SUMMARY: The National Weather Service (NWS) assures Louisiana residents that recent federal job cuts won’t significantly impact hurricane season operations. Despite nearly 600 layoffs nationwide, over 100 positions are returning, with Louisiana’s reductions being less severe. Louisiana continues launching two daily weather balloons to ensure forecast accuracy, though some regions reduced launches to one, potentially lowering forecast precision. Radar maintenance remains a priority, especially during hurricane season. Experts emphasize ongoing communication and preparedness, urging residents to have family plans. WGNO meteorologists will maintain reliable storm coverage. Stay informed via the WGNO app and newsletter for the latest weather updates this season.

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by Ariana Figueroa, Louisiana Illuminator
June 4, 2025

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump issued a long-awaited “travel ban” late Wednesday to bar entry of nationals from a dozen countries and partially restrict entry for nationals from a smaller set of countries.

Countries that will have a full ban are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Countries with partial bans are Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

The proclamation goes into effect Monday.

Wednesday’s proclamation is a modified version of the travel ban from the president’s first term that barred entrance to nationals from predominantly Muslim countries. Federal courts struck down several versions of the travel ban until the Supreme Court upheld it in 2018. Former president Joe Biden repealed the travel ban when he came into office in 2021.

Wednesday’s proclamation allows for some exceptions, including visas that were issued to people from those countries before Wednesday, those who have been granted asylum by the U.S. or have a refugee status and lawful permanent residents.

The president’s proclamation cited national security concerns, but gave little detail on the reasoning that led to selecting the countries.

“Publicly disclosing additional details on which I relied in making these determinations, however, would cause serious damage to the national security of the United States, and many such details are classified,” according to the proclamation.

The Trump administration has moved to end temporary legal status such as humanitarian protections for nationals that hail from some of the countries on the ban list: Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela. Immigration advocates have challenged those moves to end those legal protections in federal courts across the country.  

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.

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Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Right

This article reports on President Donald Trump’s reinstatement of a travel ban targeting nationals from specific countries, largely focusing on national security and immigration policy. The tone is factual and largely neutral, providing context about prior versions of the ban, legal challenges, and exceptions included in the new proclamation. While the subject matter relates to a politically charged policy typically supported by conservative or right-leaning viewpoints, the article itself refrains from editorializing or expressing overt bias. The emphasis on national security and immigration restrictions aligns with Center-Right policy priorities without strongly partisan framing.

SUMMARY: The Lafayette City Council approved a road swap to enable infrastructure improvements along Johnston Street and Bertrand Drive after a five-hour debate on unequal city investment. Councilman Andy Naquin switched to support after securing a promise to explore an Economic Development District (EDD) for Johnston Street’s costly revitalization. Council Chair Kenneth Boudreaux raised concerns about neglecting Moss Street, citing safety issues and fatalities, proposing its inclusion for improvements. Boudreaux also criticized unequal waste service along Louisiana Avenue, where residents face dumpster use due to impassable roads, calling for prompt action. A resolution to address this will be presented June 17.

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