John Bel Edwards

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Republicans Score Big Victory in Louisiana

Conservative Jeff Landry will succeed Democrat John Bel Edwards as governor

(Newser) - 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. The win is a major victory for the GOP as they reclaim the governor's mansion for the first time in eight years, per...

Governor Slams 'Absurd' Reason for Rebuffing Death-Row Inmates

Louisiana's John Bel Edwards asks pardons board to commute death sentences for 56 prisoners

(Newser) - A mass petition from 56 Louisiana inmates seeking commutations from their death sentences has seemingly made its way to Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, who this week sent a letter to the state's Board of Pardons to ask for movement on this front. Per the Louisiana Radio Network , the...

'Potentially Catastrophic' Laura Barrels Toward 2 States
National Hurricane Center
Has a Dire Warning
UPDATED

National Hurricane Center Has a Dire Warning

It says the storm surge from Hurricane Laura will be 'unsurvivable'

(Newser) - Hurricane Laura is now a Category 4 storm, and it's headed right toward Texas and Louisiana. And the warning that the National Hurricane Center has for some who live in those states is a dire one. It tweeted Wednesday: "Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will...

Dems Hand Trump a Loss in Louisiana
Dems Hand Trump
a Loss in Louisiana

Dems Hand Trump a Loss in Louisiana

John Bel Edwards narrowly re-elected governor over candidate heavily backed by Trump

(Newser) - Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has stunned Republicans again, narrowly winning a second term Saturday as the Deep South’s only Democratic governor and handing President Trump another gubernatorial loss. In the heart of Trump country, the AP reports that the moderate Edwards cobbled together enough cross-party support with a...

Democratic Governor Signs Louisiana Abortion Legislation

(Newser) - Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, signed the state's new legislation restricting abortion into law Thursday. The measure prohibits abortion when a fetal heartbeat is detected, as early as six weeks of pregnancy, and allows no exceptions, per the AP . The state's three clinics that perform abortions...

Tornadoes Destroy Homes, Injure Dozens in New Orleans

Louisiana declares state of emergency

(Newser) - Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency in Louisiana on Tuesday after a severe storm moved across the state's southeast corner, injuring about 40 people. Edwards said he was heartbroken to see Louisiana families suffering again, the AP reports. He said seven parishes were hit by tornadoes...

More Than 20K Rescued From Louisiana Floods

Hundreds had to abandon cars on I-12

(Newser) - More than 20,000 people were rescued from their homes as rivers swollen from days of heavy rain flooded their banks and wreaked havoc across southern Louisiana, leaving thousands homeless , the AP reports. At least 10,000 people were in shelters Sunday, according to Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. In...

Video: Guy Saves Woman, Dog From Sinking Car

A bright spot amid 'historic' flooding in Louisiana; 2K people have been rescued

(Newser) - Three people are dead in Louisiana flooding described by the state's governor as "historic," and that number would easily have been four but for the heroic actions of three men aboard a boat. As WAFB reports, the men came upon a car sinking in the floodwaters Saturday,...

Louisiana Cops Now Covered by Hate Crime Law

'Blue Lives Matter' law is nation's first

(Newser) - Targeting a police officer, firefighter, or EMT in Louisiana is now considered a hate crime. On Thursday Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a "Blue Lives Matter" bill that made the state the first to add those professions to race, ethnicity, religion, and other areas traditionally covered by hate crime...

Onetime Shoo-in Loses Runoff to Succeed Jindal

Dogged by old scandal, David Vitter loses to newcomer, will retire

(Newser) - Democrat John Bel Edwards won the runoff election for Louisiana governor Saturday, defeating the once-heavy favorite, Republican David Vitter, and handing the Democrats their first statewide victory since 2008. Edwards, a state lawmaker, will take over the office from term-limited Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal in January. Voters' rejection of Vitter...

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