Civil Rights
DOC ‘deliberately indifferent’ about releasing incarcerated people on time, Justice Dept. finds
There is reason to believe Louisiana routinely holds incarcerated people beyond their release dates in violation of their rights under the U.S. Constitution, according to a U.S. Department of Justice investigation that covered the first four months of 2022. Findings of the probe, which involved information the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections provided […]
Federal judge could decide as soon as February to yank abortion pill nationwide
WASHINGTON — A Texas judge could decide as soon as next month whether to force the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to pull its two-decade-old approval of the abortion pill, which accounts for more than half of pregnancy terminations in the United States. A nationwide injunction in the case, as requested by anti-abortion groups, would […]
VP Harris: ‘Can we truly be free if a woman cannot make decisions about her life?’
TALLAHASSEE, Florida – In a direct challenge to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to his back yard Sunday to announce that President Joe Biden was signing an executive order designed to guarantee access to abortion rights, including abortion-inducing medications. During a roughly 20-minute address in Tallahassee marking what would have been […]
Olivia Dunne fuels the earning power of college athletes — but who is keeping her safe?
Olivia Dunne has 6.7 million followers on TikTok and 2.8 million followers on Instagram. But on a recent Sunday, the 20-year-old wasn’t dropping new content onto her social platforms. She was doing what first brought her into social media fame: competing at a gymnastics meet with her Louisiana State University (LSU) teammates. Outside the Jon […]
Ukrainians by the thousands arrive in states, but with a time limit
WASHINGTON — As the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches next month, Ukrainians who were welcomed to the United States under a special program offering an escape from war are watching another timeline. The temporary Uniting for Ukraine program, sometimes called U4U, offers a two-year stay in the U.S., given that individuals […]
These books and authors were challenged the most at Louisiana libraries
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 […]
In more ways than one, Dr. King taught us to speak up for the oppressed
The speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be cited throughout this day meant to honor his memory and legacy – and for good reason. As one of the world’s most influential orators of the 20th century, he brought truth to power with his words, time and again. Equally deserving of praise is King’s […]
Survivors of sexual abuse plead for changes in Kansas law that protects pedophiles
TOPEKA, Kansas — Four survivors of childhood sexual abuse revealed details about the worst moments of their lives in a public rebuke of state law that protects pedophiles from criminal prosecution or civil lawsuits. Backed by a bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers, the women emphasized that it can take years before a survivor accepts what […]
Federal government takes over Slidell Housing Authority
NEW ORLEANS – Federal authorities have taken over the city of Slidell’s beleaguered housing authority, accusing local officials of blocking access to finances and records, skirting a subpoena and violating other parts of its federal contract. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development took possession of the Slidell Housing Authority — which administers federally […]
Louisiana Republican Party objects to Brittney Griner prisoner swap
The Louisiana Republican State Central Committee voted Saturday to condemn the Biden administration’s prisoner swap with Russia that led to the release of basketball star Brittney Griner. Members of the GOP committee attending their quarterly meeting in Lafayette supported a resolution condemning the Griner exchange through a voice vote. No members raised objections to the […]
Biden administration to rapidly expel more migrants at the border, add legal pathways
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden on Thursday announced dual immigration strategies that would increase expulsions of migrants who attempt to cross the Southern border, while also expanding opportunities for migrants from several countries to legally enter the United States. But the sweeping new immigration plan brought condemnation from advocates who said he should not broaden […]
Here’s what you need to know about new workplace protections for pregnant, nursing workers
The $1.7 trillion federal spending bill President Joe Biden signed last week ushers in expanded protections for workers who are pregnant or nursing. Proponents of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act — both included as amendments to the spending bill — say the measures clarify rights for these workers, […]