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Louisiana Illuminator
Supreme Court ruling on homelessness raises the risks for domestic violence survivors, experts say
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court has ruled in the case of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Gloria Johnson, to uphold a law enacted by a small Oregon town that bars those experiencing homelessness from using blankets, pillows and cardboard boxes while sleeping outdoors within city limits. Those who are found doing so can impose […] The post Supreme Court ruling on homelessness raises the risks for domestic violence survivors, experts say appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Despite what some politicians say, crime rates are decreasing
Violent crime in the United States dropped significantly in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same period last year, according to the FBI’s Quarterly Uniform Crime Report released earlier this month. The FBI’s data, collected from nearly 12,000 law enforcement agencies representing about 77% of the country’s population, suggests violent crime dropped by […] The post Despite what some politicians say, crime rates are decreasing appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Democrats reel from ‘terrible’ Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a “terrible” showing and a “bad night.” Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, […] The post Democrats reel from ‘terrible’ Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
LSU President William Tate to receive raise, contract extension
The LSU Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a three-year contract extension and a $25,000 raise for LSU System President William Tate. Tate, who has led the system and the main campus for three years, will receive an annual salary of $750,000, an increase from $725,000. The new contract will also offer him the opportunity to […] The post LSU President William Tate to receive raise, contract extension appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
U.S. Supreme Court ruling on obstruction law helps cases of Jan. 6 defendants
WASHINGTON — A former Pennsylvania police officer who joined the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that delayed the certification of the 2020 presidential election results cannot be charged with obstructing an official proceeding unless a lower court finds otherwise, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday. The ruling throws into question the cases […] The post U.S. Supreme Court ruling on obstruction law helps cases of Jan. 6 defendants appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a […] The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property […] The post U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Immigration policy fought over by Biden and Trump in Atlanta debate
Immigration occupies center stage in the 2024 presidential campaign and also was a major focus during the first presidential debate Thursday night between President Joe Biden and the presumptive GOP nominee, Donald Trump. Immigration is a top issue for voters and for Trump, while the Biden administration has struggled to deal with the largest number […] The post Immigration policy fought over by Biden and Trump in Atlanta debate appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Golf, abortion, Jan. 6 and felonies: Biden and Trump’s memorable debate moments
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump debated at CNN’s studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday night, the first showdown of the 2024 general election season for the presumptive presidential nominees. The debate was heated, with candidates accusing one another of lying about their and their opponent’s positions on the debate stage. Both presidential […] The post Golf, abortion, Jan. 6 and felonies: Biden and Trump’s memorable debate moments appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Biden and Trump trade insults, accusations of lying in acrimonious presidential debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump pitched to undecided voters Thursday night during the first debate of the presidential campaign — trading insults over their policy differences, immigration and who represents a threat to democracy. During the debate from CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta, the two men argued over who would be better for […] The post Biden and Trump trade insults, accusations of lying in acrimonious presidential debate appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana lawsuit could limit advantage for attorneys who are state legislators
The Louisiana Supreme Court will review whether granting automatic delays in court proceedings to attorneys who are also state lawmakers is fair. The justices’ decision to do so comes just days after Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a bill that would have changed the practice. The court agreed Tuesday to hear arguments over whether Sen. Alan […] The post Louisiana lawsuit could limit advantage for attorneys who are state legislators appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana broadband office earns top ranking for managing Biden infrastructure money
Louisiana’s broadband office is ranked best in the nation alongside Idaho for its handling of federal broadband subsidies, according to the right-leaning think tank American Enterprise Institute. The state Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, which Gov. John Bel Edwards created in 2020, received top rankings for its management of federal grant programs, tying Idaho […] The post Louisiana broadband office earns top ranking for managing Biden infrastructure money appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
U.S. Supreme Court ruling reinstates ability to perform emergency abortions in Idaho under ban
Emergency abortion care can continue in Idaho without fear of prosecution of physicians now that the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision Thursday remanding a case about emergency abortions in the state back to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The 2022 case came soon after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that June that overturned […] The post U.S. Supreme Court ruling reinstates ability to perform emergency abortions in Idaho under ban appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Federal regulators approve controversial Louisiana gas terminal project
A massive and contentious liquefied natural gas export project in coastal Louisiana and an associated pipeline got a key approval from federal regulators Thursday. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an order granting permission for Venture Global to build and operate the CP2 terminal in Cameron Parish along the Gulf Coast and construct and operate […] The post Federal regulators approve controversial Louisiana gas terminal project appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
House Speaker Johnson, Betsy DeVos lead attack on Title IX rule that protects LGBTQ+ kids
WASHINGTON — Prominent members of the GOP on Wednesday strongly criticized the Biden administration’s final rule for Title IX, including U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx and former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. As the fate of a key Biden administration effort to protect LGBTQ+ students from […] The post House Speaker Johnson, Betsy DeVos lead attack on Title IX rule that protects LGBTQ+ kids appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
U.S. Supreme Court sends Idaho abortion case back down to lower courts
As expected after the court said it inadvertently uploaded the opinion prematurely on Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision Thursday remanding a case about emergency abortions in Idaho back to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for now. The decision was 6-3, with conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissenting. […] The post U.S. Supreme Court sends Idaho abortion case back down to lower courts appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
The Ten Commandments clash is more political than spiritual — and will ultimately be futile
Forces against the intrusion of religion into what should be faith-neutral spaces have taken a stand against Louisiana officials intent on placing displays of the Ten Commandments in every classroom from kindergarten through college. Both sides are equally convinced they will prevail in a dispute that could ultimately be settled before the nation’s highest court. […] The post The Ten Commandments clash is more political than spiritual — and will ultimately be futile appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
$185 million in industrial tax breaks approved under Landry’s new rules
The Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry approved $185 million worth of industrial tax breaks Wednesday under Gov. Jeff Landry’s new rules that take power away from local governments and no longer require companies to create jobs in exchange for the incentives. In quick and common fashion, the board approved its latest round of Industrial […] The post $185 million in industrial tax breaks approved under Landry’s new rules appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Catholic Charities immigrant aid compelled Landry to cut state money for its homeless shelter
Gov. Jeff Landry cut $1 million in state funding from the largest homeless shelter in Lafayette because of the help its operator, Catholic Charities of Acadiana, provides to immigrants. “Part of Catholic Charities mission is to support the influx of illegal aliens into our country. Taxpayers should never foot the bill for nonprofits who are […] The post Catholic Charities immigrant aid compelled Landry to cut state money for its homeless shelter appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
U.S. House Democrats push for federal gun reform following surgeon general advisory
WASHINGTON – Democratic U.S. House members pushed for legislative action to address gun violence Wednesday, the day after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared the issue a public health crisis. Murthy released a 40-page advisory Tuesday. It called gun violence the leading cause of death for children and adolescents, causing just over 4,600 deaths in […] The post U.S. House Democrats push for federal gun reform following surgeon general advisory 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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