Verite News

Margee Green advocated for state grants through the Louisiana Food Policy Council to help local farmers scale up after federal funding programs were cut. Lawmakers eventually appropriated $3 million for direct farm purchasing, but the state later reduced this allocation by two-thirds, diverting funds away from the council.

Following a community meeting on July 21 concerning safety issues for RTA passengers, New Orleans Police and the Louisiana National Guard began conducting sweeps near the main branch of the New Orleans Public Library. While some commuters expressed relief regarding the police presence due to drug use and crime, unhoused individuals seeking temporary shelter reported being turned away or ordered to leave by both police and military personnel.

Extreme heat in southeast Louisiana is increasing health risks for unhoused individuals, with heat index values reaching 115 degrees and shelters at capacity. New Orleans faces 98 heat-related deaths since 2023, prompting calls for long-term housing solutions and concerns over a statewide public sleeping ban. The city plans to plant 40,000 trees by 2030 and expand cooling strategies to address rising temperatures.

Homeless individuals in New Orleans face extreme heat with temperatures reaching 115°F, exacerbating health risks. Victor Tate, unsheltered for over a decade, describes limited relief under the Pontchartrain Expressway. Over 1,563 people experience homelessness in Orleans and Jefferson parishes, with rising heat-related health issues impacting vulnerable populations like seniors.

Jimmie Duncan was freed after the Louisiana Supreme Court overturned his 1998 conviction for killing Haley Oliveaux, citing flawed bite mark evidence. The court ruled that new evidence showed the forensic analysis used to convict Duncan was scientifically invalid.

The Louisiana Supreme Court overturned Jimmie 'Chris' Duncan's 1998 conviction for a toddler's murder, citing flawed bite mark evidence as 'scientifically indefensible.' The decision followed a 2025 investigation revealing discredited forensic practices by experts Michael West and Steven Hayne, whose work contributed to nine other exonerations.

Bobbi-Jeane Misick of Verite News has joined the 2026-27 New York Times Local Investigations Fellow cohort to continue her immigration reporting in Louisiana. The program, led by Dean Baquet, supports investigative journalism in regions across the U.S., with previous projects receiving national awards.

A former teacher and coach at Collegiate Baton Rouge filed a federal lawsuit alleging retaliation and discrimination after reporting sexual harassment by an administrator. The administrator was investigated and removed from a leadership role but later returned to a human resources position within the charter school network. The school denied direct links between the harassment investigation and the administrator's role changes.

A New Orleans public defender, Lawrence J. Galle, and deputy constable Charles Culpepper face investigation after a source alleged they solicited $400 to resolve a traffic ticket. The incident occurred when Lauren Barron sought to contest a speeding ticket, and the deputy constable directed her to the lawyer for a fee, which she later discovered was unnecessary after paying the actual $161 fine online.

A documentary titled 'The Big Sea' about chemical pollution in St. John the Baptist Parish, which criticizes Denka, a company linked to cancer risks, was initially canceled by the parish president but rescheduled after public backlash. The screening, rescheduled for Juneteenth, highlights tensions over censorship and environmental concerns.

A documentary screening about chemical pollution in St. John the Baptist Parish, canceled months earlier amid claims of pressure from Parish President Jaclyn Hotard, will proceed after public backlash. The event, rescheduled for June 19, coincides with Juneteenth and addresses environmental concerns in a majority-Black community linked to a now-closed chemical plant.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry's tough-on-crime policies, including harsher penalties for minors and reduced parole opportunities, are projected to increase prison populations and taxpayer costs. His proposed $798 million corrections budget reflects a 9% rise in spending, driven by longer inmate stays and aging, sicker prisoners due to policy changes like eliminating medical parole.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry's tough-on-crime policies are expected to significantly increase the state's prison population and corrections costs, with a proposed $798 million budget representing a 9% increase. The policies include lowering the age of adult criminal responsibility to 17, reducing parole rates to a 20-year low, and eliminating medical parole, with experts predicting the prison population could double by 2034.

An investigation in New Orleans found 50% of tested playgrounds had unsafe lead levels, prompting city officials to seek $5 million in federal aid for cleanup. Mayor Helena Moreno ordered a task force to address lead contamination in parks, with levels reaching 30 times the EPA's recommended limit.