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Louisiana Illuminator
After 14 years, feds designate Pearl River map turtle a threatened species
The Pearl River map turtle had its day in court – and won big. After 14 years and multiple lawsuits, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has granted federal protection as a threatened species to the turtle that, as its name indicates, inhabits the river that spans Mississippi and Louisiana. Other similar species of turtle […] The post After 14 years, feds designate Pearl River map turtle a threatened species appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
LSU faculty, staff lack confidence in university leadership, survey finds
Only 40% of faculty at Louisiana’s flagship university reported feeling confident in their senior leadership to make the right decisions for the institution, a survey of LSU employees showed. The 2023 Employee Engagement Survey, which was administered by LSU last September and October and had more than 5,000 respondents, is the first campus-wide employee study […] The post LSU faculty, staff lack confidence in university leadership, survey finds appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
GOP megadonor circulates Louisiana Constitution draft with school funding, tax breaks up for debate
An influential Republican political donor emailed a rough draft of a proposed new state constitution to Louisiana lawmakers Tuesday that suggests changes to public school funding, the homestead exemption on property taxes and widely used sales tax breaks should be up for debate. Lane Grigsby, a retired construction mogul and founder of Cajun Industries, distributed […] The post GOP megadonor circulates Louisiana Constitution draft with school funding, tax breaks up for debate appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Biden commends NATO strength, pledges more aid for Ukraine against Russia
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said NATO “is more powerful than ever” in remarks Tuesday to honor the 75th anniversary of the alliance and reaffirm allied support for Ukraine one day after Russian missile strikes on a children’s hospital killed dozens in Kyiv. Biden spoke at the annual North American Treaty Organization’s summit happening this […] The post Biden commends NATO strength, pledges more aid for Ukraine against Russia appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Few resources for homeowners to remove risky, beetle-damaged pine trees
State lawmakers want Gov. Jeff Landry to declare an emergency to address millions of dead and dying pines that insects have infested and now pose a risk to people, property, power lines and roads. But officials say not much help is available to homeowners who want to remove trees that are certain to fall down […] The post Few resources for homeowners to remove risky, beetle-damaged pine trees appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
United by their objections to Trump, congressional Dems largely close ranks behind Biden
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats appeared to quell some inner tumult over supporting President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, after highly anticipated internal meetings Tuesday showed the president retained considerable support from the Congressional Black Caucus and other lawmakers in public statements. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Democrats from both chambers largely declined to detail their […] The post United by their objections to Trump, congressional Dems largely close ranks behind Biden appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana issues emergency declaration after Beryl
Gov. Jeff Landry signed an emergency declaration Tuesday for damage attributed to Tropical Storm Beryl. It’s an essential step to place the state in line for any federal disaster recovery assistance made available. Beryl, which struck the Texas coast Monday morning as a Category 1 hurricane, brought extreme weather to northwestern Louisiana later in the […] The post Louisiana issues emergency declaration after Beryl appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana legislators decide not to override Jeff Landry vetoes, as expected
Louisiana lawmakers will not attempt to override vetoes Gov. Jeff Landry has issued this year. An overwhelming majority of legislators in the House and the Senate returned forms indicating they did not want to hold a veto session. The deadline to turn in that paperwork was Monday night. The lawmakers’ decision was expected. Gov. Jeff […] The post Louisiana legislators decide not to override Jeff Landry vetoes, as expected appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Republicans approve platform that would give rights to fetuses, endangering abortion, IVF
The Republican Party on Monday adopted a “Make America Great Again!” policy platform ahead of its national convention that does not call for a federal ban on abortion, but supports states establishing fetal personhood through the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which grants equal protection under the law to all American citizens. If established by legislation, fetal […] The post Republicans approve platform that would give rights to fetuses, endangering abortion, IVF appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt
WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over […] The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Parents seek injunction to block Ten Commandments displays during lawsuit
As promised, the Louisiana parents challenging the legality of required Ten Commandments displays in K-12 and college classrooms formally asked a judge Monday to stop the new state law from going into effect. Schools have until Jan. 1, 2025, to meet the requirements of the law that calls for posters at least 11 by 14 […] The post Parents seek injunction to block Ten Commandments displays during lawsuit appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana ethics board faces higher quorum hurdle under new law
The Louisiana Board of Ethics will face challenges conducting its business over the next five months under a new state law that gives Gov. Jeff Landry more control over the body. Senate Bill 497, sponsored by Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, expands the number of ethics board members from 11 to 15 members but doesn’t […] The post Louisiana ethics board faces higher quorum hurdle under new law appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Gov. Landry-backed candidate, two others named finalists for Northwestern State presidency
A non-traditional applicant with the backing of Gov. Jeff Landry and two others were named finalists to be the next president of Northwestern State University. The Northwestern State University presidential search committee Monday advanced Associate State Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Genovese, Massachusetts Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education Richard Riccardi and University of Colorado Springs Vice […] The post Gov. Landry-backed candidate, two others named finalists for Northwestern State presidency appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation
President Joe Biden pledged Monday to stay in his race for reelection, even after a weekend in which a growing number of Democrats asked for him to withdraw and a key U.S. House Republican called for an investigation into the president’s doctor. In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden argued that the calls for him […] The post Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation 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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