Legislative
Louisiana Senate Finance chairman sent to hospital with COVID-19 symptoms
Sen. Bodi White, R-Central, was transported to a New Orleans hospital Monday with symptoms of COVID-19 following spinal surgery he underwent in July. He is the chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, which helps build the state’s spending plan each year. “The decision to transport Senator White was made out of an abundance of […]
Louisiana task force to scrutinize university tenure is made up of people who support tenure
People who support higher education faculty tenure will make up most of a new state task force meant to assess whether Louisiana’s public colleges and universities should even use it. The 19-person task force will be dominated by academics and politicians skeptical of the panel’s stated mission. Just two of the members, Sen. Stewart Cathey, […]
Politicized language contributes to confusion over Louisiana abortion ban, experts say
Court documents doctors have filed show the lack of certainty starts with the inability to agree on a definition for abortion.
State board to Louisiana doctors on abortion: Talk to a lawyer
The Louisiana State Medical board has advised the state's physicians to consult with a lawyer on what abortion care is legal (Julie O'Donoghue/Louisiana Illuminator)
Judge denies AG Landry’s request to let abortion ban to go into effect pending appeal
A Baton Rouge judge has denied Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s request to have the state’s abortion ban go into effect pending his appeal of last week’s loss in court, meaning that abortion will stay legal in Louisiana – for now. Judge Don Johnson of the 19th Judicial District Court granted abortion providers a preliminary […]
Louisiana’s higher ed tenure task force slow to materialize
With less than a week before it is required to meet for the first time, just half of the required slots on a legislative panel reviewing tenure for college professors have been filled. The Task Force for Tenure in Higher Education will study tenure policies at Louisiana’s colleges and universities and recommend any changes it […]
Mississippi doctors fear new abortion laws will tie their hands as patients suffer
Dr. Nina Ragunanthan wonders exactly how long she’s supposed to watch a miscarrying woman bleed before Mississippi law permits her to perform an abortion. The OB/GYN in the Delta worries that the state’s new laws — banning abortion “except in the case where necessary for the preservation of the mother’s life or where the pregnancy […]
Bond commission makes largely symbolic vote to protest New Orleans’ abortion law stance
Before voting to withhold potential financing in years to come, the Louisiana Bond Commission approved a $32 million cash line of credit for the same Sewerage and Water Board project.
Judge finds Louisiana abortion laws vague; enforcement still on hold
Judge Don Johnson ruled Thursday that Louisiana’s abortion laws are vague and therefore cannot be enforced. His decision puts a preliminary injunction on the state’s “trigger” law that keeps Attorney General Jeff Landry and the state health department from shutting down the state’s three abortion clinics for now. Kathaleen Pittman of Hope Medical Group for […]
Mississippi mobile clinic is on front lines of reproductive, maternal health
METCALFE, Mississippi – The clinic – a box perched on wheels and painted with trees and people – sat in the gravel and grass parking lot of a burger and wings joint called VNV Sports Bar and Grill, the only restaurant in town. Choosing where to park it in this Delta town of about 1,000 […]
Louisiana will move incarcerated youth to an adult prison. Child advocates are worried.
Child welfare advocates say they are extremely concerned about Gov. John Bel Edwards’ decision to temporarily move half of the incarcerated youth in a facility in Jefferson Parish to Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, one of the nation’s largest and most notorious maximum-security adult prisons. Edwards emphasized the teenagers and young adults will be kept […]
Restraining order blocking Louisiana abortion ban to stay in place, judge decides
A state district judge in Baton Rouge will keep a temporary restraining order in effect while the court considers whether Louisiana’s abortion ban is legal. Judge Donald Johnson issued his ruling Tuesday that prevents Attorney General Jeff Landry and the state health department from enforcing the state’s abortion prohibition. The judge extended the temporary restraining […]