Louisiana political donors would have addresses redacted from public reports under bill • Louisiana Illuminator The Louisiana Legislature might block the public from seeing the addresses of political donors who give money to election campaigns starting Aug. 1.

The Louisiana Legislature might block the public from seeing the addresses of political donors who give money to election campaigns starting Aug. 1. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports

A Louisiana bill would protect employees who misgender people at work • Louisiana Illuminator A bill advancing in the Louisiana Legislature would prohibit private employers from punishing employees who willingly refer to anybody by the incorrect gender.  House Bill 1137 by Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, passed out of the House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations on a 6-4 vote Thursday along party lines. It protects an employee […]

A bill advancing in the Louisiana Legislature would prohibit private employers from punishing employees who willingly refer to anybody by the incorrect gender. @piperhutch.bsky.social reports:

The fight is back on over menhaden fishing off the Louisiana coast, with the state legislature entering the fray. Lawmakers’ proposals so far favor recreational anglers and charter captains who have accused the industry of upsetting the balance of the offshore ecosystem. @eplunk.bsky.social reports

Louisiana colleges have adhered to the standards of a regional accreditation group going back more than a century, but a conservative movement is progressing to allow the schools to seek another option. @piperhutch.bsky.social reports:

A legislative committee blocked a bill Wednesday that would have established a Louisiana Voting Rights Act to strengthen protections against gerrymandering and voter suppression. @wesmuller.bsky.social reports: lailluminator.com/2026/04/09/l...

They endured child separation and received legal status. Now ICE is trying to deport them. • Louisiana Illuminator ICE has detained or deported at least 25 people in recent months despite their having legal status and protections granted by the child separation settlement, court records show.

"IT DAMAGED HIM." A Honduran man legally living and working in in Louisiana is among at least 25 people with court-granted protected status who ICE has detained or deported. @caryaspinwall.bsky.social reports for @themarshallproject.org

Trump firma orden para restringir el voto por correo y cambiar leyes electorales • Kansas Reflector El presidente Donald Trump firmó el martes una orden ejecutiva de gran alcance que intenta restringir el voto por correo, una prioridad de la Casa Blanca que seguramente enfrentará importantes desafío...

NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL: Trump firma orden para restringir el voto por correo y cambiar leyes electorales

Louisiana legislators weigh hiding how public money is spent on college athletics • Louisiana Illuminator As state lawmakers call for increased transparency into university finances in Louisiana, a legislative committee has advanced a bill that would hide how much public money is being paid to college ath...

REVENUE SHARING: As state Louisiana lawmakers call for increased transparency into university finances, a legislative committee has advanced a bill to hide how much public money is being paid to college athletes. @piperhutch.bsky.social reports.

Proposal would require Louisiana to send every voter's personal info to Homeland Security House lawmakers approved a bill to submit every voter's personal information to the federal government for further scrutiny.

'SAVE' SHARING: Louisiana lawmakers have advanced a bill to require that state election officials send personal information on all registered voters to the federal government for further scrutiny. @wesmuller.bsky.social reports

Louisiana scraps some, but not all, AI proposals after Trump threats • Louisiana Illuminator At least a third of the nearly 20 bills Louisiana lawmakers proposed to put guardrails on artificial intelligence have been scrapped following threats from President Donald Trump to pull federal fundi...

At least a third of the nearly 20 bills Louisiana lawmakers proposed to put guardrails on artificial intelligence have been scrapped following threats from President Donald Trump to pull federal funding from states that regulate the industry. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports

Cartel catch: Mexican drug gangs fuel illegal red snapper harvests in Gulf of Mexico • Louisiana Illuminator In the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Coast Guard patrols track lancheros suspected of illegally fishing for species such as red snapper and sharks.

CARTEL CATCH: U.S. authorities are cracking down on lancheros taking unchecked amounts of red snapper from the Gulf of Mexico. Officials and researchers who track their activity say lancheros are often forced into illegal fishing by Mexican drug cartels. @eplunk.bsky.social reports.

Rise of ‘manfluencers’ leads Louisiana to propose update to its in-person recording rules • Louisiana Illuminator Louisiana is looking to crack down on those who use hidden recording devices like smart glasses to harass women.

ANTI-'MANFLUENCER' MEASURE: Smart glasses have made it easier to subtly record personal conversations, so Louisiana is looking to crack down on those who use the technology to harass women. @piperhutch.bsky.social reports on the advancing proposal

Sex crime survivors might get power to have their personal info pulled from internet • Louisiana Illuminator Survivors of sex crimes in Louisiana could soon be able to demand their personal information — such as their addresses, marital records, places of worship or children’s schools — be removed from websi...

Sex crimes survivors might be able to demand personal information be removed from websites and social media under threat of a lawsuit or criminal charges. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports an existing law with protections for certain officials might be changed because of the workload it's created.

Schools have the upper hand when accused of special education shortcomings. That might change. • Louisiana Illuminator In Louisiana, when a family and school disagree over how a student with special needs is being taught, it falls on the family to prove the school has failed to properly serve their child.

In Louisiana, when a family and school disagree over how a student with special needs is being taught, it falls on the family to prove the school has failed. State lawmakers are considering legislation that would dramatically change that power dynamic. @martajewson.bsky.social reports

Drones broach restricted Barksdale air base; few details on source or response Barksdale Air Force Base has confirmed multiple unauthorized drones entered its restricted airspace in Bossier Parish earlier this month.

Still few details after Barksdale Air Force Base confirms multiple unauthorized drones entered its restricted airspace in Bossier Parish earlier this month. @wesmuller.bsky.social reports lailluminator.com/2026/03/27/d...

Louisiana looks to put more bite in its imported seafood laws State lawmakers have advanced new proposals to continue Louisiana’s crackdown on the mislabeling and misrepresentation of imported seafood.

State lawmakers have advanced a variety of new proposals to continue Louisiana’s crackdown on the mislabeling and misrepresentation of imported seafood. @wesmuller.bsky.social says restaurants and retailers could have any illegal seafood seized and destroyed.

Sitting governors could get more sway over fishing and hunting in Louisiana  • Louisiana Illuminator Governors could be given more power over the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, with more appointees who would hold their seats as long as the state leader stays in office, but the proposal ...

Governors could be given more power over the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, with more appointees who would hold their seats as long as the state leader stays in office. But the proposal doesn’t sit well with a leading wildlife advocate, @eplunk.bsky.social reports.

Harmful and deadly hazing could get easier to punish in Louisiana • Louisiana Illuminator State lawmakers have advanced a bill to make it easier for Louisiana colleges and universities to punish individuals and organizations that engage in hazing that ends with death or serious harm.

State lawmakers have advanced a bill to make it easier for Louisiana colleges and universities to punish individuals and organizations that engage in hazing that ends with death or serious harm. @piperhutch.bsky.social reports:

Plumbers peeved over proposal to fast-track licensing in Louisiana A bill that has advanced in the Louisiana Legislature would create an alternative path toward obtaining a plumber's license, though it's opposed by plumbers who've followed existing regulations to obt...

It takes 1,500 to 2,000 hours of on-the-job training to become an entry level plumber in Louisiana. A proposal would shorten that process, but @wesmuller.bsky.social reports old-school plumbers say the hands-on training is critical to public health and safety.

More Republicans, for varied reasons, line up against carbon storage in Louisiana • Louisiana Illuminator Elected Republican officials in Louisiana, a state long friendly to the fossil fuel and petrochemical sectors, are scattered along the spectrum with their views on carbon capture and sequestration.

CARBON CONUNDRUM: Republican officials in Louisiana, a state long friendly to the fossil fuel and petrochemical sectors, are scattered along the spectrum with their views on CO2 capture and sequestration. @eplunk.bsky.social reports

High levels of ‘forever chemicals’ found in Smitty’s Supply stormwater discharges Testing of discharges from a destroyed petrochemical facility in Tangipahoa Parish found high levels of cancer-linked PFAS compounds.

NEW: Sampling of stormwater discharges from Smitty's Supply detected high levels of cancer-linked compounds known as “forever chemicals,” according to months-old lab reports that state officials released this month after @wesmuller.bsky.social asked for them.

Louisiana universities underfunded by $850 million, higher ed leaders say  • Louisiana Illuminator After three consecutive years of standstill state budgets, Louisiana’s public colleges and universities are struggling with the effects of inflation and bloating athletics budgets.

After three consecutive years of standstill state budgets, Louisiana’s public colleges and universities are struggling with the effects of inflation and bloating athletics budgets. @piperhutch.bsky.social reports the money isn't there to help schools digging their way out of deficits.

Congress could soon be asked by Trump to come up with $200 billion for his Iran war • Louisiana Illuminator Trump, when asked specifically about the $200 billion figure, didn’t rebuff the reporter’s question or say the number was incorrect.

President Donald Trump didn’t rule out asking Congress for an additional $200 billion to cover the cost of his war in Iran, a substantial sum that will likely be difficult to move through both chambers. @jennifershutt.bsky.social reports for @statesnewsroom.com

Abortion bans led to higher preterm birth rates among Black women, study finds • Louisiana Illuminator The researchers looked at birth rates through December 2023 across a dozen states, including Louisiana, abortion bans implemented immediately after the Dobbs decision struck down the federal right to ...

Black women in Louisiana and others states that enacted abortion bans immediately after the Dobbs decision were more likely to have preterm babies, according to a new study. Nada Hassanein reports for @stateline.org lailluminator.com/2026/03/18/r...

Locals in Louisiana might get to vote to remove or add fluoride to their water • Louisiana Illuminator A new effort to remove fluoride from public drinking water supplies in Louisiana would allow local residents to vote on the matter, though dental professionals say it would be a step backwards in heal...

A new effort to remove fluoride from public drinking water supplies in Louisiana would allow local residents to vote on the matter, though dental professionals say it would be a step backwards in health care. @greglarose.bsky.social reports

Trump’s tariffs were ruled illegal. Where’s the refund of $166 billion — plus interest? • Louisiana Illuminator Weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs as illegal, small business owners are unsure if they’ll be made whole after a year of increasing costs and unc...

Weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs as illegal, small business owners are unsure if they’ll be made whole after a year of increasing costs and uncertainty. @ashleymurray.bsky.social reports for @statesnewsroom.com

Louisiana lawmakers call for more oversight, but not closure of Children and Family Services • Louisiana Illuminator A state lawmaker’s proposal to close Louisiana’s child welfare agency has been put on hold while she and the head of that agency work on a compromise that will address the department’s chronic issues.

A state lawmaker’s proposal to close Louisiana’s child welfare agency has been put on hold while she and the head of that agency work on a compromise that will address the department’s chronic issues. But @greglarose.bsky.social reports time is ticking

Stolen valor could become a state crime in Louisiana Lying about having served in the military could soon carry a serious prison sentence in Louisiana.

Lying about having served in the military could soon carry a serious prison sentence in Louisiana. Our staff veteran, @wesmuller.bsky.social, reports on the penalties being considered for what's known stolen valor. lailluminator.com/2026/03/18/s...

Proposed constitutional change would require prosecutor’s approval to waive jury trials • Louisiana Illuminator Sen. Jay Morris has authored an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution that would apply to all felony cases that don’t involve the death penalty as a possible punishment.

If certain criminal defendants want to waive their right to a trial by jury, they will need a prosecutor’s approval under a proposal that took its first step toward the ballot Tuesday. @greglarose.bsky.social reports