Steve Scalise drops speaker bid

By Jessica Williams | Capitol News Bureau Editor​ ​ ​

Scalise drops speaker bid: U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, has withdrawn his bid to be the next House Speaker, citing divisions among House Republicans, Mark Ballard reports. Scalise would have been the first Louisianan to ascend to the position, which is one of the most powerful in Washington. 

Death row: Five death row prisoners will argue for mercy on Friday as a state pardon board considers a sliver of 56 clemency requests filed earlier this year, Jillian Kramer reports. They are Clifford Deruise, Winthrop Eaton, Antoinette Frank, Danny Irish and Emmett Taylor. 

State Police reforms: More than a year after Louisiana State Police hired a firm to help it clean up its operation amid reports of troopers brutally beating Black motorists, the firm has recommended a host of changes, including the creation of a use-of-force policy, Meghan Friedmann reports.