Louisiana has the dubious distinction of being aligned in a federal district court of appeals that is bizarre, incompetent, controversial, and that often rules in direct contradiction to the constitution of the United States., Every other federal district court rules one-way, and the fifth circuit rules another way. It is wrong, it’s an embarrassment, and...Read More

September 17th, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 5th Circuit Court of Appeals an Embarrassment for Louisiana! Our nation is divided into 13 individual federal courts of appeals.  Louisiana has the unfortunate distinction of being lumped in to the most divisive and incompetent such courts in America. The Fifth Circuit regularly leads all appeals courts throughout the...Read More

September 17th, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 5th Circuit Court of Appeals an Embarrassment for Louisiana! In an expose’ of the Fifth Circuit’s recent rulings, the Times Picayune quoted both Justices on the Supreme Court as well as prominent law professors who regularly lambasted verdicts handed down in New Orleans. University of Houston law professor David...Read More

Do you remember where you were 20 years ago when this terrible event happened in our lives? I can remember it like it was yesterday. The initial news I received was chilling, but unbelievable. I stayed glued to the TV set our after hour watching the unbelievable events unfold. You can read my thoughts about...Read More

Thursday, September 11th, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana OUR LIVES WERE CHANGED BY 9/11  I have watched through a window a world that has fallen. W. H. Auden The date, 9/11, turned into the frantic dialing of 911 twenty years ago. A surreal feeling of shock and helplessness enveloped all Americans as we watched that day’s...Read More

  It seems like another year, another major hurricane. This one had two parts. A sprint and a marathon. The storm itself didn’t do as much damage as past hurricanes have. But the aftermath, connecting power and utilities, will take a long period of time. I look back on the worst hurricane in recent memory...Read More

September 3rd, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana Sixteen Years Ago, Another Terrible Storm! As Louisiana begins the massive cleanup following Hurricane Ida, those of us living on the Gulf Coast remember the fear and concern that enveloped our region sixteen years ago this week. A lady named Katrina changed many of our lives. In looking back,...Read More

Can you really get healthy by drinking more Coke? The people at the world’s largest beverage Company apparently thinks you can. And it looks like they may have the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in their corner.  The folks at Pennington seem to have a delusional opinion that sugar does not play any significant role in...Read More

August 25th, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana GET HEALTHY-DRINK MORE COKE? The Baton Rouge Advocate reported this week that childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years, and that a study is underway by Pennington Biomedical Research Center to determine just where the fault lies. The folks at Pennington just might want to get out...Read More

What a delightful place for a Sunday church service. The All Saints Episcopal Mission is located in Linville North Carolina. No air-conditioning needed because the temperature Sunday morning was 70°. The visiting minister this past Sunday was the Reverend Dr. Leigh Spruill from St. John the Devine Episcopal Church in Houston. A pleasant way to...Read More

60 years ago this week, the east Germans build the Berlin wall. It was put up to keep citizens on that side of the border from flying to the west. It stayed up for 29 years.  I had a personal experience of traveling from West Berlin to East Berlin back in 1962. It was the...Read More

Thursday, August 19th, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana THE BERLIN WALL! There has been a lot of publicity about the tearing down of the Berlin wall. But few people know that the wall itself was constructed 60 years ago this week.  The Russian puppet regime in east Germany was trying to stop the stem of so...Read More

New Orleans lost a very special person this week. My long time friend, Louie Sahuc past away. Louie was called the mayor of Jackson Square, and a dear friend for many years. For number of years, I had an apartment right above his studio in Jackson Square. We had many long visits, enjoyed a number...Read More

After 20 years of frustration, the US is hightailing it out of Afghanistan, as the country plunges into civil war and continuing turmoil. American policies in the Middle East have been a failure for decades. Why did we get involved in the first place? These are questions I raise in my new column that is...Read More

Thursday, August 8th, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  DELUSION OR COMMON SENSE IN THE MIDDLE EAST? One of the joys of my early life was to study English Literature at Cambridge in England back in the early 1960s. Nobel prize author and poet Rudyard Kipling was an early favorite. He did not bog the reader down...Read More

In my later years, I’ve taken up painting. No, I’m not very good. I’ll play around with acrylics and sometimes even putter in oils. I have a hard time drawing a circle, so you can understand my level of knowledge. But I’ve grown to love art, and I’m really impressed by some talented artists.  Take...Read More

My grandkids cannot join me in Florida for a few days next week because they’re about to go back to school. School starting early in August? What ever happened to the long vacations over the summer months? School used to start in September but no more.  Everyone seems to be so busy, and the best...Read More

Thursday, August 5th, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  WHAT HAPPENED TO LONG VACATIONS? Does anyone take serious vacations anymore? In the “good old days,” schools did not start again until the Monday after Labor Day. The last two weeks in August used to be a popular time for families to get away to the beach for...Read More

Today is Ramblin’ Jack Elliot’s birthday. The compelling storyteller and country music singer is 90 years old. I sure hope I can see him perform one more time. Here’s a link to his website so Click Here. Happy Birthday Ramblin’ Jack.Read More

Did you know that former Louisiana Governor Edward Edwards gave some thoughts of running for president. That’s right. Against sitting president Jimmy Carter. He was one of several Louisiana Governors who had similar ambitions. In my final column about Edwin Edwards, I pass on a personal experience that  led me to believe Edwards was seriously...Read More

July 29, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana Edwards for President! Edwin Edwards was one of several Louisiana Governors who flirted with national office.  Huey  Long was considered to be a serious candidate running against President Franklin Roosevelt in 1936.  His plans were derailed when he was assassinated at the Louisiana State Capitol. Gov. John McKeithen made a...Read More

It’s been almost 50 years ago since I graduated from the University of North Carolina. I was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and still stay in touch with old friends.  I had a nice visit with former fraternity brother Jim Reston, who is gone on to write 17 books, and had a...Read More

Former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards and the chief executive who preceded him, John McKeithen, had an interesting and controversial relationship.  McKeithen had actively supported Edwin Edwards in his race for Congress, and quietly let his supporters know that Edwards was the best choice for governor. But things went sour in their relationship right at the...Read More

In 1977, Governor Edwin Edwards presided over a huge Mardi Gras celebration in Beverly Hills, California. He is pictured with well-known actress Gloria Swanson who served as queen of the Mardi Gras. The king, on the right, is my father-in-law, Teddy Solomon. TG, as he is known by all his friends, was a major presence...Read More

Thursday, July 22nd,  2021  Baton Rouge, Louisiana Edwin Edwards and John McKeithen A Rocky Relationship?  Edwards had succeeded John McKeithen as governor, but the two them did not maintain much of a relationship during Edwards’ first term in the governor’s office.  McKeithen had actively supported Edwards for an open congressional seat in 1966. But there...Read More

Former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards passed away this week. He was the state’s longest serving governor, having been elected four times to the state’s highest position. He was both loved and criticized, but no one can doubt he left an indelible mark on the state’s political history. I had a 50 year relationship with Governor...Read More

Remembering Governor Edwin Edwards People say a lot of things about me.  But if you’re not being criticized or having them jeer at you, you’re not doing something right. Edwin Edwards Edwin Edwards, Louisiana’s longest serving governor, passed away this week at the ripe old age of 93.  He lived a full and controversial life....Read More

It’s turning into a national scandal. Louisiana continues to have the highest insurance rates in the country. Year in and Year out. It doesn’t change. All the surrounding states have rates that are much lower. What’s going on? Why does the Bayou State, that has so many great attractions, continue to drop the ball and...Read More

Thursday, July 8th, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana SCANDALOUS LOUISIANA INSURANCE RATES!  Can you put lipstick on a pig? Well, business leaders are certainly giving it their best shot in an effort to counteract the fact that Louisiana’s outrageously expensive insurance rates make the Bayou State an environment hostile to the attraction of new businesses.  But,...Read More

My longtime mentor and friend Jimmie Fitzmorris passed away this week. He was 99 years young.  Jimmy Fitz and my father started off as ticket sellers with the Kansas City Southern railroad back in the 1930s. They both went on to be vice presidents.  When I was elected to the state Senate in 1972, Jimmy Fitz took...Read More

Ever heard of the fourth amendment? Most people have heard of it, but  have no idea what it says. It’s the basic protection that you are secure in your own home. That’s been the law for centuries. Going all the way back to the Magna Carta. But the United States Supreme Court doesn’t seem to...Read More

Thursday, July 1st, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana HAS THE FOURTH AMENDMENT BEEN ROUTED? Everyone knows a man’s home is his castle ““ Agreed? The basic right of privacy in one’s place of residence has been a fundamental founding principle in any Democratic system, going back to England in the 1600s. William Pitt expressed this concept...Read More

Murder rates are going up all over the country. But few cities have the numbers you find way down yonder in the Crescent City. New Orleans has some of the most appalling murders on record. The first attempted murder might have been encouraged by the good Lord himself. I write about the comparison of New...Read More

Thursday, June 24th, 2021 New Orleans, Louisiana BOB DYLAN AND THE MURDERS IN NEW ORLEANS! New Orleans is off to a fast start in this New Year to maintain its perennial title of being the murder capital of America.  A day doesn’t seem to pass by when there are reports of more murders in the...Read More

Isn’t this a chilling headline? It’s part of the publication by my friend John Whitehead, who runs the Rutherford Foundation.  The importance of this organization is to point out widespread governmental abuse. John was my guest on my national radio show on several occasions, and he does a first rate job of pointing out the...Read More

Happy Father’s Day to all you dads. My father and my namesake, James Harvey Brown, Sr., would have been 106 years old this year. Here’s a small cute vignette about Dad. He threw the morning paper through high school to help make ends meet during the Depression. Dad was portrayed well in the Flatt and...Read More

Alan Stanford and his investment group put up quite a front as they raised billions of dollars. The Stanford group sponsored all types of special nonprofit events in the Baton Rouge area. He promised solid returns to thousands of retirees, many of them located in Louisiana.  And what a deal. Send your money to the...Read More

Thursday, June 17th, 2021, Baton Rouge, Louisiana LOUISIANA TAXPAYERS ON HOOK FOR MILLIONS OVER STANFORD MESS! A new ruling by the Fifth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals has dampened the chances of numerous Louisiana investors from ever receiving millions of dollars swindled from them by Alan Stanford and his various investment companies.  As reported in...Read More

Fishing in the North Carolina mountains with grandson Ruger Brown. He caught 15 fish. I wonder how excited my wife Gladys will be to cook them for supper?  Read More

Eating good food is way of life down in the deepest of the deep southern states-my home Louisiana. And if you follow Louisiana cooking, you will find that we eat just about everything. And make it taste pretty good while we’re at it.  Now most everyone has heard about the fact that we eat alligator...Read More

June 10th, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana RACCOONS AND LOUISIANA POLITICS! U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has stirred up a hornet’s nest back in the Bayou State over his Facebook comments of eating a Louisiana delicacy.  The Senator had this to say: “Found this raccoon in my backyard.  We ate him for breakfast.” He even included a...Read More

Hangin’ out at the Mast General Store in Valle Crusis, North Carolina. 70 degrees here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. How about that? have no worries. The staff The Lisburn Press is moving forward and publishing a number of new books, and we will keep you posted.  In the meantime, I’m just gonna sit back...Read More

Memorial day is very special time. I’m not referring to the three day holiday, or the beginning of summer. No, I’m suggesting a special day because it’s supposed to be a time to honor those who gave their lives in the service of and defending their country. Most Americans don’t really relate anymore, unfortunately, few...Read More

June 3rd, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana WE NEED TO DO MORE TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY! I hope everyone enjoyed their recent Memorial Day weekend. Many Louisianans were vacationing over the long holiday or enjoying a cookout with family and friends. Many stores held sales advertising for us to have a “Happy Memorial Day.” All well...Read More

Just part of our family gathering at our recent reunion in the North Carolina mountains. Nice to get together again after Covid. We plan many more.Read More

Prosecutorial misconduct continues to be rampant, both in Louisiana and throughout the nation. Just this last week, Texas newspapers reported that Dallas prosecutor Richard Jackson has been disbarred from practicing law in Texas, in a rare example of severe punishment for misconduct in a wrongful conviction case.  There’s not much good good news about holding...Read More

Thursday, May 27th, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana ARE PROSECUTORS ABOVE THE LAW IN LOUISIANA! Has prosecutorial misconduct become an epidemic in Louisiana? A number of national publications seem to think so. Nary a week goes by when there is not a story of some Louisiana prosecutor supposedly pursuing justice by breaking the law. Just recently,...Read More

We (The Lisburn Press) have a new book out by my friend Oscar Shoenfelt, Baton Rouge attorney, about his experiences of being a sports agent. The book is off to a great start, with sports fans around the country placing an order. Oscar by the way is at Duke university, waiting to receive a new...Read More

Former Louisiana governor buddy Roemer passed away this week. We were both political rivals and good friends. I have fond memories of working with Buddy, and also running against him. I write about his career in public life in my new column this week. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing...Read More

Being the Governor, is this a great job or what? Buddy Roemer Louisiana’s 52nd governor died this week at the young age of 77.  Our political ambitions crossed on several occasions over the years, but we always remained good friends. This was particularly true as we each grew older. Buddy Roemer had, in my opinion,...Read More

I had the honor of being the speaker last week at the dedication of a special memorial for former governor Jimmie Davis at Louisiana College in Pineville. It was nice to renew acquaintances with many old friends. I’m pictured with some of the ladies who were active in organizing and supporting the program.  You can...Read More

What happens to a major state university that has fallen from grace, is dramatically underfunded, and has plummeted in national rankings of first-rate colleges throughout the country? You bring in new leadership don’t you?  That’s what my home state university, LSU, has done as it tries to recoup, and re-obtain the national standing it held...Read More

Thursday, May 13th, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana A NEW PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE: DEALING WITH THE RISE AND FALL OF LSU Louisiana State University, located in my hometown of Baton Rouge, takes on a new president in the coming weeks. And to say that he has a big job ahead of him is an understatement. Educationally, the...Read More

I guess, as I look back over my 81 years, I would pursue many more hobbies and fun activities. One would be dancing more. I wish I were a better dancer, and always wanted to take some dancing lessons. Never did, but enjoyed seeing those great performers in the past who danced so well. Take...Read More

The day of my weekly column is posted this week, May 6, is my 81st birthday. Yes I’m getting older, but at least I’m around, still alive, and taking up a storm. I’m 81, still on the run, and having fun. It’s been a full and satisfying 81 years. Sure there were highs and lows,...Read More

Thursday, May 6th, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana THE CHALLENGES AND CHARMS OF GETTING OLDER! I woke up earlier this week, followed my normal routine of walking the dogs, picking up the morning papers, pouring my large glass of orange juice half filled with water to dilute the sugar, checked my emails, walked out on the...Read More

A special day over the weekend remembering our mothers.  My mother, Helen May Gentry Brown, would’ve been 104. She lived till she was 93, and really led a full life.  On the day she passed away, she talked to all three of her children, attended her bridge club and her financial group. I was blessed...Read More

Long Life of Books! I find it  pleasant surprise now and then when older books that have been published by The Lisburn Press turn up. A friend of mine was checking out a flea market over theLafayette  area recently, and look what he found. My first book, printed back in 2005, is still making the...Read More

Jimmy Davis was the singing governor of Louisiana, who made motion pictures, wrote many songs, and serve two terms as governor. He is best known for singing what is considered one of the most popular American songs throughout the world. You know!  Yes its You are my Sunshine!  The Governor use to come by my...Read More

Thursday, April 30th, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana GOVERNOR JIMMIE DAVIS BROUGHT US SUNSHINE! I am honored to travel to Alexandria Louisiana next Saturday to visit Louisiana College for the dedication of a special memorial honoring former Louisiana Governor Jimmy Davis. I’ll be the guest speaker, and will have lots of interesting stories about the governor...Read More

My good friend of many years, former Alabama insurance commissioner Mike Weaver, passed away this week. He had a wonderful sense of humor, was there to help anyone in need, and had one of the best insurance minds I ever met. He was a young 70 years old, and passed away way too soon. We...Read More

  The Louisiana legislature is considering a large number of new laws that supposedly bring more integrity to the election process. The same effort is being made in states across the country. Most of this comes from the allegations of election fraud in the past presidential election, espoused with a little proof, by then president...Read More

Thursday, April 22ed, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana IS THERE ELECTION FRAUD IN LOUISIANA? A number of members of the Louisiana legislature are on a quest to tighten Louisiana election laws. There are allegations all over the country about voter fraud being rampant, particularly following the recent presidential election.  Is there any truth to such charges? ...Read More

A new report from a Washington, D.C. think tank gives Louisiana an “F” grade for its insurance regulatory environment. Florida, that has a much greater Hurricane damage exposure, gets a “B” ranking. What’s going on? Why is Louisiana at the bottom of the barrel when it comes insurance regulation? I have a good bit of...Read More

Thursday, April 22ed, 2021 Baton Rouge, Louisiana LOUISIANA INSURANCE ENVIRONMENT GETS AN “F” Louisiana has one of the worst insurance regulatory environments in the nation. That is according to Washington-based conservative think tank R Street Institute in its Insurance Regulation Report Card. And no, it’s not because of the trial lawyers or the big insurance...Read More

It used to be a Louisiana problem. But now there are serious natural disasters happening all over the country. Louisiana is still at the top of the list when it comes to having higher insurance rates. So what do we do? There is an idea that has been out there for sometime, going back 25...Read More

Thursday, April 15th, 2021  New Orleans, Louisiana HURRICANE SEASON “” DO YOU FEEL LUCKY?  WELL DO YA?  It’s the kickoff for hurricane season and forecasters are predicting as many as 17 named storms with anywhere from 3 to 6 of these storms growing into major hurricanes. Here on the Gulf Coast, we certainly perk up...Read More

Several recent articles have appeared recently by and concerning former Alabama governor Don Siegelman. Don and I became good friends we both served as secretary of state back in the 1980s. He was a dedicated public official who had his eyes set on becoming governor, and he finally did one day. An out of control...Read More