Louisiana spends $20.5M on NO-BR passenger train

By Jessica Williams | Capitol News Bureau Editor​ ​ ​

Passenger rail: A plan to run a passenger train between New Orleans and Baton Rouge is closer to reality, after state officials agreed this month to put $20.5 million toward that project, Sam Karlin reports. But some state lawmakers oppose the plan and say the money could have been used for another purpose. 

Temple wins: Tim Temple will be Louisiana's next insurance commissioner after his only challenger bowed out of that race this week, Tyler Bridges reports. Temple, a longtime insurance executive, will in January begin regulating an insurance market that has been roiled by insurer exits.  

Jan. 6 insurrection: A Louisiana man has been arrested for stealing a police officer's riot shield and assaulting other police during the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Saul Pink reports. Ronald Alfred Bryan, 70, of Pollock, is the fourth Louisiana person to be arrested in connection with that event.