Julie O'Donoghue
@jsodonoghue.bsky.social
Senior writer at Louisiana Illuminator. I previously worked at The Times-Picayune, St. Louis Public Radio, The Connection Newspapers and The Northwest Current. Macalester College and Northwestern University alum.
As Stephanie Grace points out, President Trump seems in no hurry to have the feds pay for the Guard to be deployed in Louisiana.
The president hasn't approved — or even publicly acknowledged? — Gov. Jeff Landry's request from 6 weeks ago. #lalege
www.nola.com/opinions/ste...
The president hasn't approved — or even publicly acknowledged? — Gov. Jeff Landry's request from 6 weeks ago. #lalege
www.nola.com/opinions/ste...
Stephanie Grace: Trump is in no hurry to deploy National Guard to Louisiana's cities
Columnist Stephanie Grace has a theory for why President Donald Trump is in no rush to send National Guard to New Orleans and other Louisiana cities: It's because he wouldn't get the confrontation he'...
www.nola.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:53 PM
As Stephanie Grace points out, President Trump seems in no hurry to have the feds pay for the Guard to be deployed in Louisiana.
The president hasn't approved — or even publicly acknowledged? — Gov. Jeff Landry's request from 6 weeks ago. #lalege
www.nola.com/opinions/ste...
The president hasn't approved — or even publicly acknowledged? — Gov. Jeff Landry's request from 6 weeks ago. #lalege
www.nola.com/opinions/ste...
Niche bumper sticker, even for downtown Baton Rouge.
November 9, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Niche bumper sticker, even for downtown Baton Rouge.
Reposted by Julie O'Donoghue
NEW: Why didn't Orleans Sheriff Susan Hutson meet a deadline for filing a campaign finance report? @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports the sheriff said it's because her attorney was incarcerated. lailluminator.com/briefs/orlea...
Orleans sheriff says she missed campaign report deadline because her attorney was incarcerated • Louisiana Illuminator
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson successfully argued Friday that she shouldn’t have to pay the full fine for missing a campaign reporting deadline because her attorney was incarcerated at the time.
lailluminator.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:44 PM
NEW: Why didn't Orleans Sheriff Susan Hutson meet a deadline for filing a campaign finance report? @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports the sheriff said it's because her attorney was incarcerated. lailluminator.com/briefs/orlea...
New Orleans Sheriff Susan Hutson told the ethics board today that her PAC finance report was filed late because she didn't realize her attorney (Jimmy Burland) had been put in prison.
BTW, the name of her PAC is Orleans Jedi Guardians PAC.
lailluminator.com/briefs/orlea...
BTW, the name of her PAC is Orleans Jedi Guardians PAC.
lailluminator.com/briefs/orlea...
Orleans sheriff says she missed campaign report deadline because her attorney was incarcerated • Louisiana Illuminator
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson successfully argued Friday that she shouldn’t have to pay the full fine for missing a campaign reporting deadline because her attorney was incarcerated at the time.
lailluminator.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:49 PM
New Orleans Sheriff Susan Hutson told the ethics board today that her PAC finance report was filed late because she didn't realize her attorney (Jimmy Burland) had been put in prison.
BTW, the name of her PAC is Orleans Jedi Guardians PAC.
lailluminator.com/briefs/orlea...
BTW, the name of her PAC is Orleans Jedi Guardians PAC.
lailluminator.com/briefs/orlea...
Reposted by Julie O'Donoghue
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November 7, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Do you want our daily headlines in your inbox each morning?
IT'S FREE – subscribe here lailluminator.com/subscribe/
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When private citizens make a Louisiana political contribution, they provide an address alongside that donation in a public, online database.
Soon, statewide elected officials, legislators and their family members will not have to do the same. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/07/l...
Soon, statewide elected officials, legislators and their family members will not have to do the same. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/07/l...
Louisiana ethics board raises questions about judges’ campaign transparency • Louisiana Illuminator
Three elected judges in Louisiana are leveraging a new privacy law to remove their home addresses and spouse’s work addresses from the state’s public campaign finance database that tracks political do...
lailluminator.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:28 PM
When private citizens make a Louisiana political contribution, they provide an address alongside that donation in a public, online database.
Soon, statewide elected officials, legislators and their family members will not have to do the same. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/07/l...
Soon, statewide elected officials, legislators and their family members will not have to do the same. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/07/l...
Hundreds of Louisiana public officials and their family members will soon be able to remove their home/work addresses from campaign finance reports.
This will make it harder to figure out who is making political campaign contributions. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/07/l...
This will make it harder to figure out who is making political campaign contributions. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/07/l...
Louisiana ethics board raises questions about judges’ campaign transparency • Louisiana Illuminator
Three elected judges in Louisiana are leveraging a new privacy law to remove their home addresses and spouse’s work addresses from the state’s public campaign finance database that tracks political do...
lailluminator.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Hundreds of Louisiana public officials and their family members will soon be able to remove their home/work addresses from campaign finance reports.
This will make it harder to figure out who is making political campaign contributions. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/07/l...
This will make it harder to figure out who is making political campaign contributions. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/07/l...
Reposted by Julie O'Donoghue
Louisiana ethics board raises questions about judges’ campaign transparency as some judges ask to remove information from the state’s public database that tracks political donations and spending lailluminator.com/2025/11/07/l... (from @jsodonoghue.bsky.social) #lalege
lailluminator.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Louisiana ethics board raises questions about judges’ campaign transparency as some judges ask to remove information from the state’s public database that tracks political donations and spending lailluminator.com/2025/11/07/l... (from @jsodonoghue.bsky.social) #lalege
Reposted by Julie O'Donoghue
The ethics board has questions about a campaign transparency law for judges. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social explains why you should care. lailluminator.com/2025/11/07/l...
Louisiana ethics board raises questions about judges’ campaign transparency • Louisiana Illuminator
Three elected judges in Louisiana are leveraging a new privacy law to remove their home addresses and spouse’s work addresses from the state’s public campaign finance database that tracks political do...
lailluminator.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:22 PM
The ethics board has questions about a campaign transparency law for judges. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social explains why you should care. lailluminator.com/2025/11/07/l...
900 goals. Amazing!
a hockey player wearing a white jersey with the number 8 on the back
Alt: a hockey player wearing a white jersey with the number 8 on the back
media.tenor.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:52 AM
900 goals. Amazing!
Reposted by Julie O'Donoghue
NEW: LSU failed to give public notice, as required under state law, for its first UNO transition committee meeting. @piperhutch.bsky.social reports this could invalidate any action the panel takes at Wednesday's meeting. lailluminator.com/2025/11/04/l...
LSU failed to give public notice for its first UNO transition committee meeting • Louisiana Illuminator
LSU did not comply with state public notice requirements ahead of the first meeting of a committee that’s helping guide the UNO's transition to the LSU System
lailluminator.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:21 AM
NEW: LSU failed to give public notice, as required under state law, for its first UNO transition committee meeting. @piperhutch.bsky.social reports this could invalidate any action the panel takes at Wednesday's meeting. lailluminator.com/2025/11/04/l...
Reposted by Julie O'Donoghue
Louisiana’s largest provider of aid for sexual assault survivors has cut back on services as a result of the federal government shutdown. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports. lailluminator.com/2025/10/27/l...
Louisiana sexual assault survivor services cut in response to government shutdown • Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana’s largest provider of aid for sexual assault survivors cut back on services this month as a result of not receiving funding before the federal government shutdown.
lailluminator.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Louisiana’s largest provider of aid for sexual assault survivors has cut back on services as a result of the federal government shutdown. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports. lailluminator.com/2025/10/27/l...
Louisiana has had cuts to services for sexual assault survivors (crime victims) because of the federal government shutdown.
STAR had to stop sending staff out to hospitals to support victims going through forensic medical exams (rape kits) this month.
lailluminator.com/2025/10/27/l...
STAR had to stop sending staff out to hospitals to support victims going through forensic medical exams (rape kits) this month.
lailluminator.com/2025/10/27/l...
Louisiana sexual assault survivor services cut in response to government shutdown • Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana’s largest provider of aid for sexual assault survivors cut back on services this month as a result of not receiving funding before the federal government shutdown.
lailluminator.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Louisiana has had cuts to services for sexual assault survivors (crime victims) because of the federal government shutdown.
STAR had to stop sending staff out to hospitals to support victims going through forensic medical exams (rape kits) this month.
lailluminator.com/2025/10/27/l...
STAR had to stop sending staff out to hospitals to support victims going through forensic medical exams (rape kits) this month.
lailluminator.com/2025/10/27/l...
With a Republican majority, Louisiana's Senate votes to push back state elections next year.
The new timeline gives lawmakers a chance to draw a congressional map with fewer majority-Black districts should the Supreme Court allow them to do so. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/25/w...
The new timeline gives lawmakers a chance to draw a congressional map with fewer majority-Black districts should the Supreme Court allow them to do so. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/25/w...
With Republican majority, Louisiana Senate votes to push back election dates • Louisiana Illuminator
The Louisiana Senate voted along political party lines Saturday to push back 2026 election dates in an effort to leave as much time as possible to redraw Louisiana’s congressional map. Republicans exp...
lailluminator.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM
With a Republican majority, Louisiana's Senate votes to push back state elections next year.
The new timeline gives lawmakers a chance to draw a congressional map with fewer majority-Black districts should the Supreme Court allow them to do so. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/25/w...
The new timeline gives lawmakers a chance to draw a congressional map with fewer majority-Black districts should the Supreme Court allow them to do so. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/25/w...
Louisiana Senate voted 27-9 along party lines to push back 2026 congressional primaries to make it easier to pass a Congressional map with fewer majority-Black districts sooner.
Republicans voting in favor of the bill are white. All but one Democrat voting against are Black. #lalege
Republicans voting in favor of the bill are white. All but one Democrat voting against are Black. #lalege
October 25, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Louisiana Senate voted 27-9 along party lines to push back 2026 congressional primaries to make it easier to pass a Congressional map with fewer majority-Black districts sooner.
Republicans voting in favor of the bill are white. All but one Democrat voting against are Black. #lalege
Republicans voting in favor of the bill are white. All but one Democrat voting against are Black. #lalege
Louisiana is prepared to spend $150m per month out of a savings account to keep federal food assistance (SNAP) going during the shutdown.
The Trump administration said Friday it won't reimburse states for doing so. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/24/l...
The Trump administration said Friday it won't reimburse states for doing so. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/24/l...
Louisiana prepares to continue SNAP benefits with $150M in state funding monthly • Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana political leaders are preparing to use around $150 million monthly in state funding to help continue food assistance benefits while the federal government shutdown in Washington D.C. continu...
lailluminator.com
October 25, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Louisiana is prepared to spend $150m per month out of a savings account to keep federal food assistance (SNAP) going during the shutdown.
The Trump administration said Friday it won't reimburse states for doing so. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/24/l...
The Trump administration said Friday it won't reimburse states for doing so. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/24/l...
Reposted by Julie O'Donoghue
MORE DETAILS: If Louisiana covers SNAP benefits during the federal gov't shutdown, they won't be reimbursed for it. Where will the state find the money if the need is long-term? @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports. lailluminator.com/2025/10/24/l...
Louisiana prepares to continue SNAP benefits with $150M in state funding monthly • Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana political leaders are preparing to use around $150 million monthly in state funding to help continue food assistance benefits while the federal government shutdown in Washington D.C. continu...
lailluminator.com
October 24, 2025 at 10:42 PM
MORE DETAILS: If Louisiana covers SNAP benefits during the federal gov't shutdown, they won't be reimbursed for it. Where will the state find the money if the need is long-term? @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports. lailluminator.com/2025/10/24/l...
Louisiana is preparing to spend state $$ to avoid stopping federal SNAP benefits.
Gov. Jeff Landry issued an executive order covering certain recipients through Nov. 4. But legislators say they hope to cover all of SNAP for months if necessary.
lailluminator.com/2025/10/24/l...
Gov. Jeff Landry issued an executive order covering certain recipients through Nov. 4. But legislators say they hope to cover all of SNAP for months if necessary.
lailluminator.com/2025/10/24/l...
Louisiana prepares to continue SNAP benefits with $150M in state funding monthly • Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana political leaders are preparing to use around $150 million monthly in state funding to help continue food assistance benefits while the federal government shutdown in Washington D.C. continu...
lailluminator.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Louisiana is preparing to spend state $$ to avoid stopping federal SNAP benefits.
Gov. Jeff Landry issued an executive order covering certain recipients through Nov. 4. But legislators say they hope to cover all of SNAP for months if necessary.
lailluminator.com/2025/10/24/l...
Gov. Jeff Landry issued an executive order covering certain recipients through Nov. 4. But legislators say they hope to cover all of SNAP for months if necessary.
lailluminator.com/2025/10/24/l...
There is no guarantee that the federal government will reimburse Louisiana for paying for SNAP benefits from state funds. The state might have to draw down savings in a few months to cover the cost.
The Senate President said it's not an option to let people go hungry. #lalege
The Senate President said it's not an option to let people go hungry. #lalege
Big News: Louisiana is preparing to move around money to cover the cost of delivering SNAP benefits (food stamps) from STATE funds during the government shutdown, says Senate President Cameron Henry.
It could cost the state as much as a $150 million monthly. #lalege
It could cost the state as much as a $150 million monthly. #lalege
October 24, 2025 at 4:47 PM
There is no guarantee that the federal government will reimburse Louisiana for paying for SNAP benefits from state funds. The state might have to draw down savings in a few months to cover the cost.
The Senate President said it's not an option to let people go hungry. #lalege
The Senate President said it's not an option to let people go hungry. #lalege
Big News: Louisiana is preparing to move around money to cover the cost of delivering SNAP benefits (food stamps) from STATE funds during the government shutdown, says Senate President Cameron Henry.
It could cost the state as much as a $150 million monthly. #lalege
It could cost the state as much as a $150 million monthly. #lalege
October 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Big News: Louisiana is preparing to move around money to cover the cost of delivering SNAP benefits (food stamps) from STATE funds during the government shutdown, says Senate President Cameron Henry.
It could cost the state as much as a $150 million monthly. #lalege
It could cost the state as much as a $150 million monthly. #lalege
"This is like ... you're a kid and finding out there's no Santa Claus." - state Sen. Gary Carter, D-New Orleans
"I'm losing trust in our system."
Tensions are high regarding moving election dates in anticipation of maybe passing new political maps with fewer (or zero) majority Black districts.
"I'm losing trust in our system."
Tensions are high regarding moving election dates in anticipation of maybe passing new political maps with fewer (or zero) majority Black districts.
October 23, 2025 at 9:16 PM
"This is like ... you're a kid and finding out there's no Santa Claus." - state Sen. Gary Carter, D-New Orleans
"I'm losing trust in our system."
Tensions are high regarding moving election dates in anticipation of maybe passing new political maps with fewer (or zero) majority Black districts.
"I'm losing trust in our system."
Tensions are high regarding moving election dates in anticipation of maybe passing new political maps with fewer (or zero) majority Black districts.
Reposted by Julie O'Donoghue
From @jsodonoghue.bsky.social story:
The new privacy law allows judges in Louisiana to keep a large swath of personal information out of government databases and off the internet.
Starting next year, the same privilege will be extended to hundreds of other local and state officials. #lalege
The new privacy law allows judges in Louisiana to keep a large swath of personal information out of government databases and off the internet.
Starting next year, the same privilege will be extended to hundreds of other local and state officials. #lalege
NEW: Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Will Crain, who Trump appointed to the federal bench, put his divorce under seal for 11 months based on a new law that allows public officials to keep their info private.
(He is also dating his former law clerk.) #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/22/c...
(He is also dating his former law clerk.) #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/22/c...
Trump federal court nominee cited new Louisiana law to keep his divorce records private • Louisiana Illuminator
Five months before a new privacy law for judges took effect, a Louisiana Supreme Court justice cited it in a request to keep information about his divorce and the end of his 40-year marriage private.
lailluminator.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:30 PM
From @jsodonoghue.bsky.social story:
The new privacy law allows judges in Louisiana to keep a large swath of personal information out of government databases and off the internet.
Starting next year, the same privilege will be extended to hundreds of other local and state officials. #lalege
The new privacy law allows judges in Louisiana to keep a large swath of personal information out of government databases and off the internet.
Starting next year, the same privilege will be extended to hundreds of other local and state officials. #lalege
I don't mean to imply that Trump won't eventually sign off on this, but it's odd that Gov. Jeff Landry, Speaker Mike Johnson and several other members of the congressional delegation were at the White House this week and there is still no news on this. #lalege
“I think everyone’s preparing and planning but we have no timeline on the activation yet,” said Lt. Col. Noel Collins with the National Guard.
No timeline because Trump hasn't agreed to pay for it yet. The request is over 3 weeks old. #lalege
No timeline because Trump hasn't agreed to pay for it yet. The request is over 3 weeks old. #lalege
National Guard could arrive in New Orleans by November if Trump signs off on LA request
National Guard troops could be deployed to New Orleans before the end of November in keeping with Gov. Jeff Landry's request for federal intervention to address crime, Landry and New Orleans Police De...
www.nola.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I don't mean to imply that Trump won't eventually sign off on this, but it's odd that Gov. Jeff Landry, Speaker Mike Johnson and several other members of the congressional delegation were at the White House this week and there is still no news on this. #lalege