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F r i d ay, a p r i l 17, 2026
$2.00X
2026 LEGISLATURE
FLYING INTO THE FINALS
EDUCATION
Parental leave for educators advances
Late heroics lift LSU to spot in NCAA championship
Bill grants six weeks of paid time off for school workers BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer
Louisiana teachers and other public school employees would get six weeks of paid parental leave under a bill advancing through the state Legislature that aims to make it easier for educators to take time to care for their new children. Senate Bill 157, known as the Parental Leave for Educators Act, cleared the Senate education committee Wednesday and would provide school employees with full pay for six weeks after they give birth to, adopt or foster a child. Teachers currently must use sick days to spend time with their new children or request partially paid extended leave. Proponents of the bill, including the state teachers union and public health
ä See LEAVE, page 7A
Budget bills pass in House Funding for vouchers, judges, prisons increased
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
LSU gymnast Kailin Chio leaps through the air during her floor routine at the NCAA gymnastics semifinals on Thursday at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. LSU’s strong performance on the floor — anchored by Amari Drayton, Chio and Kaliya Lincoln — pushed the Tigers past Georgia and into Saturday’s finals. ä COMPLETE COVERAGE IN SPORTS, 1C.
BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer
A package of budget bills that would give more money to state prisons, double funding for the school voucher program known as LA GATOR and renew a pay raise given to judges last year passed the Louisiana House on Thursday. The legislation also proposes increasing
ä See BUDGET, page 7A
Cassidy leads rivals in fundraising, spending on advertising BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer
President Donald Trump’s endorsement of U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow has yet to help her close the money gap with the man she is trying to unseat, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy. Fundraising figures released this week in Louisiana’s hotly contested Senate Republican primary show that Cassidy and a super PAC supporting him raised more mon-
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ELECTION 2026
guarantee him a first or sec$17.4 million on advertising, ond place finish in the May 16 compared to only $5 million U.S. SENATE primary and a spot in the June for Letlow and $680,000 for 27 party runoff. Independent Fleming, according to AdImey than Letlow or state Treasurer polls have shown the three pact, a media tracking firm in John Fleming, the other major candidates bunched closely Virginia. Republican candidate, during the together. Fleming has remained comIndependent polls also have Cassidy first three months of 2026. petitive in polls even though Fleming Letlow As of April 1, Cassidy also had shown Cassidy trailing both he is barely raising any money millions of dollars more in the Letlow and Fleming in head-to- ably than favorably. and has spent much less on adverbank than either Letlow or Flem- head matchups, an unenviable poCassidy has yet to break clear of tising. The winner of the Republican ing, the figures showed. sition for a two-term incumbent. his two opponents, even though he What’s not clear is whether Cassidy is weighed down by hav- and his supporters have bombardä See CASSIDY, page 6A Cassidy’s money advantage will ing more voters view him unfavor- ed the airwaves. They have spent
Business ......................3B Commentary ................7B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................8D Deaths .........................4B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....5D-7D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
101ST yEAR, NO. 291