Piper Hutchinson

LSU’s leadership purge continues after Landry bashes athletics director • Louisiana Illuminator Landry hit Woodward with both barrels after the weekend firing of football coach Brian Kelly after a resounding loss to Texas A&M.

#LSU’s leadership purge continues after Gov. Jeff Landry bashes athletics director #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.

#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

GOP Louisiana lawmakers reject transparency bills ahead of possible redistricting • Louisiana Illuminator Public input on new boundaries will be limited after GOP legislators rejected two proposals Tuesday their author said would inform debate on the maps.

GOP Louisiana lawmakers reject transparency bills ahead of possible redistricting #lalege #lagov

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

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.

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.

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

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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...

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

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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...

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 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.

#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

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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...

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

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...

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

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.

‘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...

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

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

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 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.

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 • Louisiana Illuminator Seven LSU students were arrested after exceeding their allotted comment time during a presidential search committee meeting.

Seven #LSU students arrested at presidential search committee meeting. This is a developing story. #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

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

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...

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

UNO should become ‘LSU New Orleans,’ LSU president says  • Louisiana Illuminator The University of New Orleans should adopt LSU branding and become LSU New Orleans when it transfers to the LSU system, interim LSU President Matt Lee told the Board of Regents Tuesday.

The University of New Orleans should adopt #LSU branding and become LSU New Orleans when it transfers to the LSU system, interim LSU President Matt Lee told the Board of Regents Tuesday. #lalege #lagov

New voice of Tiger Stadium is a conservative legislator, university critic  • Louisiana Illuminator Dixon McMakin, the new public address announcer at LSU’s Tiger Stadium, has a complex relationship with the state’s flagship university.  Son of 1970s LSU baseball star Wally McMakin, he is undoubtedl...

The new voice of Tiger Stadium is undoubtedly an #LSU superfan, but he is also a conservative legislator who is not afraid to hold his alma mater accountable. #lalege #lagov

Louisiana lawmakers want to make it easier to punish college students for hazing • Louisiana Illuminator University leaders say they are struggling to punish college students for hazing following the enactment of state law in 2024 that requires them to follow a standard of evidence more commonly used in ...

University leaders say they are struggling to punish college students for hazing following the enactment of state law in 2024 that requires them to follow a standard of evidence more commonly used in criminal proceedings. #lalege #lagov

Speaker Johnson, Gov. Landry mourn Charlie Kirk at LSU vigil  • Louisiana Illuminator U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Gov. Jeff Landry were among the participants at a vigil LSU held Friday evening for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated Wednesday while speakin...

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Gov. Jeff Landry were among the participants at a vigil LSU held Friday evening for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University. #lalege #lagov

ALSO in this story, #LSU Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Lee Mallett is advocating for the end of big buyouts for college coaches, arguing they aren’t good for universities financially. Mallett says LSU should be the first to “break the mold” and break from industry standards.

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

The #LSU Board of Supervisors voted Friday to dramatically increase the salaries of two top members of its athletics department while the rest of campus faces new austerity measures. #lalege #lagov

LSU Board rolls back power to influence faculty, staff hiring searches • Louisiana Illuminator The board last year expanded its own bylaws to require its chair be made aware of “any search committees for new hires.

The #LSU Board of Supervisors has limited its power to influence faculty and staff hiring decisions after quietly giving themselves the ability last year.

Black Louisiana lawmakers want Murrill to drop ‘political’ arguments in redistricting case • Louisiana Illuminator Black lawmakers want a state judge to force Liz Murrill to resume defending the state’s congressional districts

Black Louisiana state lawmakers want a state judge to force Attorney General Liz Murrill to resume defending the state’s congressional districts currently being challenged before the U.S. Supreme Court. #lalege #lagov

At the #LSU Board of Supervisors meeting, board members are arguing about coaching buyouts. Vice Chair Lee Mallett is raising concerns about the financial impact of firing low performing coaches. James Williams is pointing out they are industry standard. #lalege #lagov

‘We’re terrified’: University faculty in the South describe culture of fear on campus in new survey • Louisiana Illuminator A survey of higher education faculty in the South found professors are most worried about political influence.

‘We’re terrified’: University faculty in the South describe culture of fear on campus in new survey #lalege #lagov

Piper Hutchinson, Mark Ballard Louisiana Illuminator and Tiger Rag reporter Piper Hutchinson comments on the latest on LSU. The Advocate's Mark Ballard talks various political topics including Pres. Trump. troops to New Orleans, an...

I was on Talk Louisiana this morning to discuss the latest at #LSU, including my latest athletics investigation and what’s going on with the presidential search. You can listen here #lalege #lagov

ICE detainees being housed at Louisiana’s Angola prison • Louisiana Illuminator Gov. Jeff Landry said the facility “will house the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens arrested by ICE.”

A section of the Louisiana State Penitentiary is being used to house Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees, Gov. Jeff Landry and officials with the Trump administration announced Wednesday.  #lalege #lagov

The new ICE facility at Angola will be called Camp 57, in honor of Gov. Jeff Landry, the 57th governor of Louisiana. It will house up to 416 ICE detainees and is currently holding 52. It has been renovated and cells now have AC. Story to come #lalege #lagov