Faimon Roberts

1 month ago | nola.com | Faimon Roberts

What will lawmakers do with their newfound cash? When last week's Revenue Estimating Conference announced that Louisiana's coffers in them than previously expected, you could imagine many in the Capitol rubbing their hands together in anticipation. The windfall will give the Legislature another $130 million for this fiscal year and $139 million more for next. “We’ll take anything we can get,” said Sen. Glen Womack, R-Harrisonburg, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

1 month ago | theadvocate.com | Faimon Roberts

There is a picture, long lost now, that used to reside on former Advocate editor Greg Garland's desk. The photo, taken during the waning days of Garland's time covering Baton Rouge city government, showed then-East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden awaiting the start of an on-camera TV interview in the outer part of his office. In the picture, Holden, who died Wednesday at 72, is glaring balefully through the glass at someone outside the frame.

1 month ago | nola.com | Faimon Roberts

You could perhaps be forgiven for missing the May 3 election. For much of Louisiana, it was just another Saturday. There were no controversial constitutional amendments, no felons seeking public office, no national offices up for grabs. Fewer than half of Louisiana parishes had anything on the ballot. The biggest municipal candidate races were for mayor in Lake Charles and for a West Bank parish council seat in Jefferson Parish.

1 month ago | nola.com | Faimon Roberts

NATCHITOCHES — A dorm lounge at Northwestern State University is a strange place to see the future. But it was there, last month, that I got a glimpse of what coming years portend. And I am happy to report that when it comes to journalism, the future looks strong. My colleague James Finn and I were in Natchitoches to speak to former Advocate | The Times-Picayune reporter Jim Mustian's investigative reporting class.

1 month ago | nola.com | Faimon Roberts

Saturday night's special election for the Jefferson Parish Council District 1 seat was a win for Tim Kerner, Jr.Kerner, the 34-year old mayor of Jean Lafitte and scion of a lower Jefferson political dynasty, will move from his municipal job to a powerful seat on the Parish Council, where he will represent a West Bank district that includes Gretna, parts of Marrero, Lafitte and Grand Isle.