Connect with us

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Louisiana health secretary retires; Gov. Landry names interim replacement

Published

on

lailluminator.com – Greg LaRose – 2025-03-21 05:00:00

Louisiana health secretary retires; Gov. Landry names interim replacement

by Greg LaRose, Louisiana Illuminator
March 21, 2025

Louisiana will have to replace the agency leader in charge of the largest budget in state government, as the state health department announced Thursday that its secretary, Michael Harrington, has retired.

Drew Maranto, undersecretary at the Louisiana Department of Health, was named the interim administrator, and Gov. Jeff Landry will name a permanent secretary in the next few weeks, according to an LDH news release.

“This has been in the works for some time, as Michael has made it clear from the beginning that he intended to step down in the spring,” Landry said in the release. “He joined during a busy period, and we deeply appreciate his service and willingness to come to Louisiana and work in one of the largest and most challenging departments.

Michael Harrington (LDH photo)

Harrington was named secretary last June after Landry and the Louisiana Legislature created the role of surgeon general and shifted Ralph Abraham from the secretary’s chair to become the first person to hold the new position. The split leadership roles put Abraham in charge of state health policy and public health efforts, while Harrington handled administrative and financial duties.

Maranto was chief of staff for Abraham before being promoted to LDH undersecretary when Harrington was hired.

Harrington had worked with the consulting firm Caldwell Butler for three and a half years when Landry brought him to the state health department in January 2024 as an undersecretary. He was previously president and chief operating officer of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and the Miami Children’s Health System in Florida.

Among his earlier jobs in health care industry leadership, Harrington was president of Christus Health Louisiana from 2014-16. He oversaw several clinics, hospitals and specialty care centers in the state in that position.

The current fiscal year budget for the Louisiana Department of Health is nearly $20 billion — close to half of the state’s total spend. The agency is annually susceptible to cutbacks as one of two major areas in the budget without constitutional protection. The other is higher education.

Harrington’s replacement inherits significant uncertainty as Louisiana and other states await the Trump administration’s policy decisions on Medicaid. The president and Republican-led Congress are contemplating cuts to the health insurance program to help pay for tax cuts. Potentially left in the lurch are low-income individuals and families, as well as people with disabilities, who rely on Medicaid to pay for their care.

Louisiana expanded its Medicaid enrollment in 2016 under the Affordable Care Act after Democrat John Bel Edwards became governor. Although some Republicans state leaders – including former Gov. Bobby Jindal – have spurned expansion, Landry chose to keep the additional coverage in place.

Approximately 1.6 million people in Louisiana, or about one-third of the state’s population, rely on Medicaid for their health care. More than four out of every 10 Medicaid patients in the state are children, according to federal data.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

SUBSCRIBE

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.

The post Louisiana health secretary retires; Gov. Landry names interim replacement appeared first on lailluminator.com

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Saturday 10 PM Tropics Update: One far-off tropical wave to watch

Published

on

www.youtube.com – WWLTV – 2025-09-13 22:34:05

SUMMARY: A tropical wave near Africa is emerging over the Atlantic but remains disorganized. The National Hurricane Center gives it a 60% chance to develop into a depression or tropical storm, possibly becoming Gabrielle. This system may move northward, staying over the open Atlantic and away from the Gulf, posing no immediate threat. Since the last named storm in late August, stable air, dry conditions, and increased wind shear have suppressed tropical activity in the Atlantic. The next storm names are Gabrielle, Humberto, and Imelda, with only the current wave showing potential for development at this time.

Meteorologist Alexandra Cranford tracks a lone disturbance with a chance of development on Saturday night, September 13, 2025.

Source

Continue Reading

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Haynes wanted in on Wildlife bribery scheme too, informant says

Published

on

thecurrentla.com – Leslie Turk – 2025-09-11 15:30:00

SUMMARY: Dusty Guidry, a former consultant who pleaded guilty to accepting $800,000 in bribes, testified that Assistant District Attorney Gary Haynes sought involvement in a bribery scheme at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. Haynes, on trial for conspiracy, bribery, money laundering, and obstruction, was previously appointed to run Lafayette’s pretrial diversion program after supporting DA Don Landry. Guidry revealed Haynes pressured him to include him in a similar diversion program scheme at Wildlife & Fisheries, receiving checks totaling $90,000. The scheme involved splitting bribes among Guidry, vendor Leonard Franques, and former department secretary Jack Montoucet, who has also been charged. The statewide program never launched.

Read the full article

The post Haynes wanted in on Wildlife bribery scheme too, informant says appeared first on thecurrentla.com

Continue Reading

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

OPPJ Comprehensive Plan

Published

on

www.youtube.com – KTVE – 2025-09-10 21:15:08

SUMMARY: The Ouachita Parish Police Jury is conducting a series of community meetings to gather public input for their comprehensive plan guiding future growth. Police Jury members, including Larry Bratton from District D, emphasize the importance of reflecting residents’ voices in the master plan. Community members participated in interactive stations, allocating resources to priorities like infrastructure and downtown development, to help shape goals for the next 2, 5, and 20 years. Landscape architect Matt Pizatella and partners from Atlas support the effort. Bratton stresses that without proactive planning, the parish risks costly and less beneficial outcomes in the long term.

OPPJ Comprehensive Plan

Source

Continue Reading

Trending