| By JAMES FINN | Staff writer |
Party switch: Former President Donald Trump asked Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards several years ago to switch parties and become a Republican, James Finn reports. Trump offered to endorse Edwards in his 2019 reelection campaign if he did so, the Democratic governor said Wednesday on his monthly call-in radio show. Edwards says he politely declined. New senate leadership: State Sen. Cameron Henry, a second-term conservative Republican from Metairie, will be the next state Senate president, sources told reporter Tyler Bridges on Wednesday. Henry sealed the deal Tuesday night at Crescent City Steakhouse with his chief contender, Sen. Mike Reese, R-Leesville, after Gov.-elect Jeff Landry made it clear privately that he favored Henry. Death row battle: Louisiana violated the civil rights of dozens of death row prisoners who've asked the state for mercy when the state Pardon Board, under pressure from prosecutors, cancelled their clemency hearings, a new lawsuit argues. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Baton Rouge Tuesday is the latest bid to keep alive an historic effort to clear Louisiana's death row, Finn reports. | 