Royce Duplessis

The Essence Festival of Culture will feature panels addressing Black political disenfranchisement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Louisiana v. Callais, which weakened the Voting Rights Act. The Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) will highlight impacts of redistricting in Louisiana, where one of two majority-minority congressional districts was eliminated. Panels will focus on voting rights, redistricting, and strategies to protect Black political power.

New Orleans aims to replace lead pipes in private homes using federal funds, but a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval in November could determine its feasibility. The proposal by Sen. Royce Duplessis seeks to allow the Sewerage and Water Board to use public money for lead pipe removal, addressing a health risk linked to aging infrastructure.

Louisiana legislators approved a congressional redistricting bill that reduces the state’s majority-Black districts to one, likely triggering lawsuits from both conservative white voters and the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. The Senate passed Senate Bill 121 along party lines, retaining a single majority-Black district held by Rep. Troy Carter while eliminating another held by Rep. Cleo Fields. Gov. Jeff Landry signed the bill into law, and sponsors claimed the map prioritized party over race.

Louisiana enacted a new congressional district map aimed at securing an additional Republican seat by eliminating one of the state’s two majority-Black districts. The map, signed by Gov. Jeff Landry, follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of the previous plan for racial gerrymandering. Republicans argue the new boundaries prioritize party performance, while Democrats claim they dilute Black voting power.

Louisiana lawmakers rejected a bill to implement real-time air monitoring for communities near oil and petrochemical refineries, unlike California which established such a system in 2017. The failure to act leaves Cancer Alley, a region with high cancer rates and pollution from over 200 industrial facilities, without access to critical air quality data.

A Louisiana congressional redistricting bill, which aims to eliminate one of the state's majority-Black districts, advanced through the House and Governmental Affairs Committee in a party-line vote. Lawmakers are urged to verify the accuracy of population and voter registration data used to justify the map before final passage, as concerns about racial and partisan impacts persist.

Louisiana has suspended its May congressional primaries following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that invalidated a majority Black congressional district. Republican officials cited the ruling as a 'historic victory' but acknowledged immediate legal barriers to holding elections under the current map, while Democrats criticized the move as politically motivated and disruptive to voters.

Louisiana has suspended its May congressional primaries following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that invalidated a majority Black congressional district. Republican officials cited the ruling as a 'historic victory' but acknowledged the state is now barred from holding elections under the current map, causing confusion and political debate.

Louisiana's governor and attorney general have postponed the 2026 midterm primaries following a Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act, causing political and public concern. The decision has sparked criticism from Democrats, who argue it creates voter confusion and undermines electoral fairness.