Louisiana Elections & Politics

Latest news and reports

Al Copeland's holiday lights to shine on in Metairie

by Richard Rainey, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 19, 2008, 6:00 AM

The first Christmas without Al Copeland will not be the last for his unbounded display of holiday lights and baubles.

His family has planned a scaled-down version this year of the late Popeye's Chicken magnate's homage to electric cheer. It will be where it has been for most of the past 35 years: festooned across the grounds of Copeland's home on Folse Drive in Metairie.

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Pennsylvania grand jury looking at how GOP used New Orleans demographer's work

by David Hammer, The Times-Picayune

Tuesday November 18, 2008, 3:09 PM

A New Orleans demography firm is at the center of a grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania as the Keystone State's attorney general continues a sweeping probe into whether public funds paid for partisan campaign activities there.

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Early voting for Dec. 6 election begins today

by Ramon Antonio Vargas, The Times-Picayune

Tuesday November 18, 2008, 9:07 AM

Starting today, registered voters can cast early ballots in Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District race and the state Senate's 3rd District contest, both slated for Dec. 6.

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Political strategist James Carville to teach course on presidential election at Tulane this spring

by John Pope, The Times-Picayune

Tuesday November 18, 2008, 7:40 AM

James Carville, the colorful political mastermind from Louisiana whose strategy helped propel Bill Clinton into the White House, will join Tulane University's political science faculty in the spring to teach an undergraduate course on this year's presidential election.

Even though Carville earned undergraduate and law degrees from LSU, Tulane's arch-rival, he managed to be gracious about his new job.

In a statement Monday, Carville said he is "pleased to be joining the faculty of such a prestigious university."

Continue reading "Political strategist James Carville to teach course on presidential election at Tulane this spring" »

New Orleans' new DA warns staff of hard work

by Laura Maggi, The Times-Picayune

Monday November 17, 2008, 9:38 PM

Newly sworn-in District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro got an early start on his first day at the job Monday, meeting with prosecutors to outline his expectations.

All employees at the Orleans Parish district attorney's office are welcome to keep their jobs under the new administration, as long as they realize that hard work and long hours will be expected, Cannizzaro said.

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Mandeville Police Chief Tom Buell's small town values may have contributed to his downfall

by Cindy Chang, The Times-Picayune

Monday November 17, 2008, 6:49 AM

The opening strains of Tom Buell's farewell to Mandeville on Thursday night were met with accolades befitting a police chief who had served for three decades, shepherding his department from a handful of officers into a modern force equipped with laptops and sophisticated radios.

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New Orleans City Council president supports colleague in war of words with Mayor Ray Nagin

by Frank Donze and Bruce Eggler, The Times-Picayune

Friday November 14, 2008, 10:29 PM

NEW ORLEANS POLITICS

City Council President Jackie Clarkson weighed in Friday on the heated confrontation Tuesday between Councilwoman Stacy Head and Sanitation Director Veronica White that then inspired an angry e-mail message from Nagin to Clarkson.

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Obama eyeing Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State, Democratic officials say

by The Associated Press

Friday November 14, 2008, 9:47 AM

CHICAGO (AP) -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is among the candidates that President-elect Barack Obama is considering for secretary of state, according to two Democratic officials in close contact with the Obama transition team.

Clinton, the former first lady who pushed Obama hard for the Democratic presidential nomination, was rumored to be a contender for the job last week, but the talk died down as party activists questioned whether she was best-suited to be the nation's top diplomat in an Obama administration.

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Mandeville Police Chief Tom Buell to retire following scandal

by Cindy Chang, The Times-Picayune

Thursday November 13, 2008, 8:38 PM

Mandeville Police Chief Tom Buell announced his retirement on Thursday after 30 years in the post, making him the first official to take the fall for a series of scandals that is now the focus of state and federal criminal investigations.

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Gov. Bobby Jindal's economic chief violated ethics law before joining administration

by Robert Travis Scott, The Times-Picayune

Thursday November 13, 2008, 5:09 PM

BATON ROUGE -- One of Gov. Bobby Jindal's top Cabinet members violated state ethics laws before joining the administration and has agreed to pay a $1,200 fine for failing to properly register as a lobbyist, the state Board of Ethics determined today.

Stephen Moret, Jindal's secretary of economic development, admitted to the infraction by signing an agreement with the ethics board that explained the circumstances and set the amount of the fine, which under Louisiana law could have been as high as $10,000. The board accepted the agreement at its monthly meeting and released the document.

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Grand jury appearance delayed for Junior Rodriguez, former St. Bernard Parish president

by The Times-Picayune

Thursday November 13, 2008, 11:18 AM

Henry "Junior" Rodriguez, the former St. Bernard Parish president, said today that federal authorities have postponed his grand jury appearance because of a scheduling error.

Rodriguez had planned to visit the grand jury this morning at the U.S. District Courthouse in New Orleans, but he said he was told Wednesday afternoon of the postponement. No new date has been scheduled, he said.

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Second top official with state Department of Social Services resigns

by The Associated Press

Thursday November 13, 2008, 8:59 AM

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- The head of the state Department of Social Services Office of Community Services has resigned.

Assistant Secretary Marketa Garner Gautreau, who oversees the state's child protection and foster and adoption programs, declined to comment Wednesday when asked if she was told to step down.

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Want to know what your state taxpayer dollars pay for? Try the Jindal administration's new website

by Jan Moller, The Times-Picayune

Thursday November 13, 2008, 8:07 AM

BATON ROUGE -- Want to know what the state Office of Business Development spent last year on employee salaries ($4,349,216.48)? How much the lieutenant governor's office has spent so far this year on travel and training ($117,881.49)? Or the annual salary of Insurance Commissioner James Donelon ($115,000)?

Starting Wednesday, a new Web site developed by the state budget office allows citizens to find such information with a mouse click, rather than a public records request, as part of an ongoing effort by Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration to make state government more transparent and accountable.

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Demand high in Louisiana for tickets to Obama's inauguration

by Bruce Alpert, The Times-Picayune

Thursday November 13, 2008, 7:56 AM

WASHINGTON -- Back in May, even before Barack Obama had won the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Brenda Grimm Jackson of Jeanerette had secured a chartered bus and hotel for 55 people to attend his Jan. 20 inauguration.

Continue reading "Demand high in Louisiana for tickets to Obama's inauguration" »

What Obama will do about New Orleans recovery still unclear

by Bruce Alpert, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 12, 2008, 11:30 AM

WASHINGTON -- During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama issued a policy paper pledging to "keep the broken promises made by President Bush to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast" and "ensure that the federal government will never again allow such catastrophic failures in emergency planning and response to occur."

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Mayor Ray Nagin asks for $1.6 million to maintain embattled crime camera program

by David Hammer, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 12, 2008, 8:51 AM

Under fire for crime cameras that critics say often don't work and haven't proved an effective tool for fighting crime, officials of New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin's administration tried Tuesday to redefine the equipment's purpose to justify spending another $1.6 million on maintenance next year.

At a City Council budget hearing, council members Stacy Head and Arnie Fielkow questioned the proposed expenditure, saying they need proof the cameras are providing a crime-fighting benefit.

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James Gill: U.S. Attorney General Jim Letten -- Society's gain is newshound's loss

by James Gill, Columnist, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 12, 2008, 7:25 AM

Boy, was I pleased when Barack Obama won the election. At last, I thought to myself, we'll be rid of U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. Letten is a newspaperman's nightmare. You can't laugh at him because he never says anything stupid. You can't blast him because he is scrupulously fair. He works tirelessly putting crooks in stir, but is a most amiable fellow. He is an absolute dead loss.

So, thanks for nothing, Mary Landrieu. Just because Letten has done an exemplary job during the Bush administration, the doyenne of Louisiana Democrats does not think he should be replaced.

Continue reading "James Gill: U.S. Attorney General Jim Letten -- Society's gain is newshound's loss" »

Bobby Jindal says he "politely declined" to run for vice president on McCain ticket

by Jan Moller, The Times-Picayune

Tuesday November 11, 2008, 9:16 PM

BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Bobby Jindal said Tuesday that he "politely declined" last summer an opportunity to be on John McCain's short list for the vice presidency.

Continue reading "Bobby Jindal says he "politely declined" to run for vice president on McCain ticket" »

Kenner eyes assisted living center at Redwood site

by Mary Sparacello, The Times-Picayune

Tuesday November 11, 2008, 4:23 PM

Developers are proposing an assisted living complex for elderly people at the former site of the Redwood Park apartments in Kenner.

Continue reading "Kenner eyes assisted living center at Redwood site" »

Obama made inroads with white voters except in Deep South

by Jonathan Tilove, The Times-Picayune

Saturday November 08, 2008, 10:25 PM

Before Election Day, there was widespread suspicion that enough white voters would balk at voting for an African-American candidate for president that the polls would be proved wrong.

It didn't turn out that way.

Barack Obama won a convincing popular and electoral victory Tuesday. According to exit polls, the Illinois senator did better with white voters than the past two Democratic nominees, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and Vice President Al Gore, did in the 2004 and 2000 elections.

Continue reading "Obama made inroads with white voters except in Deep South" »

Orleans Parish District Attorney-elect Leon Cannizzaro announces transition leaders

by The Times-Picayune

Friday November 07, 2008, 4:19 PM

District Attorney-elect Leon Cannizzaro began setting up his transition team on Friday, announcing that Civil Court Clerk Dale Atkins and banker Gary Solomon will lead the effort.

Cannizzaro will announce other members next week, as well as outlining the scope of the transition team's work, said Cheron Brylski, a campaign spokeswoman.

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State Supt. Paul Pastorek withholds Jefferson Parish school scores over "misinterpretation" of routing policy

by Barri Bronston, The Times-Picayune

Friday November 07, 2008, 12:43 PM

BATON ROUGE -- As it released new performance scores for almost every public school system in the state Friday, the Louisiana Department of Education withheld the ones for Jefferson Parish.

Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said it could be several days before Jefferson gets its scores, because they are being recalculated to meet the state's test-score routing policy.

Continue reading "State Supt. Paul Pastorek withholds Jefferson Parish school scores over "misinterpretation" of routing policy" »

2 Louisiana lawmakers eager to offer Barack Obama advice

by Bruce Alpert, The Times-Picayune

Thursday November 06, 2008, 11:18 PM

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep.-elect Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, and re-elected Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, may provide early tests on whether President-elect Barack Obama will carry out his pledge to reach out for ideas from members of both political parties.

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Palin lies low as interview requests pile up

by Associated Press

Thursday November 06, 2008, 10:20 PM

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Gov. Sarah Palin hadn't been back home in Alaska for a full day and her staff had begun fielding requests Thursday for postelection interviews, including from Barbara Walters, Oprah Winfrey, Larry King and others.

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Obama speaks with 9 world leaders

by Associated Press

Thursday November 06, 2008, 8:25 PM

CHICAGO (AP) -- President-elect Obama accepted congratulations from nine presidents and prime ministers Thursday, returning calls from world leaders who reached out after his presidential victory.

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Corruption trial of Rep. William Jefferson likely delayed again

by Jonathan Tilove, The Times-Picayune

Thursday November 06, 2008, 3:32 PM

WASHINGTON -- Rep. William Jefferson's federal corruption trial remains on hold after U.S. District Court Judge T. S. Ellis III today canceled a status conference that had been scheduled for Friday. The court is awaiting a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling on an appeal by Jefferson's lawyers to throw out most of the 16 charges against him.

Ells' decision likely means a further delay in the congressman's trial, which had been scheduled for Dec. 2.

Continue reading "Corruption trial of Rep. William Jefferson likely delayed again" »

Rahm Emanuel accepts job as White House chief of staff

by Liz Sidoti and Nedra Pickler, The Associated Press

Thursday November 06, 2008, 12:29 PM

CHICAGO (AP) _ Barack Obama's fellow Chicagoan Rahm Emanuel, the hard-charging No. 3 Democrat in the House, has accepted the job of White House chief of staff, Democratic officials said Thursday.

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Gov. Bobby Jindal's star rising after Republican losses

by Jan Moller, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 9:33 PM

BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Bobby Jindal is among a short list of Republicans whose political stars stand to rise as the party looks for new ideas and leadership in the wake of Tuesday's landmark Democratic victories.

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U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu broadens statewide appeal, says 'centrist' strategy led to her re-election

by Bill Barrow and Ed Anderson, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 9:31 PM

BATON ROUGE -- Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu credits her 120,000-vote victory Tuesday over Republican state Treasurer John Kennedy to a strategy that framed the race as a referendum on her status as a centrist working both sides of the aisle to advance Louisiana causes, with hurricane recovery perhaps topping the list.

A Times-Picayune analysis of the returns of her 52 percent to 46 percent victory shows that the New Orleans native has expanded her appeal since first winning the seat by less than 6,000 votes in 1996.

For the first time in her three Senate elections, Landrieu's total victory margin was larger than her margin in Orleans Parish, long the state's richest source of Democratic votes, though diminished in number since Hurricane Katrina.

Continue reading "U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu broadens statewide appeal, says 'centrist' strategy led to her re-election" »

Congressman Bill Jefferson benefited from loyal base

by Michelle Krupa and Frank Donze, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 9:29 PM

U.S. Rep. William Jefferson's formula for victory in Tuesday's Democratic Party runoff was not complicated or surprising. He relied on racial numbers -- and loyalty.

Determined to hang on to the 2nd Congressional District seat he won 18 years ago, Jefferson found refuge in his traditional base of voters in majority-black neighborhoods, who turned out in large numbers on the same day the nation elected its first African-American president.

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Scalise swept to victory in solidly Republican district

by Mary Sparacello, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 9:26 PM

Running a far more efficient campaign, U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, easily swept all six parishes in the 1st Congressional District to win re-election over Jim Harlan, an analysis of voting returns showed Wednesday.

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St. Tammany Parish election officials were overwhelmed by early votes; complete returns weren't posted until after midnight

by Charlie Chapple, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 3:18 PM

As election results from St. Tammany Parish's 158 precincts were posted Tuesday night, local election officials continued to work feverishly in a locked room tallying the unprecedented 18,404 early ballots that were cast.

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Quiet day for Obama after historic win

by Sophia Tareen, The Associated Press

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 2:26 PM

CHICAGO | Barack Obama began his first full day as president-elect with the simple pleasure of having breakfast with his daughters, the type of everyday family activity that he often had to sacrifice during the nearly two-year-long campaign.

Later in the morning, Obama left the house alone, clad in workout clothes, a ball cap and sunglasses, and spent an hour at a friend's apartment building where he uses the gym. Then it was back home to clean up before heading in to the office -- a downtown office building where he was holding a conference call to thank campaign staff around the country. The president-elect wore a suit but no tie, and carried a black satchel.

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Obama victory sparks cheers around the globe

by By John Leicester/Associated Press

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 11:29 AM

PARIS (AP) -- Barack Obama's election as America's first black president unleashed a renewed love for the United States after years of dwindling goodwill, and many said Wednesday that U.S. voters had blazed a trail that minorities elsewhere could follow.

People across Africa stayed up all night or woke before dawn to watch U.S. history being made, while the president of Kenya -- where Obama's father was born -- declared a public holiday.

In Indonesia, where Obama lived as child, hundreds of students at his former elementary school erupted in cheers when he was declared winner and poured into the courtyard where they hugged each other, danced in the rain and chanted "Obama! Obama!"

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Replay: Stephanie Grace chats about Tuesday's big elections

by The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 11:11 AM

Replay today's chat by political columnist Stephanie Grace, who answered readers' questions about the historic win by President-Elect Barack Obama as well as slew of local and state races, including U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu's re election victory and the primary win of indicted U.S. Rep. Bill Jefferson. To view the chat, click Watch Now in the player window below.

New Congress turns more Democratic

by Associated Press

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 11:02 AM

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats broadened their control of Congress in Tuesday's elections, though in the Senate they fell short of the 60 votes needed for a filibuster-proof majority that would have given them almost unbridled power over legislation.

Voters ousted Senate Republicans in North Carolina and New Hampshire and added three seats held by retiring GOP incumbents to the Democrats' fragile 51-49 majority. Four other Senate races involving Republican incumbents, including the contest in Minnesota, were too close to call early Wednesday. The GOP retained some leverage in spite of Democratic gains.

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See Today's Front Pages from around the world

by The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 10:27 AM

See how newspapers around the globe chronicled President-Elect Barack Obama's historic win in today's editions by visiting the Newseum website.

The Newseum is an interactive news museum in Washington, D.C. that posts a wide array of front pages from around the United States and the world each day.

Louisiana's 40-year streak in backing presidential winner comes to an end

by Jonathan Tilove, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 8:48 AM

With statewide turnout estimated at about 64 percent, Louisiana delivered its nine electoral votes to Republican John McCain on Tuesday, the first time in 40 years that the state's pick was not the choice of the nation.

Continue reading "Louisiana's 40-year streak in backing presidential winner comes to an end" »

Obama faces daunting challenges

by Terrence Hunt/Associated Press

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 8:15 AM

WASHINGTON (AP) -- His name etched in history as America's first black president-elect, Barack Obama turned Wednesday from the jubilation of victory to the sobering challenge of leading a nation worried about economic crisis, two unfinished wars and global uncertainty.

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep," Obama cautioned.

Young and charismatic but with little experience on the national level, Obama smashed through racial barriers and easily defeated Republican John McCain to become the first African-American destined to sit in the Oval Office, America's 44th president. He was the first Democrat to receive more than 50 percent of the popular vote since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

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Louisiana faces loss of clout in House

by Bruce Alpert, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 8:00 AM

WASHINGTON -- While most of the nation settled its congressional elections Tuesday night, Louisiana heads into December with two races yet to be decided and its most senior member facing a criminal corruption trial.

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Local African Americans overflow with emotion at news of Obama victory

by Brian Thevenot, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 7:50 AM

See more photos

Like so many African-Americans across New Orleans, Tammy Montana woke up Tuesday morning with a "big big wonderful butterfly feeling."

Someone who looked like her could, at long last, be elected president by day's end, thought Montana, niece of the deceased Mardi Gras Indian "chief of chiefs, " Allison "Tootie" Montana.

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New Congress turns more Democratic

by Laurie Kellman/Associated Press

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 7:39 AM

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats broadened their control of Congress in Tuesday's elections, though in the Senate they fell short of the 60 votes needed for a filibuster-proof majority that would have given them almost unbridled power over legislation.

Voters ousted Senate Republicans in North Carolina and New Hampshire and added three seats held by retiring GOP incumbents to the Democrats' fragile 51-49 majority. Three other Senate races involving Republican incumbents were too close to call early Wednesday, but the GOP retained some leverage in spite of Democratic gains.

"The people have spoken. We hear the people and now it's time to come behind our president," Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, told "The Early Show" on CBS on Wednesday. "The Senate is going to have to work things out in a bipartisan way, and I think the test is going to be right there."

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John Shaddinger wins Westwego mayor's office; JP, drainage tax results

by The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 7:23 AM

First-term City Councilman John Shaddinger got a promotion Tuesday when voters elected him Westwego's first new mayor in almost 20 years.

Continue reading "John Shaddinger wins Westwego mayor's office; JP, drainage tax results" »

Voters in six New Orleans neighborhoods approve annual fees for security

by The Times-Picayune

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 7:16 AM

Audubon Area Security District
Voters agreed to pay an annual fee of $500 or more for 10 years on each parcel of land in the neighborhood. The fee will replace an annual fee of as much as $325 that voters in the district authorized in 2002. The new fee will not exceed $500 in 2009 but could rise by $25 each year from 2010 through 2018. It will generate about $174,500 in 2009. It will be waived for homeowners 65 years old and older whose assessments are frozen under state law.

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