Taylor Swift

Ohio lawmakers are advancing House Bill 487, which would create a new "repeat drug offender" designation for people convicted of felony drug trafficking who already have two prior trafficking convictions. Under the bill, judges would be required to impose the maximum sentence for the underlying felony plus a mandatory additional one to ten years. Republican sponsors Josh Williams and Phil Plummer argue that short sentences let repeat dealers treat prison as "the cost of doing business" and tie the measure to Ohio's overdose crisis.

Critics counter that the bill does not distinguish between large-scale traffickers and low-level sellers supporting their own addiction, and it sets no time limit on qualifying prior convictions, meaning decades-old low-level cases could trigger the enhancement. Prosecutors, not judges, would decide whether to pursue the specification. Ohio sent more than 1,200 people to prison for trafficking last year, though it's unclear how many had two prior convictions. Analysts estimate a full ten-year enhancement could cost roughly $49,000 per affected inmate, reviving debate over the fairness and racial impact of past drug sentencing laws.

New Orleans officials are considering a new fee structure for Mardi Gras parade krewes as the city grapples with a budget deficit. Under the proposal, krewes would pay $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000 per parade depending on size, starting in 2027, replacing the current range of $750 to $1,500. The change would generate roughly $265,000 in new revenue, or about $6.64 per rider, according to city estimates.

Mayor Helena Moreno's administration says the fee increase addresses a gap between what the city spends on Carnival and what it recoups in tax revenue. A 2024 Tulane study found the city's tax take from Mardi Gras is split among multiple agencies, leaving a $3.75 million shortfall in 2023 despite the event's large economic footprint. City leaders liken the situation to lessons learned from Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour." The new tiered plan replaces earlier proposals for per-rider and per-float fees that drew pushback from the community. The measure goes before the full City Council on September 3.