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NAACP seeking travel advisory for Louisiana, citing ‘concerning’ policies

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NAACP seeking travel advisory for Louisiana, citing ‘concerning’ policies


BATON ROUGE – The state branch of the NAACP is asking its parent organization to issue a “national travel advisory” for Louisiana because of legislative policies and actions that if believes target and marginalize certain groups, including African Americans.

The Louisiana State Conference cited about a dozen “potentially damaging bills” that were introduced in the 2023 legislative session. With time running out on the session, it will soon be clear how many of the measures will become law.

Those singled out include SB 46, which “provides for the review of textbooks and other instructional materials”; SB 159, which “allows seventeen-year-olds to be held and tried as adults under certain circumstances”; and HB 646, which “provides for the annual canvass of registered voters.”

The organization lists those, and several other bills, as detrimental to the Black community. Other bills cited, the group says, would have negative effect on the LGBTQ+ community.

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The State Conference is asking Gov. John Bel Edwards to veto all of the items it called out.

Louisiana NAACP officials also raised concern about a decision to halt the investigation into the death of Ronald Greene and the alleged coverup, which has been detailed through a series of reports by the WBRZ Investigative Unit.

The state organization is formally requesting a national travel advisory from the NAACP. In May, such an advisory was issued for Florida in response to what the organization called “aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools.”

WBRZ reached out to the Office of the Lt. Governor, which oversees tourism in the state, but a representative said they were not able to issue a response to the NAACP action as of Wednesday afternoon.


The complete list of bills cited by the State Conference follows.

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For the African American community:

  • HB 70: Amends the present law to reduce the opportunity for the reduction of a sentence and parole eligibility for offenders convicted for the fourth or subsequent time of a nonviolent felony offense.

  • HB 464: Increases the minimum term of imprisonment for the possession of a firearm by a felon from five years to 10 years.

  • HB 646: Provides for the annual canvass of registered voters

  • SB 23 makes the Secretary of State the only official who can determine the locations of alternative locations for early voting.

  • SB 46: Provides for the review of textbooks and other instructional materials

  • SB 54: Repeals provisions relative to police officers making arrests for certain misdemeanors and felonies.

  • SB 130: Authorizes retired law enforcement officers and retired elected law enforcement department heads to carry concealed firearms if POST certified at the time of retirement.

  • SB 159: Allows seventeen-year-olds (17) to be held and tried as adults under certain circumstances.

For the LGBTQIA2S+ community:

  • HB 466: “Don’t Say LGBTQ+ prevents students and educators across the state from having and providing safe, inclusive classrooms. It will block teachers from talking about LGBTQ+ issues or people, further stigmatizing LGBTQ+ people and isolating LGBTQ+ kids. HB 466 silences educators by banning the instruction and discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity during any extracurricular academic, athletic, or social activities in grades K–12. It also bans school employees and other presenters from discussing their own sexual orientation or gender identity.

  • HB 648: Gender Affirming Care Ban: Bans physicians from providing age-appropriate, best-practice health care for transgender minors under the age of 18. This bill contradicts guidelines recommended by every major medical association, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and more, because gender-affirming care saves lives.

  • HB 81: Pronoun Restriction: Allows schools to forcibly out and intentionally misgender transgender and non-binary students.

  • Summary: State lawmakers are targeting LGBTQIA2S+ rights by limiting the ability to update gender information on IDs and records, weakening nondiscrimination laws, restricting free speech and expression, banning affirming care for trans youth, and blocking access to medically necessary health care. This puts transgender people at risk of losing jobs, facing harassment, and other harms.



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Louisiana High School Football Scores – Week Four

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Louisiana High School Football Scores – Week Four


Here are the high school football scores from Week 4 for the state of Louisiana:

Airline 47, Evangel Christian Academy 42

Alexandria 43, Opelousas 40

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Amite 29, St. Helena 26

Ascension Episcopal 42, Rosepine 8

Avoyelles 46, Buckeye 0

Barbe 21, Carencro 13

Bastrop 28, St. Frederick Catholic 27

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Baton Rouge Catholic 31, West Monroe 14

Belle Chasse 17, Bonnabel 6

Bowling Green 27, Columbia Academy, Miss. 14

C.E. Byrd 35, Ehret 14

Calvary Baptist Academy 56, D’Arbonne Woods 7

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Captain Shreve 53, Benton 35

Central – B.R. 27, Cecilia 0

Chalmette 36, Booker T. Washington 6

Claiborne 46, Union Christian Academy 0

Covenant Christian Academy 45, Hannan 3

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Covington 28, Northshore 0

De La Salle 10, St. Charles Catholic 0

DeQuincy 56, Lakeview 0

Delcambre 43, Vinton 42, OT

Denham Springs 20, East Ascension 17

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Destrehan 39, East St. John 16

Donaldsonville 48, East Iberville 8

Dutchtown 49, Prairieville 0

E.D. White 60, Ellender 0

Evadale, Texas 34, Acadiana Christian 6

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Franklinton 61, Fontainebleau 13

Glenbrook 36, Cedar Creek 16

H.L. Bourgeois 42, Patterson 0

Hahnville 51, Terrebonne 32

Haynesville 51, Plain Dealing 0

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Holy Savior Menard 15, Abbeville 14

Homer 32, North Webster 22

Huntington 56, Haughton 27

Iota 48, Pine Prairie 7

Iowa 41, Wossman 18

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Jeanerette 16, Loreauville 15

Jena 46, Winnfield 0

Jennings 35, Northwest 14

Jesuit 17, Brother Martin 5

Kaplan 37, Breaux Bridge 0

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Karr 45, Holy Cross 20

Kentwood 35, Loranger 34

Kinder 22, Eunice 16

LaSalle 50, Block 30

Lafayette Renaissance 42, Landry/Walker 32

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Lake Charles College Prep 55, Mansfield 34

Lakeshore 43, Northlake Christian 16

Leesville 41, Pineville 13

Loyola Prep 50, Southwood 0

Lutcher 48, Assumption 0

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Mandeville 56, Slidell 14

Mangham 47, Beekman 6

Minden 28, Woodlawn (SH) 6

Neville 30, St. Thomas More 7

Newman 44, Willow School 0

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North Caddo 46, Magnolia Excellence 6

North DeSoto 38, Shreveport Northwood 21

North Iberville 50, Centerville 7

Northside 33, North Vermilion 31

Oak Grove 49, Rayville 0

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Oberlin 56, East Beauregard 28

Parkway 40, Natchitoches Central 12

Pine 28, Pearl River 20

Plaquemine 41, Brusly 18

Pope John Paul 42, Ben Franklin 7

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Port Allen 63, Helix Mentorship Academy 0

RHS 34, Comeaux 20

River Oaks 52, Riverdale Academy 0

Riverfield 28, Greenville Christian, Miss. 26

Riverside Academy 67, St. Thomas Aquinas 0

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Rummel 14, John Curtis Christian 7

Saint Paul’s 25, Kennedy 22

Sam Houston 46, Sulphur 7

Shaw 31, Lafayette Christian Academy 8

Silliman 41, Adams County Christian School, Miss. 35

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South Lafourche 29, South Terrebonne 22

Southern Lab 56, Delhi 6

Southside 28, Lafayette 0

St. Amant 39, Scotlandville 38

St. Edmund Catholic 47, North Central 8

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St. James 35, Ponchatoula 13

St. Michael 30, Belaire 19

Teurlings Catholic 42, Westgate 20

Tioga 59, Richwood 22

Union Parish 28, Green Oaks 0

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Vermilion Catholic 41, Erath 34

Walker 36, Live Oak 18

West Ouachita 29, Sterlington 28

West St. John 60, Houma Christian 0

Westlake 42, DeRidder 28

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White Castle 48, Red River 30

Woodlawn (BR) 57, West Feliciana 37



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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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