Halted elections and a sheriff indicted: Louisiana's high-stakes week

Here's where things stand on the week's biggest stories.

Louisiana halts elections

Louisiana will postpone House elections after the U.S. Supreme Court declared the current congressional map unconstitutional.

• The other races and ballot measures will continue as planned, Gov. Jeff Landry says. Early voting starts Saturday for the May 16 primaries.
• Landry says an "electoral emergency exists," giving him authority to suspend or delay elections.
• The delay gives the Legislature time to draw a new map, he says. He did not provide a timeline for next steps.

What's next: State lawmakers are likely to take up the map redistricting during the current session, which ends June 1, NOLA.com's Tyler Bridges reports.

• The redrawn map could potentially reduce the state's number of majority Black districts.
• Louisiana currently has two majority Black districts, both of which elected Black Democrats.
• Rep. Cleo Fields was elected last year to represent the new district. Rep. Troy Carter represents the other, which includes New Orleans.

Separately, state lawmakers passed a bill to eliminate the clerk position at the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. The legislation needs Landry's signature to become law.

• Calvin Duncan, a Black Democrat, was elected in November and is scheduled to take office Monday.
• He filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Thursday, accusing Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill of a "coordinated conspiracy" to keep him from taking office, Verite's Charles Maldonado reports.

Go deeper: Louisiana halts House elections

Sheriff to "aggressively fight"

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson says she will "aggressively fight to clear my name," according to a statement she gave Fox 8.

• She added that the accusations are "unfounded" and the timing is "concerning." She turned in her passport and had her first court hearing Thursday.
• Hutson's term ends Monday, when Michelle Woodfork will be sworn in. An OPSO spokesperson on Thursday told WDSU that the agency was focused on continuity of its operations.

Zoom in: Hutson faces 30 counts of malfeasance and other crimes related to last year's jailbreak, while CFO Bianka Brown faces 20 counts, the state attorney general says.

• The two turned themselves in Wednesday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center and were released after posting bond, JPSO says.

The intrigue: Hutson is the second high-profile city leader indicted in recent months.

• Former mayor LaToya Cantrell was indicted on federal corruption charges last year while in office.

LIV Golf tournament canceled

LIV Golf's future is in jeopardy after the Saudi sovereign wealth fund on Thursday confirmed it's withdrawing support for the league after the 2026 season, writes Axios' Nathan Bomey.

• The announcement came a day after LIV canceled its June tournament in New Orleans.

• The league wants to "explore a potential event this fall," according to a joint statement from Gov. Jeff Landry and Louisiana Economic Development secretary Susan Bourgeois.
• Meanwhile, the PGA Tour just hosted the Zurich Classic in New Orleans.

By the numbers: The state has already paid $3.2 million as part of the LIV contract, Landry's statement says. LIV will return the incentive funds, with the exception of $2 million already invested in upgrades for City Park.

• LIV did not respond to Axios' query about how people can get refunds for their tickets.

More headlines

Jazz Fest: The fest closed early Thursday, and organizers hinted at possible schedule changes Friday.

• The wet weather is expected to continue into Saturday morning, the National Weather Service says, adding that 3 to 5 inches of rain could fall.
• Things look good — albeit likely muddy — for Sunday.
• Headliners this weekend include the Eagles, T-Pain, Lainey Wilson, Ziggy Marley, Teddy Swims and Earth, Wind & Fire.
• Follow the fest's social media and its app for weather-related schedule changes.

Fiscal crisis: City leaders continue to claw their way out of a financial hole. This week, Mayor Helena Moreno proposed a casino deal that would add $103 million to the city's emergency fund ahead of hurricane season.

• It goes before the council May 7.

Flashback: Louisiana made national headlines last week.

• A father was accused of fatally shooting eight children in Shreveport, an ex-cop was reportedly planning a mass shooting at a New Orleans festival and six people were shot at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge.

The bottom line: Louisiana is facing overlapping challenges, with no quick fixes in sight.