News from the South - Louisiana News Feed
Top LSU administrator resigns amid campus leadership turmoil
Top LSU administrator resigns amid campus leadership turmoil
by Piper Hutchinson, Louisiana Illuminator
February 20, 2025
One of LSU’s top leaders resigned from the university Wednesday, according to a letter of resignation that suggests she was instructed to step down.
“I hereby tender my resignation as Executive Vice President for Finance and Chief Administrative Officer for Louisiana State University in accordance with our discussion,” Kim Lewis wrote in her letter to President William Tate. The Illuminator obtained the letter through a public records request.
Read the letter below.
Lewis is the second top-ranking LSU administrator to resign in recent weeks. Last month, the university’s top attorney, Winston DeCuir, resigned, though he will take a visiting professorship at the LSU Law Center.
DeCuir and Lewis, both Black attorneys, leave their jobs amid increasing politicization of the university.
Lewis previously served as revenue secretary under Gov. John Bel Edwards, a moderate Democrat, and worked for previous Democratic governors.
At times, she has butted heads with LSU Board of Supervisors members aligned with Gov. Jeff Landry. At an October board executive committee meeting, Lewis exchanged terse words with Lee Mallett, a political donor who gave tens of thousands of dollars to Landry’s election efforts.
DeCuir did not respond to a request for comment asking if politics played a part in his resignation. Lewis likewise has not responded to a call requesting comment.
Landry, thanks to a new law he pushed, has more power over higher education than previous governors and has taken a greater interest in LSU.
In recent weeks, he has publicly called on LSU to take action against a law professor who profanely criticized him in the classroom. LSU removed Ken Levy from the classroom pending an investigation, though Levy is fighting his suspension in court.
Landry also called for LSU to punish another law professor who criticized President Donald Trump in the days after the presidential election. In 2021, he called on LSU to punish Bob Mann, a political communications professor, who criticized one of Landry’s deputies in the attorney general’s office who shared vaccine misinformation at an LSU Faculty Senate meeting.
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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 Top LSU administrator resigns amid campus leadership turmoil appeared first on lailluminator.com
News from the South - Louisiana News Feed
More rain and thunderstorms expected Saturday
SUMMARY: More rain and thunderstorms are expected on Saturday, with a small chance of strong storms producing gusty winds or hail. A stationary front will bring rain in the afternoon, clearing by evening, leaving cooler, less humid conditions for Sunday. Temperatures will be in the 50s on the North Shore and near 60 in the metro area, with a breezy, comfortable day ahead. The upcoming week will bring a better chance for rain, especially on Wednesday and Thursday, as a cold front approaches. The Kentucky Derby may experience scattered rain but no severe weather expected.

More rain and thunderstorms expected Saturday
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News from the South - Louisiana News Feed
‘The Light Switch’ Episode 4: Risk and rewards from the Angola Prison Rodeo
by Louisiana Illuminator, Louisiana Illuminator
May 3, 2025
This week’s episode of “The Light Switch” focuses entirely on the Angola Prison Rodeo, now in its 60th year at Louisiana State Penitentiary.
While the rest of the state is deep into its unofficial festival season, about 75 incarcerated men take part in a rodeo that’s not your traditional apple pie, bucking broncos and fancy horses event.
Its critics describe it more like a sordid gladiator exhibition from peak Roman Empire times. They say this exploitation of inmates reflects outdated views on incarceration in Louisiana, a state where more than 1,000 of every 100,000 residents are behind bars according to the Promise of Justice Initiative.
But the rodeo also has its supporters – and some of the most ardent are the inmates who are part of the show. Reporter Piper Hutchinson attended the event last month and heard why they see the rodeo as a key part of positive prison culture. Read more about her visit to “The Wildest Show in the South.”
There are two ways to listen to “The Light Switch” …
Spotify (listen below on the embedded player or use this link)
Apple (listen with the embedded player or use this link)
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 ‘The Light Switch’ Episode 4: Risk and rewards from the Angola Prison Rodeo appeared first on lailluminator.com
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: Centrist
The content of this article presents both sides of the issue surrounding the Angola Prison Rodeo, offering perspectives from both critics and supporters, including the inmates who participate. The tone of the article is neutral, providing factual details about the rodeo’s history and the contrasting views on its ethical implications. The language used does not overtly favor one side over the other, and the content mainly seeks to inform the audience about the ongoing debate without pushing a clear ideological stance. The article succeeds in portraying multiple viewpoints, making it a balanced and factual report on a complex issue.
News from the South - Louisiana News Feed
Be prepared for severe storms later today
SUMMARY: Be prepared for severe storms later today, especially in San Antonio. Rain chances are low until after lunch but will rise by early afternoon with storms forming in the Hill Country. By late afternoon and evening, there’s about a 70% chance of rain, continuing through midnight. The storms are driven by fronts from the north, ample moisture, and upper-level energy, leading to potential strong to severe storms with gusty winds, hail, and localized flooding. Tornado risk is low but present. Tomorrow will be cooler with lingering clouds, dry conditions, and temperatures around 79°F. More storms are possible next week.

The best odds for rain will be between 7 and 10pm.
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