Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Gov. Jeff Landry's lawyers intervened to keep his appointee in Louisiana retirement system

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 1d

Gov. Jeff Landry's lawyers intervened to keep his appointee in Louisiana retirement system www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @theadvocatebr.bsky.social #lalege

Christopher Hebert had a problem when an independent state entity said he couldn't remain in a state retirement system. Gov. Jeff Landry's lawyers then intervened.

Limited access restored to LA college savings accounts after unexpected shutdown

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 5d

Limited access restored to Louisiana college savings accounts after unexpected shutdown www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @patrick-wall.bsky.social #lalege #laed

After being shut out of their savings accounts for over a week, customers can now check their recent balances — but withdrawals are still pending.

Inside Chief Justice John Weimer's battle with other judges over pay: 'Louisiana two-step'

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 6d

#lalege

NOLA.com @nolanews.bsky.social · 6d

Chief Justice John Weimer has been pushing the fund to make the change, as a matter of law, and Supreme Court justices and the judges on the board have just as consistently rejected his view.

Chief Justice John Weimer has been pushing the fund to make the change, as a matter of law, and Supreme Court justices and the judges on the board have just as consistently rejected his view.

bit.ly

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 6d

Louisiana pulls the plug on another of its largest coastal projects www.fox8live.com/2025/10/08/l... (from @fox8live.com) #lalege

Louisiana pulls the plug on another of its largest coastal projects

The Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion is the second large coastal project Louisiana has cancelled

www.fox8live.com

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 7d

St. Tammany Council member Kathy Seiden announces U.S. Senate bid www.nola.com/news/politic... via @theadvocatebr.bsky.social #lalege #lasen

St. Tammany Council member Kathy Seiden announces U.S. Senate bid

“I’m running because Washington has lost touch with the real challenges families face every single day.”

Hoping to improve health care access, Louisiana increases Medicaid payments to doctors • Louisiana Illuminator

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 7d

Hoping to improve health care access, Louisiana increases Medicaid payments to doctors (from @jsodonoghue.bsky.social) lailluminator.com/2025/10/08/l... #lalege

Medicaid enrollees often struggle to find doctors willing to treat them because the government health care program pays low reimbursement rates for services.

Judge tosses lawsuit by Black lawmakers seeking to make AG defend current La. congressional map

1 3

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 8d

Judge tosses lawsuit by Black lawmakers seeking to make attorney general defend current Louisiana congressional map theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via
@theadvocatebr.bsky.social #lalege

The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus had asked a state district court judge to compel Attorney General Liz Murrill to defend the current congressional map that has two majority-Black districts.

theadvocate.com

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 8d

Shreveport businessman, former lawmaker Wayne Waddell dies at 76 ktbs.com/news/louisia... #lalege

Shreveport loses native son: Businessman, former lawmaker Leo Wayne Waddell dies at 76

BATON ROUGE, La. — The community is mourning the loss of Leo Wayne Waddell, a respected entrepreneur, committed public servant, who died on Friday in Baton Rouge at the age

ktbs.com

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 9d

Leader of state Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control resigns following investigation, lands smoothly at same agency as deputy commissioner (from @wafb.com)
www.wafb.com/2025/10/02/i... #lalege

I-TEAM: Top state leader resigns following investigation, lands smoothly at same agency

Ernest Legier Jr. now serves as the Deputy Commissioner of the Agency and only had to take a $2,000 pay cut after leaving the top position, according to records obtained by the I-TEAM.

www.wafb.com

New Orleans levee police creating SWAT-style team with semi-automatic rifles. Critics are concerned.

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 12d

New Orleans levee police creating SWAT-style team with semi-automatic rifles. Critics question the link to flood protection. www.nola.com/news/environ... via @alexlubben.bsky.social #lalege

New Orleans’ levee authority is starting a SWAT-style police unit with rifles equipped with sound suppressors. Critics question whether that’s an appropriate use of the agency’s funds.

Saints owner Gayle Benson, Gov. Jeff Landry agree to new long-term lease for Superdome

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 13d

Saints owner Gayle Benson, Gov. Jeff Landry agree to new long-term lease for Superdome www.nola.com/news/busines... via @nolanews.bsky.social #lalege

Gov. Jeff Landry and Gayle Benson have signed a new long-term lease that will keep the Saints playing at the Caesars Superdome for at least another decade, after lengthy negotiations

Louisiana doubles capacity of domestic violence shelters with state funding • Louisiana Illuminator

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 13d

Louisiana doubles capacity of domestic violence shelters with state funding lailluminator.com/2025/10/01/l... (from @jsodonoghue.bsky.social) #lalege

Louisiana domestic violence shelters doubled the number of beds available for emergency housing in recent years with millions in state funding.

LSU could hire its next president by the end of October • Louisiana Illuminator

2 2

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 13d

#LSU could hire its next president by the end of October lailluminator.com/2025/10/01/l... (from @piperhutch.bsky.social) #lalege #laed

The committee handling the search for LSU’s next president has again accelerated the timeline for hiring someone for the job.

What to know about a federal government shutdown and how it could affect Louisiana

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 14d

What to know about how the federal government shutdown could affect Louisiana www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... (from @theadvocatebr.bsky.social) #lalege

The battle between Republicans and Democrats has caused a partial government shutdown. Here's what could be affected.

New Orleans to host College Football Playoff National Championship at Superdome in 2028

1 1

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 14d

New Orleans to host College Football Playoff National Championship at Superdome in 2028 www.nola.com/news/busines... via @nolanews.bsky.social

The matchup marks the second time the Superdome has staged the College Football Playoff finale.

School ride-hailing services may be nudging aside traditional buses • Stateline

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 15d

School ride-hailing services may be nudging aside traditional buses; Louisiana passed a law allowing their use stateline.org/2025/09/30/s... (from @stateline.org) #lalege #laed

A pathway has opened for an industry of small-car, ride-hailing and private transport services to ferry children to and from school.

stateline.org

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 15d

Nearly 50% of Louisiana households struggled to make ends meet in 2023. See parish data. www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @theadvocatebr.bsky.social #lalege

Nearly 50% of Louisiana households struggled to make ends meet in 2023. See parish data.

Nearly 20% of Louisianans are below the federal poverty level, but research says an extra 30% of the state cannot afford household expenses.

theadvocate.com | The Advocate | Baton Rouge News, Sports and Entertainment

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 16d

Gov. Jeff Landry seeks deployment of 1,000 National Guard troops to Louisiana cities (from @theadvocatebr.bsky.social)
www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... #lalege #lagov

The Advocate is Louisiana's leading news source, providing award-winning local and regional news coverage.

Louisiana is set to slash testing for high schoolers. See which tests will get cut.

1 1

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 22d

Louisiana is set to slash testing for high schoolers. See which tests will get cut. www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @patrick-wall.bsky.social #lalege #laed

Instead of taking two math and two English tests, students will take one comprehensive exam in each subject.

Saints' Superdome lease deal stalled over Benson Tower, other real estate agreements with state

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 22d

#Saints' Superdome lease deal stalled over Benson Tower, other real estate agreements with state www.nola.com/news/busines... via @nolanews.bsky.social #lalege

And while the state has pushed to sign the Superdome deal and then move on to the other properties later, the Saints say those other agreements, which are worth millions of dollars annually, must be h...

Louisiana partially breaks from CVS Health as pharmacy middleman for state workers • Louisiana Illuminator

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 23d

Louisiana partially breaks from CVS Health as pharmacy middleman for state workers (from @jsodonoghue.bsky.social)
lailluminator.com/2025/09/21/l... #lalege

Louisiana has shifted one of its two large pharmacy benefits contracts for state employees away from CVS Health, but Gov. Jeff Landry and state lawmakers kept the most lucrative agreement with that ph...

With 'Louisiana Lockup,' ICE wields Angola's 'notorious' reputation in immigration crackdown

1 1 1

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 23d

Several unanswered questions about Louisiana's housing of ICE detainees at Angola, according to @theadvocatebr.bsky.social story. Questions not answered about how many detainees are there, what their crimes were and which contractors are running the site. www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... #lalege

The prison's notoriety should scare people into self-deporting, a Trump official says.

Louisiana's casinos are moving onto land and getting flashy upgrades. Business is booming

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 26d

Louisiana's casinos are moving onto land and getting flashy upgrades. Business is booming theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via
@theadvocatebr.bsky.social #lalege

Across the state, casinos from Bossier City to Baton Rouge, as well as Caesars in New Orleans, are upgrading, expanding and adding new amenities – and seeing big returns in the process.

theadvocate.com

Melinda Deslatte @melindadeslatte.bsky.social · 26d

Louisiana drilled more coastal oil wells than any other state. Thousands have sunk in the Gulf. www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @alexlubben.bsky.social #lalege

Louisiana drilled more coastal oil wells than any other state. Thousands have sunk in the Gulf.

A shrimp boat’s sudden sinking reveals a hidden danger: thousands of Louisiana oil wells drilled in marsh now lie underwater. They endanger boats, leak oil, and may leave taxpayers with the cleanup co...