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Louisiana modifies statewide burn ban as fires near total containment
Louisiana will modify its statewide burn ban, in effect since late August, to allow each parish to set its own guidelines. Recent rain and the work of firefighters has lowered the risk of additional blazes in the state’s most prone areas. Starting at 5 p.m. Friday, each parish can choose to opt out of the […]
Work begins early for Louisiana’s new ombudsperson on child abuse response
Retired Baton Rouge juvenile Judge Kathleen Richey begins her new job Monday as Louisiana’s first state child ombudsperson, leading an office that will review policy to promote the best interests of children and handle complaints when public and private agencies fall short. Even before she starts officially, Richey has already made appointments to meet with […]
President Biden approves emergency declaration for southeast Louisiana saltwater intrusion
President Joe Biden has approved Gov. John Bel Edwards’ request for an emergency declaration in response to saltwater intrusion on the lower Mississippi River, the governor’s office announced Wednesday. A far reaching drought throughout the upper Mississippi River Valley has slowed its flow to the point where saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico, which is […]
Waguespack, Wilson battle for middle ground in Gray TV governor’s race debate
NEW ORLEANS — The two men polls show in second and third place behind the frontrunner in the Louisiana governor’s race had the stage to themselves Tuesday night at the University of New Orleans Performing Arts Center. Republican Stephen Waguespack and Democrat Shawn Wilson held an hour-long, genial policy discussion with no real attacks against […]
Two Southwest Louisiana fires declared 100% contained
Two of the four fires that have collectively damaged more than 40,000 of woodlands in Louisiana have been brought under control, according to officials who’ve spent weeks on the ground containing the blazes. An update from the Southern Area Complex Incident Management Gold Team posted Tuesday on Facebook that listed the Lions Camp Road fire […]
Richard Nelson’s departure from the governor’s race means more than you think
A day before he announced he was withdrawing from the Louisiana governor’s race, Richard Nelson shared a quick account of his day on the campaign trail via social media. He was the featured speaker last Tuesday at the Kinder Rotary Club, which Nelson noted holds its meetings at the Reed-Riley Smith & Son’s Funeral Home. […]
Saltwater intrusion creates drinking water emergency for southeast Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS — The historic drought currently baking Louisiana has created an emergency for areas in the southeastern part of the state that depend on the Mississippi River for their drinking water. The flow of saltwater upriver from the Gulf of Mexico is expected to reach New Orleans in exactly a month and has already […]
Jeff Landry declines Gray Television debate invitation
Frontrunning candidate Jeff Landry has officially opted out of the next event slated for statewide TV, making it more than likely he will have made just one appearance alongside his competitors in the governor’s race in a debate or public forum before the Oct. 14 primary. The Republican attorney general’s absence leaves just two candidates […]
Violent Crime Task Force offers glimpse of future showdowns over criminal justice reform
The newly seated Violent Crime Task Force met for the first time Tuesday. Its members convened for an introductory organizational session that lasted less than 30 minutes, but still provided a preview of the anticipated conservative push to unravel changes Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards has made to Louisiana’s criminal justice system since taking office. […]
Wrongful deaths, beatings, false arrests alleged in lawsuits against Rapides law enforcement
A string of lawsuits lays out allegations of death, violence, negligence and unwarranted arrests, stops and searches against Rapides Parish law enforcement in recent years. Plaintiffs point fingers at leadership for permitting a climate of misconduct. A Louisiana Illuminator review of federal and state court records since 2020 found multiple complaints against the Rapides Parish […]
Democrat Shawn Wilson making the governor’s runoff isn’t necessarily a lock
You can’t put it much more bluntly than independent Hunter Lundy did at Friday’s televised governor’s debate. “Shawn Wilson cannot win this race. He has zero chance of winning the race,” Lundy said, trying to position himself as an alternative to the party favorites in next month’s election. A look at the Republican-heavy field for […]
Landry keeps big fundraising edge, not counting money PACs, trial lawyers spend
Attorney General Jeff Landry continues to hold a decisive edge in fundraising in the Louisiana governor’s race, according to campaign finance filings 30 days ahead of the Oct. 14 primary election. Records from the Louisiana Ethics Administration show Landry pulled about $1.82 million in the reporting period between July 7 and Sept. 4. No other […]