The Light Switch

Louisiana’s U.S. Senate election turned out to be so much closer than predicted, and Black voters were a big reason why. What does this mean for 2027 in Louisiana, where the governor, other statewide officials and legislative seats will be on the ballot? We’ll talk with the leader of a group that’s worked for more than a decade to ensure marginalized voices are heard come Election Day.

Election Day is behind us, and it’s time to dig into the numbers, analyze the campaigns, look at what messages worked and which ones fell flat. The U.S. Senate race headlined the ballot in Louisiana, and the Illuminator's reporting team will share their thoughts on how the contest unfolded — and got much more interesting leading up to November 3rd.

Depending on your political leanings, you might see the intensity surrounding how ballots are cast in the midterm elections as good or bad. But we can all agree more people should pay attention and get involved with elections. We’ll talk with someone who’s on the ground here in Louisiana and across the South to ensure voters have clear and fair access to the polls. We’ll learn about their concerns...

Louisiana could see more than half of its immigrants with protected status lose that safeguard by 2028. These projections come from a group in the thick of policy battles with the Trump administration over immigration enforcement. It predicts more than 14,000 people will be removed from the Louisiana workforce. We'll talk with the group’s leader.     

Louisiana utility regulators want to stop a $2 billion electric transmission project being built in the Midwest. It won’t cost a dime for Louisiana customers or impact their property or access to power. So why did nearly all members of the Louisiana Public Service Commission join this fight? We talk with an advocate for utility customers about how this fight could potentially impact if and when po...

An advancing lawsuit could upend the way evictions are handled in Louisiana. The case focuses on a justice of the peace who handles hundreds of evictions a month, and the fees his court collects go toward his hefty salary. We’ll talk with one of the attorneys who explains what’s at stake here. Also, where do candidates in Louisiana’s competitive congressional races stand on nondisclosure agreement...

Louisiana will soon require health insurance to cover at-home visits for new moms and their babies. The outcomes show it’s worth the investment, but it’s going to take a while to meet the demand. We'll hear from one of the people behind this huge change in preventative health care. Also, Grambling’s president talks about the school’s march toward elevating its status as a research institution

New research, rooted right here in Louisiana, is providing us with a more accurate picture of the problems that violence creates in our communities. The findings show the connection between violence and the common struggle to make ends meet, as well as the lack of help for people who could benefit from mental health support.

University leaders are paying attention to a task force evaluating how state colleges and universities are funded. Perhaps no one is following closer than Jim Henderson, president at Louisiana Tech. His campus is a state leader in graduation rates and retention, but it's last in line for getting money from the state. 

Conservationists are worried the massive SpaceX launch facility planned for Louisiana will threaten what many consider the state’s optimal setting for wildlife. We look at one endangered species that calls the area home. Plus, a new task force is looking into how Louisiana funds higher education.

President Donald Trump wants to change the recommended regimen for the MMR vaccine to separate shots for each disease. So instead of two trips to the doctor, it would take six to be fully vaccinated. There’s no legitimate science to back up his reasons for the change. We talk with a Louisiana pediatrician who shares how she and others in her field are reacting.

There are more than 4,000 children in foster care in Louisiana, and many of the parents who’ve taken them into their homes aren't happy at the moment. We’ll let them explain why. Plus, listen to our conversation with the state's higher education commissioner.

What do Louisiana ports and shipbuilders have to do with the war in Iran? They’re both part of a defense spending bill that awaits Congress next month — and it’s anybody’s guess how that turns out. We talk with a New Orleans lawyer who, with his business clients, is paying close attention to the outcome.

We'll preview a task force that begins work later this month to update the formula that determines how much state money goes to local public schools. There's also some news to share on the River Parishes refinery that’s let harmful waste escape from its property on several occasions going back more than two years — without any consequences from the state. 

A Louisiana organization is part of an initiative to create a safe space for digital information to keep what they consider sensitive data out of the hands of Big Tech. Also, we explore changes the Trump administration has made to the Endangered Species Act, and how they might impact protected wildlife in Louisiana.

It’s estimated that one in every five people in the United States has dyslexia. Just a few years ago, Louisiana was diagnosing dyslexia in just 1.5% of its children — a major difference between the 20% national figure. State officials have taken steps to help schools identify these students and provide them the support they need. We talk with a school leader who’s created a pathway for these stude...

Forecasters expect fewer major storms this hurricane season, but you know what they always say next: it just takes one. So we always have to be prepared, including plans to evacuate at a moment’s notice. But should we count on contraflow being an option to get out of town when a major hurricane’s bearing down on us? We ask that question to the state’s leading expert on the topic.

Louisiana has already experienced its first storm for hurricane season 2026, and it serves as a good reminder to literally get your house in order. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple talks with us about what’s being done to help lower the cost of coverage, ranging from roof improvement grants, homeowner’s premiums, auto rates and commercial coverage.

There’s no sugar-coating it. Louisiana ranks very poorly when it comes to domestic violence incidents that turn fatal. We can see this when we look at crime statistics, an expert says those numbers are just a starting point. She explains why domestic violence victims can’t just leave these situations.

First, we’ll explore how data center development has led to a fast-track for building power plants, potentially putting regular ratepayers on the hook for some of the cost. We’ve also got a sit-down interview with U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, who shares his thoughts about losing his district in a landmark Supreme Court ruling. 

Less than half of our state’s registered voters cast ballots in the May 16 elections. And if history is an indicator, we’ll see fewer people show up for the June runoffs. Why does Louisiana struggle so much with voter turnout? We’ll talk with a voting rights advocate who’s had a front row seat at the Capitol to see the vast changes in state election laws.

Hurricane season begins June 1, and you should be going through the usual checklist to make sure you’re prepared. But it’s not like you need a reminder about the risk we face; you get one every time you pay your homeowner’s insurance premium. We talk with an expert about the factors that drive those rates and whether there’s any relief in sight.

Hurricanes aren't the only extreme weather concern for Louisiana heading into the summer months. Forecasts call for an elevated wildfire risk for the entire state starting in July and lasting at least through August. State Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain details preparations and offers advice to the public to limit the damage.

Hurricane season is just days away and, more than 20 years after Katrina, controversy once again surrounds storm protection in the New Orleans region. Some of the main characters in this drama are the governor, one of his major donors and the legislature. We talk with the leader of a good government group that pushed for change two decades ago — and sees the need to do so again.

A Supreme Court ruling in a Louisiana redistricting case has taken the legs out from under a law that civil rights advocates call the crown jewel of the 1960s movement. They fear decades of progress are about to be wiped out through redrawn election maps. We’ll hear how Black voters in Louisiana have reacted to the decision and the ensuing move from the governor to suspend the state’s U.S. House p...