New story alert 🚨🔔‼️To get more info about the environmental & health impacts of industrial pollution, citizens are taking data collection into their own hands — despite a state law restricting how their research can be used to enforce state regulations lailluminator.com/2025/11/02/c...

Happy finally-cold-enough-to-wear-a-sweater-outside-and-not-immediately-sweat-through season🎉🍁🍂

Been a summer full of reporting, so here’s a couple highlights: Started July with a look at water quality trading (complete with a cheesecake comparison 🍰)

Have you dropped off July 4 barbecue to your favorite Louisiana government office yet? Under looser Louisiana ethics rules, any person can now gift government workers and elected officials $81 worth of food for every one of our 11 state holidays.

Landry takes aim at ‘misfire’ bill in veto of sharp-shooter senator’s nutrition legislation #lalege #lagov

Sometime before Katrina, one of the world's biggest mining companies stocked a fishing pond on its corporate lodge in Plaquemines Parish with tilapia, a non-native fish that can gobble up everything and take over ecosystems.

Kennedy’s appearance at Pennington comes as the future of some employees at the facility and their work are in question as the Trump administration proposes drastic reductions in health and scientific research. RFK Jr. declined to take questions about the cuts #lalege #lagov

Two Iranian-born #LSU students were arrested this week by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement at their off-campus apartment in Baton Rouge, the university has confirmed. #lalege #lagov

ANALYSIS: Louisiana has watered down its wetlands protection laws, leading to concerns that new development could raise flooding risks, destroy vital habitat. @eplunk.bsky.social reports for @agwaterdesk.bsky.social lailluminator.com/2025/06/25/w...

Happy 5th birthday Louisiana Illuminator! Share some love for the occasion with a donation if you like, and enjoy paywall-free coverage of Louisiana news regardless

Annual forecasts for the Gulf “dead zone” at the mouth of the Mississippi River predicts the section of water with low oxygen levels will be about average in size this year. @elisabethbik.bsky.social reports. @agwaterdesk.bsky.social lailluminator.com/2025/06/12/d...

Louisiana legislators voted to give $3.5 million in state funds to #LSU to purchase a horse facility which the university did not request. #lalege #lagov

I’m gonna have a cute little iced coffee in a jar tomorrow morning 😌

"Be very careful about using campaign funds for subsidizing your lifestyle." Bill to allow broader campaign spending while limiting transparency on campaign activity is still moving forward -- albeit with some tightened up language. #lalege lailluminator.com/2025/06/06/b...

RED ALERT Part 2: The public reported problems with toxic runoff from the Atalco alumni refinery long before inspectors found breaches in the levees meant to contain waste. @wesmuller.bsky.social reports lailluminator.com/2025/06/03/r...

BUILDING IN THE BACKWATERS: If the Louisiana Legislature approves a proposed update to its laws, environmentalists fear wetlands areas won't be protected under state or federal law that limits backfilling and development. @eplunk.bsky.social reports lailluminator.com/2025/06/04/l...

Louisiana will limit lawsuits against nursing homes over wrongful death/injury, unless Gov. Jeff Landry vetoes a bill. “We are supposed to protect the elderly – not somebody who is trying to make more money off the elderly." #lalege lailluminator.com/2025/06/03/l...

RED ALERT: The Atalco Alumina refinery in Gramercy has spilled toxic waste into the community and knew about it for months. @wesmuller.bsky.social reports regulators have been tracking the problem, but with few percussions so far for the company. Part 1 of a series lailluminator.com/2025/06/02/r...

UPDATE: Attempt to remove fluoride from Louisiana drinking water goes flat. @eplunk.bsky.social reports lailluminator.com/briefs/attem...

New studies point to increasing risk of loss from wind, rain during hurricanes. @eplunk.bsky.social reports: lailluminator.com/briefs/hurri...

That Louisiana House Black Caucus is standing up to protest an anti-DEI bill brought by Republican Rep. Emily Chenevert, which is currently being debated on the House floor. (Photo by @wesmuller.bsky.social)

A new harvesting technique has been pitched as a way to save Louisiana's shrinking oyster industry. @eplunk.bsky.social explores whether it can help offset the loss of coastal areas where oysters have been harvested for generations. @agwaterdesk.bsky.social lailluminator.com/2025/05/19/l...

Weather modification bills, fueled by ‘magic’ and conspiracy theories, advance in Louisiana. @eplunk.bsky.social reports lailluminator.com/2025/05/19/w...

Supporters of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project took to the State Capitol steps Monday afternoon, urging state leaders to advance the stalled coastal restoration project. @eplunk.bsky.social reports   lailluminator.com/2025/05/12/m...

In a David vs Goliath style debate, residents take on the oil and gas industry and supporters of carbon capture. The first key bill to give parishes more control over projects went down today. Co-written with my colleague @eplunk.bsky.social #lalege #lagov lailluminator.com/2025/04/29/l...

As demand for AI rises, so do power thirsty data centers. Paige Gross reports for @statesnewsroom.com lailluminator.com/2025/04/09/r...

Associated Press wins reinstatement to White House events after judge rules government can’t bar its journalists

NEW: Someone recently paid $2,138 for a reservation at a French Quarter restaurant. Should this be outlawed? @wesmuller.bsky.social reports there's a legislative proposal that would ban websites/apps that offer this service lailluminator.com/2025/04/06/s...

NOT BITING: Judge blocks Trump’s plan for industrial fish farming in the Gulf. @tristanbaurick.bsky.social reports in a collab btw @veritenews.org and @gristnews.bsky.social lailluminator.com/2025/04/03/f...

"Solar for Y'all" survived this round of the EPA's greenhouse gas reduction fund cuts, but the future of this program remains hazy. Worked with @halleparker.bsky.social on exactly what's at stake for Louisiana

"Fueling Knowledge," a two part investigative series on the long-standing relationship between LSU and the fossil fuel industry (and a Sea Change podcast episode!) @piperhutch.bsky.social @floodlightnews.org @wwno.org

Mississippi River mayors lobby for more government funding for flooding, mitigation. @eplunk.bsky.social reports for the @agwaterdesk.bsky.social lailluminator.com/2025/03/10/m...

The goal of legislation @reptroycarter.bsky.social is cosponsoring is to fund grants for habitat restoration, fisheries research and the mitigation of invasive species along the Mississippi River Basin. @eplunk.bsky.social reports for @agwaterdesk.bsky.social lailluminator.com/2025/03/05/p...

We may not get a flu vaccine next year because the Trump administration canceled the meeting to pick the flu strains that the vaccine would protect against. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/u...

More on the shrimp saga:

NEW: ICE awards $1B contract for major immigrant detention center to a private prison firm that runs ICE processing centers in Louisiana. @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social reports for @statesnewsroom.com lailluminator.com/2025/02/27/r...

Louisiana’s wetlands store massive amounts of carbon. They can also contribute to emissions when they're lost. Check out my new story on the "Blue Carbon" of Louisiana lailluminator.com/2025/02/26/w...

An Illuminator podcast?? 👀 Share your thoughts on what you'd like to hear in our survey and consider sending a couple bucks to help us start it up! lailluminator.com/2025/02/24/i...

I pace when I'm on a phone call, and my dear sweet cat thinks that means it's time to run around in circles and meow as loud as she can

Louisiana has two nuclear power plants that are responsible for 20% of the state's energy according to Entergy. With a new admin in the WH -- there could be a push to expand it. #lalege #lagov www.brproud.com/news/local-n...

Folks who live and work along Louisiana's coast are enthusiastically embracing the Gulf of America name change. Many told me they expect it to be a boon to the local coastal economy. “I look at the Gulf of America every day." lailluminator.com/2025/02/17/o...

DID YOU KNOW: U.S. Transportation Sect. Sean Duffy made it a priority for DOT funds to go to areas w/birth rates higher than the national avg. @kelciemmorris.bsky.social reports how conservatives want to increase birth rates, and moms in some states are terrified. lailluminator.com/2025/02/15/r...

Gov. Landry forced to provide text messages about sidelined LSU law professor. @piperhutch.bsky.social is covering the professor's lawsuit against the university. lailluminator.com/2025/02/10/l...

Louisiana opens registration for newest round of fortified roof grants, @wesmuller.bsky.social reports: lailluminator.com/2025/02/12/l...

Since StoryReach U.S. Fellow @lorenaoneil.com broke the story on the health risks of Louisiana’s new restrictions on two crucial #pregnancy care drugs, her reporting for @lailluminator.com has already been cited in a lawsuit and Congressional report on the controlled substances law. 👉 bit.ly/4jz0Gtg

God I love peat bogs

Researchers calculated the cost to prevent nitrogen runoff that creates a Gulf dead zone each year. Just a 45% reduction will cost billions, and @eplunk.bsky.social reports nitrogen is only one contributor that starves the Gulf of oxygen. @agwaterdesk.bsky.social lailluminator.com/2025/02/03/g...

Endlessly delighted when I see a clever pun as the title for a scientific study

Fun local fact amidst national news chaos: oysters are so prolific in Louisiana in part because of nutrients and fresh-salt mix of water carried from the Mississippi River as it connects with the Gulf of Mexico! (craving oysters after typing this) 🦪

Up for a deep dive into Louisiana’s insurance crisis? lailluminator.com/2025/01/27/i...