Piper Hutchinson
@piperhutch.bsky.social
Politics & higher ed reporter, Louisiana Illuminator | Tiger Rag partner | NAHJ & NLGJA | LSU alum
A task force Gov. Jeff Landry assembled is recommending that Louisiana’s colleges and universities join six other university systems from Southern states in a new conservative accrediting body. #lalege #lagov
Landry’s higher ed task force recommends Louisiana join conservative college accreditor • Louisiana Illuminator
A task force Gov. Jeff Landry assembled is recommending that Louisiana’s colleges and universities join six other university systems from Southern states in a new conservative accrediting body. The g...
lailluminator.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Following budget crises at several of its schools, the University of Louisiana System is studying how to restructure to minimize costs and maximize oversight. #lalege #lagov
University of Louisiana System is putting together a plan to restructure • Louisiana Illuminator
Following budget crises at several of its schools, the University of Louisiana System is studying how to restructure to minimize costs and maximize oversight.
lailluminator.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:11 PM
The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors appointed temporary leaders Thursday for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and McNeese State University. #lalege #lagov
UL System appoints interim presidents for UL Lafayette, McNeese • Louisiana Illuminator
A former search will take place for the vacant presidencies of two Louisiana universities.
lailluminator.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:19 PM
The chairman of a committee tasked with guiding UNO’s transition back to the #LSU System has directed 11 subcommittees to meet privately, in what a First Amendment expert says is a violation of Louisiana’s Open Meetings Law. #lalege #lagov
UNO transition subcommittees will meet privately, in violation of state transparency law • Louisiana Illuminator
The transition committee is a public body subject to the Open Meetings Law, meaning it must hold its meetings in public.
lailluminator.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Reposted by Piper Hutchinson
#LSU failed to give public notice for its first UNO transition committee meeting lailluminator.com/2025/11/04/l... (from @piperhutch.bsky.social) #lalege #laed
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 3:58 PM
#LSU failed to give public notice for its first UNO transition committee meeting lailluminator.com/2025/11/04/l... (from @piperhutch.bsky.social) #lalege #laed
#LSU did not comply with state public notice requirements ahead of the first meeting of the UNO transition committee, opening up any action the committee takes at its meeting Wednesday to being nullified in court #lalege #lagov
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 4, 2025 at 11:58 PM
BREAKING: The #LSU Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to name McNeese State leader Wade Rousse its next system president, and it has picked University of Alabama Provost Jim Dalton as both chancellor and provost of its Baton Rouge campus. #lalege #lagov
LSU splits president-chancellor roles, makes two hires • Louisiana Illuminator
The LSU Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to hire current McNeese State University President Wade Rousse as its next president.
lailluminator.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:55 PM
#LSU is just days away from picking its new president after the committee in charge of finding a candidate narrowed down its choices to 3 finalists: Wade Rousse, Robert Robbins and James Dalton. Interim Pres Matt Lee was excluded. #lalege #lagov
LSU down to three finalists for president’s job • Louisiana Illuminator
LSU is just days away from picking its new leader after the committee in charge of finding a candidate narrowed down its choices.
lailluminator.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Throwback to the Sept #LSU board meeting, when Vice Chair Lee Mallett called for LSU to be first to “break the mold” on large coaching buyouts, citing their financial impact to universities. LSU (except athletics) is currently under austerity measures.
LSU boosts athletics spending as rest of campus subject to austerity measures • Louisiana Illuminator
The LSU Board voted to increase the salaries of two top members of its athletics department while the rest of campus faces austerity measures
lailluminator.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Throwback to the Sept #LSU board meeting, when Vice Chair Lee Mallett called for LSU to be first to “break the mold” on large coaching buyouts, citing their financial impact to universities. LSU (except athletics) is currently under austerity measures.
Reposted by Piper Hutchinson
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 8:18 PM
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...
Reposted by Piper Hutchinson
Attorneys who ran public defender offices in Louisiana have sued the state for wrongful termination. They allege
Gov. Jeff Landry's office interfered in a state board review of their dismissals by telling board members they had to get rid of them. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/20/p...
Gov. Jeff Landry's office interfered in a state board review of their dismissals by telling board members they had to get rid of them. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/20/p...
Public defenders sue Louisiana over job losses, allege governor office interference • Louisiana Illuminator
Four attorneys who used to lead local public defender offices are suing the Louisiana government and the state public defender over their terminations. They allege Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration in...
lailluminator.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Attorneys who ran public defender offices in Louisiana have sued the state for wrongful termination. They allege
Gov. Jeff Landry's office interfered in a state board review of their dismissals by telling board members they had to get rid of them. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/20/p...
Gov. Jeff Landry's office interfered in a state board review of their dismissals by telling board members they had to get rid of them. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/10/20/p...
Members of the committee tasked with finding #LSU’s next president have been asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement that prohibits them from ever discussing the search to maintain their position on the committee #lalege #lagov
LSU presidential search committee members required to sign non-disclosure agreements • Louisiana Illuminator
Members of the committee tasked with finding LSU’s next president have been asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement that prohibits them from ever discussing the search. The search committee is a pub...
lailluminator.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:14 PM
#LSU announced an increase in police presence on campus for football games and the use of drones to monitor tailgates in response to on-campus shooting on two game days this season. #lalege #lagov
lailluminator.com/2025/10/16/l...
lailluminator.com/2025/10/16/l...
LSU will have more police, use surveillance drones for game days • Louisiana Illuminator
LSU announced an increase in police presence on campus for football games and the use of drones to monitor tailgates in response to on-campus shooting on two game days this season.
lailluminator.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:54 PM
#LSU announced an increase in police presence on campus for football games and the use of drones to monitor tailgates in response to on-campus shooting on two game days this season. #lalege #lagov
lailluminator.com/2025/10/16/l...
lailluminator.com/2025/10/16/l...
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has summoned the Louisiana Legislature for a three-week special session starting next week to address next year’s election plans. #lalege #lagov
Gov. Landry calls legislature into three-week special session on elections • Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has summoned the Louisiana Legislature for a three-week special session starting next week to address next year’s election plans. Lawmakers will be allowed to file bills re...
lailluminator.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:55 PM
During arguments in a Louisiana case, U.S. Supreme Court justices seemed open to limiting the consideration of race in the redistricting process, a move that would undermine a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. #lalege #lagov
Supreme Court seems open to limiting key voting protections in Louisiana redistricting case • Louisiana Illuminator
During arguments in a Louisiana case, U.S. Supreme Court justices seemed open to limiting the consideration of race in the redistricting process, a move that would undermine a key provision of the Vot...
lailluminator.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Reposted by Piper Hutchinson
Protesters gathered outside the U.S. Supreme Court this morning as oral arguments in Louisiana v. Callais get underway before the justices, who hold a conservative majority. The case has potential to fundamentally change the Voting Rights Act.
October 15, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Protesters gathered outside the U.S. Supreme Court this morning as oral arguments in Louisiana v. Callais get underway before the justices, who hold a conservative majority. The case has potential to fundamentally change the Voting Rights Act.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear new arguments Wednesday over Louisiana’s congressional maps. State Republican leaders now want to get rid of a majority-Black district they created, and the Supreme Court’s ruling could have national implications. #lalege #lagov
‘Burn it all down’: Louisiana at center of conservatives’ congressional redistricting battle • Louisiana Illuminator
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear new arguments Wednesday over Louisiana’s congressional maps. State Republican leaders now want to get rid of a majority-Black district they created, and the Supreme Co...
lailluminator.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:18 PM
An #LSU student arrested last week for protesting at a presidential search committee meeting said police became hostile toward her once they learned she is transgender. #lalege #lagov
LSU student alleges anti-transgender discrimination after her protest arrest • Louisiana Illuminator
An LSU student who was arrested after speaking out of turn at a public meeting alleges police discriminated against her for being transgender
lailluminator.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The committee handling the search for #LSU’s next president has again accelerated the timeline for hiring someone for the job, with the goal of having someone picked by the end of the month.
LSU could hire its next president by the end of October • Louisiana Illuminator
The committee handling the search for LSU’s next president has again accelerated the timeline for hiring someone for the job.
lailluminator.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The committee handling the search for #LSU’s next president has again accelerated the timeline for hiring someone for the job, with the goal of having someone picked by the end of the month.
Seven #LSU students arrested at presidential search committee meeting. This is a developing story. #lalege #lagov
Seven LSU students arrested at presidential search committee meeting • Louisiana Illuminator
Seven LSU students were arrested after exceeding their allotted comment time during a presidential search committee meeting.
lailluminator.com
October 1, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Louisiana students can now qualify for the TOPS scholarship by taking a conservative alternative to ACT and the SAT exams, but it is not currently accepted for admissions to any public university in Louisiana. #lalege #lagov
What to know about the Classical Learning Test, the conservative alternative to the ACT • Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana students can now qualify for the TOPS scholarship by taking a conservative alternative to ACT and the SAT exams
lailluminator.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Liz Murrill and 16 other Republican state attorneys general have signed a letter to college administrators warning them not to impose a “tax on free speech” by asking student organizations to pay high security fees for controversial speakers. #lalege #lagov
Murrill joins AGs warning colleges against high security fees in wake of Charlie Kirk shooting • Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana’s Liz Murrill and 16 other Republican state attorneys general have signed a letter to college administrators warning them not to impose a “tax on free speech” by asking student organizations...
lailluminator.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:51 PM