Louisiana faces deadly shootings, legal battles, and storms right now—deep South chaos. Known for Cajun culture, oil, and Mardi Gras.
A severe Arctic cold wave has swept across the eastern US, causing record low temperatures, widespread power outages, and over 110 deaths. Major cities like New York and Nashville face extreme conditions, with ongoing recovery efforts and warnings of dangerous weather into early February.
Since 2020, at least 24 ICE employees and contractors have been charged with crimes including sexual abuse, corruption, and misconduct. Most cases occurred before recent funding boosts, but experts warn that increased staffing and authority may lead to more abuses across the country.
The Brooklyn Diocese will establish a fund to settle over 1,100 sexual abuse lawsuits, many dating back to the 1950s. The diocese aims to resolve claims without court trials, using mediators and setting aside hundreds of millions of dollars, funded through asset sales, not parish donations.
Strong storms caused damage in Louisiana, overturning vehicles and damaging infrastructure. The storm system is moving into Georgia and Florida. Meanwhile, the Northeast begins to thaw after a prolonged cold spell, and California faces heavy snow and rain. No fatalities reported.
Michael Lawrence Tyler, known as a rapper from the 1990s, pleaded guilty to third-degree rape in Louisiana. He faces up to 25 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing in June. Tyler has a history of legal issues, including a 2003 sexual battery conviction.
Tennessee's Senate passes a bill requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in schools, joining Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas in efforts to incorporate religious symbols into public education. Legal challenges persist, with courts ruling against such mandates, raising constitutional questions about separation of church and state.
Recent legal rulings highlight ongoing disputes over immigration enforcement and due process. A federal judge found that authorities violated protections for DACA recipient Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez, who was deported despite active status. Multiple cases involve allegations of rights violations against journalists targeted for reporting critically on ICE.
Louisiana's $300 million crawfish industry struggles with labor shortages due to delays in guest worker visas, impacting prices and production. Industry leaders blame the Trump administration for not authorizing enough foreign workers in time, highlighting broader immigration issues affecting seasonal industries.
Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist facing deportation, requests a federal judge to recuse himself due to potential conflicts of interest linked to his previous work at the Justice Department. The case highlights ongoing legal battles over immigration and political activism.
A vehicle struck multiple pedestrians during a Lao New Year parade in Louisiana, injuring at least 15 people. The driver, who appeared impaired, was arrested. The incident is not believed to be intentional. Several victims were airlifted to hospital, and the event was canceled for the day.
A Louisiana judge declined to block telehealth prescriptions for mifepristone, citing ongoing FDA reviews. The case highlights tensions between state bans and federal regulations, with legal challenges and political implications ongoing as anti-abortion groups push for restrictions.
Recent school shootings in Oklahoma and Turkey have resulted in injuries and fatalities. In Oklahoma, a gunman targeted Pauls Valley High School, where Principal Kirk Moore disarmed him despite being shot in the leg. In Turkey, a 19-year-old used a shotgun in Siverek, killing himself after wounding multiple students and staff. Authorities are investigating motives and ongoing security measures.
Marie-Thérèse Ross, an 86-year-old French woman detained in Louisiana after overstaying her visa, has returned to France. Her case has drawn diplomatic attention, with France criticizing US immigration methods and calling for her release. She was held in Louisiana with health concerns amid ongoing US immigration enforcement.
The Supreme Court has unanimously approved oil companies' move to federal court after a Louisiana jury ordered Chevron to pay over $740 million for coastal damage. The case involves decades of alleged environmental violations by Chevron and Texaco, with implications for future climate litigation and state-federal jurisdiction disputes. Today’s decision shifts the legal battleground.
Marie-Thérèse Ross has been returned to France after being detained in US immigration custody for over two weeks. Her case involves allegations of estate interference by her stepson, a US federal employee, and has raised concerns about US immigration practices. Ross's return follows French government criticism of US methods.
At least 10 people, including children aged 1 to 14, have been shot in Shreveport during a series of domestic-related incidents. The suspect was shot and killed by police after a carjacking and a chase across three locations. The event is being investigated as possibly the worst tragedy in recent city history. Today’s date is Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:05:13 +0100.
On Sunday morning, Shreveport, Louisiana, has experienced a mass shooting where eight children aged 3 to 11 have been killed by Shamar Elkins, who also shot two women and died after a police chase. The attack is the deadliest US mass shooting in over two years and is classified as a domestic incident amid Elkins' separation from his wife.
Shamar Elkins has been identified as the shooter who has killed eight children and wounded two women during a rampage in Shreveport, Louisiana. The incident follows a dispute with his wife and is now under investigation. Elkins was shot dead by police after a police chase. The victims include seven of his children and one cousin.
A gunman has killed eight children and wounded two women in two Shreveport homes before being killed by police. Investigators are pursuing suspected domestic violence links and a federal probe into gun possession and false statements, with family and community members calling for accountability as officials vow to support survivors.
The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Texas law allowing the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. The ruling reverses a lower court decision, citing no violation of the First Amendment, and sets the stage for a potential Supreme Court review. Critics oppose the law, arguing it breaches separation of church and state.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Texas’ Ten Commandments display in public schools, ruling it does not violate students’ or parents’ rights. The decision reinforces similar laws in Louisiana and Alabama and comes as debates over religion in classrooms intensify, with several states proposing or expanding displays and Bible-related curricula.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has signed legislation abolishing the Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court, consolidating civil and criminal clerks into a single office. Supporters say the move improves efficiency and reduces costs; opponents call it an overreach that could disenfranchise voters in a predominantly Black parish. Calvin Duncan, who was exonerated after decades in prison, had been elected to the post and had planned to take office this month.
A man from North Carolina has been arrested after authorities say he planned a mass shooting at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. He was found with a handgun and 200 rounds of ammunition in Florida. The suspect had made threats to harm Black people and was headed to Louisiana. He will face charges in Louisiana after his arrest in Destin, Florida.
The Supreme Court has issued a closely watched ruling on Louisiana's district map, delivering a 6-3 decision that preserves some protections under the Voting Rights Act while labeling the map an unconstitutional gerrymander. The ruling signals tensions over how race can be used in redistricting and may influence political maps ahead of upcoming elections.
A mass shooting at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge has left 17-year-old Martha Odom dead and five others wounded. Police have charged a 17-year-old suspect with murder and related counts; additional arrests are noted as investigations continue.
Floyd William Parrott has died in a Nebraska jail while awaiting extradition to Texas for the 1990 murders of Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson. Texas prosecutors say they will continue pursuing related cold-case leads linked to Parrott, even as authorities investigate the circumstances of his death. The case has reopened decades of pain for the victims’ families and for investigators who credit renewed DNA testing and new tips with finally moving toward accountability.
The Supreme Court has kept the core protections of the Voting Rights Act intact while ruling that Louisiana’s map-drawing to favor a Black-majority district was unconstitutional, signaling a shift in how race can be used in redistricting and prompting immediate map reviews in several states.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Louisiana’s congressional map constitutes an illegal racial gerrymander, prompting state officials to suspend or delay House primaries. Early voting is starting as absentee ballots have already been mailed, with a path forward being developed with lawmakers and the Secretary of State.
State leaders are moving to redraw U.S. House maps after a Supreme Court ruling, with Alabama, Tennessee and other states pursuing new lines to gain or defend seats ahead of the midterms.
A unanimous 5th Circuit ruling has blocked mail distribution of mifepristone, requiring in-person dispensing at clinics. The decision, which has immediate effect and is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court, challenges FDA regulations as a breach of state bans and raises questions about access to medication abortion nationwide.
Primary results in Indiana show multiple Trump-endorsed challengers defeating incumbents who opposed his redistricting plan, signaling enduring influence within the Republican Party even as tensions rise ahead of the midterms.