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 insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, a white man with white hair in a black suit, speaks at podium labeled "NAIC National Association of Insurance Commissioners"

Lawmakers introduce legislation to address insurance crisis

By: and - January 30, 2023

Louisiana legislative leaders introduced a bill Monday that would fund an incentive program to lure insurance companies to the state - but with a few conditions that would limit the providers that qualify to enter the market (Courtesy of Louisiana Department of Insurance)

LSU Clock Tower

Louisiana Higher Ed: LSU students call out rape culture, Southeastern president to retire 

By: - January 27, 2023

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] The death of 19-year-old LSU sophomore Madison Brooks, who was struck by a car on Burbank Drive, reignited old feelings of hurt on campus.  […]

a student loan application form pictured with an ink pen

381,000 Louisianians approved for Biden’s student debt forgiveness

By: - January 27, 2023

Out of more than 600,000 Louisianians identified as qualified for Biden’s student loan forgiveness, 381,000 applied and were approved before a federal court case forced the administration to take the application down.  “These borrowers could be benefitting from the Administration’s program right now were it not for lawsuits brought by elected officials and special interests,” a […]

Auditor: LSU overpaid Brian Kelly by more than $1 million

By: - January 25, 2023

LSU head football coach Brian Kelly was overpaid more than $1 million last year, according to an audit of the university’s athletic department by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office. The audit found LSU made double payments to Kelly in May and June and erroneously continued supplemental payments between May and November 2022, totaling $1,001,368.  Kelly […]

red and blue flashing lights atop a police car

LSU president calls for action on underage drinking after student fatality

By: - January 24, 2023

LSU President William Tate is calling for local bars to take responsibility for underage drinking after the death of a student was linked to four individuals who police said had been drinking at a Tigerland bar. Two of the suspects have been charged with rape. In a message to the LSU community, Tate shared that […]

Liz Murrill

Solicitor General Liz Murrill jumps into attorney general’s race

By: - January 23, 2023

Liz Murrill announced her candidacy for Louisiana attorney general Monday with a campaign video released online. She is currently the state’s solicitor general, the top litigator in the attorney general’s office. “Louisiana elects a new AG in 2023,” a voiceover in the advertisement said. “Let’s go with our best advocate, the one protecting our families, […]

LSU Clock Tower

Louisiana Higher Ed: Southern-Shreveport picks chancellor finalists, LSU doctor creates sepsis test

By: - January 20, 2023

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] The search committee for the next chancellor of Southern University Shreveport has announced five finalists.  The candidates include Peggy Bradford, previously president of Shawnee […]

Jeff Landry sues ULM med school over vaccine mandate

Landry’s ‘protecting minors’ tip line flooded with thousands of spam complaints 

By: - January 20, 2023

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s “Protecting Minors” tip line, set up to field concerns about librarians, teachers and other school and library personnel, has been flooded with thousands of spam complaints.  More than 5,500 pages of complaints were released to the Louisiana Illuminator in response to a public records request. The records include all complaints […]

A purple sign that says "Student Health Center" stands in front of a building and an oak tree

Our Lady of the Lake takeover of LSU Student Health Center pushed back

By: - January 18, 2023

It will take a month longer than planned for the new operator of LSU’s student clinic to take over its services. A campus spokesman attributed the delay to the final approval needed from the LSU Board of Supervisors. Cody Worsham with LSU confirmed Wednesday that Our Lady of the Lake will take over management of the […]

These books and authors were challenged the most at Louisiana libraries

By: - January 17, 2023

Conservatives turned Louisiana libraries into their battleground in 2022, with dozens of book challenges submitted  in parishes across the state. Complaints were primarily concerned about titles for children and young adult with LGBTQ themes.  The Louisiana Illuminator requested copies of challenges submitted last year to libraries in all 64 parishes. Most responded and the vast […]

LSU Clock Tower

Louisiana Higher Ed: LSU sued, coastal and library research funded 

By: - January 13, 2023

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] Josh Archote, editor-in-chief of The Reveille, LSU’s student newspaper, has sued the university for records related to an investigation of a former Greek life […]

Alena Allen

LSU professor promoted after misconduct allegations, lawsuit against accuser 

By: - January 13, 2023

An LSU professor who sued a man for defamation for reporting him to police and the university for an allegation of rape has agreed to settle with the defendant. The alleged victim claims the lawsuit was retaliatory.  According to documents filed in Baton Rouge City Court in January 2021, the accuser, who asked not to […]