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Category: Government & Politics

Licensing a troubled juvenile jail

A year ago, when Jackson Parish opened its new, unlicensed juvenile jail, kids complained of extended stints of solitary confinement, along with extensive abuse and violations. A DCFS inspection supported those claims, but the agency gave the jail a license anyway.
by Nick Chrastil October 1, 2024 Updated October 2, 2024

Louisiana sanctions use of pepper spray and mace on detained juveniles

In July, a new state law put all Louisiana pretrial juvenile detention centers under the umbrella of the state Office of Juvenile Justice. Soon after, the agency filed an ‘emergency order’ approving the use of ‘chemical agents’ in those facilities. 
by Nick Chrastil September 9, 2024 Updated September 28, 2024

To bring insurance companies back to Louisiana, some suggest tackling it as a federal issue 

At the height of hurricane season, Congressional candidate Devin Davis announces a plan to combat Louisiana’s home-insurance crisis. U.S. Rep. Troy Carter says he’s focused on a more apt federal concern: FEMA’s flood-hazard ratings.
by Delaney Dryfoos, The Lens, and Eva Tesfaye, WWNO September 2, 2024 Updated September 9, 2024

President Biden announces $150 million in research grants for cancer “moonshot” initiative

Near Louisiana’s Cancer Alley, the president and first lady prioritize goal to halve the nation’s cancer death rates within roughly the next two decades.
by Delaney Dryfoos August 14, 2024 Updated August 14, 2024

Notice Me

Louisiana law now requires that notices of public meetings be sent in advance to anyone who asks. It’s a victory for active community members who deal with public entities that neglect to give or try to evade public notice, including some New Orleans charter school parents.
by Piper Hutchinson, Louisiana Illuminator August 7, 2024 Updated August 7, 2024

15k Louisianans lose food stamps due to reinstated federal work requirements

Thousands more will likely lose benefits starting this fall, due to a new Louisiana law that bars state officials from doing what they’ve done for over 25 years – asking for waivers of federal work requirements in parishes with high unemployment.
by Nick Chrastil July 16, 2024 Updated July 18, 2024

Getting everyone’s input on City Park, our backyard

An online survey by the authors — local and national network of certified planners, architects, urban designers, and landscape architects — seems to indicate that outreach for City Park’s new Master Plan never happened, certainly not in any comprehensive manner.
by 150 signatories (see list at end of post) June 20, 2024 Updated June 20, 2024

Language Access in Bulbancha

Unless the city provides readily accessible translation and interpretation, true civic participation is impossible for New Orleanians who speak little or no English, the writers say.
by M.G. Olson and Rocio Aguilar May 17, 2024 Updated May 20, 2024

Tiếp cận Ngôn ngữ ở Bulbancha

by M.G. Olson and Rocio Aguilar May 17, 2024 Updated May 20, 2024

Acceso al Idioma en Bulbancha

A menos que la ciudad proporcione traducción e interpretación realmente accesibles, la participación cívica plena es imposible para los habitantes que hablan poco o nada de inglés en Nueva Orleans, dicen los autores.
by M.G. Olson and Rocio Aguilar May 17, 2024 Updated May 20, 2024

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