RORY McILROY WINS MASTERS TO COMPLETE CAREER GRAND SLAM 1C
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M o n d ay, a p r i l 14, 2025
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2025 LEGISLATURE
DOTD ‘reform’ among legislative priorities
Rethinking of defeated amendments also on table BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
ALL THAT JAZZ
ABOVE: The Secret Six Jazz Band has festgoers on their feet at the French Market Traditional Jazz Stage during the last day of the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans on Sunday. The free four-day festival featured music and entertainment on 33 stages and special event locations, food and a good time. BELOW LEFT: People swing to the music of the New Orleans Jazz Vipers at the Dutch Alley Performance Pavilion on Sunday. BELOW RIGHT: Loyola student Renaissa Avari performs on the Loyola University Esplanade in the Shade Stage during the last day of the festival. STAFF PHOTOS By SCOTT THRELKELD
When the Louisiana Legislature gathers Monday in the State Capitol, it will begin debate on contentious issues ranging from improving roads and bridges to embracing the “Make America Healthy Again” movement to reducing the cost of car insurance. State lawmakers are also trying to find a way to revive key pieces of a recently failed constitutional amendment that was aimed at rewriting an entire section of the state constitution governing state finances. And they will have to craft a state budget amid unpredictable federal spending cuts and the specter of potential slashes to Medicaid. Here are what state leaders say are among their top Landry priorities. Gov. Jeff Landry and legislative leaders in both the House and Senate are throwing their support behind an effort to restructure the Department of Transportation and Development. “We’re hoping to see projects done faster — still the same quality work, still all the safety measures in place,” said Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie. Henry emphasized the effort is not centered on firing DOTD employees but is instead focused on speeding up project timelines and
ä See PRIORITIES, page 5A
Trump team projects calm, confidence after tariff moves rattled markets BY BILL BARROW | Associated Press ATLANTA — Trump administration officials were out in force across the television networks Sunday defending President Donald Trump’s economic policies after another week of reeling markets that saw the Republican administration reverse course on some of its steepest tariffs. Trump, meanwhile, said on his social media platTrump form that there ultimately will be no exemptions for his sweeping tariff agenda, disputing characterizations that he has granted tariff exceptions for
ä See TARIFFS, page 4A
WEATHER HIGH 82 LOW 61 PAGE 6B
La. coastal damage cases mount against oil industry fact that it sets a precedent for the 40 Landmark verdict earlier other lawsuits that attorney John Carmouche has filed on behalf of coastal this month held parishes, all seeking damages from oil to restore areas along Louicompany responsible companies siana’s eroding coastline.
BY ALEX LUBBEN | Staff writer
“This is one of the largest verdicts ever won by a local government for A landmark verdict holding the oil environmental damage — not only in industry responsible for Louisiana the United States, but globally,” said coastal damage was more than a de- Michael Gerrard, the founder of the cade in the making. It may only be the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University in beginning of a much bigger New York. “In addition to its fight. effect on the numerous other After a monthlong trial in similar lawsuits pending in Plaquemines Parish that endLouisiana, it may inspire simed earlier this month, a jury found Chevron liable for $745 ilar lawsuits in this country million in damages, which, by and around the world.” law, must be used to restore “It’s not the end of anycoastal wetlands. The comthing,” noted Mark Davis, Carmouche director of the Tulane Center pany immediately promised to appeal, a stance that Chevron has on Environmental Law. “It’s almost inemphasized in the days since the trial evitable that the appeals process will ended. commence. And I think settlement Perhaps more important than the ä See CASES, page 6A outcome of this case, however, is the
Bills push building of fortified roofs Tax credit, grant program among proposed legislation
BY SAM KARLIN | Staff writer Louisiana lawmakers are proposing a host of measures to help incentivize — and possibly require — the building of fortified roofs, which are widely seen as one solution to the spiraling insurance premiums saddling homeowners. The Legislature will consider at least six bills directly addressing fortified roofs during the session that begins Monday. If successful, proponents of the changes hope Louisiana can rapidly accelerate the pace at which new, stronger roofs are built in the state. As a result, they hope insurance companies will offer discounted premiums to homeowners in south Louisiana who have been hammered with soaring costs that have thrown the state into an insurance crisis. Some state officials even believe more insurers will be willing to write policies in storm-prone coastal Louisiana if a critical mass of homes are better equipped to withstand hurricanes. One bill would set up a dedicated funding stream for a state grant program to give
Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................3B Nation-World................2A Comics-Puzzles .....3D-6D Living............................1D Opinion ........................4B Commentary ................5B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C
ä See ROOFS, page 4A
12TH yEAR, NO. 245