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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.

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 […]

State Rep. John Stefanski, R-Crowley, joined by family members, speaks to reporters after qualifying Aug. 8, 2023, for the state attorney general's race at the Louisiana State Archives building in Baton Rouge.

Election 2023: Qualifying for this fall’s Louisiana races is under way

By: - August 8, 2023

The qualifying period for candidates in Louisiana’s elections runs from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Those seeking statewide offices will sign up at the State Archives building in Baton Rouge, while those entering legislative races and seeking local office will qualify with their local clerks of court. Chester Pritchett, of the birthday party, […]

Deadline approaches to claim Louisiana tax refunds

By: - July 19, 2023

Louisiana taxpayers have just over a month to claim millions of dollars in state tax refunds before they officially become unclaimed property. The state Department of Revenue sent letters to 15,461 individual and business taxpayers advising them to claim their refunds before they are transferred by law to the Unclaimed Property Division of the state […]

Members of the House bow for a prayer Tuesday, July 18, 2023, during the veto override session at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

Louisiana lawmakers failed to override vetoes of these bills — and didn’t even try on some

By: - July 19, 2023

Three anti-LGBTQ+ measures grabbed headlines in the Louisiana Legislature’s one-day veto override session, but about two dozen other bills that Gov. John Bel Edwards rejected were also up for consideration. In the end, most were never even brought up while others fell short of the needed votes to become law.   Lawmakers failed to revive two […]

empty school desks in a classroom

Louisiana teacher salaries still lag behind Southern, US average

By: - July 5, 2023

An analysis of the most recent public school teacher salary data shows Louisiana still lags behind most of its regional peers — and is likely to remain there despite its legislature adding $2,000 for the upcoming school year.  The state’s teacher compensation is also well below the national average, according to the Public Affairs Research […]

Ex-boyfriend’s lie leads to new trial for New Orleans man convicted in 1994 double murder

By: - June 14, 2023

NEW ORLEANS — A man convicted in 1995 for a double murder he didn’t commit is being released on bond Wednesday afternoon after an advocacy group took up his cause, pointing out a biased witness and complete lack of physical evidence cleared their client of the crime. Larry Moses has served 29 years of a […]

A woman holds her thumb and index finger in the shape of the letter L to her forehead

Who took the Ws and Ls in the Louisiana legislative session

By: - June 14, 2023

For a fiscal-oriented session, the Louisiana Legislature sure managed to fit in a multitude of bills this year that had nothing to do with the state’s spending plan.  Debate over whether the state’s annual spending cap should be lifted dragged on for so long, the budget-making process ended with a cram session in the final […]

A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries game warden approaches two duck hunters in a blind.

Wildlife & Fisheries secretary quits following reports linking him to federal probe

By: - April 14, 2023

The leader of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries turned in his resignation Friday after reports have tied him to an ongoing federal investigation involving bribery. Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office confirmed that Jack Montoucet will step down as LDWF secretary. He had held the post since his appointment in 2017. Deputy Secretary Robert […]

A screen capture of police dashboard camera video shows Rapides Sheriff's Deputy Rodney Anderson struggling with motorist Derrick Kittling

Rapides DA clears police officers in two shootings: report

By: - April 10, 2023

Rapides Parish District Attorney Phillip Terrell will not bring charges against two police officers who were involved in separate shootings in November, according to our news partners at KALB-TV. One of the shootings resulted in the death of a motorist who was pulled over for having dark window tint. Terrell’s office issued nearly identical letters […]

New Orleans skyline with City Hall, Superdome

Utility service company to bring headquarters, 141 jobs to New Orleans

By: - April 5, 2023

A company that provides services to utility companies will open an office in New Orleans that will serve as its new headquarters. United Utility Services is expected to create 141 jobs over the next five years, the economic development organization Greater New Orleans Inc. announced Wednesday. “As our company expands, the need arose to establish […]

Courtney Phillips posed with arms crossed

La. Health Department leader Courtney Phillips to resign this week

By: - April 3, 2023

The person placed in charge of the Louisiana Department of Health just as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking root will leave her post later this week. Gov. John Bel Edwards said Monday that Courtney Phillips will resign Thursday, a little over three years after she was hired as LDH secretary. Stephen Russo, the department’s executive […]

A pair of large, rusted tanks sit next to an abandoned well oil well in St. Martin Parish.

Edwards marks capping of 100 orphaned wells; thousands remain

By: - March 24, 2023

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced this week that more than 100 orphaned oil and gas wells have been plugged over two months thanks to money made available to Louisiana through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Another 30-plus wells will be handled before the end of the month, according to the governor’s office.   The federal resources […]