Patrick Wall (@patrick_wall) header
Patrick Wall (@patrick_wall) profile picture

Patrick Wall

@patrick_wall

Education editor & reporter at @nolanews @theadvocatebr | 🏳️‍🌈 | Formerly @Chalkbeat | DMs open | Fan mail & tips only: patrick.wall at https://nitter.cf/t.co/ImaR6YK2Rk

 New Orleans
patrickwallwrites.com/
Joined April 2010
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205Media
Photo by Patrick Wall (@patrick_wall)Photo by Patrick Wall (@patrick_wall)Photo by Patrick Wall (@patrick_wall)Photo by Patrick Wall (@patrick_wall)Photo by Patrick Wall (@patrick_wall)Photo by Patrick Wall (@patrick_wall)Photo by Patrick Wall (@patrick_wall)Photo by Patrick Wall (@patrick_wall)Photo by Patrick Wall (@patrick_wall)Photo by Patrick Wall (@patrick_wall)
After a previously defunct board in Louisiana voted to give SpaceX an estimated $24 billion tax exemption at a meeting where no members of the public were present, a lawyer allegedly said: “Take a second to savor the history that was literally just made." great @alexlubben scoop
Alex Lubben (@alexlubben) profile pictureAlex Lubben@alexlubbenOct 26
NEW: A lawsuit seeks to void a Vermilion Parish board’s tax deal with SpaceX, alleging eight open meetings law violations, including an agenda that listed the deal under the code name “Project Osprey.”
Opening of news story: A citizens group and three residents sued the Vermilion Parish police jury and a newly revived industrial development board Monday, alleging they repeatedly violated Louisiana’s open meetings law while advancing SpaceX’s planned $100 billion spaceport. The suit says the police jury revived the Vermilion Parish Industrial Development Board, inactive since 1997, at a July 15 meeting. On Aug. 25, the board approved a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with SpaceX tied to a 25-year property tax exemption estimated at nearly $24 billion. The agenda referred to the deal only as “Project Osprey,” a code name the suit says was used so that “even if a member of the public happened across the meeting notice, they wouldn’t know what the meeting was about.”

ALT Opening of news story: A citizens group and three residents sued the Vermilion Parish police jury and a newly revived industrial development board Monday, alleging they repeatedly violated Louisiana’s open meetings law while advancing SpaceX’s planned $100 billion spaceport. The suit says the police jury revived the Vermilion Parish Industrial Development Board, inactive since 1997, at a July 15 meeting. On Aug. 25, the board approved a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with SpaceX tied to a 25-year property tax exemption estimated at nearly $24 billion. The agenda referred to the deal only as “Project Osprey,” a code name the suit says was used so that “even if a member of the public happened across the meeting notice, they wouldn’t know what the meeting was about.”

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Alex Lubben (@alexlubben) profile picture
Alex Lubben@alexlubbenOct 26
NEW: A lawsuit seeks to void a Vermilion Parish board’s tax deal with SpaceX, alleging eight open meetings law violations, including an agenda that listed the deal under the code name “Project Osprey.”
Opening of news story: A citizens group and three residents sued the Vermilion Parish police jury and a newly revived industrial development board Monday, alleging they repeatedly violated Louisiana’s open meetings law while advancing SpaceX’s planned $100 billion spaceport. The suit says the police jury revived the Vermilion Parish Industrial Development Board, inactive since 1997, at a July 15 meeting. On Aug. 25, the board approved a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with SpaceX tied to a 25-year property tax exemption estimated at nearly $24 billion. The agenda referred to the deal only as “Project Osprey,” a code name the suit says was used so that “even if a member of the public happened across the meeting notice, they wouldn’t know what the meeting was about.”

ALT Opening of news story: A citizens group and three residents sued the Vermilion Parish police jury and a newly revived industrial development board Monday, alleging they repeatedly violated Louisiana’s open meetings law while advancing SpaceX’s planned $100 billion spaceport. The suit says the police jury revived the Vermilion Parish Industrial Development Board, inactive since 1997, at a July 15 meeting. On Aug. 25, the board approved a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with SpaceX tied to a 25-year property tax exemption estimated at nearly $24 billion. The agenda referred to the deal only as “Project Osprey,” a code name the suit says was used so that “even if a member of the public happened across the meeting notice, they wouldn’t know what the meeting was about.”

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Sam Karlin (@samkarlin) profile picture
Sam Karlin@samkarlinOct 22
A bartender traveling to New Orleans for tales of the cocktails was arrested by ICE at MSY and deported to a country she's never been to. @rjamesfinn on how Louisiana has become the epicenter of ICE's deportations to countries people have no ties to nola.com/news/courts/alexand…
Image from Sam Karlin (@samkarlin)
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Louisiana’s absenteeism rate is improving, but 1 in 5 students still regularly miss school nola.com/news/education/loui… via @patrick_wall #lalege #laed
Louisiana’s absenteeism rate is improving, but 1 in 5 students still regularly miss school

Louisiana’s absenteeism rate is improving, but 1 in 5 students still regularly miss school

More than 1 in 5 Louisiana students struggled with attendance last school year, according to new state data, which shows that absenteeism is easing — but not as quickly as

nola.com
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Julie O'Donoghue (@JSODonoghue) profile picture
Julie O'Donoghue@JSODonoghueJul 29
Thousands of public school employees - administrators, counselors, nurses - who received state stipends before won't get them under @LAGovJeffLandry's plan. 12,200 school jobs that came with stipends last yr. wouldn't qualify for them this yr. #lalege lailluminator.com/2026/07/29…
These Louisiana K-12 school jobs won’t come with a state stipend this year • Louisiana Illuminator

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

Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to provide another round of temporary pay stipends to public school employees could exclude thousands of positions that previously received the pay bump. 

lailluminator.com
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Julie O'Donoghue (@JSODonoghue) profile picture
Julie O'Donoghue@JSODonoghueJul 27
Louisiana is revamping its public school funding formula over the next five months. Advocates are concerned that's too short a time frame. (Tennessee and Texas took far longer to do the same thing and involved more people.) From @patrick_wall #lalege nola.com/news/education/loui…
This small group has a big task: revamp Louisiana’s $4B school funding system

This small group has a big task: revamp Louisiana’s $4B school funding system

Beginning in August, a 15-member task force will conduct a “top-to-bottom review” of Louisiana’s school-funding system. They have just a few months to overhaul the decades-old system.

nola.com
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Julie O'Donoghue (@JSODonoghue) profile picture
Julie O'Donoghue@JSODonoghueJun 30
So where's that $198m you provided for teacher stipends for the past 3 years? @LAGovJeffLandry and lawmakers are forced to cut $168m from school operations and shift it to stipends because they never included the $198m for stipends in the budget to begin with. #lalege
Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) profile pictureGovernor Jeff Landry
@LAGovJeffLandryJun 30
Once again, the media is misleading the public. Shame on them. We are NOT cutting public school funding. Period. Last time I checked, teachers are part of the public school budget. Do teachers not deserve a pay raise? Not a single dollar is being taken away from public education. We're investing in teachers, not bureaucracy. The facts are simple, and the media should start reporting them.
Image from Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry)
Image from Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry)
Image from Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry)
Image from Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry)
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Judge blocks Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to cut school budgets to fund teacher stipends nola.com/news/politics/judge… via @patrick_wall #lalege #laed
Judge blocks Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to cut school budgets to fund teacher stipends

Judge blocks Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to cut school budgets to fund teacher stipends

It pauses a plan that would cut the state’s education budget and use the money to give teachers another year of $2,000 stipends.

nola.com
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Some pretty big Louisiana education news: Advocates filed a lawsuit today to block @LAGovJeffLandry's plan to cut public school funding by $168 million to pay for teacher stipends. nola.com/news/education/loui…

Louisiana education advocates file lawsuit to block Landry’s budget cut, teacher stipend plan

Public school advocates filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to block Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to pay for teacher stipends by cutting education funding by nearly $170 million.

nola.com
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Louisiana school superintendents warn about proposed education cut to fund teacher stipends: ‘We can’t do this’ (from @patrick_wall) #lalege #laed app.theadvocate.com/article/…
Louisiana school superintendents warn about proposed education cut: ‘We can’t do this’

Louisiana school superintendents warn about proposed education cut: ‘We can’t do this’

In public statements and private conversations with lawmakers, Louisiana’s school superintendents are sounding the alarm about Gov. Jeff Landry’s proposal to pay for teacher bonuses by cutting public...

app.theadvocate.com
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As enrollment declines and staff grows, Louisiana public schools may soon face a reckoning (from @patrick_wall) #lalege #laed nola.com/news/education/loui…
As enrollment declines and staff grows, Louisiana public schools may soon face a reckoning

As enrollment declines and staff grows, Louisiana public schools may soon face a reckoning

“We’re going to see much more shrinking of our school systems in the future,” said one education consultant.

nola.com
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philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) profile picture
philip lewis
@Phil_Lewis_May 8
There have been only four Black congressmen elected to the U.S. House from Louisiana since Reconstruction. They’re all in this photo.
Griffin Broussard (@gbrousstv) profile pictureGriffin Broussard
@gbrousstvMay 8
Rep. Cleo Fields, whose 6th Congressional District was ruled unconstitutional, gives his testimony. Fields pointed out how the only four African-American representatives from Louisiana since 1877 are here. #lalege #lagov @LAFirstNews
Image from Griffin Broussard (@gbrousstv)
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Shalini Ramachandran (@shalini) profile picture
Shalini Ramachandran@shaliniApr 29
NEW: How YouTube Took Over the American Classroom. We got granular viewing data from parents on how much YouTube kids are watching at school, on school devices, during school hours. 13,000 videos in three months. 200 on a day in March, before lunchtime. wsj.com/us-news/education/yo…
How YouTube Took Over the American Classroom

How YouTube Took Over the American Classroom

Parents find their kids captive to the video streaming site on their school-issued devices; for one, it was 13,000 YouTube videos in three months.

wsj.com
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Dan Merica (@merica) profile picture
Dan Merica@mericaApr 30
New w/ @patrickdmarley: Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) told Republican House candidates Wednesday that he plans to suspend next month’s primary elections so state lawmakers can pass a new congressional map first, per two people with knowledge of the call. washingtonpost.com/politics/…
Louisiana suspends House primaries as red states face pressure to redistrict

Louisiana suspends House primaries as red states face pressure to redistrict

Gov. Jeff Landry (R) issued an order pausing next month’s primaries until lawmakers can approve a new map, which could help the GOP gain one or two seats in the state this fall.

washingtonpost.com
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Tyler Bridges (@tegbridges) profile picture
Tyler Bridges
@tegbridgesApr 29
I just asked LA Gov Jeff Landry whether Legislature would redraw congressional districts this year in light of SCOTUS decision. He said it's too early to say. Landry and legislators are now in a bind. The primary is May 16. Will Trump pressure them to eliminate 1 Dem seat? #lalege #lagov
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Andrea Gallo (@aegallo) profile picture
Andrea Gallo@aegalloApr 17
New @NOLAnews project out today from the great @patrick_wall. Louisiana traditional public school enrollment is plummeting, leading to layoffs, program cuts, campaigns to win back students. What does this mean for Louisiana’s future? nola.com/news/education/publ…
Louisiana public schools lost 60,000 students in a decade. Enrollment is still falling.

Louisiana public schools lost 60,000 students in a decade. Enrollment is still falling.

Many districts have tried to woo families with new offerings, but it’s rarely been enough to offset the losses. Instead, under-enrolled schools end up cutting programs and positions. When that’s...

nola.com
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Do Louisiana public schools need more money? State and district leaders debate funding boost. theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/… via @patrick_wall #lalege #laed
Do Louisiana public schools need more money? State and district leaders debate funding boost.

Do Louisiana public schools need more money? State and district leaders debate funding boost.

Louisiana’s state board of education has proposed a limited funding boost, while school superintendents want a bigger increase. Meanwhile, some lawmakers and others want to rethink the entire...

theadvocate.com
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‘GATOR is not going to grow’: Senate President rejects Jeff Landry’s bid to expand school vouchers, says he’ll push to keep funding flat at $44M (from ⁦@patrick_wall) #lalege #laed nola.com/news/education/la-g…
‘GATOR is not going to grow’: Senate President rejects Jeff Landry’s bid to expand school vouchers

‘GATOR is not going to grow’: Senate President rejects Jeff Landry’s bid to expand school vouchers

Louisiana state Senate President Cameron Henry said he wants to keep funding for LA GATOR at its current level — flatly rejecting Gov. Jeff Landry’s push to double funding for the program, which...

nola.com
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Greg Hilburn (@GregHilburn1) profile picture
Greg Hilburn@GregHilburn1Jan 29
Folks, people are literally freezing to death in their homes without power in northern Louisiana. More than 46,000 Entergy customers without electricity this afternoon #lagov #lalege #WinterStormFern shreveporttimes.com/story/ne… via @shreveporttimes
DeSoto Parish man freezes to death in his home without electricity

DeSoto Parish man freezes to death in his home without electricity

Nearly 50,000 Louisiana customers remained without power Thursday as the Winter Storm Fern death toll rose to nine.

shreveporttimes.com
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Andrea Gallo (@aegallo) profile picture
Andrea Gallo@aegalloJan 15
Amid immigration sweeps in Louisiana, a longtime oysterman and deckhand from Honduras drowned trying to flee the feds in the fishing enclave of Hopedale. His story here: nola.com/news/crime_police/l…
Image from Andrea Gallo (@aegallo)
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