Melinda Deslatte
@melindadeslatte.bsky.social
PAR Louisiana research director. Former Associated Press reporter. Adjunct at LSU Manship School.
Graduate of LSU and the University of Maryland.
Budget nerd. Football fan. Policy wonk.
Graduate of LSU and the University of Maryland.
Budget nerd. Football fan. Policy wonk.
Reposted by Melinda Deslatte
Last week, Louisiana lawmakers approved the biggest government contracts in the state's history, which were negotiated by Gov. Jeff Landry's administration.
They are 6 contracts with private companies to provide Medicaid plans for $17 billion. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/25/l...
They are 6 contracts with private companies to provide Medicaid plans for $17 billion. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/25/l...
Louisiana approves Medicaid contracts. They are the most expensive contracts in the state’s history. • Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana lawmakers signed off last week on one-year extensions to the state’s six biggest government contracts, collectively worth more than $17 billion. The agreements are with the six health care c...
lailluminator.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Last week, Louisiana lawmakers approved the biggest government contracts in the state's history, which were negotiated by Gov. Jeff Landry's administration.
They are 6 contracts with private companies to provide Medicaid plans for $17 billion. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/25/l...
They are 6 contracts with private companies to provide Medicaid plans for $17 billion. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/25/l...
Reposted by Melinda Deslatte
Starting next year, many public officials in Louisiana and their family members will be able to sue individuals/businesses who post basic biological info about the officials on the internet and don't listen to a government demand to take it down. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/20/l...
lailluminator.com/2025/11/20/l...
Louisiana officials will soon be able to sue citizens over internet posts with their personal info • Louisiana Illuminator
Gov. Jeff Landry and state lawmakers approved a new law earlier this year allowing a wide swath of public officials to bring lawsuits against those who don’t take down online posts with officials’ per...
lailluminator.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Starting next year, many public officials in Louisiana and their family members will be able to sue individuals/businesses who post basic biological info about the officials on the internet and don't listen to a government demand to take it down. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/20/l...
lailluminator.com/2025/11/20/l...
Louisiana made it nearly impossible to get parole. Now it’s releasing prisoners to deport them. veritenews.org/2025/11/24/l... (from @veritenews.org) #lalege
Louisiana is paroling prisoners in order to deport them
Gov. Jeff Landry eliminated parole for prisoners arrested after Aug. 1, 2024, and tightened eligibility rules for those already in prison. Then he set all of that aside for one group: undocumented imm...
veritenews.org
November 24, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Louisiana made it nearly impossible to get parole. Now it’s releasing prisoners to deport them. veritenews.org/2025/11/24/l... (from @veritenews.org) #lalege
Louisiana school scores reach record high in 2025, but grades will likely drop next year www.nola.com/news/educati... via @patrick-wall.bsky.social #lalege #laed
Louisiana school scores reach record high in 2025, but grades will likely drop next year
Want to see how your school did? Check our searchable database.
www.nola.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Louisiana school scores reach record high in 2025, but grades will likely drop next year www.nola.com/news/educati... via @patrick-wall.bsky.social #lalege #laed
Waymo is bringing its driver-less car service to New Orleans after a successful test run www.nola.com/news/busines... via @nolanews.bsky.social
Waymo is bringing its driver-less car service to New Orleans after a successful test run
Waymo tested its vehicles in the city in February and again in May.
www.nola.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Waymo is bringing its driver-less car service to New Orleans after a successful test run www.nola.com/news/busines... via @nolanews.bsky.social
Here’s how ACA marketplace health insurance rates are expected to change in your part of Louisiana www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @emilywoodruff.bsky.social #lalege
Here’s how ACA marketplace health insurance rates are expected to change in your part of Louisiana
A 45-year-old in Louisiana who earns $32,000 a year could see their ACA premium jump from $691 to $2,159 if Congress lets enhanced subsidies expire. A family of four could pay more than $11,000 extra....
www.theadvocate.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Here’s how ACA marketplace health insurance rates are expected to change in your part of Louisiana www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @emilywoodruff.bsky.social #lalege
The @nytimes.com looked at how Louisiana lawmakers raised the tax on sports betting to help raise money for the state's college football teams; Other states are looking to Louisiana as a model
nytimes.com/2025/11/15/b... #lalege #laed
nytimes.com/2025/11/15/b... #lalege #laed
Is Your College Football Team Short of Cash? Sports Betting Can Help.
nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The @nytimes.com looked at how Louisiana lawmakers raised the tax on sports betting to help raise money for the state's college football teams; Other states are looking to Louisiana as a model
nytimes.com/2025/11/15/b... #lalege #laed
nytimes.com/2025/11/15/b... #lalege #laed
Reposted by Melinda Deslatte
#LSU has paid more than $43 million to buy out the contracts of its coaches and athletics department leaders over the past decade and soon might be on the hook for more than $53 million more. Here’s how much, and who, LSU has paid. #lalege #lagov
LSU has spent over $43 million on athletics buyouts over the past decade • Louisiana Illuminator
LSU has paid more than $43 million to buy out the contracts of its coaches and athletics department leaders over the past decade and soon might be on the hook for more than $53 million more.
lailluminator.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Reposted by Melinda Deslatte
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
apnews.com/article/new-...
#Saints have not exceeded low expectations but see signs of hope heading into their last 7 games (from @brettmartel.bsky.social)
#Saints have not exceeded low expectations but see signs of hope heading into their last 7 games (from @brettmartel.bsky.social)
Saints have not exceeded low expectations but see signs of hope heading into their last 7 games
The New Orleans Saints entered their Week 11 bye tied for the NFC's worst record with the New York Giants at 2-8.
apnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
apnews.com/article/new-...
#Saints have not exceeded low expectations but see signs of hope heading into their last 7 games (from @brettmartel.bsky.social)
#Saints have not exceeded low expectations but see signs of hope heading into their last 7 games (from @brettmartel.bsky.social)
Full SNAP benefits will return to Louisiana. Some will get extra, Gov. Jeff Landry says. www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @theadvocatebr.bsky.social #lalege
Full SNAP benefits will return to Louisiana. Some will get extra, Gov. Jeff Landry says.
With the end of the federal shutdown, those who get Louisiana SNAP benefits will see their full benefit amount. The elderly and disabled will see a little extra in November.
www.theadvocate.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Full SNAP benefits will return to Louisiana. Some will get extra, Gov. Jeff Landry says. www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @theadvocatebr.bsky.social #lalege
Former Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder indicted for theft of 'rare state artifact' www.nola.com/news/courts/... (from @theadvocatebr.bsky.social) #lalege
Former Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder indicted for theft of 'rare state artifact'
He was indicted after an ancient cypress board went missing from his office,
www.nola.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Former Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder indicted for theft of 'rare state artifact' www.nola.com/news/courts/... (from @theadvocatebr.bsky.social) #lalege
UL Lafayette faculty sound alarm over presidential search, demanding transparency www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/new... via @theadvocateaca.bsky.social #lalege #laed
UL Lafayette faculty sound alarm over presidential search, demanding transparency
"Given the current financial crisis at the University, the next president should be trusted to act in the best interests of the University and the people that constitute this institution. A search pro...
www.theadvocate.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:29 PM
UL Lafayette faculty sound alarm over presidential search, demanding transparency www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/new... via @theadvocateaca.bsky.social #lalege #laed
Louisiana officials, candidates can use campaign cash for D.C. Mardi Gras, ethics board confirms lailluminator.com/2025/11/10/l... (from @jsodonoghue.bsky.social) #lalege
Louisiana officials, candidates can use campaign cash for D.C. Mardi Gras, ethics board confirms • Louisiana Illuminator
The Louisiana Board of Ethics confirmed Friday that elected officials and political candidates can use their campaign money for expenses related to Washington Mardi Gras following a law change earlier...
lailluminator.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Louisiana officials, candidates can use campaign cash for D.C. Mardi Gras, ethics board confirms lailluminator.com/2025/11/10/l... (from @jsodonoghue.bsky.social) #lalege
Reposted by Melinda Deslatte
As Louisiana's new closed primary elections near, a debate over 'no party' voters reignites www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @theadvocatebr.bsky.social #lalege
As Louisiana's new closed primary elections near, a debate over 'no party' voters reignites
Some Louisiana Republicans recently renewed an unsettled debate over whether independent voters should have a say in the GOP primary elections.
www.theadvocate.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
As Louisiana's new closed primary elections near, a debate over 'no party' voters reignites www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @theadvocatebr.bsky.social #lalege
Reposted by Melinda Deslatte
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...
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
Why was money taken out of some Louisiana SNAP accounts? And what happens next? www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @theadvocatebr.bsky.social #lalege
Why was money taken out of some Louisiana SNAP accounts? And what happens next?
WASHINGTON – Some Louisiana SNAP recipients had money removed from their cards this week, but the Louisiana Department of Health announced Wednesday that all beneficiaries would receive at least some
www.theadvocate.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Why was money taken out of some Louisiana SNAP accounts? And what happens next? www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/... via @theadvocatebr.bsky.social #lalege
Reposted by Melinda Deslatte
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 Melinda Deslatte
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 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 interim Athletic Director Verge Ausberry says the school's athletic department 'is not broken' (from @brettmartel.bsky.social)
apnews.com/article/lsu-...
apnews.com/article/lsu-...
LSU interim AD Verge Ausberry says the school's athletic department 'is not broken'
Newly named LSU interim athletic director Verge Ausberry says the athletic department is ‘not broken’ in the wake of his predecessor Scott Woodward's abrupt departure this week.
apnews.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:11 PM
#LSU interim Athletic Director Verge Ausberry says the school's athletic department 'is not broken' (from @brettmartel.bsky.social)
apnews.com/article/lsu-...
apnews.com/article/lsu-...
Louisiana lawmakers agreed to move back the spring election dates, passing the bills in a one-week special session that ended yesterday. What happened and why? More details in my latest for the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana: parlouisiana.org/wp-content/u... #lalege
October 30, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Louisiana lawmakers agreed to move back the spring election dates, passing the bills in a one-week special session that ended yesterday. What happened and why? More details in my latest for the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana: parlouisiana.org/wp-content/u... #lalege
SPECIAL SESSION ENDS: With final passage of bills delaying the 2026 spring elections by a month, the House and Senate have adjourned. The governor set aside up to three weeks for the special session. Lawmakers wrapped up in a week, suspending rules to speed bill passage. #lalege
October 29, 2025 at 6:07 PM
SPECIAL SESSION ENDS: With final passage of bills delaying the 2026 spring elections by a month, the House and Senate have adjourned. The governor set aside up to three weeks for the special session. Lawmakers wrapped up in a week, suspending rules to speed bill passage. #lalege