Important story from our John Simerman about Cade Cole, a Louisiana Supreme Court justice, who helped draft a law, then ruled on it from the bench (casting a vote that its ballot language was good to go before voters). Is that allowed? www.nola.com/news/louisia...

Our investigations newsletter for @nolanews.bsky.social / @theadvocatebr.bsky.social has returned! Sign up here for behind-the-scenes details on our stories and how we tell them: www.nola.com/investigativ...

LSU's Javien Toviano recently entered the transfer portal. But federal court records that @rjamesfinn.bsky.social got show he was recently suspended from LSU over a Title IX case that found him responsible for sexual exploitation. Details here: theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

Amid immigration sweeps in Louisiana, a longtime oysterman and deckhand from Honduras drowned trying to flee the feds in the fishing enclave of Hopedale. His story here: www.nola.com/news/crime_p...

As we come upon the one year anniversary of the New Orleans Bourbon Street terror attack, highly recommend this @rjamesfinn.bsky.social story with insider accounts about the chaotic initial response, search for further suspects and more: nola.com/news/crime_p...

As Border Patrol does sweeps in New Orleans, both U.S. citizens and permit holders have been detained so far. Details of what we know: www.nola.com/news/politic...

A trio of political influencers — Baton Rouge GOP head Woody Jenkins, Gonzales state Rep. Kathy Edmonston and Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jefferson Hughes III — have targeted Louisiana's only family court with an unusual probe. Here's what we know: www.nola.com/news/courts/...

For the first time, universities can directly pay their student athletes. But how much is Garrett Nussmeier making from LSU? What are other schools paying? We filed records requests with every college in the state. They won’t give specifics: www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

Trees in New Orleans often carry memories of hurricane damage. But as @sam-karlin.bsky.social explores in his series on rising summer temps and heat deaths in Louisiana, trees can make a huge difference in cooling down cities. Still, our canopy is sparse www.nola.com/news/new-orl...

Early morning news: New archbishop of New Orleans has been named, one of Pope Leo's first appointments. www.nola.com/news/busines...

As summers in Louisiana get hotter, heat-related deaths are soaring. But it’s a quiet disaster, @sam-karlin.bsky.social reports in his new deep dive. No blue taped roofs or spray painted homes that show the true toll. Louisiana is doing little to prevent it. www.nola.com/news/environ...

New link for today's story: www.nola.com/news/courts/...

News: Louisiana Supreme Court DENIES Ed Orgeron's application for rehearing on his divorce settlement. He remains on the hook for more than $8 million for his ex-wife, Kelly Orgeron. Details here: www.nola.com/news/courts/...

Judges showing up late, then leaving before noon. An endless cycle of continuances for reasons that include attending a Mardi Gras ball. Victims & defendants trapped in limbo for years. Welcome to New Orleans criminal court. Part 2 of our Longing for Justice series: www.nola.com/news/crime_p...

Louisiana death penalty watch: AG's office is arguing that the state should be allowed to sentence minors to death. The state argues that SCOTUS got it wrong in their 2005 decision in Roper v Simmons, when they held 5-4 that it's cruel & unusual punishment www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina and the levee failures swallowed New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, leaving behind ruin that stunned the world. Our photographers were there — in boats,

Brittany Lane felt like she couldn’t do it anymore. She was diagnosed with postpartum depression, struggling with 5 kids. Here’s her journey through getting impatient mental health treatment in a new unit in Louisiana: www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

They helped rebuild New Orleans after Katrina, became active members of local churches, built lives and families. Now they're stuck in an ICE detention center as the Trump administration tries to deport them. Important story from @rjamesfinn.bsky.social: www.nola.com/news/politic...

A federal grand jury has indicted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell.

20 years ago this month, Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. For so many New Orleanians, our lives are demarcated by this moment. If someone ask you about an event or memory from the past, we say “was it before or after the storm?” On this twentieth anniversary, I wrote about going back home.

Scoop from @rjamesfinn.bsky.social: Louisiana is in talks to open an immigration jail inside of Angola, sources say. Plan is to use an unused wing of the massive prison complex, possibly camp J, to house immigrants. State closed camp J years ago w/ safety concerns www.nola.com/news/politic...

Her grandchildren were there when their dad was shot and killed, his blood coating their hair. Would they testify at the trial for his accused killer? The toll of Lurline LaBeaud-Duncan's six-year-long wait for justice as part of our series today: www.nola.com/news/new-orl...

Our latest @nolanews.bsky.social project from Jillian Kramer and @jadelson.bsky.social. Murder cases in New Orleans move through court at a slower pace than nearly anywhere else. Families are trapped in a never-ending cycle of grief. Why is it this way? www.nola.com/interactive/...

News: Ed Orgeron has filed an application for rehearing with the Louisiana Supreme Court, asking that they reverse their recent decision to award his ex-wife $8 million of his LSU buyout. His lawyers warn of "absurd and unjust consequences" from the ruling www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

Day after the CEO of the company that LSU planned to use to build a new arena on campus is indicted, LSU says they are "evaluating the implications" and emphasizes that there is no finalized agreement in place yet for Oak View Group to build the arena. www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

LSU said they want their new arena project to follow the example of UT's Moody Center. We got records last year that showed Oak View Group is a finalist. Lawyer also said LSU wasn't planning to use public bids for this project. Head of OVG indicted today: www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

News: Louisiana Supreme Court drops a major ruling that Ed Orgeron's ex-wife, Kelly, is entitled to *half* his buyout money from LSU. They award her $8 million and some change. Orgeron filed for divorce 43 days after inking his LSU contract extension. www.nola.com/news/courts/...

Louisiana AG Liz Murrill has asked state supreme court to intervene in 5 death penalty cases. When the state's execution chamber was dormant, many post-conviction capital cases languished. Murrill argues some of those defendants are now out of time: www.nola.com/news/courts/...

Years before 10 inmates broke out of the New Orleans jail, the sheriff eliminated a high-risk security unit. That now appears to have been a critical misstep that helped to allow for last month’s escape. www.nola.com/news/orleans...

Hiring for a cool journalism job at @nolanews.bsky.social. We're looking for a data reporter who can work across our newsrooms and help bolster our investigations. You'll be on our investigative team. Reach out with any questions, or come find me at #IRE25! www.journalismjobs.com/1690947-data...

Kip Holden, the first mayor I ever covered, has died after a long illness at age 72. He helped lead a renaissance of downtown Baton Rouge, was known for dressing in costume at events and had a career bookended by natural disasters: www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

Great story from @sam-karlin.bsky.social about just how many rural communities in Louisiana are facing water systems on the verge of a breakdown. Water is brown, murky and lots of federal $$$ still has not been enough to fix it. www.nola.com/news/louisia...

Fam, it's happening: -Pope Leo XIV (aka Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost) has roots in the 7th ward in New Orleans! -His mom had Creole roots. -"Now we know why her cooking was so good — both her mother and father were from New Orleans," Honora said. www.nola.com/news/first-a...

BREAKING: Robert Prevost has been elected the first American pope in history. He'll take the name Leo XIV. bit.ly/3Za7Efw

"The case underscores a dramatic political shift over an issue that has taken on more urgency this year with the state resuming executions after a 15-year hiatus: when should state prisoners be able to raise new claims for relief?" www.nola.com/news/communi...

Louisiana is trying to drop the number of overdose-related deaths in pregnant women by 80% over the next three years. It's an ambitious goal that could save 65 mothers each year. More about the plan: www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

Louisiana has some of the nation's poorest rate nursing homes and was home to a massive case where 800+ elderly were sent to a warehouse for Hurricane Ida. But #lalege took first step last night in making it harder to sue nursing home management companies www.nola.com/news/politic...

Really interesting read in @nolanews.bsky.social. Reporter spent a few days in Jena, Louisiana. A small town in the pines that's now in the national glare -- again -- over its ICE detention facility, where students Mahmoud Khalil and Alireza Doroudi are detained www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

BREAKING: Pope Francis has died, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo announced.

Louisiana death penalty watch: AG Liz Murrill is leading a bid in #lalege to change/shorten post-conviction relief. Murrill & Caddo Parish DA got shot down by LA Sup Co last week over death warrants for inmates who hadn't completed post-conviction relief www.nola.com/news/as-loui...

A Louisiana foster parent who forced multiple children in his house to have sex with him for years was convicted Wednesday. www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

Eddie Lau, who was arrested for falsehoods on the campaign trial, has done work for Louisiana's top politicians. He worked for Jeff Landry's PAC earlier this year, he's worked for Blake Miguez, he's well-known in political circles. More details: www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/new...

We wrote about this undercurrent a few years ago: campaigns for Louisiana's Supreme Court are dominated by this issue. It's not necessarily Republican v Democrat, it's "pro-legacy lawsuit payouts" vs "anti-legacy lawsuit payouts" www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

This is a big deal and has far-reaching judicial implications in Louisiana. These lawsuits, often deemed 'legacy lawsuits' here, have become a litmus test for judiciary candidates here who are generally either backed by Carmouche or oil companies. www.nola.com/news/environ...

Attorneys for two Louisiana death row inmates with pending execution dates filed challenges this week at the Louisiana Supreme Court, arguing that their death warrants are premature. www.theadvocate.com/shreveport_b...

Louisiana death penalty watch: 2 more death warrants have been signed scheduling nitrogen gas executions for May 28 & June 4. Defense lawyers say the cases differ from Jessie Hoffman & that defendants have not yet exhausted all post-conviction relief www.shreveportbossieradvocate.com/news/reed-dr...

Today’s Times-Picayune | @nolanews.bsky.social

The great John Simerman witnessed Louisiana’s first nitrogen gas execution last night. Here’s his account of how Louisiana put Jessie Hoffman to death. www.nola.com/news/courts/...

Early details about the nitrogen gas death of Jessie Hoffman at Angola tonight, Louisiana's 1st execution in 15 years: -Nitrogen gas flowed 19 minutes -Hoffman died around 6:50 p.m. -He declined to give a final statement or have a final meal at the prison www.nola.com/news/courts/...