Uncategorized
Governor’s budget architect: Impact of paid parental leave for state workers unknown
Louisiana won’t be able to estimate the cost of a new paid parental leave policy for state workers until it has been in place for at least several months, said Jay Dardenne, budget chief for outgoing Gov. John Bel Edwards. “We’re not going to know anytime soon what kind of financial impact this has on […]
Jeff Landry spent at least $3.7 million with Trump political consultants
Gov.-elect Jeff Landry spent at least $3.7 million with political consultants tied to former President Donald Trump while Landry was running for Louisiana governor over the past year. Months before Landry received Trump’s endorsement in May, the incoming governor started paying people associated with the former president to be a part of his campaign team. […]
Acadiana area lawmaker expected to be chosen as next Louisiana House speaker
Rep. Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, is expected to become the next Louisiana House speaker after five other major candidates vying for the position dropped out of the race Monday. DeVillier, 47, is an affable, conservative Republican who has pushed large tax breaks for the business community as a lawmaker. He is about to enter his third […]
Lawsuit alleges years of child sex abuse at politically connected Arkansas treatment facility
LITTLE ROCK — A federal lawsuit filed Monday alleges repeated sexual and physical abuse of children at The Lord’s Ranch, a residential treatment facility in Northeast Arkansas that closed in 2016. Lawyers for the plaintiffs — eight former residents who were reportedly abused as boys — said this is the first of several lawsuits they […]
Gov.-elect Jeff Landry has advisory council on Louisiana Blue Cross sale
Gov.-elect Jeff Landry formed a confidential working group several weeks ago to counsel him on the proposed $2.5 billion sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, according to two people familiar with the group who did not want to be identified because they weren’t authorized to talk about it. The potential sale could […]
Louisiana adopts paid family leave for 70,000 state workers
Starting Jan. 1, 70,000 Louisiana state workers will have access to six weeks of paid parental leave following a birth, adoption or foster child placement with their family. Gov. John Bel Edwards signed paperwork Thursday at Woman’s Hospital extending the new paid leave benefit to most classified and unclassified state government employees. “This is another […]
Jeff Landry puts formerly indicted Louisiana health secretary on advisory council
Gov.-elect Jeff Landry has selected a former Louisiana health secretary charged by a state grand jury with lying under oath to serve on his Health Care and Hospitals Council. Bruce Greenstein is one of 28 members on the advisory panel expected to make policy recommendations to the incoming governor over the next two months. Landry’s […]
Edwards ‘on mute’ about who used governor’s Superdome suites for Beyoncé concert
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office said it doesn’t know who used the governor’s two suites at the Caesars Superdome for the sold-out Beyoncé Renaissance concert in New Orleans Sept. 27. The governor’s staff produced no documents showing who was given Beyoncé tickets after the Illuminator submitted a public records request. Edwards and his wife, Donna, […]
‘There’s no end in sight’: Entergy bills rising at historic pace
NEW ORLEANS — You don’t need to be an expert to know energy costs in New Orleans are rising. Spend enough time at your closest grocery or dive bar and you’ll soon hear neighbors expressing shock at their latest Entergy bills. “Everyone’s feeling it,” said Logan Burke, executive director of the New Orleans-based Alliance for […]
Four constitutional amendments are on the Nov. 18 Louisiana ballot
Louisiana voters will consider four state constitutional amendments when they go to the polls for the Nov. 18 general election. A comprehensive guide to the amendments has been put together by the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR), a nonpartisan organization that promotes the understanding of government and transparency. The Illuminator has drawn heavily […]
Not just Jeff Landry. Louisiana Legislature will also take a hard turn to the right.
In 2015, when Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter was the early favorite to win the governor’s race, then-Rep. Cameron Henry was considered the chosen candidate for Louisiana House speaker. But Democrat John Bel Edwards beat Vitter in an upset election, and Henry’s hopes for the position were dashed. The House ended up selecting more moderate […]
Ohio’s Jim Jordan fails in bid for U.S. House speaker, leaving chamber paralyzed again
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House rejected Ohio’s Jim Jordan as a candidate for speaker on Tuesday, though he vowed to secure the votes needed in the days ahead. Jordan’s decision to try to rally roughly 20 holdouts to his side leaves the House frozen, unable to take up legislation to fund the government ahead of […]