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Louisiana Illuminator
Michigan group offers counseling to trans clients in states where they otherwise might go without
Gender-affirming care. It’s a phrase that evokes a myriad of opinions, many of them focused on hormone treatment and surgery for trans individuals. And yet, long before either of those options becomes a possibility, therapy is almost always a requirement, especially when adolescents are involved. But where and how trans-identifying youth obtain that therapy can […] The post Michigan group offers counseling to trans clients in states where they otherwise might go without appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Mississippi wants to allow some votes from jails and prisons. Red tape may stop it.
A new Mississippi law clarifies that some people held in jail or prison may vote in elections, but widespread confusion and a tangle of paperwork will likely continue to block many of them from casting ballots. The state permanently disenfranchises people convicted of crimes that fall into 22 broad criminal categories. However, people convicted of […] The post Mississippi wants to allow some votes from jails and prisons. Red tape may stop it. appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
CDC has a million bird flu tests ready, but experts see repeat of COVID missteps
It’s been nearly three months since the U.S. government announced an outbreak of the bird flu virus on dairy farms. The World Health Organization considers the virus a public health concern because of its potential to cause a pandemic, yet the U.S. has tested only about 45 people across the country. “We’re flying blind,” said […] The post CDC has a million bird flu tests ready, but experts see repeat of COVID missteps appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
After an abortion for fetal anomalies, she hoped IVF would build her family. Now that’s in doubt.
Editor’s note: This is the fifth installment of an occasional States Newsroom series called When and Where: Abortion Access in America, profiling individuals who have needed abortion care in the U.S. before and after Dobbs. The first installment can be found here, the second installment is here, the third is here, and the fourth is […] The post After an abortion for fetal anomalies, she hoped IVF would build her family. Now that’s in doubt. appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Exclusive: DNC moves ahead on all-virtual roll call for Biden presidential nomination
WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Committee has taken a significant step toward formally designating Joe Biden as the party’s presidential nominee before the Democratic convention in August — a move that’s necessary to place him on the Ohio ballot for November’s election, States Newsroom has been told. DNC members finalized their vote Thursday to move […] The post Exclusive: DNC moves ahead on all-virtual roll call for Biden presidential nomination appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana governor vetoes bill seeking to expand access to public employee records
Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a bill that would have made it easier for the public to access personnel records of public employees. House Bill 116 by Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, aimed to clarify state public records law as it relates to personnel records of public employees, which are commonly withheld from public view. McMakin […] The post Louisiana governor vetoes bill seeking to expand access to public employee records appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Don’t give up on the FAFSA, advocates for student financial aid urge
WASHINGTON — Though the new version of the form to apply for federal financial student aid has had its fair share of highly publicized hiccups, U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal says the department has made a lot of progress in the past couple of months. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid — […] The post Don’t give up on the FAFSA, advocates for student financial aid urge appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Citizen-led abortion measures could be on the ballot in 9 states
For abortion rights supporters in Florida, it was a tumultuous day of highs and lows. On April 1, the Florida Supreme Court paved the way for the state to ban nearly all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. But it also OK’d a ballot measure that would allow Florida voters to overturn the ban this […] The post Citizen-led abortion measures could be on the ballot in 9 states appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Friday upheld a federal law that bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a firearm. In an 8-1 decision on United States v. Rahimi, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion that “our Nation’s firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm […] The post U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana’s largest industries tired of waiting for renewable energy
Frustrated with the lack of renewable energy from utilities in Louisiana, some of the largest corporations doing business in the state have banded together to acquire their own solar power. Their plan includes what is called a sleeved power purchase agreement (PPA) that lets a customer negotiate what it will pay for electricity from a […] The post Louisiana’s largest industries tired of waiting for renewable energy appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana lawmaker who owns trucking business authors law to reduce trucking fees
A new law to reduce the number of commercial truck permits the state requires might benefit the family business of the state lawmaker who pushed the measure. Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, authored Senate Bill 260 even though her husband Jody owns a commercial trucking company that could gain from the bill. Her legislation allows […] The post Louisiana lawmaker who owns trucking business authors law to reduce trucking fees appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Congress silenced free speech in TikTok law, platform tells federal court
TikTok and its parent company argued Thursday in a federal court in the District of Columbia that the recently enacted law forcing a nationwide ban or sale of the popular platform violates the First Amendment. TikTok Inc., which operates the video-sharing service in the United States, and its parent company, ByteDance Ltd., which was founded […] The post Congress silenced free speech in TikTok law, platform tells federal court appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
‘Extremely low pay’ cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage
WASHINGTON — The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does. Arthur — the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year — testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the […] The post ‘Extremely low pay’ cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Democrats stress reproductive rights in fight for control of Congress, White House
WASHINGTON — Top Democratic campaign officials Thursday pressed their case for control of Congress and the White House by pointing toward the upcoming two-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the constitutional right to an abortion. More than a dozen Democrats also introduced legislation in Congress to prevent a future Republican administration from using […] The post Democrats stress reproductive rights in fight for control of Congress, White House appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
The number of job openings has declined sharply in every state
The number of job openings has declined sharply in every state since 2022, better aligning the numbers of unfilled jobs and people seeking work. Nationally, for the first time since before the pandemic, the number of job openings and unemployed people is roughly in balance: a little more than one opening per person looking for […] The post The number of job openings has declined sharply in every state appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Craig Greene won’t seek reelection to Louisiana Public Service Commission
Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Dr. Craig Greene announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection once he concludes his term at year’s end. Greene, a moderate Republican in a district that includes Lafayette, Houma and parts of Baton Rouge, is serving his eighth year on what is one of the most powerful oversight boards in […] The post Craig Greene won’t seek reelection to Louisiana Public Service Commission appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Non-tenured Tulane faculty overwhelmingly vote to unionize
A group of non-tenured faculty at Tulane University in New Orleans has voted to form a union. The group is made up of faculty with the ranks of instructor, lecturer, professor of practice and visiting professor in Tulane’s schools of Professional Development, Liberal Arts, Science and Engineering, and Architecture and Business. They voted 146-29 to […] The post Non-tenured Tulane faculty overwhelmingly vote to unionize appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana will face lawsuit over Ten Commandments school displays
Four civil liberties groups will sue the state of Louisiana after Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed a law Wednesday that calls for the Ten Commandments to be displayed in school classrooms. The new rule applies to any school that accepts state money, including colleges and universities. The American Civil Liberties Union, its Louisiana chapter, Americans […] The post Louisiana will face lawsuit over Ten Commandments school displays appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Parole, probation rules that limit travel can be complicated for people seeking abortions
In the two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, the number of patients forced to seek out-of-state abortion services has doubled. Fourteen states have total abortion bans, three more restrict abortions after six weeks — before most people know they are pregnant — and two others limit them after the first […] The post Parole, probation rules that limit travel can be complicated for people seeking abortions appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Local nonprofit builds tiny home for people leaving prison or jail
NEW ORLEANS — Two local nonprofits are teaming up to provide housing for people just getting out of prison or jail in an effort to help them re-enter society. Phoenix Project NOLA, a housing nonprofit, and The First 72+, a nonprofit that helps former prisoners transition out of incarceration, began building a tiny home near […] The post Local nonprofit builds tiny home for people leaving prison or jail 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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