By Greg LaRose | Editor-in-Chief
Change is apparently in the works for Louisiana’s child welfare agency. We’re not sure what that will look like yet, but it apparently won’t be quite as dramatic as first pitched.
Sen. Patrick McMath proposed dismantling the state Department of Children and Family Services, but Gov. Jeff Landry has indicated he wants to pursue reducing or sharing the agency's work instead. (Allison Allsop/LAI)
By Greg LaRose
A new plan to dismantle Louisiana’s child welfare agency will likely be dialed back after Gov. Jeff Landry made it known he wants to scale back the proposal. Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington had proposed to move tasks the state Department of Child and Family Services handles to other state departments.
A fleur de lis sculpture is the centerpiece of the quadrangle fountain at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. (Greg LaRose/LAI)
By Piper Hutchinson
Louisiana lawmakers have advanced a bill that would prohibit colleges and universities from punishing professors for their research, teaching controversial subjects or free speech outside of the classroom. In addition to protecting academic freedom and speech unrelated to their work, the bill would also protect faculty who act as whistleblowers.
Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry, left, sits with Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill the State Capitol during a speech from Gov. Jeff Landry on Feb. 19, 2024, the opening day of a legislative special session focusing on crime. (Hillary Schienuk/The Advocate, Pool)
By Wes Muller
Louisiana officials believe federal election commissioners are unconstitutionally blocking the state’s addition of a proof-of-citizenship requirement to a federal voter registration form. Attorney General Liz Murrill, who has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, said the state wants to collect the information to verify that only U.S. citizens are voting in elections.
By Kevin Hardy
Though public scrutiny of data centers is growing, Louisiana is among 14 states do not disclose how much revenue they lose to data center tax breaks, according to a new study. The lack of disclosure comes as other states record mounting losses in tax revenue to data center subsidies — including three states with amounts exceeding $1 billion.
By Jay Waagmeester
Environmental groups are joining an effort to block rules from President Donald Trump’s administration exempting energy companies drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from legal protections for endangered species. Last month, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth asked for an exemption to the Endangered Species Act, on the basis of national security, to drill for oil and gas in the Gulf.
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