Louisiana

For community groups to allege violations of environmental rules, a state law says groups have to use federally-approved testing equipment, and it sets restrictions for analyzing and sharing the data.

The National Hurricane Center said Wednesday night that Francine is no longer a hurricane and now is a tropical storm. Francine has sustained winds of 70 mph as it moves across southern Louisiana.

Residents are being urged to finish storm preparations. Francine is expected to bring heavy rainfall and flash flooding to Louisiana, Mississippi, southern Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle.

The legislation, signed into law Wednesday by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, makes Louisiana the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom.

Louisiana's new congressional map is caught in a legal fight that could determine the balance of power in the next Congress and set up another Supreme Court test of the Voting Rights Act.

The report finds that the ban has caused delays and denial of medical care and forced doctors to navigate between ethical duties to patients and their fear of penalties and prosecution.

Environmental conditions led to a shortage of crawfish in Louisiana during Lent this month, when crawfish traditionally are eaten instead of meat.

A "superfog" of smoke from south Louisiana marsh fires and dense fog caused multiple massive car crashes Monday morning involving a total of 158 vehicles, authorities said.

The case has been widely watched, not just because it could produce an additional Democratic House seat, but because the Fifth Circuit's actions are seen as a challenge to the high court's authority.

Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican backed by former President Donald Trump, has won the Louisiana governor's race, holding off a crowded field of candidates.