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Lawmakers introduce legislation to address insurance crisis
By: Piper Hutchinson and Julie O'Donoghue - 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)
Louisiana Higher Ed: LSU students call out rape culture, Southeastern president to retire
By: Piper Hutchinson - 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. […]
381,000 Louisianians approved for Biden’s student debt forgiveness
By: Piper Hutchinson - 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: Piper Hutchinson - 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 […]
LSU president calls for action on underage drinking after student fatality
By: Piper Hutchinson - 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 […]
Solicitor General Liz Murrill jumps into attorney general’s race
By: Piper Hutchinson - 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, […]
Louisiana Higher Ed: Southern-Shreveport picks chancellor finalists, LSU doctor creates sepsis test
By: Piper Hutchinson - 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 […]
Landry’s ‘protecting minors’ tip line flooded with thousands of spam complaints
By: Piper Hutchinson - 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 […]
Our Lady of the Lake takeover of LSU Student Health Center pushed back
By: Piper Hutchinson - 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: Piper Hutchinson - 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 […]
Louisiana Higher Ed: LSU sued, coastal and library research funded
By: Piper Hutchinson - 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 […]
LSU professor promoted after misconduct allegations, lawsuit against accuser
By: Piper Hutchinson - 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 […]