The Louisiana Public Service Commission rejected an independent judge’s recommendation that would have required tech giant Meta to turn over key information about its data centers in Richland Parish, including projected economic impact, job creation & more. DETAILS: www.wwno.org/politics/202...

Louisiana PSC kills ruling that would force Meta to turn over key data center information

In a 3-1 vote, the PSC rejected an independent judge’s recommendation that information on jobs and power demand be made available through subpoenas.

wwno.org

Judges in Louisiana have made at least $1.1 million from investments in oil and petrochemical firms. So what happens when the companies they've invested in end up in their courtrooms?

Judges overseeing Louisiana's landmark oil cases have financial stakes in defendants

Federal judges held stock, bonds and leased mineral rights to Exxon, Chevron and others while hearing cases against the companies alleging damage to the La. coast.

floodlightnews.org

Records obtained by Gulf States Newsroom & @typeinvestigations.org show at least 121 of Gov. Jeff Landry’s employees — from senior aides to junior temps — have signed a strict confidentiality agreement with the governor’s office. 📝: @wadrewhawkins.bsky.social 🎥: Avery Leigh White

When you were a child, did summer reading feel like a chore, or was it fun? Research shows that many children don’t read enough and are behind when they return to school after summer break. One way to curb that? Book clubs. Read more here ⬇️ www.wwno.org/education/20...

How book clubs can help children fight the 'summer slide'

Research shows that many children don’t read enough and are behind when they return to school. One way to encourage more reading, experts say, is to let them read what they want.

wwno.org

The use of NDAs in the governor’s office is an apparent break from the previous administration in Louisiana, according to three senior officials who served under the former governor. typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...

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

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typeinvestigations.org

From @wadrewhawkins.bsky.social | In at least two Louisiana Public Service Commission proceedings, motions supporting large industrial projects that the commissioners adopted as their own were written by Entergy Louisiana executive Larry Hand. DETAILS ⬇️ www.wwno.org/local-region...

Tracked changes: An Entergy exec ghostwrote Louisiana PSC motions supporting Meta, Hyundai

Larry Hand, Entergy’s VP of regulatory and public affairs, wrote or suggested changes to PSC commissioners on two occasions, according to data obtained by the Gulf States Newsroom.

wwno.org

New from @wadrewhawkins.bsky.social | U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow signed an NDA with Laidley LLC — a shell company of Meta Platforms — in June 2024. Within months, she began buying stock in Meta and Nvidia, the company whose chips power Meta's data centers. MORE ⬇️ www.wwno.org/local-region...

Rep. Julia Letlow bought Meta stock after signing an NDA with the company, records show

Within months of signing a NDA with Laidley LLC, Letlow began buying stock in Meta and Nvidia. She didn't disclose those trades for more than a year.

wwno.org

Gov. Landry also personally signed an NDA directly with with Laidley LLC, the data center subsidiary of Meta Platforms. Here's an analysis of Landry's NDA, along with a link to download the document. www.wwno.org/politics/202...

Gov. Jeff Landry personally signed an NDA with Meta. Here’s what it says.

Records show Landry personally executed a "Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement" in April 2024 with Laidley LLC, the data center subsidiary of Meta Platforms.

wwno.org

This story is the result of months of reporting from @wadrewhawkins.bsky.social. Landry's office did not comment on the NDAs. But one legal expert described them as chilling speech "around a vast, ill-defined area — an unlimited group of topics and information — forever."

Records obtained by the Gulf States Newsroom & @typeinvestigations.org show at least 121 of Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry’s employees — from the most senior aides to the most junior temps — have signed a strict confidentiality agreement with the governor’s office. MORE ⬇️ 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

Over 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. @wadrewhawkins.bsky.social with @gulfstatesnewsroom.bsky.social: typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...

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

© Type Media Center document.write(new Date().getFullYear()). All Rights Reserved.

typeinvestigations.org

From the @gulfstatesnewsroom.bsky.social | Entergy wants to fast-track $21B Meta deal as PSC commissioner, advocates sound alarm MORE HERE: www.wwno.org/local-region...

Entergy wants to fast-track $21B Meta deal as PSC commissioner, advocates sound alarm

The Louisiana Public Service Commission is scheduled to take up Entergy's procedural motion at its session on Wednesday (April 15).

wwno.org

Federal judges held stock, bonds and leased mineral rights to Exxon, Chevron and others while hearing cases against the companies alleging damage to the Louisiana coast. MORE from @garretthazelwood.bsky.social, with @floodlightnews.org @typeinvestigations.org & @veritenews.org

Judges Overseeing Louisiana's Landmark Oil Cases Have Financial Stakes in Defendants

Federal judges held stock, bonds and leased mineral rights to Exxon, Chevron and others while hearing cases against the companies alleging damage to the La. coast.

wwno.org

BREAKING: Louisiana's health secretary is threatening to furlough staff who work to administer SNAP, the federal food aid program, over the "Schumer shutdown." www.wwno.org/public-healt...

Louisiana Department of Health threatens furloughs over SNAP funding

A letter from Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein to staff at LDH states that employees will be furloughed without pay for up to 240 hours between November 3 and December 2.

wwno.org

Big Freedia may be best known as the queen of bounce music, a New Orleans icon, and the standout feature on Beyonce's "Break My Soul." For now, anyway. With her new album, Pressing Onward, she just might be best known for taking everyone to church. bit.ly/4m3odU7

Following a tense three-day hearing, Judge Alvin Sharp says he needs more time to decide whether to free Jimmie Duncan pending another trial. bit.ly/4mf45xI

“The Quarter has never been this clean...it smells like Disney World.” A state appeals court is scheduled to review who will ultimately earn tens of millions of dollars cleaning up the Quarter. At stake is the attractiveness of some of the most important city blocks in the country. bit.ly/3H73ijx

From the Gulf States Newsroom | Independent grocery stores have had a tough five years. SNAP cuts will make it harder bit.ly/4meeGJj

Parishes in southeast Louisiana have opened sandbag distribution sites as the region prepares for significant rain and potential flooding. Here is a parish-by-parish list of places where residents can fill up on sandbags. bit.ly/3Uhosyo

From the Gulf States Newsroom | Q&A: How a conservative Mississippi mom became an advocate for legalizing drugs bit.ly/4lfxGHf

For Part 2 of his series examining the opioid crisis in the United States and the Gulf South, the Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins dives into the Netherlands' approach, and if it can be replicated. bit.ly/44ydbhZ

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said her agency will look into whether the parish commission violated state law when it touted a recent visit from Sen. Bernie Sanders to Shreveport. Nearly 2,000 people showed up for Sanders’ appearance as part of his “Fighting Oligarcy” tour. bit.ly/45FCNvz

Federal Medicaid cuts could cost Louisiana $4 billion bit.ly/408laRo

Between Land and Water: Tribal Relocation and Resistance bit.ly/4e662d2

From the Gulf States Newsroom | ‘I literally grew up in prison’: Juvenile lifers share struggles, pleasures of coming home bit.ly/4jUvx2g

Economists like to say nobody wins a trade war. The counter point is the American auto industry. Today on @LAConsidered, @stevebisaha shares how conflicts over trade have led automakers to open more U.S. factories.

Gian Durand and James Carter will ride at the helm of this year's parade. They spoke with Karen Henderson about how they’re using their positions to educate students about civil rights history and making Mardi Gras more inclusive. bit.ly/41cIwFj