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Space firm eyeing La. location
Massive Vermilion land deal fuels rumors BY ADAM DAIGLE and STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writers
A space exploration company is negotiating to buy a large amount of coastal land in southwest Louisiana, a state lawmaker confirmed Thursday. State Sen. Bob Hensgens, R-Ab-
beville, said he knows of two companies — he did not reveal if it is Elon Musk-owned SpaceX or Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin — that have reached out to landowners in coastal Vermilion and Cameron parishes about a possible acquisition. “I know both companies are trying to find property in southwest Louisiana,” Hensgens said. “I know
empting some records from public disclosure. A legislative committee on Monday will take up the final piece of from people in the parishes that the the aerospace incentive package. companies have made outreach in The bill, by Rep. Jack McFarland, Rthe area.” Jonesboro, would shield aerospace The confirmation comes ahead of a companies from lawsuits related hearing next week on the final piece to harm or damages their rockets of legislation in an incentive pack- cause to people and properties. Several legislators have signed age designed to attract aerospace companies to Louisiana. The bills nondisclosure agreements at the would offer tax incentives while ä See SPACE, page 4A limiting certain lawsuits and ex-
Panel calls for big FEMA changes
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LAFAYETTE PARISH
Ex-mayor pleads not guilty to St. Martin charges Guillory accused of removal of spoil bank without permission
BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer
Water surrounds houses with tarps in the aftermath of Hurricane Delta in southwest Louisiana in 2020.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By BILL FEIG
Task force recommendations include privatizing flood insurance BY MARK BALLARD
money to the states in the form of grants rather than reimbursements. “Federal assistance should only be reWASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s served for truly significant events that task force to recommend changes to exceed state, local, tribal, territorial FEMA approved a report Thursday that capacity and capability,” said Michael would not dismantle the disaster response Whatley, a member of the President’s agency — as some in the administration Council to Assess the Federal Emergency wanted — but would transfer many cur- Management Agency and former chair of rent federal tasks to the states, priva- the Republican National Committee. The council was charged to look deeply tize flood insurance and release federal
Staff writer
into how FEMA operates and make recommendations to Trump for improvements. In its draft report, forwarded to Trump without objection, recommendations include establishing a common criteria to evaluate needs in advance rather than to assess damage after the storm, he said. Grants for construction on things like
ä See FEMA, page 5A
Former Lafayette Parish MayorPresident Josh Guillory appeared in a St. Martin Parish courtroom Thursday morning, where he entered a plea of not guilty to four felony malfeasance charges stemming from a project when he was in ofGuillory fice. Guillory was indicted by a St. Martin Parish grand jury in February on charges related to his administration’s 2022 removal of a spoil bank on the Vermilion River in St. Martin Parish without permits or permission from officials in the other parish. The indictment came a week after the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Lafayette said it would not pursue charges against Guillory or anyone in his
ä See PLEADS, page 5A
Charity game for lawmakers a flashpoint in redistricting fight Black Democrats boycott event to show displeasure for map plan
BY TYLER BRIDGES
ä Senate expected to reveal
Democrats stayed away, to register their displeasure with the escalating battle over redistricting that could lead Republicans to elimiBlack Democrats in the House had been practicing for weeks to ate that is played for charity. nate one or both majority-Black prepare for the annual basketball But when legislators played the congressional seats in Louisiana. game between the House and Sen- game Wednesday night, Black The Democrats’ move in turn
Staff writer
WEATHER HIGH 78 LOW 71 PAGE 16C
map next week. PAGE 3A
2026 LEGISLATURE
Democrats. The developments this week illustrate how the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last week to throw out Louisiana’s congressional map angered many House Republicans could inflame and further polarize — all of whom are White — and racial and partisan politics in the sparked talk of a possible retaliä See FIGHT, page 3A ation by them against the Black
Business ......................6A Commentary ................3B Nation-World................2A Classified ..................10C Living............................5C Opinion ........................2B Comics-Puzzles .....7C-9C Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C
101ST yEAR, NO. 312