Mel Bridges

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrell confirmed the $4.8 million settlement, saying the state wanted to, quote, put this matter behind us.

It ends a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Ronald Green.

State police told Green's family he died in a car crash, but body camera footage later revealed police beat, stunned, and dragged Green, who was black, after a traffic stop.

The federal government declined to prosecute any of the five state troopers involved.

For NPR News, I'm Mel Bridges in New Orleans.

Governor Jeff Landry is postponing the election, but only for House seats.

Absentee voting for the May 16th primary in the state has already begun and early voting begins Saturday.

The governor and the secretary of state did not say when the House elections will be rescheduled to.

This comes after the Supreme Court ruled Louisiana's redrawn congressional map relied too heavily on race and gave it back to the state to redraw.

In a statement, Landry says the executive order gives the legislature time to redraw the congressional map.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Legal Defense Fund had previously threatened legal action if the state tried to delay the May 16th election.

For NPR News, I'm Mel Bridges in New Orleans.

U.S.

Congressman Cleo Fields, who represents the district at the heart of the case, called the decision, quote, a grave setback to voting rights and to the promise of equal political representation for all Americans.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrell, however, says she agrees with the court's decision that the redraw map relied too heavily on race.

State leaders may not have enough time to redraw the maps before early voting opens on Saturday.

The ACLU said they'll take legal action if the state tries.

For NPR News, I'm Mel Bridges in New Orleans.

Earlier this year, a state jury found a Chevron-owned company had violated Louisiana's coastal regulations for decades.

Chevron appealed and argued the case should be heard in federal court because the suit pertains to a time when the company was under a federal contract.