The Light Switch
"The Light Switch" is a weekly podcast on Louisiana politics hosted by Louisiana lluminator Editor-in-Chief Greg LaRose and produced by WWNO/WRKF News Director Ryan Vasquez.
Latest Episodes
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Hurricane season begins June 1, and you should be going through the usual checklist to make sure you’re prepared. But it’s not like you need a reminder about the risk we face; you get one every time you pay your homeowner’s insurance premium. We talk with an expert about the factors that drive those rates and whether there’s any relief in sight.
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Hurricanes aren't the only extreme weather concern for Louisiana heading into the summer months. Forecasts call for an elevated wildfire risk for the entire state starting in July and lasting at least through August. State Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain details preparations and offers advice to the public to limit the damage.
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Hurricane season is just days away and, more than 20 years after Katrina, controversy once again surrounds storm protection in the New Orleans region.Some of the main characters in this drama are the governor, one of his major donors and the legislature. We talk with the leader of a good government group that pushed for change two decades ago — and sees the need to do so again.
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A Supreme Court ruling in a Louisiana redistricting case has taken the legs out from under a law that civil rights advocates call the crown jewel of the 1960s movement.They fear decades of progress are about to be wiped out through redrawn election maps. We’ll hear how Black voters in Louisiana have reacted to the decision and the ensuing move from the governor to suspend the state’s U.S. House primaries.
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We’re back with the rest of our interview with LSU President Wade Rousse. This week, he goes into more detail about pulling the University of New Orleans into the LSU System. Rousse also explains his role in recent big coaching hires and what he thinks Congress should do to rein in unchecked spending on college athletes and limit the transfer portal.
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LSU System President Wade Rousse sat down recently for an extensive interview with the Illuminator — so extensive that we need to break it up into two episodes. This week, Rousse covers his plans for academics. Next week: LSU athletics.
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There are nearly 20 bills in the Louisiana Legislature dealing with artificial intelligence, covering lots of ground. One thing they have in common is that most have been put on the shelf because President Donald Trump wants the federal government to handle AI regulation. We hear from lobbyists from both sides of the issue.
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Gov. Jeff Landry is cheering a brand new rating that shows Louisiana has some of the cheapest electricity prices in the country. Is that reflected in your monthly bill? We talk with a consumer advocate who's looked at the numbers and explains whether there’s any relief in sight.
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There’s a possibility a Louisiana lawsuit could force abortion pills off the market at least temporarily, perhaps permanently. One organization says — regardless of the outcome of this case — abortion drugs will continue to be available. We explore what could lie ahead on the reproductive health care horizon in Louisiana and nationally.
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If you’re looking for work in Louisiana, there are plenty of opportunities in the plumbing profession. But you’re looking at thousands of hours of on-the-job training before you actually get your license. Plumbers say the years of hands-on, supervised training are critical because the work involves public health and safety. But one state lawmaker wants to create a fast-track for future plumbers to fill a skilled worker shortage