The Light Switch

Cleo Fields; data centers

First, we’ll explore how data center development has led to a fast-track for building power plants, potentially putting regular ratepayers on the hook for some of the cost. We’ve also got a sit-down interview with U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, who shares his thoughts about losing his district in a landmark Supreme Court ruling.

Vexing voter turnout

Less than half of our state’s registered voters cast ballots in the May 16 elections. And if history is an indicator, we’ll see fewer people show up for the June runoffs. Why does Louisiana struggle so much with voter turnout? We’ll talk with a voting rights advocate who’s had a front row seat at the Capitol to see the vast changes in state election laws.

Your regular risk reminder

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.

It's wildfire season, too

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.

Flood warning

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.