NEW ORLEANS - The head of Louisiana's state police says the state received an extension to comply with federal REAL ID rules that go into effect this weekend.

Col. Mike Edmonson said Friday that he had been told by Department of Homeland Security officials that Louisiana's request for an extension had been granted.

That means Louisianans should be able to enter federal buildings and military bases next week using their state ID.

Louisiana is one of a handful of states whose licenses don't comply with federal guidelines designed to make IDs more secure.

Edmonson says the extension shows the state is doing the "things we need to do."

Eventually the beefed-up IDs will be required for air travel but Edmonson said that won't be until sometime next year.