this doorbell camera video from Burlington Township showing masked ICE agents speaking with a homeowner.
On Saturday, Dec. 6, a convenience store manager in Kenner, Louisiana locked out a group of Border Patrol agents, denying them entry to the store.
Wayne Davis, who is assistant manager of the store, was helping a customer when he noticed two unmarked SUVs pull into the parking lot and stop at the front of the store.
After seeing agents wearing border patrol vests exit the two vehicles, Davis locked the door from behind the counter as the agents approached, WWL Louisiana reported.
Video goes viral of Louisiana store manager who locked out Border Patrol agents
The agents kept trying to open the door, looking at Davis through the store window in confusion. This is when Davis began recording, WWL Louisiana reported.
In the video, Davis is seen raising his middle finger to the agents outside before moving from his place behind the counter and standing at the entrance of the store.
From behind the store’s closed door, Davis begins goading the agents lingering outside near the store’s front.
“What do you want man, you want some chicken? You ain’t getting it here… Go somewhere else, you ain’t getting no chicken,” Davis taunts.
After noticing Davis recording on his cellphone from within the store, one of the only agents seen without facial coverings turns his back to the door.
“Dang, you don’t wanna show your face now?… I know you can hear me… Why you not showing your face? You wanted to show your face everywhere else,” Davis provokes while still recording.
Davis told WWL Louisiana that, at this point, he realized the agent was Gregory Bovino, who is commander of Border Patrol and has been in New Orleans as part of Operation Catahoula Crunch.
“Bye, bye,” Davis said facetiously while waving from behind the store’s locked door as agents retreated back into their vehicles.
Davis is seen in the video raising his middle finger once more as the unmarked SUVS drive away and exit the parking lot
Can businesses refuse entry to Border Patrol agents?
Louisiana state law dictates interfering with immigration operations a felony offense, considering interfering actions an obstruction of justice.
However, businesses generally retain the right to refuse service to any person for any reason, unless that person belongs to a protected class, which immigration enforcement agents are not a part of.
Furthermore, if a business denies immigration enforcement agents entry, they cannot forcibly enter unless there is a judicial warrant signed by a judge, according to the ACLU.
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
Louisiana
Louisiana film ‘Sinners’ earns seven Golden Globe nominations
DONALDSONVILLE, La. (WAFB) – The film “Sinners,” shot in parts of Louisiana, including Donaldsonville, has received seven nominations for the upcoming Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture Drama, Best Director, and Best Actor.
Michael B. Jordan earned the Best Actor nomination for his dual role in the film, which has dominated the box office since its April release, raking in nearly $370 million worldwide.
Golden Globe snubs and surprises: ‘Wicked,’ Julia Roberts, Sydney Sweeney and more
“Louisiana is known for having this incredible, creative economy. Well, pair that with film and film professionals and you get magic,” said Simonette Berry, a film labor union organizer.
Chris Welcker, a Louisiana native who works as a production sound mixer, has been nominated for the Critics Choice Awards for his work on “Sinners.” Welcker ensures audio and visuals meet production standards.
“I always assumed that I’d have to move somewhere like Los Angeles or New York or you know one of the places that seemed at the time like an obvious choice for getting into this kind of production,” Welcker said.
Berry said Louisiana films have distinctive qualities.
“The films that come out of Louisiana have a certain spark to them,” Berry said.
Welcker attributed the state’s film success to multiple factors.
“I think it’s a combination of the people, the landscape, and we have a lot of rich culture that seeps its way into the stories as well,” Welcker said.
Both Berry and Welcker said the project’s success could benefit Louisiana’s film industry.
“You know it could draw people to being interested in seeing what more we have to offer,” Welcker said.
“There is so much to mine here as far as a creative workforce, and I think you know we’re just getting started,” Berry said.
Currently, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” is crushing the box office, achieving the record as the movie with the largest opening ever for the weekend following Thanksgiving.
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Louisiana
Burbank Arby’s shuts down
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – After only two years in business, the Arby’s on Burbank Drive has closed.
A sign placed on the restaurant’s door thanked customers who patronized the location.
The location, on Burbank Drive at Ben Hur, struggled for business, particularly over the past few months.
It opened around the same time the neighboring McAlister’s Deli location opened its doors.
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