Legislature to meet in joint session Monday to commemorate state's bicentennial
by Ed Anderson - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

BATON ROUGE -- When lawmakers return to work Monday, they will take time out from present-day lawmaking to reflect on April 30,1812, the day Louisiana was admitted to the Union as the 18th state. The House and Senate will meet at 1:30 p.m. in the House chamber to officially mark the 200th anniversary of statehood.Some of the Louisianians scheduled to participate in the event include entertainers Zachary Richard, Deacon John, Jay Chevalier and Irma Thomas; political strategist-commentator James Carville; journalist Cokie Roberts; actress Faith Ford; and chef Paul Prudhomme. Statewide elected officials, former Govs. Edwin Edwards and Kathleen Blanco; state Supreme Court Justice Kitty Kimball and former lieutenant governors also will attend.