Jim Beam

The state’s classified civil service employees came close during the recent legislative session of losing the job protections they currently enjoy. Legislation sponsored by Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, would have made major changes in the civil service system. Daniel E. Sullivan, executive vice president of the Louisiana Civil Service League, in a letter to […]

An artist's rendering of the new Interstate 10 bridge at Lake Charles.(Image courtesy of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development). The Louisiana Legislature faces a $587 million shortfall for the 2025-26 fiscal year and has some alternatives for closing the gap. One of those alternatives could impact some financing for the new Interstate 10 bridge here over the Calcasieu River.

Congress continues to be reluctant to reform the National Flood Insurance Program and Louisiana homeowners are pay huge premium prices.(Photo courtesy of monsenso.com). The cost of my National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) coverage has doubled over the last six years. However, it’s still affordable. Unfortunately, the same thing can’t be said for homeowners who live closer to the coast in Louisiana and in other states.

Four persons who will be involved in helping the country celebrate its 250th birthday in 2026 are, from left, state Rep. Michael Bayham of Chalmette, Russ Godwin of Lake Charles, Rosie Rios of San Francisco and Rae Gremillion of Lafayette. (Special to the American Press)

Physicians in a medical trailer will be checking the health of Southerners in four states, including Louisiana.(Photo courtesy of Harvard Health).

Swing states are playing a key role in this year's presidential election and Republicans are making big changes in some of those states.(Photo courtesy of NOLA.com).

Solar energy has been given a cool reception in Calcasieu Parish and extra time has been given to give residents more information.(Photo courtesy of ESD Solar).

Louisiana legislators are ready to tackle tax reform, a subject that has been difficult to accomplish for many years because of too many exemptions and credits.(Image courtesy of metrocreativeconnection). What can Louisiana do to reform what many consider to be one of the most complex tax systems in the country? Three state legislators and the secretary of the state Department of Revenue tried to answer that question during a one-hour webinar sponsored by the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana.

Can you believe the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is thinking about cutting daycare for medically fragile children, health care for disabled adults and programs letting the elderly live at home rather than in a nursing home?

When I joined the American Press on a full-time basis in January of 1961, the late-Truman Stacey was editor. Stacey also reviewed music and books and established a bountiful home library of free records and books as a result.