FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [Baton Rouge, July 26th, 2023] – Mama’s Gun, the groundbreaking dance performance work commissioned by the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, will make its highly anticipated premiere at the Manship Theater in Baton Rouge on July 28-29, 2023 at 7:30 PM, with a reception preceding at 6:00 pm. Friday’s performance and reception are free and open to the public, 100 tickets are available at the box office by mentioning Power Coalition. Seating is limited. Created by choreographer and dance scholar, Roxi Victorian, this thought-provoking piece explores the complexities of motherhood within the Black community, shedding light on the experiences of mothers who have lost their children to racial and other forms of violence and discrimination. Originally conceived as a one-woman show examining the emotional and physical labor of mothering from infancy to adulthood, Mama’s Gun has evolved into a full-length performance for the concert stage. Victorian’s artistic...

Legislation that would have allowed — but not required — parishes to add early voting locations failed Tuesday in a Louisiana House committee, with opponents concerned about its cost and local election staffing. House Bill 538 from Rep. Sam Jenkins, D-Shreveport, includes guidelines that set out the minimum number of early voting locations a parish should have based on its population and area. Lawmakers on the House and Governmental Affairs Committee discussed how population shifts in their parishes show a need for new polling sites, and how some rural parish residents have to cover long distances to reach an early voting location. ...

Black women are dying — during pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period after childbirth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women. Frankie Robertson of Baton Rouge could have been one of the statistics....

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – Abortion rights advocates came together to talk about how the ban on abortions in Louisiana has affected their lives. Speakers came together at the Louisiana State Capitol for “We Have a Vision: Louisiana Reproductive Justice Day at the Capitol.” The event started at 9:20 a.m. and some of the speakers who were scheduled to attend included those listed below: https://d-12833587732725203327.ampproject.net/2304132133000/frame.html...