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Louisiana Illuminator
Governor names Tim Hardy chair of Louisiana Community and Technical College System
Baton Rouge attorney Tim Hardy has been named the new chairman of Louisiana’s two-year college system Monday, Gov. Jeff Landry’s office announced Monday. Hardy, a Shreveport native and Southern University Law Center graduate, will lead the board that oversees the 12 schools in the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. More than 150,000 students attends […] The post Governor names Tim Hardy chair of Louisiana Community and Technical College System appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
New voter registration rules threaten hefty fines, criminal penalties for groups
ORLANDO, Florida — On a sticky Sunday afternoon in late May, Mark Wendell ambled through Loch Haven Park, a mossy, oak-covered green space wedged between a trio of lakes and the Orlando Science Center. Among the two dozen food and vendor tents lining the sidewalks at the Orlando Fringe theater and arts festival was People […] The post New voter registration rules threaten hefty fines, criminal penalties for groups appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Election workers worry that federal threats task force isn’t enough to keep them safe
Aiming to send a message, the Biden administration recently spotlighted its indictments and convictions in cases involving threats to election officials or workers. But with no letup in reports of attacks, some elections professionals say federal law enforcement still isn’t doing enough to deter bad actors and ensure that those on the front lines of […] The post Election workers worry that federal threats task force isn’t enough to keep them safe appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana legislative session 2024: Victors and the vanquished
Louisiana legislators spent nearly five months debating, bargaining and deal-making over the course of two special and one regular law-making sessions. Lawmakers went home exhausted, while lobbyists and assorted stakeholders counted a mixed bag of victories and defeats. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry emerged with a slate of victories for his arch-conservative agenda but didn’t escape […] The post Louisiana legislative session 2024: Victors and the vanquished appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
The homeowner mutiny leaving Florida cities defenseless against hurricanes
Lisa Hendrickson is almost out of sand. Hendrickson is the mayor of Redington Shores, Florida, a well-heeled beach town in Pinellas County. Her town occupies a small section of a razor-thin barrier island that stretches down the western side of the sprawling Tampa Bay metro area, dividing cities like Tampa and St. Petersburg from the […] The post The homeowner mutiny leaving Florida cities defenseless against hurricanes appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
On the U.S.-Mexico border, hopes and fears after Biden’s order limiting asylum
EL PASO, Texas — Seventeen-year-old Karina Parababire gently rocked her three-month-old daughter as they waited in a migrant shelter before a Friday night bus ride to Chicago. “I want my daughter to have everything that I didn’t have,” Parababire, who traveled up the extremely dangerous route of the Darien Gap while pregnant, said in Spanish. […] The post On the U.S.-Mexico border, hopes and fears after Biden’s order limiting asylum appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana’s first wind energy degree program prepares new industry workforce
CHALMETTE — When they’re not studying hydraulic systems, electric motors and coastal ecology, the inaugural class of a first-of-its-kind community college program will be diving into a bayou, climbing towers and dangling from ropes more than 50 feet in the air. This fall, Nunez Community College in Chalmette will launch a two-year program that trains […] The post Louisiana’s first wind energy degree program prepares new industry workforce appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
LSU Foundation purchases new $2 million president’s house
The LSU Foundation purchased a new house in Baton Rouge for the president’s use across University Lake from the existing president’s house. The new home was purchased by a entity under the LSU Foundation, the private fundraising arm of the university, to be used by the president, spokesperson Sara Whittaker said in a statement to […] The post LSU Foundation purchases new $2 million president’s house appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
‘Democracy begins with each of us,’ Biden says at site of D-Day invasion in Normandy
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden, speaking from the site of the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France, said Friday that those who support democracy must remember what World War II soldiers sacrificed and to live up to those ideals. Biden’s remarks came during commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day and sought to tie the threats […] The post ‘Democracy begins with each of us,’ Biden says at site of D-Day invasion in Normandy appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Prodded by fed up parents, some in Congress try to curb kids’ use of social media
WASHINGTON — Attempts to get kids off of their phones are ramping up in Congress, despite intense lobbying by social media giants and pushback by those worried about violations of First Amendment speech rights. Lawmakers are seeking to set a minimum age to access social media and put more of the onus on social media […] The post Prodded by fed up parents, some in Congress try to curb kids’ use of social media appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana enacts law to let consultants profit off disabled veteran benefit claims
Louisiana has quietly enacted a law that allows unregulated companies to profit off the benefit claims of disabled American veterans. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry allowed Senate Bill 159, called the Preserving Lawful Utilization of Services for Veterans or “PLUS” Act, to become law by default by refusing to sign or veto it. He’s attempting to walk […] The post Louisiana enacts law to let consultants profit off disabled veteran benefit claims appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
6 incoming laws that will increase Jeff Landry’s power as Louisiana governor
Louisiana’s powerful governor will become more so after a massive push from Republican Jeff Landry to increase his authority and influence over state government. In his first few months in office, Landry prioritized bills in the legislative session that will increase his control and make documents about his activities private. He put pressure on the […] The post 6 incoming laws that will increase Jeff Landry’s power as Louisiana governor appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
50 Cent goes to Washington — and it was as awkward as you think
You might know 50 Cent best for his smash hit “In Da Club,” which was all the rage back in 2003. But the rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, has been pursuing other business ventures, including a liquor brand and a film studio in Shreveport. Those work interests brought Fiddy to Washington, D.C., where […] The post 50 Cent goes to Washington — and it was as awkward as you think appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
On 80th anniversary of D-Day invasion, Biden and Macron honor WWII veterans at Normandy
WASHINGTON — “They were brave, they were resolute, they were ready,” President Joe Biden said Thursday at the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, one of five along France’s northern coast where Allied troops invaded in 1944 and turned the tide in World War II. Biden and dozens of U.S. lawmakers traveled to Normandy to […] The post On 80th anniversary of D-Day invasion, Biden and Macron honor WWII veterans at Normandy appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
One facet of Louisiana’s public records law is never enforced; an approved bill would weaken it
Officials in Louisiana will soon be free to disregard state public records law at no risk if Gov. Jeff Landry signs into law a bill that currently sits on his desk. One expert says it will change nothing because courts have never enforced that part of the law anyway. House Bill 768, sponsored by Rep. […] The post One facet of Louisiana’s public records law is never enforced; an approved bill would weaken it appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Gov. Jeff Landry touts his legislative ‘wins,’ but not all his proposals were slam dunks
It’s typical for a governor to march out their legislative accomplishments immediately after lawmakers conclude their session, and Jeff Landry is no exception. Within 15 minutes of the Louisiana Legislature adjourning its 60-workday session for good Monday, the Republican governor’s office produced an extensive list of “Big Wins for Louisiana.” Landry did indeed post an […] The post Gov. Jeff Landry touts his legislative ‘wins,’ but not all his proposals were slam dunks appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Despite push from Landry, effort to weaken state worker protections fails
Louisiana lawmakers rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have weakened state worker protections, in spite of a final push from Gov. Jeff Landry to pass it at the end of the state’s legislative session. The Louisiana House of Representatives took two votes on Senate Bill 181 during the last four days of session, but […] The post Despite push from Landry, effort to weaken state worker protections fails appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Gov. Landry signs bill increasing his power, appoints new UL board chair
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill Wednesday giving him the power to appoint leaders of nearly 150 nearly boards and commissions and immediately used it to make two new board chairs. With Senate Bill 462 by Sen. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, now in law, Landry appointed Mark Romero as chair of the University of […] The post Gov. Landry signs bill increasing his power, appoints new UL board chair appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
U.S. Senate GOP prevents contraception access bill from moving ahead
WASHINGTON — An attempt to reinforce Americans’ access to contraception failed Wednesday when U.S. Senate Republicans blocked a bill from advancing toward final passage. The 51-39 procedural vote required at least 60 senators to move forward, but fell short after GOP lawmakers said the measure was too broad as well as unnecessary. Alaska Sen. Lisa […] The post U.S. Senate GOP prevents contraception access bill from moving ahead appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
U.S. Senate panel divided over climate as cause of rising insurance premiums
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate Budget Committee debated the cause of the insurance crisis plaguing homeowners around the country at a Wednesday hearing, with Democrats identifying climate change as the ultimate driving force of rising premiums and Republicans pointing to high government spending and inflation. Homeowners insurance premiums have skyrocketed in recent years, following billions in […] The post U.S. Senate panel divided over climate as cause of rising insurance premiums 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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