Recent deaths of prominent Black women point to a national epidemic that has persisted for decades. The problem is particularly acute in Louisiana, where 24% of the people killed in intimate-partner violence were Black women.
Newly released tests and documents in the Louisiana town contradict government reassurances and are fueling protest.
Elyse Stevens was a primary physician at the University Medical Center New Orleans, which runs an integrated health clinic specialized in treating patients with substance use disorders. At first, her patient-centered approach won her awards. But in 2025, the Louisiana medical licensing board began investigating her practices. She had to leave the state to continue working, she said.
