Commentary
Liz Murrill, Right to Life villainize the media, but victimize doctors and patients
Louisiana’s attorney general and the state’s leading anti-abortion group were quick to claim “disinformation” in response to the Illuminator’s recent reporting on a new law that will classify two vital pregnancy care drugs as controlled dangerous substances. Attorney General Liz Murrill insists “there should be no delay in care” under the statute that takes effect […]
Louisiana’s Sen. John Kennedy layers xenophobic bullying on top of his typical buffoonery
Last week, U.S. Sen. John Kennedy played the role of concerned politician with consummate flair when he made his way around southeast Louisiana, assuring Hurricane Francine victims he was there for them in their time of need. This week, he’s back in Washington and bringing the wrong kind of attention to our state. If Kennedy […]
Readers React: LNG terminal treats neighbors as a sacrifice zone
With regards to “Fishermen, environmental groups fight massive LNG terminal in court,” by Pam Radtke, Floodlight News, Sept. 9, 2024. Let’s call the Calcasieu Pass 2 terminal what it is: another toxic threat to Louisiana’s people and environment. As a native of New Orleans and an advocate for environmental justice, I’m deeply concerned about the […]
Judge’s response to sexual harassment claim shows Louisiana’s not changing practice
More than one in three U.S. women has experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, with these abuses ranging from inappropriate remarks or advances to sexual coercion or even assault. Since the start of the #MeToo Movement in 2017, studies show improvement in public awareness of this issue and substantial expansion in federal and state legislation […]
The GOP’s unquenchable crusade against noncitizen voting, which is already illegal
The Republican Party’s persistent call for legislation to ban noncitizen voting is just as inexplicable as the raging popularity of those massive Stanley drinking cups. Do you really need it? Don’t we already have something available that takes care of that need? If you must, could you end up hurting yourself or others unintentionally? Despite […]
Gov. Jeff Landry applies critical race theory, even if he doesn’t realize it
It’s still early in the tenure of Gov. Jeff Landry, which means he has years to etch his legacy in Louisiana history. But with his latest decision, it appears the Republican is intent on ignoring history altogether. Last week, Landry issued an executive order to ban the teaching of critical race theory in Louisiana’s K-12 […]
LSU librarians can thrive outside of the tenure framework, dean says
Editor’s note: The following commentary was submitted in response to an Aug. 20, 2024 report from the Illuminator: “LSU changes tenure rules for librarians to improve its research rankings,” by Piper Hutchinson In August, LSU announced that it would no longer hire librarians to tenure-track positions. The University offered two justifications for the move: LSU’s […]
Crude awakening: The Bayou Lafourche spill exposes our energy vulnerabilities
On July 27, Louisiana’s Bayou Lafourche became the latest victim of America’s ongoing dependence on fossil fuels. The Crescent Midstream Crude Oil Facility released 34,400 gallons of crude oil, threatening this vital waterway and prompting an emergency declaration and throwing local communities into crisis. This is not just an environmental disaster; it’s a stark reminder […]
Trump and Harris, with starkly different records on labor issues, are both courting union voters
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump are in a tight race for the White House. Every voting bloc will count — including members of labor unions and other people in their households. The majority of union leaders have over generations endorsed Democratic candidates, and this race is no exception. Although rank-and-file union members have […]
Teaching about race is good, actually. States need to stop banning it.
In this back to school season, millions of American students are returning to classrooms where the wrong course, lesson, or textbook can lead to deep trouble. Why? Because for the last several years, conservative activists and lawmakers have been waging a crusade against “critical race theory,” or CRT. Critical race theory is an academic concept acknowledging […]
Louisiana’s slanted views on youth crime show a need to focus on solutions rather than individuals
During this election season, I’ve been thinking a lot about what our voting choices can tell us about how we view ourselves as a state, as a nation, and as individuals, and how that self image is reflected in how we approach crime and punishment. I’ve always been interested in incarceration, especially as it relates […]
Louisiana Republicans and Democrats pick a goal with bipartisan appeal: weakening ethics laws
Yeah, I know. A commentary that examines the flimsy ethical stances of Louisiana’s elected officials is about as surprising as sweat in August. Been there, done that. But it doesn’t mean we’re going to look the other way to spare you the tedium, especially as our leaders try to position themselves on an imaginary moral […]