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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.

Representative Edmond Jordan

Jordan, Skrmetta consider run for insurance commissioner, report says

By: - March 16, 2023

A member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission and a state lawmaker could become candidates for state insurance commissioner after the incumbent said this week he will not seek re-election. According to our partners at WVUE-TV Fox 8 News, PSC District 1 Commissioner Eric Skrmetta, a Republican from Metairie, and Rep. Edmond Jordan, D-Baton Rouge, […]

Report: Arraignment date set for troopers in Ronald Greene death

By: - February 17, 2023

A date has been set for five white troopers with Louisiana State Police to be formally charged for their alleged roles in the May 2019 death of Black motorist Ronald Greene. Their arraignment is set for April 11 in Third Judicial District Court, which covers Lincoln and Union parishes, our partners at KALB-TV report. A […]

Governor’s mother, Dora Jean Edwards, dies at 87

By: - January 20, 2023

Dora Jean Edwards, the mother of Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and matriarch of a Tangipahoa Parish family rooted deep in politics, died Friday morning. She was 87. The governor announced her death in a statement: “It is with a heavy heart that I share that my mother, Dora Jean Edwards, has passed away,” Edwards […]

LABI will feature governor candidates at annual meeting

By: - January 19, 2023

The state’s top business lobby will feature four of the declared Republican candidates for governor as speakers for its annual meeting in March. The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry announced Thursday its confirmed speakers for the March 2 event are state Sen. Sharon Hewitt, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, State Rep. Richard Nelson and […]

The bow of a vehicle ferry

Federal money to replace ferries in Cameron, Plaquemines

By: - December 22, 2022

A federal grant will pay for the design and construction of new ferries for commuters in Cameron and Plaquemines Parish, but it will be at least a couple of years before the replacements are in service. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced Thursday $25 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation will cover […]

In this photo illustration, a cellphone can be seen displaying the logos for Chinese apps WeChat and TikTok in front of a monitor showing the flags of the United States and China.

Attorneys general want Apple, Google to raise age ratings for TikTok

By: - December 16, 2022

Attorneys general from 15 states want Apple and Google to increase their age ratings for  the social media application TikTok.

Tornadoes claim 3 lives in Louisiana, severe weather threat continues

By: - December 14, 2022

Severe weather in Louisiana over the past 24 hours has spawned tornadoes that have been blamed for three deaths, with the threat persisting through Wednesday evening. A 30-year-old woman and her 8-year-old son were killed Tuesday night in rural Caddo Parish after a tornado struck their home, and authorities in St. Charles Parish confirmed a […]

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Landry, 21 AGs push Biden administration to drop healthcare worker COVID vaccine mandate

By: - November 21, 2022

Louisiana’s attorney general announced Monday he is leading a coalition of 22 states that want the Biden administration to end a mandate for healthcare workers to be vaccinated for COVID-19. The 22 attorneys general have filed a petition that requests the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid […]

Sen. John Kennedy

Election Day: Recap of results in Louisiana, races in key states

By: - November 8, 2022

All but a few precincts were left to count in East Baton Rouge and Orleans parishes as Election Day in Louisiana turned into Wednesday. Voters had their say on a U.S. Senate race, five U.S. House seats, two Public Service Commission districts and eight amendments to the state constitution. A host of local races and […]

Bridge City Center for Youth

Payroll issues persist at Office of Juvenile Justice, audit finds

By: - October 26, 2022

The agency in charge of Louisiana’s juvenile detention centers continues to have issues with keeping accurate time and attendance records, according to a Legislative Auditor’s report issued Wednesday. In what was noted as the third consecutive review, the audit found the state Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) “did not maintain adequate internal controls over time and […]

Richard Nelson

Lawmaker will try again to hold back struggling readers at third grade

By: - August 22, 2022

A Louisiana lawmaker plans to make another attempt to stop the promotion of third-graders who repeatedly fail reading assessments. Rep. Richard Nelson, R-Mandeville, said he will bring back a bill that narrowly failed this year after the latest LEAP test results show a continued decline in reading scores.  “Much has been written about Louisiana’s literacy […]

Data show racial disparities in Louisiana monkeypox cases

By: - August 18, 2022

Health officials have examined demographic data on monkeypox cases in Louisiana and found six in every 10 cases have occurred among Black people. More than a quarter of diagnoses have been white, and 95% are male. As of Wednesday, 127 monkeypox cases have been confirmed in Louisiana since the first person was diagnosed July 7. […]