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 wk.

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 wk.

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 wk.

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

Starting next month, Louisiana elected officials will no longer be able to sue or bring criminal charges over the sharing of their birth dates and divorce records on the internet. You will no longer risk jail time for pointing out a judge's age. #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/07/12/l...

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

Louisiana lawmakers canceled their veto override session.* *Most Democrats did not vote to cancel it and some Republicans also didn't vote to cancel it.** **Some GOP members told me they meant to send in their ballots but didn't. lailluminator.com/2026/07/08/l...

Louisiana Legislature cancels veto override session • Louisiana Illuminator

Louisiana lawmakers voted this week to cancel a special session scheduled this month to potentially override a handful of vetoes Gov. Jeff Landry issued.

lailluminator.com

In newly obtained bodycam video, the pastor uses the f-slur twice to refer to the man he beat up two days prior.

New bodycam shows Tony Spell using slur, threatening man two days after arrest. See video.

The pastor can be heard using a slur and threatening his neighbor less than two days after his arrest.

theadvocate.com

The lawsuit pushing back against Gov. Jeff Landry's school funding/teacher stipend plan lives on. The education advocates who are plaintiffs have new attorneys and a hearing is scheduled for 10 am tomorrow. (But the TRO isn't in place.) #lalege

Louisiana Supreme Court frees death row prisoner, calling evidence against him ‘scientifically indefensible’ The decision affirms a lower court’s ruling nullifying Jimmie ‘Chris’ Duncan’s 1998 first-degree murder conviction. Duncan was convicted based in part on forensic evidence that is now…

Louisiana Supreme Court frees death row prisoner, calling evidence against him ‘scientifically indefensible’

The decision affirms a lower court’s ruling nullifying Jimmie ‘Chris’ Duncan’s 1998 first-degree murder conviction. Duncan was convicted based in part on forensic evidence that is now widely regarded as junk science.

veritenews.org

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has canceled her offices contracts with Baker Donelson, the law firm that was representing plaintiffs suing Gov. Jeff Landry over his education funding plan. She also demanded the firm return some of its legal fees. lailluminator.com/2026/06/29/l...

Landry teacher stipend plan back on after judge scraps lawsuit on technicality • Louisiana Illuminator

Gov. Jeff Landry can move forward with his strategy to cut public school operations funding to provide another round of teacher pay stipends this year after a Baton Rouge judge threw out an order Mond...

lailluminator.com

Baker Donelson cannot represent clients suing Gov. Jeff Landry over education funding while also representing the governor in a foster care case, Judge Moore says. The ruling brought an end to a lawsuit trying to stop Landry's school funding plan. #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/06/29/l...

Landry teacher stipend plan back on after judge scraps lawsuit on technicality • Louisiana Illuminator

Gov. Jeff Landry can move forward with his strategy to cut public school operations funding to provide another round of teacher pay stipends this year after a Baton Rouge judge threw out an order Mond...

lailluminator.com

The child welfare litigation is in federal court. The successful argument was that the same law firm (Baker Donelson) could not work for the plaintiffs suing the @LAGovJeffLandry over the school funding and also represent the governor in federal court over foster care. #lalege

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

The temporary restraining order blocking the cut to K-12 school funding has been dissolved - on a technicality. The judge ruled the law firm had a conflict of interest in representing the plaintiffs because they also represent the state in child welfare litigation. #lalege

The temporary restraining order blocking the cut to K-12 school funding has been dissolved - on a technicality. The judge ruled the law firm had a conflict of interest in representing the plaintiffs because they also represent the state in child welfare litigation. #lalege

This lawsuit and the judge who ordered the TRO also raise constitutional questions about the legislators' virtual voting. But again, the Legislature isn't a defendant in the lawsuit and is directing the virtual voting. It's a bit confusing but I'm not a lawyer! #lalege

Julie O'Donoghue@jsodonoghue.bsky.social · 2mo ago

ICYMI: A judge has temporarily blocked Gov. Jeff Landry's plan to pay for teacher stipends by cutting other school funding. But he may not have stopped the Legislature from voting on the plan because they aren't defendants in this lawsuit. #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/06/18/g...

ICYMI: A judge has temporarily blocked Gov. Jeff Landry's plan to pay for teacher stipends by cutting other school funding. But he may not have stopped the Legislature from voting on the plan because they aren't defendants in this lawsuit. #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/06/18/g...

Louisiana judge temporarily blocks Landry’s teacher stipend plan • Louisiana Illuminator

Three longtime public education advocates filed a lawsuit Thursday to block Gov. Jeff Landry and other state officials from cutting funds for K-12 school operations in order to give out another round ...

lailluminator.com

We voted!

Quote of the month goes to ... “When you start comparing St. Tammany Parish to smaller rural parishes like Caldwell Parish, that’s like comparing my Jack Russell to a thoroughbred horse." - Randy Rentz, Caldwell Parish School Board president lailluminator.com/2026/06/17/j...

Ahead of crucial vote, Landry, legislative leaders push back on teacher stipend plan opposition • Louisiana Illuminator

Gov. Jeff Landry and legislative leaders are pushing back on claims from public school leaders that the governor’s plan to pay for teacher stipends with school operations funds would hurt public educa...

lailluminator.com

PAY PLAN PUSHBACK: Gov. Jeff Landry and legislative leaders are challenging claims from public school leaders that the governor’s plan to pay for teacher stipends with school operations funds would hurt public education across Louisiana. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports

Ahead of crucial vote, Landry, legislative leaders push back on teacher stipend opposition • Louisiana Illuminator

Gov. Jeff Landry and legislative leaders are pushing back on claims from public school leaders that the governor’s plan to pay for teacher stipends with school operations funds would hurt public educa...

lailluminator.com

With a crucial vote in the legislature a week away, Gov. Jeff Landry and the legislature's leaders are starting to push back on the narrative from public school leaders that his plan could hurt public education. #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/06/17/j...

Ahead of crucial vote, Landry, legislative leaders push back on teacher stipend opposition • Louisiana Illuminator

Gov. Jeff Landry and legislative leaders are pushing back on claims from public school leaders that the governor’s plan to pay for teacher stipends with school operations funds would hurt public educa...

lailluminator.com