Latest news with #BricolageAcademy
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Louisiana election results: May 3, 2025
Voters leave the Bricolage Academy gym after casting their ballots in New Orleans, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Matthew Perschall for Louisiana Illuminator) A lone legislative race and a smattering of local tax referendums around the state were put before Louisiana voters Saturday, when a sparse ballot had to compete with the usual spring schedule of festivals and events throughout the Bayou State In East Baton Rouge Parish, a special election was held to fill the vacancy in Louisiana House District 67. The position became open when Larry Selders won a February election for the state Senate seat vacated when Cleo Fields won the 6th Congressional District race last year. One notable item on Saturday's ballot was the Lake Charles mayoral race, with Republican incumbent Nic Hunter losing to independent challenger Marshall Simien Jr. Other highlights from Saturday's results included a rejected property tax referendum for the East Baton Rouge Parish district attorney's office. DA Hillar Moore had said the new millage was needed to bring his agency up to par in staffing and compensation with comparably large prosecutorial districts in Orleans and Jefferson parishes. The 4-mill levy was projected to raise $24 million annually, with Moore projecting there would be enough revenue generated for his office to return millions to the parish government general fund. With the new tax failing, resources for the district attorney will continue to come from parish government. In New Orleans, voters narrowly approved a property tax for the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, which has the primary task of operating the city jail. The final vote tally saw the measure prevail by a margin of two votes out of more than 25,000 ballots cast. The results still have to be verified by the Secretary of State. Although the sheriff's tax has already been in place for years, opponents leaned into a 'no new taxes' message in their campaign against the 2.46-mill, 10-year collection. The tax is expected to generate nearly $14 million in revenue for the sheriff's office. St. Tammany Parish voters approved a bond sale for its public school system with a ceiling of $325 million. The debt is not expected to result in an increase to existing property millages dedicated to the school district. A property tax in Livingston Parish public schools was renewed for another 10 years. The 7 mills will generate nearly $5 million a year for the district. Rapides Parish voters also renewed two property taxes for their public school system, totaling 9.58 mills combined, for the next 10 years. They're forecast to generate more than $10 million annually. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Associated Press
26-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Building Wealth Young, New Orleans Students Secure Scholarships and First Investment Accounts at 2025 Young Financial Leaders Expo
The 2025 Young Financial Leaders Expo in New Orleans focused on financial literacy, offering students from eleven local schools hands-on experience and cash prizes. The event emphasized wealth-building and career opportunities in finance, awarding over $2,500 and IRAs to participants. New Orleans, LA, United States, March 26, 2025 -- The 2025 Young Financial Leaders (YFL) Expo, hosted by Wall Street Connection at Southern University at New Orleans, concluded with a powerful message: financial literacy and wealth-building are not just concepts but life-changing opportunities for students in New Orleans. The event, which attracted interest from eleven local New Orleans schools (up from four schools in 2024), brought together aspiring young professionals, educators, and industry leaders and awarded over $2,500 in cash prizes, providing young students with their first individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Through the success of this event, Wall Street Connection doubled down on its unique mission to address financial literacy gaps in New Orleans by creating spaces for youth to gain hands-on experience relevant to college preparation and pursuing a gainful career in financial services & advisory. 'Having built my career in investment banking and private equity, I've gained financial stability and opportunities I never imagined growing up in New Orleans,' said Chris West, President & Director of Wall Street Connection. 'Now, it's my mission to ensure students in our community have early exposure to these life-changing career paths.' The highlight of the day was the Edward F. Frank Award presented by JP West (Insurance, Risk Management, and Surety), a $1,000 first-place scholarship, which was awarded to Team Apple (McDonogh 35). Team Lululemon (McDonogh 35) secured second place, earning a $500 scholarship provided by NewCorp. Taking home third place, Team Amazon (Bricolage Academy) earned $250. Additionally, a special sponsorship from NewCorp ensured that all student participants received real money to invest through their first Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)—an initiative designed to instill long-term financial planning habits from an early age. Bricolage Academy Educator Ms. Burgess said, 'I'm incredibly proud of our students and how they leveraged our Maker Studio at Bricolage Academy to prepare for the YFL Expo. This space is designed to go beyond basic arts and crafts—it equips students to innovate, problem-solve, and build real-world skills that can impact their futures. This highlights the power of hands-on, experiential learning.' 'At Wall Street Connection, we're committed to closing the financial literacy gap in New Orleans,' said Curtis Johnson, Treasurer & Director of Wall Street Connection. 'Financial literacy alone isn't enough. True wealth building requires financial knowledge paired with stable and strong income sources. Through the YFL Expo, we're giving students the tools to understand and leverage both.' Wall Street Connection extends a heartfelt thank you to Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) and Dr. Igwe Udeh for providing an exceptional venue and supporting this initiative. Additionally, Wall Street Connection is deeply grateful for this year's sponsors - JP West (Insurance, Risk Management, and Surety), NewCorp, Inc., Golden Web Capital, The Container Companies, Sean Blondell Law Firm, Blaylock Van Investment Bank, Don A. Rouzan & Associates, Faith Works, Omni Wall Street Advantage, and New Orleans City Councilmember Lesli Harris. Lastly, Wall Street Connections extends thanks to the judges who gave their time to engage with students; they represented a number of businesses including Ragsdale Holdings, LongueVue Capital, New Orleans BlackChamber of Commerce, Maroon Venture Fund, Detangled, NewCorp, Inc, Omni WallStreet Advantage, and University of New Orleans. 'I'm committed to giving back to New Orleans because this city shaped who I am,' West added. 'Providing young people with the resources and mentorship I wished for at their age isn't just an opportunity—it's a responsibility I'm honored to fulfill.' For more information about Wall Street Connection and future events, please visit or follow us on Instagram at @WallStConnection. Contact Info: If there are any errors, inconsistencies, or queries arising from the content contained within this press release that require attention or if you need assistance with a press release takedown, we kindly request that you inform us immediately by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our reliable team will be available to promptly respond within 8 hours, taking proactive measures to rectify any identified issues or providing guidance on the removal process. Ensuring accurate and dependable information is our top priority.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana's juvenile crime amendment draws bipartisan opposition, district attorney support
Voters leave the Bricolage Academy gym after casting their ballots in New Orleans, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Matthew Perschall for Louisiana Illuminator) It's not everyday that conservative activist Chris Alexander finds himself on the same side of a political fight as the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana. But a ballot measure that could make it easier to send minors to adult prisons has brought him together with many liberal advocates. Alexander runs the Louisiana Citizen Advocacy Group and produces a podcast called 'State of Freedom.' He's known for his fights against vaccine mandates and denying the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. More recently, however, he has been campaigning against Constitutional Amendment 3 on the March 29 ballot. The proposal would give the Louisiana Legislature more authority to expand the list of crimes for which a person under 17 could be sent to an adult prison. Persons age 14-16 can already be treated as adults in the criminal justice system when accused of one of 16 serious offenses, including murder, rape and armed robbery. If Amendment 3 passes, lawmakers would have the authority to add other felonies to that list without voters' permission. 'It's going to do nothing to reduce crime in Louisiana. Nothing,' Alexander said in an interview last week. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A menagerie of groups who oppose Amendment 3 repeated that sentiment ahead of early voting, which started Saturday. They range from the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, one of the state's largest unions, to the Leaders for a Better Louisiana, made up of business leaders. Among the most surprising opponents are eight retired Louisiana juvenile justice and prison officials, including two former heads of the state juvenile justice system, a previous director of probation and parole services, and a retired adult prison warden. They released a statement this week encouraging people to vote against Amendment 3. 'The professionals in corrections that worked in this field do not think this is a good idea,' said Mary Livers, former deputy secretary of juvenile justice under Gov. Bobby Jindal. 'We do not want to send more kids to adult prisons. That may get people elected but it's not good policy.' But Gov. Jeff Landry, the most powerful elected official in the state, is personally backing the amendment. He won his 2024 campaign by promising to bring a tough-on-crime approach back to Louisiana and capitalized on a crime spike during the COVID-19 pandemic to increase funding for law enforcement and lengthen prison sentences. Last week in Terrebonne Parish, the governor encouraged people at a business group luncheon to vote in favor of Amendment 3, characterizing it as another step toward increasing public safety. '[R]ight now on the ballot, there are four amendments, and one of those amendments is Amendment 3 that is going to further aid us,' he said. But opponents argue there is no evidence that putting younger teenagers in adult prisons makes communities safer as Landry claims. The amendment opponents also point to scientific studies that show a person's brain doesn't fully develop until their mid-20s, meaning younger people who commit crimes have far more capacity for rehabilitation. Teenagers' lack of brain development also explains why they exhibit poor judgment and commit offenses they might not do once they reach adulthood. The U.S. Supreme Court has found this brain science so convincing, they ruled in multiple cases to limit criminal sentences for minors. The justices abolished the death penalty and life sentences for all crimes except murder for defendants in their adolescence. Still, Amendment 3 has one powerful group of supporters: The Louisiana District Attorneys Association has endorsed the proposal, executive director Zach Daniels said. Current restrictions in the Louisiana Constitution make it difficult for state lawmakers to respond to modern public safety concerns, Daniels said. He considers the list of crimes that allow someone under 17 to be transferred into adult outdated, and said lawmakers need to be able to revise it without having to go through a statewide vote each time. 'None of that should have been in the constitution to begin with,' Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto, who also supports the amendment, said in an interview. Amendment supporters point to carjacking as an example of an offense that should be added to the list of crimes. State Rep. Debbie Villio, a Republican who sponsored the legislation to get Amendment 3 on the ballot, said in January that she would likely file a bill to expand the types of carjackings that could land a younger teen in adult prison if voters approve the measure. Minors as young as 15 can already go to adult prison for carjacking with a weapon under the state's armed robbery statute. Villio wants to add carjacking 'by use of force or intimidation' — in other words without a weapon — to the list of crimes could get a younger minor transferred to adult prison. Should that happen, 15- and 16-year-olds could face much longer sentences. An adult found guilty of carjacking without a weapon can be put in prison five to 20 years for an initial conviction, a maximum sentence four times longer than the current guidelines for people under 17. Amendment opponents argue putting more teens into adult facilities will be expensive for the state. Teenagers are easily influenced by older prisoners and more vulnerable to coercion and threats, they maintain. It takes more prison staff and more money to keep them safe in adult correctional facilities, according to Kelly Ward, a retired warden who managed the David Wade Correctional Center in Homer who is against the amendment. The federal government also requires adult prisons to house minors separate from incarcerated adults. 'If you are going to spend money on additional resources, then why not take those resources and apply them into a juvenile system that is designed for that age group?' Ward said. It's not clear there's a formal political campaign in support of Amendment 3. Daniels said it was be left up to individual district attorneys to decide how much they want to campaign for the proposal. Landry, who has vast political resources, could put up money for a late advertising push if he wanted, but there isn't a high-profile effort to do so yet. The amendment's opposition has a more visible public campaign two weeks out from the election. A large coalition of mostly left-leaning organizations has launched a 'No on 3' website and has paid for digital advertising, yard signs and direct mail pieces across the state. 'The Legislature is asking for a blank check to fill our adult jails and prisons with children,' said Sara Omojola, a criminal justice advocate and coordinator for the 'No on 3' coalition. 'We can't really trust them with that judgement and that power.' At least two influential, right-leaning groups working to pass the three other amendments on the March 29 ballot are sitting out the Amendment 3 fight. The Pelican Institute, a conservative think tank focused on Louisiana, is encouraging its followers to vote yes on every other proposal except Amendment 3, for which it hasn't taken a position. The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry also announced its support for every amendment except for No. 3 this month. Will Greene, LABI's CEO and president, said the group decided not to take a stance because the amendment didn't touch upon the group's main mission to improve Louisiana's business climate. Editor Greg LaRose contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawsuit challenges Louisiana ballot measure seeking tax law rewrite
Voters leave the Bricolage Academy gym after casting their ballots in New Orleans, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Matthew Perschall for Louisiana Illuminator) A group of Louisiana voters filed suit against Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry on Monday, seeking to halt a vote on a state constitutional amendment scheduled for next month that would drastically change state tax law. According to the language that is scheduled to appear on statewide ballots during the March 29 election, the proposal will lower income taxes, increase tax deductions for those over 65 and provide for a permanent pay bump for Louisiana schoolteachers. But if passed, the amendment would do much more, including narrowing certain property tax exemptions and liquidating education trust funds. And that, say the plaintiffs, is the problem. They argue that the single-sentence description that will appear on voters' ballots — which was based on a bill that runs more than 100 pages — not only fails to fully represent the breadth of changes that would be made, but also actively misrepresents what those changes would be. Because of this, they are asking a judge to issue an injunction and stop the ballot measure from going to voters. 'Democracy only works if state officials are transparent with voters about what they are being asked to vote on. This proposed amendment flunks the basic honesty test,' said William Most, lead attorney on the case, in a press release. Proposed ballot language Do you support an amendment to revise Article VII of the Constitution of Louisiana, including revisions to lower the maximum rate of income tax, increase income tax deductions for citizens over sixty-five, provide for a government growth limit, modify operation of certain constitutional funds, provide for property tax exemptions retaining the homestead exemption and exemption for religious organizations, provide a permanent teacher salary increase by requiring a surplus payment to teacher retirement debt, and make other modifications? (Amends Article VII, Sections 1 through 28; Adds Article VII, Sections 29 through 42) Gov. Jeff Landry has argued that the amendment is necessary to complete the work begun by the Louisiana Legislature in the special session last year. During the session, which the governor called in a bid to make the state's tax code more business-friendly, lawmakers lowered the state's corporate tax rate and raised the sales tax rate, among a number of other items. But the changes that will appear in the March 29 proposal require a change to the state's constitution, which can only be approved by voters. 'As the chief elections officer for Louisiana, the Secretary of State is normally named in any lawsuit relating to the administration of an election,' said a spokesperson for Nancy Landry in a written statement. 'The legislature is responsible for drafting constitutional amendment ballot language. Any questions regarding the ballot language should be directed to the legislature.' Jeff Landry's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. In November, the governor called the proposed amendment 'a big win' for the state of Louisiana. At the time, the Louisiana Illuminator reported that Jeff Landry hoped to motivate the public to vote for the amendment by tying it to a provision that would make permanent a $2,000 stipend for public school teachers. But the lawsuit alleges that the framing of the ballot language unfairly biases voters. 'Of the hundreds of changes to [the constitution] that are proposed, only a few of the most appealing changes are included in the ballot language,' the lawsuit states. 'None of the unappealing changes are included. The ballot language is all dessert, no vegetables.' The lawsuit further alleges that the ballot language is factually incorrect. The ballot language for the proposed amendment states that it would retain property tax exemptions for religious organizations, provide a permanent teacher salary increase and modify certain constitutional funds, among other revisions. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Plaintiffs argue that despite the claims in the ballot language, the amendment would actually narrow property tax exemptions for religious organizations, only allowing exemptions on properties used for an explicitly religious purpose. Further, the lawsuit claims that the permanent teacher salary increase cited on ballots won't apply to all teachers – and comes at the cost of other educational funding in the state. And though the ballot language says the amendment would 'modify' constitutional funds, the lawsuit alleges that it would actually 'liquidate and drain' three constitutionally protected education trust funds that support a variety of educational programming and services. The lawsuit further claims that the ballot measure as written violates the Louisiana Constitution, which requires that proposed amendments be confined to 'one object' or fully revise an entire article of the Constitution. The lawsuit claims that this ballot measure does neither: it proposes changes to multiple objects in the constitution's Article VII, which covers revenue and finance, but doesn't wholly overhaul that article. 'Although the proposed amendment revises less than an entire article, it contains many objects,' the lawsuit states. 'There is no 'single plan' underlying all of these changes.' The suit was filed in state court in Baton Rouge. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This article first appeared on Verite News New Orleans and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
