By Greg LaRose | Editor-in-Chief
Good Wednesday morning. Here’s what’s making news in state politics.
The F. G. Clark Activity Center at Southern University in Baton Rouge. (Photo provided by Southern University)
By Piper Hutchinson
Interim Southern University President Orlando McMeans wants the task force studying how to revamp the state’s higher education funding formula to take underfunding of Louisiana’s largest historically Black college into consideration.
By Elise Plunk
An unknown white powder was found Tuesday afternoon in a letter sent to Louisiana’s state elections office in Baton Rouge, according to Secretary of State Nancy Landry. Law enforcement were called in to test the substance as the elections department was evacuated.
Rep. Debbie Villio authored the proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate the ability of judges to set bail for people convicted of certain crimes against minors. (Photo by Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)
By Piper Hutchinson
Louisiana voters could remove the power of judges to grant bail to persons convicted of certain crimes with minors as victims. Post-conviction bail can be granted at a judge’s discretion before the convicted person reports to prison, such as when their case is on appeal or they haven’t been sentenced yet.
A partially flooded road in Venice, Louisiana. A new report looks at how coastal restoration can be connected to lower flood insurance rates and risk. (Photo by Elise Plunk/Louisiana Illuminator)
By Elise Plunk
A flood reduction project on an island off Alabama’s coast is helping Louisiana researchers understand how coastal restoration can decrease both risk and insurance prices in other Gulf Coast communities. The report from The Water Institute shows that while coastal restoration reduces the risk of flooding for nearby homes and businesses, more policy work is needed to better reflect that lower risk in insurance prices.
By David Montgomery
Throughout many states, the rosters of public defenders have been shrinking at an alarming rate, often leaving defendants in jail for days, weeks or months without access to an attorney. There is plenty of evidence to suggest jurisdictions across the nation are struggling to provide attorneys to the estimated 80% to 90% of criminal defendants who cannot afford one.
D.C. DIGEST
3 news outlets banned from White House get access for now | States Newsroom
Trump pressed states for info on millions of voters. It’s mostly failed. | States Newsroom
Students head to DC for National Civics Bee Championship | States Newsroom
NEWS FROM THE STATES
Isiais death toll in Florida reaches 6, thousands without power | Florida Phoenix
Trump issues pardons, attacks ranked voting in Alaska | Alaska Beacon
Thanks for reading Morning Look. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.