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W e d n e s d ay, a p r i l 29, 2026
Nuclear fabrication operation moving to La.
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Property adjudication process paused Lawsuit over denied application draws concerns BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer
Lafayette Parish Mayor-President Monique Boulet’s administration said it has placed a pause on the processing of adjudication applications. The pause allows time to review the current application process following an April 7 City Council meeting, said Christina Dayries, Boulet’s chief of staff. Specifically, it relates to the denial of a Lafayette man’s adjudication application. Harold Bernard filed a lawsuit against the council on April 21, claiming the city didn’t follow its own rules and citing what he called favoritism toward another applicant. “The temporary pause is to allow our staff time to finalize an ongoing review process,” Dayries wrote. “We have engaged consultants to help address several factors including recent changes in State law related to adjudication, internal staffing
ä See PROPERTY, page 6A PHOTO PROVIDED By TURNER INDUSTRIES
Turner Industries says it will produce piping and equipment for older nuclear power plants that are being upgraded or expanded at its 95-acre New Iberia facility as well as building components for small modular reactors.
BR-based Turner Industries adding 1,000 jobs at its facilities in New Iberia and Port Allen “Turner Industries has a 65-year legacy of supporting the energy sector, and today we are leaning into the future of American energy independence.”
BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer
Turner Industries, the Baton Rouge-based industrial contractor, will relocate its nuclear fabrication business, including the jobs and equipment needed to build the “guts” of nuclear power plants, from Texas to two of its Louisiana locations. The move will involve expanding Turner’s fabrication yards in Port Allen and New Iberia and will bring 1,000 permanent jobs with an average salary of $77,000. It underscores how companies are responding to Gov. Jeff Landry’s new strategy to make Louisiana a major player in nuclear energy. Turner Industries CEO Stephen Toups made the announcement on Tuesday at a nuclear power summit that Landry convened at The Windsor Court hotel in New Orleans. More than 200 industry leaders, investors
STEPHEN TOUPS, Turner Industries CEO
2026 LEGISLATURE
House panel rejects safe gun storage law BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN
and regulatory executives gathered to discuss the state’s nuclear strategy and to promote development opportunities in the state. “Turner Industries has been a cornerstone of our state’s industrial strength for decades,” Landry said in a prepared statement following the announcement. “This expansion puts Louisiana workers at the center of building the next generation of nuclear power.” Landry unveiled his nuclear energy strategy at a global energy conference last month in Houston. The
initiative seeks to position Louisiana at the center of the country’s nuclear supply chain and aligns with President Donald Trump’s focus on nuclear energy. The Trump administration has invested billions in nuclear energy and pushed to speed up the regulatory approval process for new and expanded nuclear power plants. Among those at the summit Tuesday was U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair Ho K. Nieh, who was appointed by Trump in January
ä See NUCLEAR, page 5A
Staff writer
A Louisiana House panel on Tuesday rejected a Republican-sponsored bill that would have allowed prosecutors to charge adults who gave children access to loaded guns if a gun was then used to kill, wound or make public threats. It marks the second time this year that a legislative proposal centered around safe gun storage has failed in Louisiana, which has one of the highest rates of gun-related child deaths in the country. Under House Bill 586 by state Rep. Vincent Cox, R-Gretna, prosecutors could have pressed charges only in cases involving children under 16.
ä See GUN, page 6A
Julia Letlow overcomes tragedy, earns Trump’s backing Member of Congress well-liked in Washington BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer
President Donald Trump was playing host at the Congressional Ball at the White House one evening in December. But before the festivities began, Trump had a special announcement: U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow had just gotten engaged with her beau, Baton Rouge lawyer/lobbyist Kevin Ainsworth. “Julia, where are you? Come on up,” Trump called out.
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of my entire life … in the entire United States of America!” she exclaimed haltingly. U.S. SENATE Letlow cruised to victory without having to break a sweat in her three elections to the House. She is well-liked in Washington, winning a seat on Editor’s note: This story is the third in the influential House Appropriations Committee a series of profiles of major candidates in and securing endorsements from Trump, Gov. the U.S. Senate race. Jeff Landry, Attorney General Liz Murrill and other Republicans as she tries to unseat U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a fellow Republican. She reached the stage. But Letlow has seemed uncomfortable at “Do you want to say something?” he asked. Letlow shook her head, clearly caught off guard times in the spotlight that comes with this big test. She has rejected televised debates and by Trump’s invitation. “Yeah, go ahead,” Trump encouraged her, grin- mostly avoided the press — and the scrutiny that ning. ä See LETLOW, page 4A “Thank you so much … to the best president …
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U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow
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