Julie O’Donoghue

Julie O'Donoghue

[email protected]

Julie O’Donoghue is a senior reporter for the Louisiana Illuminator and producer of the Louisiana Illuminator podcast. She’s received awards from the Virginia Press Association and Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press. Julie covered state government and politics for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune for six years. She’s also covered government and politics in Missouri, Virginia and Washington D.C. Julie is a proud D.C. native and Washington Capitals hockey fan. She and her partner, Jed, live in Baton Rouge. She has two stepchildren, Quinn and Steven.

Landry says he won’t talk to New Orleans mayor until after Murrill indictment investigation
Louisiana

Landry says he won’t talk to New Orleans mayor until after Murrill indictment investigation

Aug 14, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
Gov. Jeff Landry said he won’t personally talk to New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno until after an investigation determines who was behind the July indictment of Attorney General Liz Murrill. “She’s always free to have a discussion with my staff,”...
Vetoed state money partially restored for New Orleans music center
Louisiana

Vetoed state money partially restored for New Orleans music center

Aug 14, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
Louisiana lawmakers have partially restored funding for the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans that Gov. Jeff Landry removed from the state budget in June. The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget approved $1 million Thursday for the...
Louisiana signs $192.6 million no-bid contract with Motorola for public safety, police technology
Louisiana

Louisiana signs $192.6 million no-bid contract with Motorola for public safety, police technology

Aug 14, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
Louisiana lawmakers signed off Thursday on a 10-year, no-bid contract worth $192.6 million to provide public safety equipment and technology for law enforcement and the prison system. The deal gives Motorola $138.2 million to upgrade and maintain the Louisiana Wireless...
Lawmakers ponder $54M no-bid contract for police cameras, communications
Louisiana

Lawmakers ponder $54M no-bid contract for police cameras, communications

Aug 12, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
Louisiana lawmakers will consider a $54 million, no-bid contract Thursday for disaster communications services, body-worn and dashboard cameras and other technology state law enforcement agencies use. Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration recommended last month that the Joint Legislative Committee on the...
With Medicaid cuts ahead, Louisiana’s rural health providers battle over payments
Louisiana

With Medicaid cuts ahead, Louisiana’s rural health providers battle over payments

Aug 10, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
When Herndon “Buzz” Jeansonne bought two rural health clinics in Avoyelles Parish from a retiring physician in 2006, he didn’t have many concerns about making the finances work. His reimbursement rate for treating patients on Medicaid, which provides government-backed insurance...
Republicans compete for Trump endorsement in Louisiana’s congressional elections
Louisiana

Republicans compete for Trump endorsement in Louisiana’s congressional elections

Aug 06, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
Republican candidates in Louisiana’s two competitive U.S. House elections are actively campaigning for President Donald Trump’s endorsement for the Nov. 3 primaries. State Sen. Stewart Cathey of Monroe, state Reps. Mike Echols of Monroe and Gabe Firment of Pollock all...
New districts scramble candidate qualifying for Louisiana’s US House races
Louisiana

New districts scramble candidate qualifying for Louisiana’s US House races

Aug 05, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
New political districts. New candidates. New election date. Louisiana’s current U.S. House races might appear similar to those underway just three months ago before the May 16 congressional primary was canceled , but they’re not. Gov. Jeff Landry and state...
Budget for Louisiana watchdog agency more than doubles with new emphasis on waste
Louisiana

Budget for Louisiana watchdog agency more than doubles with new emphasis on waste

Aug 04, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
Spending for the state government’s watchdog agency has more than doubled since Gov. Jeff Landry selected a new leader earlier this year. The Office of Inspector General’s budget went from $2.2 million to $5.5 million annually in the fiscal year...
A Louisiana law change will erase an ethics fine for just one person
Louisiana

A Louisiana law change will erase an ethics fine for just one person

Jul 31, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
The Louisiana Legislature voted for a law change that benefits only one person, state Rep. Steven Jackson, D-Shreveport, by erasing a $1,000 ethics fine he faces. Act 777 will likely force the Louisiana Board of Ethics to revoke a financial...
Louisiana modernizes access to WIC food assistance benefits
Louisiana

Louisiana modernizes access to WIC food assistance benefits

Jul 30, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
Louisiana’s extra food assistance program for women, infants and children will come with a new benefits card that can be used at grocery stores starting Saturday. The new card allows state officials to upload the program’s benefits remotely. Previously, WIC...
These Louisiana K-12 school jobs won’t come with a state stipend this year
Louisiana

These Louisiana K-12 school jobs won’t come with a state stipend this year

Jul 29, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to provide another round of temporary pay stipends to public school employees will exclude thousands of positions that previously received the pay bump. School nurses, therapists and counselors are among the 12,200 positions that qualified for...
Louisiana’s school teacher stipend plan for this year tweaked – again
Louisiana

Louisiana’s school teacher stipend plan tweaked — again

Jul 23, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
With less than a month to go until classes begin, state officials have updated the plan to cut state funding to public schools in order to fund teacher pay stipends this year. School districts who give teachers locally funded pay...