Julie O'Donoghue
@jsodonoghue.bsky.social
Senior writer at Louisiana Illuminator. I previously worked at The Times-Picayune, St. Louis Public Radio, The Connection Newspapers and The Northwest Current. Macalester College and Northwestern University alum.
Niche bumper sticker, even for downtown Baton Rouge.
November 9, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Niche bumper sticker, even for downtown Baton Rouge.
Louisiana Senate voted 27-9 along party lines to push back 2026 congressional primaries to make it easier to pass a Congressional map with fewer majority-Black districts sooner.
Republicans voting in favor of the bill are white. All but one Democrat voting against are Black. #lalege
Republicans voting in favor of the bill are white. All but one Democrat voting against are Black. #lalege
October 25, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Louisiana Senate voted 27-9 along party lines to push back 2026 congressional primaries to make it easier to pass a Congressional map with fewer majority-Black districts sooner.
Republicans voting in favor of the bill are white. All but one Democrat voting against are Black. #lalege
Republicans voting in favor of the bill are white. All but one Democrat voting against are Black. #lalege
Louisiana's call for the special session on "elections" has been put out by
@LAGovJeffLandry
.
I think legislators were hoping for a more compact timeline than 3 weeks.
Unclear to me if this means they will be redrawing maps because that isn't explicitly mentioned. #lalege
@LAGovJeffLandry
.
I think legislators were hoping for a more compact timeline than 3 weeks.
Unclear to me if this means they will be redrawing maps because that isn't explicitly mentioned. #lalege
October 16, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Louisiana's call for the special session on "elections" has been put out by
@LAGovJeffLandry
.
I think legislators were hoping for a more compact timeline than 3 weeks.
Unclear to me if this means they will be redrawing maps because that isn't explicitly mentioned. #lalege
@LAGovJeffLandry
.
I think legislators were hoping for a more compact timeline than 3 weeks.
Unclear to me if this means they will be redrawing maps because that isn't explicitly mentioned. #lalege
First Saints game ....
October 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM
First Saints game ....
Louisiana! Don't forget to vote today!
October 11, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Louisiana! Don't forget to vote today!
Signs your work lunch is in New Orleans...
October 2, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Signs your work lunch is in New Orleans...
When you realize you live in a college town ...
September 19, 2025 at 1:46 AM
When you realize you live in a college town ...
While there was no mention of the sales tax rate hike or the expansion of the sales tax to digital goods in the presentation on the tax overhaul, it's alluded to on the handout.
I believe that what is meant by the mention of "'consumption based" taxes. #lalege
I believe that what is meant by the mention of "'consumption based" taxes. #lalege
September 16, 2025 at 11:50 PM
While there was no mention of the sales tax rate hike or the expansion of the sales tax to digital goods in the presentation on the tax overhaul, it's alluded to on the handout.
I believe that what is meant by the mention of "'consumption based" taxes. #lalege
I believe that what is meant by the mention of "'consumption based" taxes. #lalege
State Rep. Daryl Deshotel landed a helicopter in a field (old insurance lot) near the Louisiana Capitol this morning.
(He is taking helicopter flying lessons.)
(He is taking helicopter flying lessons.)
September 9, 2025 at 6:09 PM
State Rep. Daryl Deshotel landed a helicopter in a field (old insurance lot) near the Louisiana Capitol this morning.
(He is taking helicopter flying lessons.)
(He is taking helicopter flying lessons.)
Last week, Gov. Jeff Landry literally made a big point of saying that New Orleans had rebounded after Hurricane Katrina at an event for LIV GOLF.
He pointed to LIV's decision to bring an event to the city next year as an example of how well NOLA is doing.
#lalege
He pointed to LIV's decision to bring an event to the city next year as an example of how well NOLA is doing.
#lalege
September 3, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Last week, Gov. Jeff Landry literally made a big point of saying that New Orleans had rebounded after Hurricane Katrina at an event for LIV GOLF.
He pointed to LIV's decision to bring an event to the city next year as an example of how well NOLA is doing.
#lalege
He pointed to LIV's decision to bring an event to the city next year as an example of how well NOLA is doing.
#lalege
A couple of things:
1. Gov. Jeff Landry can send the national guard to New Orleans or Shreveport without the president.
2. Landry has said repeatedly that Louisiana is "winning" ... Sending the military to NOLA or Shreveport doesn't square with the state "winning" ... #lalege
1. Gov. Jeff Landry can send the national guard to New Orleans or Shreveport without the president.
2. Landry has said repeatedly that Louisiana is "winning" ... Sending the military to NOLA or Shreveport doesn't square with the state "winning" ... #lalege
September 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
A couple of things:
1. Gov. Jeff Landry can send the national guard to New Orleans or Shreveport without the president.
2. Landry has said repeatedly that Louisiana is "winning" ... Sending the military to NOLA or Shreveport doesn't square with the state "winning" ... #lalege
1. Gov. Jeff Landry can send the national guard to New Orleans or Shreveport without the president.
2. Landry has said repeatedly that Louisiana is "winning" ... Sending the military to NOLA or Shreveport doesn't square with the state "winning" ... #lalege
We went to see the mural at the Industrial Canal in the Lower Ninth Ward today. This is one of the walls that broke and caused devastating flooding in New Orleans 20 years ago.
The mural is well worth seeing. Highly recommend!
The mural is well worth seeing. Highly recommend!
September 1, 2025 at 1:40 AM
We went to see the mural at the Industrial Canal in the Lower Ninth Ward today. This is one of the walls that broke and caused devastating flooding in New Orleans 20 years ago.
The mural is well worth seeing. Highly recommend!
The mural is well worth seeing. Highly recommend!
The cutest of nephews.
August 16, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The cutest of nephews.
Gov. Jeff Landry declared Juneteenth a state holiday for government workers according to state Civil Service in May. www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/files/genera...
But the proclamation (No. 37 this year) is one of a few that hasn't been posted on the gov's website. gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/ne...
But the proclamation (No. 37 this year) is one of a few that hasn't been posted on the gov's website. gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/ne...
June 19, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Gov. Jeff Landry declared Juneteenth a state holiday for government workers according to state Civil Service in May. www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/files/genera...
But the proclamation (No. 37 this year) is one of a few that hasn't been posted on the gov's website. gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/ne...
But the proclamation (No. 37 this year) is one of a few that hasn't been posted on the gov's website. gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/ne...
What? The big beautiful bill wouldn't let states regulate AI for a decade?
June 14, 2025 at 1:12 AM
What? The big beautiful bill wouldn't let states regulate AI for a decade?
Here's the Louisiana House vote on this bill to eliminate the ability to provide a confidential tip about a ethics violation from a public employee or elected official. #lalege
May 20, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Here's the Louisiana House vote on this bill to eliminate the ability to provide a confidential tip about a ethics violation from a public employee or elected official. #lalege
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)
(Photo by @wesmuller.bsky.social)
May 20, 2025 at 12:04 AM
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)
(Photo by @wesmuller.bsky.social)
Louisiana Rep. Ventrella's bill to allow would-be fathers, grandparents, etc. to sue those doctors/others who "help" provide an abortion passed the House, but most women state reps. didn't vote for it.
30 women in the Louisiana House. 13 yays. 10 nays. 7 absent. #lalege
30 women in the Louisiana House. 13 yays. 10 nays. 7 absent. #lalege
May 14, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Louisiana Rep. Ventrella's bill to allow would-be fathers, grandparents, etc. to sue those doctors/others who "help" provide an abortion passed the House, but most women state reps. didn't vote for it.
30 women in the Louisiana House. 13 yays. 10 nays. 7 absent. #lalege
30 women in the Louisiana House. 13 yays. 10 nays. 7 absent. #lalege
Oh my. Former Gov. John Bel Edwards has met with Chuck Schumer about running against Bill Cassidy.
From @nytimes.com
From @nytimes.com
May 6, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Oh my. Former Gov. John Bel Edwards has met with Chuck Schumer about running against Bill Cassidy.
From @nytimes.com
From @nytimes.com
Hello from Pittsburgh. That tiny figure is Alex Ovechkin waving to the Pens crowd after they gave him a standing ovation. How very classy.
April 17, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Hello from Pittsburgh. That tiny figure is Alex Ovechkin waving to the Pens crowd after they gave him a standing ovation. How very classy.
For those who are interested in who is applying to the LA GATOR program (voucher expansion), they handed out this sheet at a hearing yesterday. #lalege
April 10, 2025 at 7:16 PM
For those who are interested in who is applying to the LA GATOR program (voucher expansion), they handed out this sheet at a hearing yesterday. #lalege
One other note: Yesterday, Gov. Jeff Landry partly blamed teachers for Amendment 2 not passing, (though teachers unions endorsed it.)
Give the blowout on Amendment 2, I think it's hard to say teachers had much to do with it going down. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/04/10/t...
Give the blowout on Amendment 2, I think it's hard to say teachers had much to do with it going down. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/04/10/t...
April 10, 2025 at 7:07 PM
One other note: Yesterday, Gov. Jeff Landry partly blamed teachers for Amendment 2 not passing, (though teachers unions endorsed it.)
Give the blowout on Amendment 2, I think it's hard to say teachers had much to do with it going down. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/04/10/t...
Give the blowout on Amendment 2, I think it's hard to say teachers had much to do with it going down. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/04/10/t...