Author

Piper Hutchinson

Piper Hutchinson

Piper Hutchinson is a reporter for the Louisiana Illuminator. She has covered the Legislature and state government extensively for the LSU Manship News Service and The Reveille, where she was named editor in chief for summer 2022.

Louisiana sports betting revenue spikes in first full month of football

By: - October 20, 2022

The first full month of college football saw a spike in sports wagering revenue for Louisiana, bringing in almost $4 million in fees for the state.  The accounting of September’s betting revenue came at Thursday’s meeting of the state Gaming Control Board, which regulates gambling in Louisiana.  “It’s very apparent that football season is here,” […]

Louisiana House Speaker Pro Tempore Tanner Magee

Louisiana Legislature committee investigating Ronald Greene’s death set to meet again

By: - October 14, 2022

A Louisiana legislative committee investigating the 2019 death of a Black motorist in Louisiana State Police custody is scheduled to meet Nov. 14, nearly six months after its last meeting.  The committee, chaired by House Speaker Pro Tempore Tanner Magee, R-Houma, was supposed to hold a hearing in June to hear testimony from Gov. John […]

Louisiana Higher Ed: New opportunities in Ruston, fundraising at UNO 

By: - October 14, 2022

The Louisiana Illuminator takes a weekly look at news from universities and colleges around the state. Have a tip or want to submit a Louisiana Higher Ed news item? Contact [email protected] STEM Success  Louisiana Tech announced that the university is launching a program to offer financial aid, mentorship and co-curricular opportunities to engineering students.  The […]

several stacks of books

Study reveals impact of pandemic on international students

By: - October 13, 2022

A new study from the University of Missouri details the unique challenges faced by international college students from Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic.  While the pandemic posed challenges to all college students, the study’s lead author, Ifeolu David, himself an international doctoral student from Sierra Leone, said that African students faced intense pressures.  “The pandemic […]

Louisiana Higher Ed: More grants fill gaps across college disciplines 

By: - October 7, 2022

The Louisiana Illuminator takes a weekly look at news from universities and colleges around the state. Have a tip or want to submit a Louisiana Higher Ed news item? Contact [email protected]  Green research by green researchers  A group of LSU faculty members has received $450,000  from the National Academy of Sciences to support undergraduate research […]

Governor touts bipartisan dollars for local bridges

By: - October 5, 2022

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Wednesday that more than 500 local bridges in Louisiana will be eligible for $270 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Louisiana will receive approximately $1 billion over the next five years from the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Formula Program. The Edwards administration has allocated $270 million for […]

Girl looking at a book in a library

Lafayette Parish Council selects new member for embattled library board

By: - October 4, 2022

The Lafayette Parish Council selected a cybersecurity expert and airman with no stated community service experience to serve on the Lafayette Parish Library Board of Control, passing over a former university professor and library fundraiser. The vote Tuesday night was along party lines. For months, the board has been the venue for intense battles over […]

empty classroom desks

ACLU: ‘Day of Hope’ event for East Baton Rouge students violated civil rights laws

By: - October 3, 2022

The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana sent a letter Monday to officials with East Baton Rouge Public Schools, warning them that a controversial off-campus event for high school seniors last month likely violated multiple federal laws.  The Sept. 20 event, dubbed a “Day of Hope,” was billed as a college and career fair with […]

LSU Clock Tower

Louisiana Higher Ed: Crime up at LSU, tenure task force update

By: - September 30, 2022

The Louisiana Illuminator takes a weekly look at news from universities and colleges around the state. Have a tip or want to submit a Louisiana Higher Ed news item? Contact [email protected] Crime on the rise at LSU New data released in LSU’s 2022 annual security and fire safety report indicated that reports of crime on […]

John Bel Edwards

Gov. John Bel Edwards to travel to London to meet with insurance leaders, attend Saints game

By: - September 27, 2022

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards will travel to London Wednesday to meet with business and insurance leaders. On Thursday, Edwards plans to meet with representatives of Lloyd’s of London, the largest reinsurance marketplace, to discuss Louisiana’s insurance crisis. Since a flurry of major hurricanes dating back to 2020, Louisiana has lost nine home insurers. Lloyd’s […]

LSU Clock Tower

LSU receives prestigious cybersecurity designation

By: - September 26, 2022

LSU became one of 22 universities to be designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations by the National Security Agency. The agency gives the designations to institutions in recognition for advancing operational technologies critical to intelligence and educating high-performing students. Other recognized institutions include Carnegie Mellon, the U.S. Air Force Academy and […]

Louisiana Higher Ed: Eco-sensors, cybersecurity and an apology

By: - September 23, 2022

The Louisiana Illuminator takes a weekly look at news from universities and colleges around the state. Have a tip or want to submit a Louisiana Higher Ed news item? Contact [email protected]  FUTURE is here  Louisiana Tech, LSU Shreveport and four partner universities have received a $6 million award from the National Science Foundation to create […]