Citizen-led pollution monitoring persists in Louisiana, despite law that limits its use • Louisiana Illuminator Communities around Louisiana are taking environmental data collection into their own hands — despite a law restricting how their findings can be used to enforce regulations.

New story alert 🚨🔔‼️To get more info about the environmental & health impacts of industrial pollution, citizens are taking data collection into their own hands — despite a state law restricting how their research can be used to enforce state regulations lailluminator.com/2025/11/02/c...

Happy finally-cold-enough-to-wear-a-sweater-outside-and-not-immediately-sweat-through season🎉🍁🍂

And that’s not all, folks! I wrote plenty more, be sure to check it out and stay tuned for fall 🍁🐊🏈☕️🐅

Cruise to measure Gulf dead zone faces stormy funding future • Louisiana Illuminator Now, after its 40th year and 38th hypoxia cruise, The Pelican’s annually planned journey faces challenges to stay afloat, potentially undermining decades of research and future plans to get the dead z...

And finally rounded out August with a feature on the annual Gulf hypoxia cruise sailing amidst federal funding cuts

Injured coyote care could go over a cliff in Louisiana • Louisiana Illuminator Advocates were dealt a setback Thursday when the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission voted to approve a notice of intent to ban the practice of rehabilitating what are designated as outlaw qua...

Took a look at wildlife rehab rules in Louisiana with this story featuring coyotes (sadly no roadrunners to join them)

Catch-and-release caution: Deepwater fish can suffer pressure injuries when reeled in • Louisiana Illuminator It happens with a tug at first, the smallest indication that a fish has taken interest in the bait on your hook. Then it pulls hard and steady, bending the fishing rod into a steep downward arc toward...

Dove in deep for this next one on pressure injuries in reef fish— and how to avoid them

Louisiana created a market to reduce water pollution. Will it actually work? • Louisiana Illuminator The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality hopes to improve water quality throughout the state with a new water quality trading program. But whether the program is fully set up for success isn’...

Been a summer full of reporting, so here’s a couple highlights:

Started July with a look at water quality trading (complete with a cheesecake comparison 🍰)

Public workers in Louisiana can now be gifted $81 worth of food and drink for every holiday • Louisiana Illuminator Elected officials and government employees may now be gifted $81 worth of food and drink per individual for state holidays and religious occasions under a loosening of Louisiana ethics laws enacted la...

Have you dropped off July 4 barbecue to your favorite Louisiana government office yet?

Under looser Louisiana ethics rules, any person can now gift government workers and elected officials $81 worth of food for every one of our 11 state holidays.

Landry takes aim at ‘misfire’ bill in veto of sharp-shooter senator’s nutrition legislation • Louisiana Illuminator Gov. Jeff Landry has vetoed a conservative nutrition bill taking a swipe at a fellow Republican who is now running for U.S. Senate.

Landry takes aim at ‘misfire’ bill in veto of sharp-shooter senator’s nutrition legislation #lalege #lagov

LDWF fisheries biologist Joel Caldwell holds juvenile tilapia collected from a canal in Port Sulphur on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Staff photo by Brett Duke, The Times-Picayune)

Sometime before Katrina, one of the world's biggest mining companies stocked a fishing pond on its corporate lodge in Plaquemines Parish with tilapia, a non-native fish that can gobble up everything and take over ecosystems.

Kennedy’s appearance at Pennington comes as the future of some employees at the facility and their work are in question as the Trump administration proposes drastic reductions in health and scientific research. RFK Jr. declined to take questions about the cuts #lalege #lagov

Two Iranian-born LSU students arrested by ICE  • Louisiana Illuminator Two Iranian-born LSU students were arrested this week by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement at their off-campus apartment in Baton Rouge

Two Iranian-born #LSU students were arrested this week by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement at their off-campus apartment in Baton Rouge, the university has confirmed. #lalege #lagov

Revised wetlands protection laws in Louisiana, other states open door to development • Louisiana Illuminator Though states differ in how they now regulate wetland areas, law changes in three states and counting all have the same goal: more development.

ANALYSIS: Louisiana has watered down its wetlands protection laws, leading to concerns that new development could raise flooding risks, destroy vital habitat. @eplunk.bsky.social reports for @agwaterdesk.bsky.social lailluminator.com/2025/06/25/w...

Donate • Louisiana Illuminator

Happy 5th birthday Louisiana Illuminator! Share some love for the occasion with a donation if you like, and enjoy paywall-free coverage of Louisiana news regardless

Trump administration cuts could impact efforts to shrink Gulf 'dead zone' • Louisiana Illuminator The annual forecast for the Gulf “dead zone” at the mouth of the Mississippi River the will be about average in size this year.

Annual forecasts for the Gulf “dead zone” at the mouth of the Mississippi River predicts the section of water with low oxygen levels will be about average in size this year. @elisabethbik.bsky.social reports. @agwaterdesk.bsky.social lailluminator.com/2025/06/12/d...

LSU to buy equestrian center ‘vital’ to horse racing industry  • Louisiana Illuminator Louisiana legislators voted to give $3.5 million in state funds to LSU to purchase a horse facility which the university did not request.

Louisiana legislators voted to give $3.5 million in state funds to #LSU to purchase a horse facility which the university did not request. #lalege #lagov

I’m gonna have a cute little iced coffee in a jar tomorrow morning 😌

Broader campaign spending with less public disclosure still looms in Louisiana • Louisiana Illuminator The Louisiana Legislature is advancing legislation that would allow politicians to spend their campaign funds on a broader group of expenses, including country club memberships and gym fees, while pro...

"Be very careful about using campaign funds for subsidizing your lifestyle."

Bill to allow broader campaign spending while limiting transparency on campaign activity is still moving forward -- albeit with some tightened up language. #lalege

lailluminator.com/2025/06/06/b...

Red Alert: Public reported problems at Atalco refinery long before inspectors found levee breaches There’s a small area along the Mississippi River where the land and buildings are covered with the same rust-colored mineral found on Mars. Welcome to Atalco.

RED ALERT Part 2: The public reported problems with toxic runoff from the Atalco alumni refinery long before inspectors found breaches in the levees meant to contain waste. @wesmuller.bsky.social reports lailluminator.com/2025/06/03/r...

It could soon become easier to build in Louisiana wetlands • Louisiana Illuminator The legislature has changed the state’s legal definition of wetlands, leaving doubt over whether permits will be needed to develop isolated backwater areas

BUILDING IN THE BACKWATERS: If the Louisiana Legislature approves a proposed update to its laws, environmentalists fear wetlands areas won't be protected under state or federal law that limits backfilling and development. @eplunk.bsky.social reports lailluminator.com/2025/06/04/l...

Louisiana likely to make it harder to sue nursing homes over wrongful deaths • Louisiana Illuminator Louisiana lawmakers gave final approval to legislation Tuesday to limit the amount of money nursing home residents and their families receive from lawsuits over injuries, neglect and wrongful deaths.

Louisiana will limit lawsuits against nursing homes over wrongful death/injury, unless Gov. Jeff Landry vetoes a bill.

“We are supposed to protect the elderly – not somebody who is trying to make more money off the elderly." #lalege

lailluminator.com/2025/06/03/l...

Red Alert: A refinery spilled toxic waste into the community and knew about it for months • Louisiana Illuminator A metal refinery unlawfully discharged industrial toxic waste containing arsenic, chromium and other heavy metals into a Lake Maurepas swamp.

RED ALERT: The Atalco Alumina refinery in Gramercy has spilled toxic waste into the community and knew about it for months. @wesmuller.bsky.social reports regulators have been tracking the problem, but with few percussions so far for the company. Part 1 of a series lailluminator.com/2025/06/02/r...

Attempt to remove fluoride from Louisiana drinking water goes flat • Louisiana Illuminator A proposal to end the addition of fluoride from public drinking water in Louisiana failed Wednesday in the legislature following passionate testimony from health care and dental professionals.

UPDATE: Attempt to remove fluoride from Louisiana drinking water goes flat. @eplunk.bsky.social reports lailluminator.com/briefs/attem...

New studies point to increasing risk of loss from wind, rain during hurricanes • Louisiana Illuminator As hurricane season begins June 1, new studies point to an increasing risk of loss from severe wind and water damage common during these intense storms.

New studies point to increasing risk of loss from wind, rain during hurricanes. @eplunk.bsky.social reports: lailluminator.com/briefs/hurri...

Black Caucus

That Louisiana House Black Caucus is standing up to protest an anti-DEI bill brought by Republican Rep. Emily Chenevert, which is currently being debated on the House floor.

(Photo by @wesmuller.bsky.social)

Louisiana’s oyster industry is at risk. A new harvesting technique is pitched as a solution. • Louisiana Illuminator Louisiana’s environment can be the best friend and the worst enemy to an oyster harvester.

A new harvesting technique has been pitched as a way to save Louisiana's shrinking oyster industry. @eplunk.bsky.social explores whether it can help offset the loss of coastal areas where oysters have been harvested for generations. @agwaterdesk.bsky.social lailluminator.com/2025/05/19/l...

Weather modification bills, fueled by ‘magic’ and conspiracy theories, advance in Louisiana • Louisiana Illuminator Two bills to ban weather modification in Louisiana have quietly moved their way through the state legislature this session, as a cohort of other states have moved to do the same with technology that p...

Weather modification bills, fueled by ‘magic’ and conspiracy theories, advance in Louisiana. @eplunk.bsky.social reports lailluminator.com/2025/05/19/w...

Proponents of Mid-Barataria diversion warn against abandoning wetlands    • Louisiana Illuminator Supporters of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project took to the State Capitol steps Monday afternoon, urging state leaders to advance the stalled coastal restoration project.

Supporters of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project took to the State Capitol steps Monday afternoon, urging state leaders to advance the stalled coastal restoration project. @eplunk.bsky.social reports   lailluminator.com/2025/05/12/m...

Local say-so for carbon storage projects in Louisiana takes a blow • Louisiana Illuminator Debate over local control and state regulation of emissions took on David vs. Goliath tones Tuesday at the State Capitol, where a legislative committee considered a raft of bills dealing with carbon c...

In a David vs Goliath style debate, residents take on the oil and gas industry and supporters of carbon capture. The first key bill to give parishes more control over projects went down today. Co-written with my colleague @eplunk.bsky.social #lalege #lagov

lailluminator.com/2025/04/29/l...

As demand for AI rises, so do power thirsty data centers • Louisiana Illuminator As the United States works to be a global AI superpower, it’s become a home to hundreds of data centers with high electricity demand.

As demand for AI rises, so do power thirsty data centers. Paige Gross reports for @statesnewsroom.com lailluminator.com/2025/04/09/r...