Louisiana
Vatican, other faith leaders join in push for end of death penalty in Louisiana
By Adelle M. Banks — September 29, 2023
(RNS) — ‘We think that the clearing of Louisiana’s death row would be a monumental step towards the abolition of the death penalty,’ Vatican agency head said.
In ad blitz, watchdog group projects political heft of nonreligious Americans
By Alejandra Molina — September 16, 2022
(RNS) —The campaign includes billboards featuring portraits of residents of the swing states of Michigan, Louisiana, Missouri and others, and the legend 'I’m an atheist and I vote' along highways in their respective regions.
As states ban abortion, a new spotlight on an old battle over sex education
By Riley Farrell — July 14, 2022
(RNS) — Half of the states set to ban abortion have no mandate that schools teach sex education. Only four require curricula to address contraception.
No more murder charge for women in Louisiana abortion bill
By Kevin Mcgill — May 12, 2022
(RNS) — The state’s anti-abortion governor said he'd veto it, and Louisiana Right to Life and the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops are against it.
Pastor seeks revival of suit challenging virus restrictions
By Kevin Mcgill — June 8, 2021
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tony Spell repeatedly flouted the public health restrictions at his Life Tabernacle Church in the Baton Rouge suburb of Central, and faces six state criminal counts as a result.
With Ginsburg’s seat open, abortion moves to the center of the 2020 election
By Mark Silk — September 19, 2020
(RNS) — For both candidates, it's an issue that they'd prefer not to deal with.
As Hurricane Laura hits, faith-based disaster relief groups ready to lend a hand
By Bob Smietana — August 27, 2020
(RNS) — Working closely with FEMA, faith-based groups are among the first responders when disasters strike.
Defiant Louisiana pastor arrested over coronavirus protest
By Stacey Plaisance — April 21, 2020
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Spell already faces misdemeanor charges for holding in-person church services despite the ban on gatherings.
Churchgoers flock to hear Louisiana pastor despite virus ban
By Melinda Deslatte, Stacey Plaisance, and Chevel Johnson — April 1, 2020
CENTRAL, La. (AP) — Pastor Tony Spell has confirmed that he is facing misdemeanor charges, but said the summons wasn't deterring him.
Authorities say deputy’s son behind fires at black churches
By Melinda Deslatte — April 11, 2019
OPELOUSAS, La. (AP) — Holden Matthews, 21, faces arson charges in connection with the blazes in and around Opelousas, a city of 16,000 where the flame-gutted remains of the buildings evoked memories of civil rights era violence.
100 investigators probing La. fires that destroyed three black churches
By Adelle M. Banks — April 9, 2019
(RNS) — Investigators are trying to determine if the three fires at historic Baptist churches in Opelousas and Port Barre are related or if any of them are tied to a blaze at a Pentecostal church in the town of Vivian.
Bid to toughen Louisiana anti-bestiality law draws pushback
By Anthony Izaguirre — April 26, 2018
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — In Louisiana, a proposal to strengthen the law against bestiality is facing unexpected opposition from conservative lawmakers who see it as an underhanded move to strike the state's unconstitutional ban on sodomy.
America hardly notices while Louisiana drowns
By Alan Cross — August 24, 2016
DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (RNS) But churches spring into action and racial tensions are washed away.
Louisiana governor signs order protecting LGBT rights, calls it ‘good for business’
By Reuters — April 14, 2016
The order breaks the pattern of Southern states passing laws to limit same-sex marriage rights and ban transgender people from personal choice in which public restroom to use.
Arkansas governor cuts state contracts with Planned Parenthood
By Reuters — August 15, 2015
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson canceled the state's contracts with Planned Parenthood, making his the third Southern state to do so since anti-abortion activists released videos that they say suggests the organization sells fetal tissue.
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