Author

Julie O'Donoghue

Julie O'Donoghue

Julie O’Donoghue is a senior reporter for the Louisiana Illuminator. She’s received awards from the Virginia Press Association and Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press.

Louisiana Capitol Building

Louisiana legislative leaders direct tens of millions of state dollars to their own parishes

By: - August 15, 2023

The city of Central got $3 million in the Louisiana state budget this year for batting cages, a locker room and a high school weight room.  The town of Baldwin in St. Mary Parish received $160,000 for a new basketball court.  The Regional Military Museum in Houma secured $500,000.  Catholic Charities of Acadiana in Lafayette […]

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, right, directs Attorney General Jeff Landry through the State Archives building prior to Landry qualifying for the Louisiana governor’s race Aug. 9, 2023

After avoiding opponents, Jeff Landry will take part in at least one gubernatorial debate

By: - August 11, 2023

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry will participate in at least one debate during the governor’s race this fall, according to his campaign staff. He has avoided joint appearances with the other gubernatorial candidates up until this point.  Brent Littlefield, Landry’s longtime political consultant, said the attorney general always intended to take part in a debate […]

Jeff Landry standing at podium speaking to reporters

Endorsed by Trump, Jeff Landry won’t say whether Trump tried to undermine the 2020 election

By: - August 10, 2023

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has been touting his endorsement from Donald Trump in the governor’s race for weeks, but Landry refused Wednesday night to say whether he thought the former president tried to cast aside results of the 2020 election.   When a journalist asked Landry about Trump’s criminal charges, the attorney general did not […]

Louisiana treasurer race 2023

Election 2023: 3 candidates sign up to run for Louisiana state treasurer

By: and - August 9, 2023

Two Republicans and one Democrat signed up Tuesday to run for state treasurer of Louisiana, a position with limited authority that has nevertheless catapulted people such as John Kennedy and Mary Landrieu to more prestigious elected offices. Former Congressman John Fleming of Minden and state Rep. Scott McKnight, of Baton Rouge are Republicans. Financial adviser […]

John Fleming portrait

Treasurer candidate who worked for Trump says he doesn’t know who won 2020 election

By: - August 9, 2023

A former congressman and current state treasurer candidate on Tuesday said he doesn’t know whether President Joe Biden won the 2020 election over Donald Trump.  “I believe it was a very close election and I have not been presented with evidence either way,” about the outcome of the race, Republican John Fleming said at a […]

Mike Strain

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain signs up to run for reelection

By: - August 8, 2023

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain signed up Tuesday to seek his fifth term in statewide office. A veterinarian from St. Tammany Parish, Strain won his first election to run the Department of Agriculture and Forestry in 2007. The commissioner, a Republican, currently has no major opponents, but candidates have until 4:30 p.m. Thursday to qualify […]

Aerial view of Louisiana State Capitol building

Three candidates say they’ll voluntarily ‘weaken’ the governor’s office if elected

By: - August 4, 2023

Three of the seven candidates for Louisiana governor said they would voluntarily give up some of the office’s wide-ranging power and influence if elected this fall to replace Gov. John Bel Edwards. “I think the power of the governor is too strong,” said former business lobbyist and Republican candidate Stephen Waguespack at the annual conference […]

A generic Medicaid membership card is placed between two hundred dollar bills and an American flag

Louisiana removes more than 50,000 people from Medicaid at start of disenrollment process

By: - August 2, 2023

Louisiana removed 50,600 people from government-funded Medicaid health insurance over the last few weeks, as part of the program’s massive disenrollment process nationwide. But the decision to drop all those people may not be permanent.    Those kicked out of Medicaid likely include residents who are still eligible for the benefits, said Kevin Litten, spokesman for […]

Sen. Bill Cassidy

Louisiana U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy endorses Attorney General Jeff Landry for governor

By: - July 31, 2023

Louisiana’s senior U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has endorsed Attorney General Jeff Landry over four other Republicans in the governor’s race, despite the two men taking different approaches to politics in recent years. “Today, I endorse Jeff Landry for governor. There are good people in the race, and I am friends with most. But as I’ve […]

Attorney General Jeff Landry answers questions April 26, 2023, at the PAR gubernatorial candidates forum held at the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge.

Other Republicans in the Louisiana governor’s race criticize Jeff Landry

By: - July 31, 2023

Republicans running for Louisiana governor have ramped up attacks on the presumed GOP frontrunner in the race, Attorney General Jeff Landry.  Landry has become a target for other candidates after leading in recent polls. The attorney general has also raised more money than anyone else in the race.  The most recent criticism came from candidate […]

Louisiana board for two-year colleges gets new members

By: - July 27, 2023

The state board that oversees Louisiana’s two-year colleges will get two new members, according to a press release from Gov. John Bel Edwards released Thursday.  Edwards appointed Joseph Hollins and Matthew J. Wood to the Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges Board of Supervisors. Each will serve a six-year term. Hollins is executive director of the […]

Senior citizen

Louisiana lawmakers question funding, oversight for elder abuse investigations

By: - July 25, 2023

Louisiana legislators questioned Tuesday whether the state needs to devote more money to fight elder abuse after an investigation showed the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs has not adequately responded to reports of mistreatment and neglect.   “It looks like to me that this is another one of those instances where there is a funding issue […]