Republicans running for Congress in Louisiana criticize the state Republican Party endorsement process and say it "smells to high heaven." “I’m running to win votes, not to win a backroom popularity contest of 8 in a secret emergency meeting." #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/08/29/l...

Louisiana GOP makes controversial endorsements for Congress. More could follow. • Louisiana Illuminator

The Republican Party of Louisiana’s leadership faced backlash this week after endorsing candidates in Louisiana’s two competitive congressional races using an opaque, private process.

lailluminator.com

Gov. Jeff Landry says he wasn't in Texas today, even if the state police plane he uses for travel was. Landry also says people didn't hear him properly during this interview today. He didn't say "got to Texas." He said "texts" not Texas. Here's Alex Lubben's story: www.nola.com/news/busines...

State lawmakers have partially restored funding for the Ellis Marsalis Center in New Orleans that Gov. Jeff Landry removed from the state budget. Harry Connick Jr. is one of the notable founders of the music school & venue for children from struggling communities. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports

Vetoed state money partially restored for New Orleans music center • Louisiana Illuminator

Louisiana lawmakers have partially restored funding for the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans that Gov. Jeff Landry removed from the state budget in June.

lailluminator.com

In June, Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed money for many New Oleans projects out of the state budget. Lawmakers restored money for one Thursday. Senate President Cameron Henry had inserted funds for the Marsalis music center at the request of Harry Connick Jr. #lalege lailluminator.com/briefs/jeff-...

Vetoed state money partially restored for New Orleans music center • Louisiana Illuminator

Louisiana lawmakers have partially restored funding for the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans that Gov. Jeff Landry removed from the state budget in June.

lailluminator.com

UPDATE: Motorola's 10-year no-bid contract with Louisiana to provide public safety and police technology and support is worth close to $200 million. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports

Louisiana signs $192.6 million no-bid contract with Motorola for public safety, police technology • Louisiana Illuminator

Louisiana lawmakers signed off Thursday on a 10-year, no-bid contract worth $192.6 million to provide public safety equipment and technology for law enforcement and the prison system.

lailluminator.com

Louisiana signed a sole-source, 10 year contract for $192.6m with Motorola for public safety technology (including body cameras) for state agencies. It requires Louisiana to spend $12.2m per year with the company to get discounts on equipment. #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/08/14/l...

Louisiana signs $192.6 million no-bid contract with Motorola for public safety, police technology • Louisiana Illuminator

Louisiana lawmakers signed off Thursday on a 10-year, no-bid contract worth $192.6 million to provide public safety equipment and technology for law enforcement and the prison system.

lailluminator.com

My co-plaintiffs and I have agreed to end our public records lawsuit against #LSU. Read more: #lalege #lagov

Reporters end suit seeking LSU revenue records after state law changes • Louisiana Illuminator

Three media outlets that sued LSU to obtain records that detail how its athletics department spends public money on student-athletes have agreed to end the case now that a new state law shields that i...

lailluminator.com

What would you be willing to spend $2275 on? Would you use it to run for Congress?

Louisiana House Health and Welfare Chairman Dustin Miller, D-Opelousas, owns independent rural health clinics that will receive more money because of the higher Medicaid payments. But Miller says he didn't push the higher pay and he wasn't involved in the legislation to do so. #lalege

Julie O'Donoghue@jsodonoghue.bsky.social · 3w ago

Independent rural health clinics (often owned by nurse practitioners) got a big boost in their Medicaid payments this year in Louisiana. Rural hospitals aren't happy about it. With Medicaid cuts, they worry they there won't be enough money to go around. #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/08/10/r...

Independent rural health clinics (often owned by nurse practitioners) got a big boost in their Medicaid payments this year in Louisiana. Rural hospitals aren't happy about it. With Medicaid cuts, they worry they there won't be enough money to go around. #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/08/10/r...

With Medicaid cuts ahead, Louisiana’s rural health providers battle over payments • Louisiana Illuminator

As the pool of Medicaid patients shrinks and Medicaid funding runs up against new limits, independently owned health clinics will receive a much larger share of what’s available once their new reimbur...

lailluminator.com

The algorithm needs to stop showing me sexy Sidney Crosby videos. Sidney Crosby is sexy but I'm not your audience!

Genuine question ... Donor sources keep saying this isn't a private equity deal. Can someone explain why not? Private investors are buying a stake (equity if you will) in LSU's broadcasting rights. Why is this not PE? www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

Private investors could help LSU build a revenue engine to fund athletics. Here's what we know.

LSU officials met with athletics boosters this week at the Governor’s Mansion to outline the plan, the details of which are still being worked out.

theadvocate.com

Louisiana Republicans are competing for President Trump's endorsement in the Congressional races. Trump endorsed Blake Miguez in the 5th in February but candidates say he's considering someone new. It's also not clear Miguez is running. lailluminator.com/2026/08/06/r...

Republicans compete for Trump endorsement in Louisiana’s congressional elections • Louisiana Illuminator

Republican candidates in Louisiana’s two competitive U.S. House elections are actively campaigning for President Donald Trump’s endorsement for the Nov. 3 primaries.

lailluminator.com

Heading into day two of qualifying, it still wasn't clear whether Blake Miguez would qualify for one of La.'s two competitive congressional races. In the meantime, GOP candidates are actively campaigning for President Trump’s endorsement for the Nov. 3 primaries. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports

Republicans compete for Trump endorsement in Louisiana’s congressional elections • Louisiana Illuminator

Republican candidates in Louisiana’s two competitive U.S. House elections are actively campaigning for President Donald Trump’s endorsement for the Nov. 3 primaries.

lailluminator.com

New candidates. New districts. New election date. The rerun of Louisiana's Congressional races doesn't look much like the first round. #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/08/05/l...

New districts scramble candidate qualifying for Louisiana’s US House races • Louisiana Illuminator

Louisiana’s current U.S. House races might appear similar to those underway just three months ago before the May 16 congressional primary was canceled, but they’re not.

lailluminator.com

Louisiana legislators approved a law change that erases an ethics fine for just one person. It will likely force the ethics board to rescind a $1k late fee for Rep. Steven Jackson. Jackson/the board have had several disputes over his fines. #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/07/31/s...

A Louisiana law change will erase an ethics fine for just one person • Louisiana Illuminator

The Louisiana Legislature voted for a law change that benefits only one person, state Rep. Steven Jackson, D-Shreveport, by erasing a $1,000 ethics fine he faces.

lailluminator.com

Local schools are still finalizing their staffing plans, but Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to provide another round of temporary pay stipends to public school employees will exclude thousands of positions that previously received the pay bump. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports

These Louisiana K-12 school jobs won’t come with a state stipend this year • Louisiana Illuminator

Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to provide another round of temporary pay stipends to public school employees could exclude thousands of positions that previously received the pay bump.

lailluminator.com

Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to provide another round of temporary pay stipends to public school employees excludes thousands of positions that previously received the pay bump, including school nurses, therapists, counselors (from @jsodonoghue.bsky.social) #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/07/29/l...

These Louisiana K-12 school jobs won’t come with a state stipend this year • Louisiana Illuminator

Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to provide another round of temporary pay stipends to public school employees could exclude thousands of positions that previously received the pay bump.

lailluminator.com

Thousands of public school employees - administrators, counselors, nurses - who received state stipends before won't get them under Gov. Jeff Landry's plan. 12,200 school jobs that came with stipends last yr. wouldn't qualify for them this yr. lailluminator.com/2026/07/29/l...

These Louisiana K-12 school jobs won’t come with a state stipend this year • Louisiana Illuminator

Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to provide another round of temporary pay stipends to public school employees could exclude thousands of positions that previously received the pay bump.

lailluminator.com

I'm just trying to figure out how this works in the real world. For example, there seems to be a conflict with whistleblower protections that are in state law to protect folks disclosing government corruption.* *I think? I'm not a lawyer.

Julie O'Donoghue@jsodonoghue.bsky.social · last mo.

Gov. Jeff Landry has made people who work for him in the governor's office sign NDAs prohibiting the sharing of "information of any nature whatsoever." They cover everyone down to interns and last a lifetime. www.wwno.org/politics/202...

From a practical standpoint, is the Office of the Governor going to sue a Landry staffer once Landry is no longer governor? The NDAs don't appear to allow for Landry to sue anyone personally for a breech of confidentiality. Only the governor's office can sue I think. #lalege

Julie O'Donoghue@jsodonoghue.bsky.social · last mo.

So the enforcement mechanism of the agreement is apparently legal action from the governor's office (from what I can tell). Are there any limitations on public resources being used to pursue a lawsuit against an ex-employee for breaking an NDA like this? #lalege

So the enforcement mechanism of the agreement is apparently legal action from the governor's office (from what I can tell). Are there any limitations on public resources being used to pursue a lawsuit against an ex-employee for breaking an NDA like this? #lalege

Julie O'Donoghue@jsodonoghue.bsky.social · last mo.

Gov. Jeff Landry has made people who work for him in the governor's office sign NDAs prohibiting the sharing of "information of any nature whatsoever." They cover everyone down to interns and last a lifetime. www.wwno.org/politics/202...

Gov. Jeff Landry has made people who work for him in the governor's office sign NDAs prohibiting the sharing of "information of any nature whatsoever." They cover everyone down to interns and last a lifetime. www.wwno.org/politics/202...

‘Gag order’: More than 100 Louisiana state employees signed NDAs with Gov. Landry’s office

Legal experts warn that the NDAs could create a culture of fear and chill employees’ constitutionally protected speech.

wwno.org

The night before Meta and Gov. Jeff Landry announced the expansion of the Meta data center project in NE Louisiana (the poorest part of the state), the owner of the Louisiana's largest media company and Meta threw an exclusive party together. www.nola.com/entertainmen...

Nell Nolan: Meta Platforms Dinner

The Buzz of Business

nola.com

The Louisiana Legislature joint budget committee has voted to move almost $170m to fund school teacher/staff stipends, with a few Democrats, but not all, voting no this morning. #lalege

AWAITING GUIDANCE: With classes starting next month, Louisiana school districts still don’t know how many of them, if any, will be exempt from having to pay $2,000 teacher stipends out of their existing state funds. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports

Landry says not all school districts have to give teacher stipends. Local leaders await more info. • Louisiana Illuminator

With classes starting next month, Louisiana school districts still don’t know how many of them, if any, will be exempt from having to pay $2,000 teacher stipends out of their existing state funds.

lailluminator.com

Gov. Jeff Landry reiterated last week that school districts giving local raises to teachers wouldn't be forced to cut funding to give stipends. But districts don't have criteria for that exemption yet and their $$ are already being withheld. #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/07/21/l...

Landry says not all school districts have to give teacher stipends. Local leaders await more info. • Louisiana Illuminator

With classes starting next month, Louisiana school districts still don’t know how many of them, if any, will be exempt from having to pay $2,000 teacher stipends out of their existing state funds.

lailluminator.com

Jefferson Parish teacher raises may be scrapped this year after Gov. Landry’s stipends advance bit.ly/4pt9MLB

Starting next month, you will no longer be able to be thrown in jail over sharing an elected official's birth date. Story from @jsodonoghue.bsky.social

Louisiana rewrites law that criminalized publication of elected officials’ personal information • Louisiana Illuminator

The Louisiana Legislature has watered down a state law that has made it a criminal offense to publish elected officials’ personal information on the internet.

lailluminator.com

Gov. Jeff Landry says Louisiana isn't as dependent on New Orleans for economic success as it once was. “New Orleans thinks they're so special,” he said. “That parish is going to operate exactly like the rest of this state." Story from @jsodonoghue.bsky.social lailluminator.com/2026/07/13/g...

Gov. Jeff Landry: New Orleans is no longer as important to Louisiana as it once was • Louisiana Illuminator

Amid an ongoing power struggle between state Republicans and New Orleans Democrats, Gov. Jeff Landry said New Orleans is no longer as important to Louisiana’s economic success as it has been in the pa...

lailluminator.com