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Louisiana Illuminator

Louisiana Illuminator

The Louisiana Illuminator is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization driven by its mission to cast light on how decisions are made in Baton Rouge and how they affect the lives of everyday Louisianians, particularly those who are poor or otherwise marginalized.

A man's hand swipes a debit card through a reader device

Benefit card skimmers found at multiple stores in Louisiana, DCFS warns

By: - November 29, 2023

State officials are urging all electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cardholders to immediately change their personal identification numbers after authorities found skimmers at multiple retail locations throughout Louisiana. Skimmers are used to steal personal information and funds from EBT accounts, although the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) said there are no reports yet […]

Henry Whitehorn

Win margin in Caddo sheriff’s race still one vote after recount

By: - November 27, 2023

Monday’s recount in the Caddo Parish sheriff’s race ended with the same margin of victory in the Nov. 18 election — a one-vote win for Democrat Henry Whitehorn against Republican John Nickelson. Nickelson called for the recount three days after the election, when the results put Whitehorn ahead by a single ballot out of more […]

Gov.-elect Jeff Landry and his wife, Sharon, address reporters Oct. 25, 2023, at R.L. "Tigue" Moore Stadium at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette.

Inauguration Day to start at Gov.-elect Landry’s childhood church

By: - November 21, 2023

Plans are coming together for Gov.-elect Jeff Landry’s inauguration with about seven weeks to go before he is officially sworn into office on Jan. 8. According to Landry’s transition website, he and his wife, Sharon, will attend an invitation-only Mass at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville, where Landry was raised. Founded […]

incoming Sharon Landry and Gov.-elect Jeff Landry meet Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, with current Gov. John Bel Edwards and First Lady Donna Edwards at the Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge.

Edwards, first lady host incoming Landrys at Governor’s Mansion

By: - November 20, 2023

The transition for Gov.-elect Jeff Landry continued Monday as he and his wife, Sharon, met with the current occupants of the Governor’s Mansion. Gov. John Bel Edwards and First Lady Donna Edwards hosted the Landrys to discuss the transition, life at the mansion and day-to-day demands of their respective roles, according to the governor’s office. […]

Henry Whitehorn

Caddo Parish sheriff’s race decided by one vote; recount expected

By: - November 20, 2023

A recount is anticipated after Saturday’s election results saw Henry Whitehorn claim the Caddo Parish sheriff’s race against John Nickelson by just one vote out of more than 43,000 cast.  Nickelson is expected to ask for a recount before a 4:30 p.m. Tuesday deadline, according to KSLA-TV in Shreveport. The recount would take place Monday, […]

solar panels

Louisiana receives $250M to build ‘resilience hubs’ for storm power outages

By: - October 18, 2023

Louisiana will receive a $250 million federal grant to provide a backup plan for communities that lose power during a natural disaster. Money for the so-called resilience hubs will come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and see a $250 million match from state partners. It will be used to build sites powered by clean energy […]

Louisiana Gov.-elect Jeff Landry greets supporters Oct. 14, 2023, at The Ballroom in Broussard after claiming an outright win in the primary election.

Jeff Landry surges to outright win in Louisiana governor’s race

By: - October 14, 2023

Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry will become Louisiana’s 57th governor, claiming the seat outright in Saturday’s primary in a field with three other GOP candidates, a conservative independent and a lone Democrat who was expected to force a runoff. “Tonight’s election was historic. …Tonight’s election says we are united,” Landry told a crowd of supporters […]

People enter a voting precinct to vote in the Michigan primary election at Trombly School Aug. 7, 2018 in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.

DeSoto Parish clerk of court arrested for nursing home electioneering: report

By: - October 10, 2023

Just four days ahead of Louisiana’s statewide primary election, the lead election official for DeSoto Parish has been arrested, our news partners at KSLA-TV report. Clerk of Court Jeremy Evans was booked into the parish jail Tuesday morning for allegedly campaigning at a nursing home. According to KSLA, the clerk’s father, former DeSoto District Attorney […]

Vessels in the Mississippi River work on raising a sill in the Mississippi River near Alliance to reduce the flow of saltwater upriver.

State tax filing extensions available for parishes under saltwater emergency declaration

By: - October 9, 2023

Taxpayers in the four parishes where saltwater intrusion from the Mississippi River has or will impact the drinking water are getting more time to file their returns. The Louisiana Department of Revenueis granting automatic filing extensions to taxpayers whose primary residences, business, critical tax records or tax preparers are in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines or St. […]

Helicopters carry water baskets to fight a wildfire in Beauregard Parish.

Louisiana officials urge extreme caution as wildfire risks persist

By: - August 23, 2023

State agency leaders stressed Wednesday that all Louisiana residents adhere to a strict statewide burn ban to reduce the chance of wildfires. Emergency responders have been called out to extinguish multiple fires that have ignited in the extremely hot and dry conditions that have persisted over the summer. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and […]

A sign directs people to the Louisiana State Archives building for election qualifying Aug. 9, 2023, in Baton Rouge.

Election 2023: Final day for candidates to qualify for Louisiana’s fall ballot

By: - August 10, 2023

Statewide candidates seeking a spot on the Oct. 14 ballot in Louisiana had until 4:30 p.m. Thursday to qualify with the Secretary of State. The same deadline applied to local candidates with their parish clerks of court. The Illuminator followed qualifying activity and posted updates here throughout the day, with the latest news posted first […]

State Sen. Sharon Hewitt, R-Sidell, speaks to reporters after she qualified Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, for the governor’s race

Election 2023: Qualifying continues for Louisiana’s fall elections

By: - August 9, 2023

Candidates for Louisiana’s statewide and local elections continue to qualify for the fall election. Contenders for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer and insurance commissioner have until 4:30 p.m. to officially file paperwork at the Louisiana State Archives building in Baton Rouge. This article will be updated frequently throughout the day. 4:05 […]