Melinda Deslatte

The Louisiana Legislature returns today for a three-month regular session, with more than 1,300 bills prefiled. Session opens at noon. Gov. Jeff Landry speaks to a joint gathering of the House and Senate at 1 pm. #lalege #lagov

Louisiana legislators propose changes to closed party primaries that haven’t been used yet • Louisiana Illuminator Holding a closed primary for just the BESE offices alongside the jungle primary next year would cost the state at least $6 million more in election expenses, Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry ...

Louisiana legislators propose changes to closed party primaries that haven’t been used yet lailluminator.com/2026/03/09/c... (from @jsodonoghue.bsky.social) #lalege

Enrollment, money woes cause some to ask: Does Louisiana higher education need an overhaul? With 18 public universities across three different systems, Louisiana officials and higher education leaders have questioned how to handle schools struggling with enrollment and budget challenges.

Enrollment, money woes cause some to ask: Does Louisiana higher education need an overhaul? www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @theadvocatebr #lalege #laed

La. legislative leaders preview priorities for upcoming session House Speaker Phillip DeVillier and Senate President Cameron Henry appeared Monday at the Baton Rouge Press Club.

Senate President Cameron Henry and House Speaker Phillip DeVillier preview priorities for upcoming session wafb.com/2026/03/03/l... (from @wafb.com) #lalege

As the Appropriations Committee begins its deep dive into the governor's budget proposal for next year, the Legislative Fiscal Office has provided useful analysis and background information on the spending plans: lfo.louisiana.gov/files/public... #lalege

New Orleans flood agency wants to expand its police force again. Key vote is upcoming. The New Orleans Flood Protection Authority is proposing to expand its police force and raise spending by $2 million. Watchdog groups say the agency’s focus should remain on flood protection.

New Orleans flood agency wants to expand its police force again www.nola.com/news/environ... via @alexlubben.bsky.social #lalege

‘GATOR is not going to grow’: Senate President rejects Jeff Landry’s bid to expand school vouchers Louisiana state Senate President Cameron Henry said he wants to keep funding for LA GATOR at its current level — flatly rejecting Gov. Jeff Landry’s push to double funding for the program, which gives...

‘GATOR is not going to grow’: Senate President rejects Jeff Landry’s bid to expand school vouchers, says he’ll push to keep funding flat at $44M (from @patrick_wall) #lalege #laed www.nola.com/news/educati...

Louisiana juvenile justice system costs grow as state locks up more youth • Louisiana Illuminator The costs of running Louisiana’s juvenile justice system surged over the past seven years as elected officials decided to keep more teens and young adults in youth prisons.

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Gov. Jeff Landry's proposed budget for juvenile justice is $226.6m, almost double what the agency received 7 years ago in 2018/19.

Spending grew under Landry and former Gov. John Bel Edwards, as youth prison populations grow. #lalege

lailluminator.com/2026/02/24/l...

Gov. Landry names new LSU Board of Supervisors chairman • Louisiana Illuminator Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has selected Lee Mallett, one of his largest campaign donors, to chair the LSU Board of Supervisors.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has selected Lee Mallett, one of his largest campaign donors, to chair the LSU Board of Supervisors. Mallett has taken an unusually active role in the day-to-day functions of #LSU in his years on the board #lalege #lagov

La. prison sentence calculation system prone to errors, audit finds Louisiana’s Department of Corrections uses a complicated system to calculate prison release dates that lacks proper oversight and creates risk for errors, according to a new legislative audit.

Audit finds Louisiana prison sentence calculation system prone to errors; Legislative auditors say lack of oversight creates risk for incorrect release dates wafb.com/2026/02/10/l... (from
@wafb.com) #lalege

The candidate registration period for Louisiana's new closed party primary elections (for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Louisiana Supreme Court, Public Service Commission and BESE seats) opens tomorrow. Here's how the new process works for candidates: parlouisiana.org/wp-content/u... #lalege

Louisiana Department of Health targets fraud with new internal watchdog role The Louisiana Department of Health is creating a Chief Accountability Officer to strengthen oversight, reduce fraud and assess whether programs are working.

Louisiana Department of Health targets fraud with new internal watchdog role www.nola.com/news/healthc... via @emilywoodruff.bsky.social #lalege

How do you challenge hazing culture? A task force named for Caleb Wilson proposed these changes. Louisiana should start teaching kids about the dangers of hazing while they are in elementary school, the task force said.

How do you challenge hazing culture? A task force named for Caleb Wilson proposed these changes ahead of the legislative session. www.nola.com/news/educati... via @nolanews.bsky.social #lalege #laed

LSU replaces New Orleans medical school chancellor with ousted Shreveport leader • Louisiana Illuminator Forced to resign last year as chancellor of LSU’s medical school in Shreveport, Dr. David Guzick will take the same job at its New Orleans campus, replacing Dr. Steve Nelson who was fired Thursday.

Forced to resign last year as chancellor of #LSU’s medical school in Shreveport, Dr. David Guzick will take the same job at its New Orleans campus, replacing Dr. Steve Nelson who was fired Thursday. #lalege #lagov

Louisiana is trying to avoid a nearly $100 million penalty by fixing errors in food stamp program With $95 million on the line, Louisiana health officials are rolling out cash bonuses, tighter reviews and new wage checks to reduce errors in SNAP, the food assistance program serving one in five hou...

Louisiana is trying to avoid a nearly $100 million penalty by fixing errors in food stamp program (from ⁦
@emilywoodruff.bsky.social⁩) #lalege theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

Posting personal info about some Louisiana officials is now illegal. Is that constitutional? Louisiana lawmakers and statewide officials can now ask people to keep their personal information off the internet. But the law violates the First Amendment, some argue.

Posting personal info about some Louisiana officials is now illegal. Some argue that is unconstitutional. (From ⁦
@theadvocatebr.bsky.social) #lalege theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

New Orleans legislative delegation comes into clearer view as Murray wins, two races head to runoff Here are the full results from Saturday’s elections.

New Orleans legislative delegation comes into clearer view as Murray wins, two races head to runoff (from ⁦
@nolanews.bsky.social) #lalege nola.com/news/politic...

Democrat Chasity Verret Martinez wins District 60 seat, replacing Chad Brown Martinez, a Democrat and Iberville Parish Council member won Saturday's special election with 62% of the vote against small business owner and port commission member Brad Daigle.

Democrat Chasity Verret Martinez wins District 60 state House seat, filling vacancy left by Chad Brown (from ⁦
@theadvocatebr.bsky.social) theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... #lalege

Following recent resignations, levee expert sees politics dominating flood protection authority Two resignations from the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East has left the agency with commissioners who have been appointed by Louisiana's governor.

Following recent resignations, levee expert sees politics dominating flood protection authority fox8live.com/2026/02/04/f... (from
@fox8live.com) #lalege

Southern University begins presidential search with timeline through May Southern University’s search committee held its first meeting Thursday to begin the process of finding a new president, establishing a timeline that extends through May.

Southern University begins presidential search with timeline through May wafb.com/2026/02/05/s... (from
@wafb.com) #lalege #laed

Students who can’t get into LSU could get a spot at UNO under transition plan • Louisiana Illuminator LSU has signed a data-sharing agreement with the University of New Orleans that will allow students applying to the Baton Rouge flagship campus for the fall semester to be offered a spot at what is so...

#LSU has signed a data-sharing agreement with the University of New Orleans that will allow students applying to the Baton Rouge flagship campus for the fall semester to be offered a spot at what is soon to become LSU New Orleans. #lalege #lagov

New Orleans flood authority police chief drops battery charge against board member after resignation A criminal battery charge against a New Orleans flood authority board member was dropped shortly after she resigned, as officials dispute whether the two events were connected.

New Orleans flood authority police chief drops battery charge against board member after resignation www.nola.com/news/environ... via @alexlubben.bsky.social #lalege

New Orleans levee board turmoil rises after resignations, allegation police chief was punched A battery allegation against a levee board member has intensified a year-long dispute at a New Orleans–area flood authority.

New Orleans levee board turmoil rises after resignations, allegation police chief was punched; Two remaining board members not appointed by Gov. Jeff Landry are resigning www.nola.com/news/politic... via @alexlubben.bsky.social #lalege

Blake Miguez exits U.S. Senate race, will run for Julia Letlow’s House seat instead Miguez is the latest candidate to leave the race after President Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow.

State Sen. Blake Miguez exits U.S. Senate race, will run for Julia Letlow’s House seat instead theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via
@theadvocatebr.bsky.social
#lalege #lasen #LA05

Saturday’s special election involves 5 vacant Louisiana legislative seats • Louisiana Illuminator A special election is set for Saturday to fill five vacant seats in the Louisiana Legislature.

Saturday’s special election involves 5 vacant Louisiana legislative seats lailluminator.com/2026/02/03/s... (from @greglarose.bsky.social) #lalege

Chief of Staff Kyle Ruckert leaves governor's office, moves to leadership role at Landry's PAC Kyle Ruckert, Jeff Landry's chief of staff, is leaving the governor's office, a spokesperson for Landry told WBRZ on Monday.

Gov. Jeff Landry's Chief of Staff Kyle Ruckert leaves governor's office after two years in the position, will stay involved with the governor's PAC (from
@wbrznews2.bsky.social)
wbrz.com/news/chief-o... #lalege #lagov

Louisiana has country’s highest combined sales tax rates, a new report says. Here’s why. A new report from the Tax Foundation found Louisiana’s average combined state and local sales tax rate was 10.11%, the highest in the nation for the third year in a row. But Louisiana has made cuts in...

Louisiana has country’s highest combined sales tax rates, a new report says. The rate went up 0.55% last year after lawmakers overhauled the state tax system, made cuts to income, corporate taxes. nola.com/news/politic... via
@theadvocatebr.bsky.social #lalege #lagov

The state health department says eight people in Louisiana have died from the #winterweather. ldh.la.gov/news/five-ad... #lalege

Louisiana paroles lowest number of prisoners in 20 years The state parole board freed 185 prisoners during Landry’s tenure, compared with 858 in the two years before he took office. Hundreds who would have been released under previous governors remain incar...

Louisiana paroles lowest number of prisoners in 20 years (from ⁦
@veritenews.org) veritenews.org/2026/01/27/l... #lalege

The budget proposal also includes a $42 million increase in state spending to administer the food stamp program (known as SNAP) because the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act requires states to pay more of the administrative costs for the program. #lalege #lagov