Surveillance evidence allowed in trial of alleged hit man for Baton Rouge gang BY QUINN COFFMAN | Staff writer 1 hr ago Evidence from surveillance collected against a man described by authorities as a hit man for the 5400 Boys gang will be allowed to be introduced at his trial on gun and drug charges.
Angola guards who handcuffed inmate through bars, used pepper-spray granted immunity BY QUINN COFFMAN | Staff writer 20 hrs ago Two Angola guards who handcuffed an inmate through his cell bars and then pepper-sprayed him did not break the law in the course of their duties, a federal appeals court ruled.
Louisiana could give some parishes money to hire more prosecutors — at New Orleans’ expense BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN | Staff writer May 29, 2026 Judicial districts across Louisiana could get more prosecutors as a bill to give district attorneys more money to hire them nears final passage in the Legislature, with the most new funds slat…
+4 Judge delays release of Louisiana parish's secrecy deals linked to industrial projects BY DAVID J. MITCHELL | Staff writer May 28, 2026 The non-disclosure agreements between Ascension Parish, state officials and business leaders relate to an industrial buildout proposed for thousands of acres.
+5 Federal court agrees Angola's Farm Line is dangerous, but can't ‘micromanage’ prison administrators BY QUINN COFFMAN | Staff writer May 27, 2026 In a ruling issued Tuesday, Judge Brian Jackson of the Louisiana Middle District reaffirmed that Angola's so-called Farm Line program regularly puts inmates in danger of heat-related injuries.
Judge backs West Baton Rouge government in records fight, orders journalist to pay fees, legal costs BY AIDAN MCCAHILL | Staff writer May 26, 2026 The ruling appears to permit the West Baton Rouge government to require payment for certain records even if they were prepared but not delivered.
Baton Rouge man sentenced after shooting into his ex-girlfriend's apartment, just missing kids BY QUINN COFFMAN | Staff writer May 26, 2026 A 33-year-old Baton Rouge man was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison for shooting into his girlfriend's apartment, with the bullet narrowly going over the heads of the woman and two of …
Social media use lands former Jefferson Parish council member in judicial hot seat BY JOHN SIMERMAN | Staff writer May 25, 2026 Around the time he won election as a West Bank justice of the peace after two terms on the Jefferson Parish council, Mark Spears, Jr. switched his Instagram handle to “judge.markspears.”
'I refuse to give up': Abuse survivor appears in court, confronts ex who beat her, ran her over BY QUINN COFFMAN | Staff writer May 23, 2026 In a tense courtroom hearing this month, a Baton Rouge woman was given a chance that not many abuse survivors receive: to confront her abuser face to face and tell him, "I am a domestic violen…
Baton Rouge rapper's trip to New York has DA taking closer look at ankle monitoring company BY QUINN COFFMAN | Staff writer May 22, 2026 When Austin Jackson, a Baton Rouge rapper who goes by BBE AJ, traveled to New York City to perform Tuesday night, he allegedly did so without getting the necessary approval from a judge.
+2 A Baton Rouge defense attorney will remain on court-ordered probation after violation BY QUINN COFFMAN | Staff writer May 21, 2026 Stephen Sterling III, a Baton Rouge public defender and defense attorney, will remain on probation for another year after the Louisiana Supreme Court ordered an extension of his sanctions tied…
+3 Judge orders Louisiana parish to release secrecy deals related to industrial projects BY DAVID J. MITCHELL | Staff writer May 21, 2026 A state district judge has ruled that Ascension Parish's government must turn over nondisclosure agreements among officials and business leaders related to industrial development projects, but…
Baton Rouge 23-year-old sentenced to 30 years for shooting man found under carport BY QUINN COFFMAN | Staff writer May 20, 2026 A 23-year-old Baton Rouge resident has been sentenced to spend 30 years in state prison after he was convicted of manslaughter for fatally shooting a man during an altercation.
+3 Caulette 'Twin' Jackson-Guillard wins Baton Rouge family court seat after 2023 loss BY QUINN COFFMAN | Staff writers May 16, 2026 Democrat Caulette "Twin" Jackson-Guillard beat out Republican Joseph Cataldie for the Baton Rouge Family Court's empty judge seat.
Nottoway owners sue, claim Iberville Parish president told firefighters to stand down as mansion burned BY AIDAN MCCAHILL | Staff writer May 15, 2026 The suit claims the Plaquemine Fire Department, the Iberville Parish Government, and its President Chris Daigle, engaged in "gross negligence” that resulted in the mansions complete destruction.
Louisiana man whose murder conviction was vacated released from prison after judge reduced $1M bail BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD | Staff writer May 15, 2026 A man imprisoned at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola for more than three decades, whose murder conviction and sentence were vacated last year, was released from prison Tuesday to wai…
Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion pill while lawsuit plays out BY MARK SHERMAN, GEOFF MULVIHILL and MATTHEW PERRONE | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS May 14, 2026 The Supreme Court on Thursday preserved women's access to a drug used in the most common method of abortion, rejecting lower-court restrictions while a lawsuit continues.
Accused of raping his daughter, St. Francisville man lives with her anyway. Now the DA wants new judges. BY AIDAN MCCAHILL | Staff writer May 14, 2026 West Feliciana Parish District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla has filed a motion to recuse two judges involved in an increasingly tangled case against a St. Francisville man charged with sexually assa…
A West Feliciana Parish man was arrested for allegedly raping his daughter. The two are still living together. BY AIDAN MCCAHILL | Staff writer May 13, 2026 A West Feliciana man charged with sexually assaulting his 13-year-old daughter continues to live with his children after a judge removed a “no contact” order in April — a move that West Felici…
Man sues Livingston sheriff, deputy after he was held in jail for 13 months without trial BY QUINN COFFMAN | Staff writer May 13, 2026 A man is suing Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard and a deputy, claiming that he was arrested and kept in the parish jail for over a year without a proper reason.
Former Baton Rouge CEO sues health clinic after database error branded him a child molester BY AIDAN MCCAHILL | Staff writer May 12, 2026 The former CEO of a shuttered Iberville Parish health clinic is suing the nonprofit for defamation and wrongful termination, claiming its handling of a false child sexual assault accusation de…
+2 Louisiana secrecy deals for industrial projects to be examined by judge. 'Public needs to know.' BY DAVID J. MITCHELL | Staff writer May 12, 2026 The legal battle comes with Gov. Jeff Landry's administration making extensive use of non-disclosure agreements, including with elected officials.
More people could be eligible for death penalty under law passed by Louisiana Legislature BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN | Staff writer May 12, 2026 The Louisiana Legislature on Monday made it easier for prosecutors to seek the death penalty, as the House signed off on a bill with last-minute amendments that have been cast as a response to…
+3 Feisty race for Louisiana Supreme Court pits two Republicans from northshore BY JOHN SIMERMAN | Staff writer May 11, 2026 The race for an open seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court has turned bitter as two northshore judges vie for Republican votes in a closed-party race to decide a district redrawn to a deeper red.
Louisiana could hire more prosecutors, raise salaries. Baton Rouge, St. Tammany would see more. BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN | Staff writer Updated May 8, 2026 Prosecutors in Louisiana could get pay raises and see their ranks grow as the Legislature considers bills to give more resources to district attorneys’ offices — especially in the parishes of …
+2 Louisiana Supreme Court candidate cited by watchdog over comments about opponent BY JOHN SIMERMAN | Staff writer May 8, 2026 A campaign watchdog committee under the Louisiana Supreme Court says a candidate for the high court, 22nd Judicial District Judge William Burris, violated judicial ethics by knowingly telling …
Court rules Livingston deputy did not use excessive force in keeping mother out of school BY QUINN COFFMAN | Staff writer May 7, 2026 A federal appeals court has ruled that a school resource officer at Live Oak High did not use excessive force when he removed a Livingston mother who tried to enter the campus in 2022 to retri…
Man formally charged with murder in killing of Baton Rouge three-year old Devin Page Jr. BY OLIVIA TEES | Staff writer May 6, 2026 Jayden Davis was formally charged with the first-degree murder of three-year old Devin Page Jr. in 2022. He was extradited from California on Tuesday.