Livonia News

Gov. Bobby Jindal on Thursday approved $4.9 million in tax breaks for ports, sportsmen and other groups for this year, though that figure will balloon to an estimated $30.3 million in 2010 when additional tax breaks take effect.

A special Senate committee Wednesday called on the heads of the state National Guard and the Department of Veterans Affairs to produce data indicating how often -- or seldom -- a special 2007 law granting enhanced benefits for Louisiana Guard troops has been used.

West Bank citizens hit the jackpot Friday as Gov. Bobby Jindal decided that a newly discovered $22.6 million cache ought to be spent on projects in their area instead of for a rice elevator in Lake Charles that he had previously recommended.

A heated fight in the Legislature to claim a newly discovered $22.6 million pot of money has pitted West Bank and other New Orleans area lawmakers against their southwest Louisiana colleagues and the Jindal administration.

Motorcycle helmets will not be optional anytime soon in Louisiana, after a Senate committee killed a bill that would have repealed the state's helmet law, despite the governor's support to do away with it.

The state's $5.36 billion capital construction budget remained in limbo today when the Senate Finance Committee delayed its approval, but did restore about $7.25 million that was stripped from it earlier in the week.

Two men died Tuesday night after an all terrain vehicle they were riding on was struck from behind by a sport utility vehicle, Louisiana State Police said today.

A Senate committee today shot down a House-passed bill that would have allowed for new punishment of parents with repeat juvenile offenders in Louisiana.

The Senate overwhelmingly agreed to legislation this morning that would expand Louisiana's smoking ban to include bars and casinos.

BATON ROUGE - A proposal to ban smoking in bars and gambling facilities passed the Louisiana Senate on Thursday and is headed to the House.

BATON ROUGE, La. - Both the House and Senate will consider whether Louisiana's ban on smoking in restaurants and most buildings should extend to bars and gambling facilities.

A push to expand Louisiana's indoor smoking ban gained momentum Wednesday, when a Senate committee agreed to legislation that would ban the practice in bars and casinos.

An $85 million appropriation for renovations to the Superdome, a key part of a new deal to keep the Saints in New Orleans through 2025, will be put in the state's capital construction bill with hundreds of other state and local construction projects, Gov.

Bob Sealy did it again. After 25 years directing the McDonalds Big Bass Splash, his goal has been achieved.

Smoking in bars would be a thing of the past as of Aug. 15 if two south Louisiana legislators have their way at the lawmaking session that begins Monday.

News and views from the Louisiana Capitol Sunday, March 29, 2009 TOP OF THE NEWS Jindal's top counsel looking at Supreme Court race State senator applies for PSC administrative post Lawmakers have bone to pick on chicken deal AROUND THE CAPITOL Eyeing court post Gov.

Livonia police, Pointe Coupee Parish sheriff's deputies, and even dogs from Angola are all searching for a suspect wanted in a rolling meth lab investigation that fled from authorities.

Legislation that would increase the annual state sales tax holiday from two days to a week was filed Tuesday by the chairman of one of the Senate's key money committees.

Developing news out of Livonia after a bomb scare at a local bank Wednesday afternoon.

St. Landry Parish - The St. Landry Parish Sheriff's office reported booking the following people Thursday: Joshua Louis Bourque, 18, 125 Roger St., Opelousas, charged with attempted burglary.