BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Staff writer LSU researchers did a poll asking a simple question: Is Louisiana heading in the right direction? For the first time since 2016, the state seems to be saying: No. This story explains how stark the negative shift in attitudes is, and gives some possible explanations — like the thumping our state has taken from hurricanes, floods and COVID. A 14-year-old stole a car in West Baton Rouge Parish, then hit 100 mph while trying to flee deputies, the sheriff's office said. They say he ended up crashing into the bayou. This story has all the details on what happened — including the lucky fact that no one was killed. Since the days of Huey Long, Louisiana's governor has historically been seen as one of the most powerful state leaders in the country. But, as we've written before, some in the Legislature think it's time to start curbing some of that power. Their most recent move: Trying to get rid of the governor's power to appoint three members of the board that oversees public education, leaving the rest directly elected by voters. Here's what they're proposing, and what it means not just for Louisiana schools, but for the state's larger political system. | 