By KELLY P. KISSEL | Metro editor The speaker of the Louisiana House lined up a major remodeling job for two apartments he uses at the Pentagon Barracks near the Capitol. Workers hired by the state didn't get a chance to finish the job; the speaker hired his stepsons instead. After we asked him questions about the arrangement, Clay Schexnayder spoke on the floor of the House about it Wednesday. He acknowledged hiring his stepsons for the work but left out that he tried to give the bill to the state. It's like going to a boxing match and having a council meeting break out: An Ascension Parish councilman and a former client have been ordered into an anger management class. The fight at Corey Orgeron's office came a few days after an outburst led to a censure by his council colleagues. Orgeron survived a recall attempt earlier this year. Gov. John Bel Edwards has backtracked on his vaccine proposal for school-age children. Republican state lawmakers had largely opposed the Democratic governor's plan to require COVID-19 vaccines at schools next year. Edwards said on his monthly radio show that the state Department of Health wanted to roll back the plan because vaccines for younger age groups haven't been fully approved by federal regulators. We appreciate your checking in for today's top headlines. Stop by later to see what the rest of Thursday brings. |