NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Louisiana’s return to closed-party primaries is prompting some voters to change their registration ahead of the state’s high-profile U.S. Senate race.

Cheron Brylski, a longtime Democratic political strategist and consultant, said she changed her registration from Democrat to No Party so she could choose which primary to vote in on May 16.

“I felt that this whole exercise is meant to disenfranchise urban voters who are largely Democrats,” Brylski told FOX 8.

Louisiana voters will cast ballots May 16 in closed-party primaries for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Louisiana Supreme Court, Public Service Commission and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Under the system approved by lawmakers in 2024 for the 2026 elections, registered Democrats can vote only in Democratic primaries and registered Republicans can vote only in Republican primaries.

Voters registered as No Party can choose either the Democratic or Republican ballot at the polls.

“So, when you get ready to vote in the May election, when you go to the polls, you will be given a form asking if you’re, if you’re “No Party”, asking if you want to vote in the Republican or the Democratic closed primary or not vote in any of them. And so, you have that choice. And so, you will select them. You will go into the voting booth and vote on that ballot,” said Trey Williams, Deputy Secretary of State for Communications and Policy.

If a runoff is needed in June, No Party voters must stick with the same party primary they selected in May. In the November general election, they can vote for any candidate on the ballot.

“When the runoff occurs in June, you would still need to vote in that party primary that you selected. Then when we get to the general election in November you can vote for anybody you would like, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green party, whoever is on the ballot there.” Williams said.

Brylski her decision was about making sure her voice is really heard during the primary election.

“I wanted to have a say in who I could choose between in November, whether it was the Republican or the Democrat, that the only way to vote against the MAGA-endorsed candidate was to change to No Party. And that way, by participating in the primaries, the Republican primary, as a no party voter, then I could vote basically against the MAGA-endorsed candidate,” she said.

Still, she said the move was difficult.

“And it was a very hard decision for me to make. I’ve been a lifelong Democrat. I still consider myself a Democrat. But I do think this whole process is disenfranchising voters. It’s limiting actually, I think it’s a move to destroy the Democratic Party in Louisiana, because it’s taken our votes completely out of who will be on that November ballot,” Brylski said.

Williams said voters who want to change their registration in person or by mail have until April 15. Those making the change online through GeauxVote have until April 25.

The Secretary of State’s Office said it is already seeing movement in voter registration.

“Well, we’ve actually seen a trend over the past year. So, we have seen the number of no party voters in the state increase by about 8,200 voters. We’ve also seen the Republican, numbers increase as well by about 6,500, uh, voters,” Williams said.

Some political observers think the state returned to the closed party system to hurt Sen. Bill Cassidy’s re-election bid after he voted to convict President Donald Trump during one of his impeachment trials.

“I definitely think that the purpose was to empower MAGA-endorsed candidates, and he has not,” Brylski said.

There are three Democrats running for the Senate seat.

“And so Democratic voters in the primary won’t be able to say they support [Sen. Bill] Cassidy if they like him. They’ll just choose between three candidates or they will choose between Democratic candidates who haven’t even gotten support from the National Democratic Party.

Brylski said she plans to switch back.

“I will be voting as a Democrat in November, but not right now. I’ll be voting as a No-Party person in the Republican primaries,” Brylski said.

Williams said voters can change their party registration whenever they choose, as long as they meet the deadline before an election.

Third-party voters, such as Libertarians and Greens, cannot vote in either party’s May primary, though they can still vote on other items on the ballot and in the fall general election.

“If you register Green Party you cannot participate. So yes, so if you were in a third-party, like Libertarian Party, Green Party then you cannot participate in the Republican or Democratic closed-primaries, but there are other items on the ballot that you can participate in,” Williams said.

Early voting for the May 16th primary is May 2-May 9.

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Leading ice cream franchise targets New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette for continued expansion

SCOTTSDALE,  Ariz., April 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cold Stone Creamery®, one of the nation’s premier ice cream creameries, revealed today its strategic plans to expand its presence in Southern Louisiana, specifically targeting New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The expansion into these markets presents a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to grow alongside a proven and fast-growing brand with nationwide experience and brand recognition. Cold Stone Creamery plans to open two to three stores in the next five years.

Southern Louisiana continues to emerge as a key growth market for families and businesses statewide. According to Louisiana Economic Development, in 2025, Louisiana experienced record-breaking results, marking the largest year of investment and job creation in state history. New Cold Stone locations in these markets provide an opportunity to contribute to the state’s economic growth for the communities.

“Cold Stone Creamery has been a part of communities across the country for more than 35 years, delivering premium products and personalized experiences that keep guests coming back,” said Blake Borwick, brand leader at Cold Stone Creamery. “Louisiana presents a strong opportunity for growth, with its vibrant communities, steady economic momentum, and deep appreciation for food and hospitality. As we expand in the state, we’re excited to partner with entrepreneurial talent looking for a proven brand, strong support system, and the opportunity to build a business that creates jobs, brings people together, and becomes a meaningful part of their local community.”

Cold Stone Creamery is thriving in Louisiana, with five locations currently serving the Bossier City, Baton Rouge, Elmwood, Metairie and Harvey communities. The brand is also preparing to open a new location in New Orleans, coming soon. The brand’s continued momentum reflects strong demand across the state and the opportunity for prospective owners to join a trusted, nationally recognized brand.

Cold Stone Creamery offers a flexible, scalable model rooted in premium ice cream, memorable guest experiences and comprehensive operational support. Franchise owners benefit from proven systems, advanced tools and resources, and leadership guidance that empowers franchisees to grow efficiently and achieve business goals.

Cold Stone Creamery is actively seeking qualified candidates to support its expansion in Louisiana, offering flexible opportunities for both first-time franchisees and experienced multi-unit operators. To join a fast-growing brand with more than three decades of experience and a proven team, the initial franchise fee to start a new traditional Cold Stone Creamery franchise is $27,000*.

To learn more about franchising with Cold Stone Creamery, visit the franchise website here.

*This information is based on the 2026 Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). See the current FDD Item 7 here and the current FDD for full details. This is not an offer. See more information here.

About Cold Stone Creamery
Cold Stone Creamery® delivers the Ultimate Ice Cream Experience® through a community of franchisees who are passionate about ice cream. The secret recipe for smooth and creamy ice cream is handcrafted fresh in-store, and then customized by combining a variety of mix-ins on a frozen granite stone. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Cold Stone Creamery is owned by parent company Kahala Brands^TM, one of the fastest-growing franchising companies in the world. With a portfolio of nearly 30 fast-casual and quick-service restaurant brands operated by Kahala Brands or its affiliates, across approximately 3,000 locations in 35 countries. The Cold Stone Creamery brand operates nearly 1,500 locations globally in approximately 30 countries worldwide.

For more information about Cold Stone Creamery, visit www.ColdStoneCreamery.com.

SOURCE Cold Stone Creamery

Louisiana’s full Senate voted 25-11 Tuesday to pass Senate Bill 256, a proposal that would merge the clerk’s offices for Orleans Parish civil and criminal district courts into a single office.

The vote eliminates the position of Calvin Duncan, the incoming clerk of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.

Supporters say the Orleans consolidation, authored by Sen. Jay Morris of Monroe, streamlines operations and improves efficiency, while critics warn it is likely to create confusion, reduce funding, and override the will of the voters who recently elected Duncan.

Senate Bill 256 legislation is part of a larger Orleans-centered push by Morris, who authored a trio of bills focused on drastically overhauling New Orleans courts. 

Altogether, bills that Morris authored could cut 11 judgeships across Orleans Parish judiciary and eliminate the clerkship that Duncan was slated to step into in May, after being elected by 68% of the electorate in December. 

The Senate passed one bill cutting judgeships on Tuesday and another on Wednesday. 

Senate Bill 197, amended by Morris on the floor, will cut two of the 12 judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, down from an initial proposed cut of four. Senate Bill 217 would cut a total of nine judges; four of 12 judges in the Orleans Parish criminal court, two of 14 from civil court, two of four from municipal and traffic court; and one of four from juvenile court.

The bills now go to the House for approval, as does Senate Bill 256.

Critics question intent of bills

The bills were about power, not efficiencies, said Sen. Royce Duplessis, the Democrat from New Orleans, the most vocal critic of the bills during Wednesday’s floor debate. 

When the bills were heard before the Senate judiciary committee last week, his Democratic colleagues also reacted with skepticism to the legislation, which was authored by a senator from northern Louisiana who admitted in committee that he didn’t speak with Duncan or any Orleans judges before filing the legislation. 

Morris said that the intent of Senate Bill 256 is to bring Orleans Parish in line with the rest of the state, where each parish has a single clerk’s office that handles both civil and criminal functions.

“This bill is to provide some efficiencies,” Morris said. 

He also acknowledged that the legislation was timed to Duncan’s entrance. “Otherwise we’d probably have to pay him for four years in a job that’s going to be eliminated,” Morris said.

Duncan saw the merger as folly, because the work of the two clerk’s offices is not interchangeable, he said, describing the type of evidence and files that are specific to his office and not used within civil proceedings. 

“The civil district court clerk doesn’t have a clue, doesn’t have a clue on how the records are supposed to be preserved, and how to preserve evidence,” he said. “She has no clue of how that works. Victims of crime will be affected by this.”

Duncan in the crosshairs 

Since the clerk-consolidation bill was introduced in the Senate last month, some lawmakers and judicial officials raised grave concerns about how the change could affect day-to-day court functions, particularly in a system as large as Orleans Parish.

Some opponents of the bill also decried the move as politically motivated, because it seemed laser-focused on unseating Duncan, who served 28 years on a wrongful murder conviction before he was released and eventually exonerated, in 2021. 

During Duncan’s campaign, state Attorney General Liz Murrill was publicly critical of his use of the word “exonerated” to describe himself, since he had initially pleaded guilty to earn his release, later returning to file paperwork that led to a judicial exoneration.

Morris had told Duncan that the bill’s aims were not personal, but instead were

“what the governor wants,” to “right-size” a courts system seen as bloated, which is unlike any other in Louisiana. 

During the committee hearing last week, some residents spoke in defense of Duncan and warned lawmakers that the legislation would have a broader impact on the citizenry. “It’s hard to convey what that kind of process does to people’s trust in government,” said Steve Cochran, a New Orleans voter. “Those of you who keep voting yes are responsible for that loss of trust.”

Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, a Democrat from Lafayette, felt similarly. “We had an election there, and a candidate was selected by the people, he said. “My preference would have been for us to allow this individual to serve.”

Duplessis, who argued that the measure disregarded the will of the voters who had overwhelmingly elected Duncan, proposed an amendment that would have delayed the merger until May 2030, after Duncan’s four-year term. 

The amendment was voted down..

Will it save money or create efficiencies?

During the floor debate, Duplessis asked about any data or formal analysis that could support the bill’s actions.

“So there was no study, no report that we’re aware of that pointed to any inefficiencies. within the clerk’s office?” Duplessis said.

Morris cited Supreme Court data from a report he had read from on the floor.

“Was there anything in the Supreme Court data that suggested that the civil district court was inefficient or that the criminal district court was inefficient?” Duplessis said.

“No, I don’t know that,” Morris responded.

“Well, we’re talking about the clerk’s office,” Duplessis said.

“I don’t recall there being any. There might be some, but I don’t know,” Morris said.

Duplessis also raised questions about the bill’s fiscal impact, because there was no fiscal note attached to the clerk-merger legislation.

“So, we don’t know. So we could end up spending more than we save,” said Duplessis, who — in closing — described the move as unprecedented in his time at the Legislature.

“I have seen some things in my eight years here, but nothing like this,” he said. “This is deeply troubling.” 

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