By: Rebekah Allen and Chad Calder In the wake of the surprise floods of Aug. 5, Gov. John Bel Edwards has been on the front lines alongside city leaders, trying to reassure frightened residents that the region’s drainage infrastructure can sustain a heavy rain event or even a hurricane. But the ongoing uproar about the city’s drainage system has two …

Baton Rouge- Republican lawmakers in the House Appropriations Committee successfully amended and passed HB 1, the state’s spending plan, on a 17-5 party-line vote. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry (R- Metairie) provided a package of amendments that transformed the bill to a “standstill” budget, freezing state spending for next year at the current year’s level, with the exception of some …