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Louisiana Illuminator
‘Compounded’ weight-loss drugs are a growing problem for state regulators
Anna Wysock’s “aha” moment arrived in an Ohio amusement park, as she got ready to ride a roller coaster with her 7-year-old son: The safety bar across her lap would only click into place once. The attendant told her it had to click twice, or she couldn’t ride. She was mortified. “I had to do […] The post ‘Compounded’ weight-loss drugs are a growing problem for state regulators appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Again and again, U.S. Supreme Court slaps down 5th Circuit
“Again and again, U.S. Supreme Court slaps down 5th Circuit” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. If the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was a boxer, you’d bet on the other […] The post Again and again, U.S. Supreme Court slaps down 5th Circuit appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
The pandemic set younger kids back. Their struggle to recover is especially acute, data show.
While older children are showing encouraging signs of academic recovery, younger children are not making that same progress, and are sometimes falling even further behind, especially in math. New data released July 1 points to the pandemic’s profound and enduring effects on the nation’s youngest public school children, many of whom were not yet in […] The post The pandemic set younger kids back. Their struggle to recover is especially acute, data show. appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Busy or not, all Louisiana judges will get a pay hike — maybe permanently
You can’t help but marvel at the political power Louisiana judges wield when you consider their latest pay increase. They’ll get that money up front in one lump sum rather than after their work is done. This means judges could accept the bonus — ranging from $14,000 for district court judges to $17,000 for appellate […] The post Busy or not, all Louisiana judges will get a pay hike — maybe permanently appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Medicaid for millions in America hinges on error-plagued Deloitte systems
Deloitte, a global consultancy that reported revenue last year of $65 billion, pulls in billions of dollars from states and the federal government for supplying technology it says will modernize Medicaid. The company promotes itself as the industry leader in building sophisticated and efficient systems for states that, among other things, screen who is eligible […] The post Medicaid for millions in America hinges on error-plagued Deloitte systems appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
High abuse rates against LGBTQ, HIV-positive people in immigration detention, study finds
LGBTQ and HIV-positive people locked up in immigration detention centers are experiencing high rates of sexual assault, harassment and threats, according to a report released last month. The report, which was based on interviews with dozens of people who have been held by a federal immigration agency, found that nearly all of them had experienced […] The post High abuse rates against LGBTQ, HIV-positive people in immigration detention, study finds appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Racist slurs and death threats: The dangerous life of a Georgia elections official
Editor’s note: This story contains profanities and racist slurs. DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — When Milton Kidd leaves work at the end of the day, he slips out the back door of the domed Douglas County Courthouse, avoiding the public entrance where people might berate him or demand his home address. He never takes the same route home […] The post Racist slurs and death threats: The dangerous life of a Georgia elections official appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Biden in first TV interview since debate denies medical condition: ‘It was a bad episode’
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday in his first televised interview since the presidential debate defended his reelection bid and rejected calls that he should step aside amid growing anxiety among some Democrats about his mental and physical state. The 22-minute interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos came as some lawmakers and other prominent […] The post Biden in first TV interview since debate denies medical condition: ‘It was a bad episode’ appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Confusion, clinic closures may have caused big declines in contraception use, study shows
Clinic closures in the wake of the Dobbs decision and questions about the legality of emergency contraceptives, including disinformation that some are abortion drugs, may have contributed to a sharp drop in the rate of prescriptions for contraceptives in states with the most restrictive abortion bans, according to a UCLA study. The decline was significant […] The post Confusion, clinic closures may have caused big declines in contraception use, study shows appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana makes it clear: Nondisclosure agreements can’t hide sexual misconduct at work
A new Louisiana law makes explicit that nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) signed as a condition of employment cannot be used to cover up sexual harassment and hostile acts in the workplace. It takes effect Aug. 1. House Bill 161, sponsored by Rep. Michael Bayham, R-Chalmette, mirrors a federal law already in place to prevent employee harassment, […] The post Louisiana makes it clear: Nondisclosure agreements can’t hide sexual misconduct at work appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Corporate sponsors of Pride events also contribute to politicians with anti-LGBTQ leanings
Throughout Pride Month, it has become increasingly common for corporations to adorn their websites in rainbow flags, espouse their support for LGBTQ+ rights and try to win over a community that has historically been stereotyped as having a disposable income. But some of those companies still steer big money to groups and politicians who oppose […] The post Corporate sponsors of Pride events also contribute to politicians with anti-LGBTQ leanings appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Mishandled bodies, mixed-up remains prompt tougher funeral home regulations
The headlines were the stuff of nightmares. One Colorado funeral home owner let the body of a woman decompose for two years in a hearse parked outside a house he rented, while hoarding the cremated remains of dozens of others inside. Last year, authorities discovered nearly 200 improperly stored bodies at another Colorado funeral home […] The post Mishandled bodies, mixed-up remains prompt tougher funeral home regulations appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Vice President Kamala Harris adds trips to speak to Black women voters in July
Vice President Kamala Harris will be traveling throughout the month of July for targeted outreach to Black women voters, the White House shared exclusively with The 19th. In addition to a previously announced appearance at the 30th annual Essence Festival of Culture this weekend in New Orleans, Harris will be giving the keynote address during […] The post Vice President Kamala Harris adds trips to speak to Black women voters in July appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Freedom isn’t free
You can’t understand the scope of 122,000 names until you see them on a wall. Stand at the foot of the National Monument to Freedom, recently dedicated by the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama, and you’ll see all of them, soaring three or four stories above your head. Each name, taken from the 1870 […] The post Freedom isn’t free appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Arkansas OB-GYN says proposed abortion rights amendment could revive standard of care
Of the several state abortion-rights initiatives trying to make it to the ballot this November, Arkansas’ is perhaps the most controversial among reproductive justice advocates, as it would reinstate an abortion policy more restrictive than under Roe v. Wade. Attempting to also appeal to the conservative voters of the deep red, heavily gerrymandered state, Arkansans […] The post Arkansas OB-GYN says proposed abortion rights amendment could revive standard of care appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Fourth human case of bird flu diagnosed in Colorado dairy farm worker
WASHINGTON — Public health officials have diagnosed a Colorado farm worker with the country’s fourth human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state’s department of health reported Wednesday. The Colorado case, the state’s first this year related to spread from dairy cattle to humans, was reported […] The post Fourth human case of bird flu diagnosed in Colorado dairy farm worker appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Florida U.S. Rep. Luna changes course in campaign against attorney general
WASHINGTON — Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna plans to force a vote as early as next week to invoke the House’s rarely used power of “inherent contempt” to levy a daily fine against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in an attempt to obtain audio tapes from a Justice Department special counsel’s interview of President […] The post Florida U.S. Rep. Luna changes course in campaign against attorney general appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Gov. Landry moves state climatologist from LSU to his emergency preparedness office
Louisiana’s chief weather expert will now report directly to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, rather than serve primarily at LSU, Gov. Jeff Landry announced at a news conference Wednesday. The Office of State Climatology will still be housed at the LSU Ag Center, but the climatologist will be a state employee who reports to […] The post Gov. Landry moves state climatologist from LSU to his emergency preparedness office appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana mandates insurance coverage for menopause, perimenopause treatment
Louisiana will require Medicaid and private health insurance plans to cover menopause and perimenopause treatment. The new law should ease access to hormone replacement therapy for those patients. House Bill 392, sponsored by Rep. Aimee Freeman, D-New Orleans, goes into effect Aug. 1. She brought the legislation after local doctors complained they couldn’t get hormone […] The post Louisiana mandates insurance coverage for menopause, perimenopause treatment appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Bark beetle attack prompts Louisiana lawmakers to convene emergency panel
Louisiana House lawmakers are convening an emergency panel to deal with widespread beetle attacks on pine trees across the state and the public safety concern posed by the problem. It’s not the English pop band they’re concerned about, state Rep. Mike Johnson said in a phone interview Tuesday. It’s actually a more serious issue and […] The post Bark beetle attack prompts Louisiana lawmakers to convene emergency panel appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
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The Louisiana Illuminator is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization driven by its mission to cast light on how decisions are made in Baton Rouge and how they affect the lives of everyday Louisianians, particularly those who are poor or otherwise marginalized. Here readers will find in-depth investigations and news stories, news briefs and commentary, all of which is intended to help them make sense of how state policy is crafted, how it helps or hurts them and how it helps or hurts their neighbors across the state. Notwithstanding the way political reporting is often presented, we see politics as neither sport nor entertainment. There are quality-of-life consequences – even life-and-death consequences – to environmental permitting decisions, to health care policy, to income- and sales-tax rates, to budgetary cuts and to economic development plans. For those reasons, the Illuminator does not cover politics in a way that centers on politicians, their squabbles with one another or their career ambitions. Instead, we center on Louisianians from Ouachita to Calcasieu, from Plaquemines to Caddo who must live with the decisions their political leaders make. Though we’re located in Baton Rouge, we understand that the ramifications of decisions made in our capital are felt across the state and that those stories are often best told in cities, towns and parishes far from the halls of power. As our name indicates, our mission is to shine a bright light on Louisiana, to highlight the state’s successes and its examples of good and responsive government and to expose its failures and corruption. An affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers like you, the Louisiana Illuminator retains editorial independence.
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