JACK BROOK

Government, infrastructure and environment reporter

Brook covers Louisiana government, infrastructure and environmental issues from New Orleans. He is a Report for America corps member.

The nearly $3 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project along the Mississippi River, intended to stave off coastal land loss in southeastern Louisiana, is seen during a flyover with the environmental coalition group Restore the Mississippi River Delta, Aug. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jack Brook, File)

Louisiana cancels $3 billion coastal restoration project funded by oil spill settlement

Louisiana is officially canceling a $3 billion coastal restoration project funded by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., right, leaves his office with Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., left, and Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., center, shortly after speaking in the House chamber during the final vote for President Donald Trump's signature bill of tax breaks and spending cuts, Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

‘Beautiful’ or ‘Ugly,’ Trump’s big bill shapes the battle for House control in 2026 midterms

Debate over President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget-and-policy package is over on Capitol Hill. Now the argument goes national.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined colleagues to lead a healthcare town hall with U.S. Rep. Troy Carter at Xavier University in New Orleans, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (John McCusker/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)

House Democrats decry health cuts in GOP tax law during town hall that previews midterms messaging

Democrats are using a Louisiana town hall to preview one of their main strategies for attempting to retake the U.S.

Residents watch as law enforcement search for a fugitive that escaped a prison in New Orleans, May 21, 2025. (Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP, File)

Convicted murderer Derrick Groves eludes law enforcement as last New Orleans jail escapee on the run

Ten inmates escaped from a New Orleans jail almost two months ago, and authorities have captured all but the man with the most violent rap sheet.

In this undated photo provided by her daughter, Mandonna "Donna" Kashanian, 64, holds up a champagne glass. (Kaitlynn Milne via AP)

Iranian mother released from ICE detention after Republican House Majority Leader intervenes

An Iranian mother detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers has been released following advocacy from Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.

The Orleans Justice Center jail, left, in New Orleans is seen on Friday, May 16, 2025. (Brett Duke/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP, File)

Authorities arrest fugitive who police say posted on social media following New Orleans jailbreak

Louisiana authorities have captured one of two remaining fugitives who escaped from the New Orleans jail six weeks ago.

A flare burns at Venture Global LNG in Cameron, La., April 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine, File)

Louisiana is latest state to redefine natural gas -- a planet-warming fossil fuel -- as green energy

Louisiana is the latest state to redefine natural gas as green energy, even though it’s a fossil fuel that emits planet-warming greenhouse gases.

Signage hangs above a CVS pharmacy location in Philadelphia, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Louisiana files lawsuits alleging pharmaceutical giant CVS deceived customers in text messages

Louisiana accused pharmaceutical giant CVS of using its dominant market position to abuse customer information, drive up drug costs and unfairly undermine independent pharmacies.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Adrian Clouatre holds his 3-month-old daughter Lyn and his nearly two old son Noah at their home in Baton Rouge, La. on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Smith)

ICE detains Marine Corps veteran’s wife who was still breastfeeding their baby

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained the wife of a Marine Corps veteran in Louisiana during a routine immigration appointment in New Orleans.

A copy of the Ten Commandments is posted along with other historical documents in a hallway at the Georgia Capitol on June 20, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

Court blocks Louisiana law requiring schools to post Ten Commandments in classrooms

A panel of three federal appellate judges has ruled that a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in each of the state’s public school classrooms is unconstitutional.

Workers stand handcuffed after being arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, at Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel and Casino in Calcasieu Parish, near Vinton, La., on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP)

Immigration raid at Louisiana racetrack ends with more than 80 arrests

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested upward of 80 people unlawfully in the country during a raid at a southwest Louisiana racetrack, the agency announced.

The Supreme Court is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Supreme Court to hear appeal from Chevron in landmark Louisiana coastal damage lawsuits

The Supreme Court will hear an appeal from Chevron, Exxon and other oil and gas companies that lawsuits seeking compensation for coastal land loss and environmental degradation in Louisiana should be heard in federal court.

Gov. Jeff Landry speaks during the start of the special session in the House Chamber on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Baton Rouge, La. (Michael Johnson/The Advocate via AP, Pool,File)

Louisiana’s 2025 legislative session ends with governor saying he plans to call a special session

Louisiana lawmakers concluded their 2025 legislative session on Thursday by passing the state’s $51 billion budget.

Louisiana AG investigating CVS for sending mass text messages lobbying against legislation

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill plans to send a cease and desist letter to CVS for mass text messages sent to customers lobbying against legislation and is opening an investigation into whether the pharmaceutical giant improperly used customers’ personal information.

CORRECTS DOG AGE: In this photo provided by owner Derek Brown, Apollo, an 16 week old, 22 pound Catahoula Leopard dog sits on March 23, 2021, in New Orleans, in the weeks before he was shot on April 10, 2021 by New Orleans police officer Derrick Burmaster. (Derek Brown via AP)

Jury finds New Orleans police officer who shot and killed puppy violated rights but has immunity

A New Orleans police officer who shot and killed a puppy violated its owners’ constitutional rights but had qualified immunity, a federal jury found.

Joy Banner, co-founder of The Descendants Project and a leader in the fight against Greenfield, hugs Kimberly Terrell, then a researcher with the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic, which represented the Descendants Project, moments after hearing that the company would cease plans for a grain elevator facility in the middle of her hometown of Wallace, which is in a heavily industrialized stretch of Louisiana commonly referred to by environmental groups as "Cancer Alley." Aug. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jack Brook, File)

Tulane scientist resigns citing university censorship of pollution and racial disparity research

A Tulane University researcher has resigned, citing censorship from university leaders. Kim Terrell, a researcher with the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic, resigned Wednesday, saying in a letter the university had sacrificed academic integrity for political expediency.

Law enforcement search for a fugitive that escaped a prison in New Orleans, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP, File)

Fugitive’s girlfriend charged with aiding breakout at New Orleans jail where she once worked

Authorities have arrested a former New Orleans jail employee and accused her of aiding in a 10-inmate escape at the facility last month.

CORRECTS DOG AGE: In this photo provided by owner Derek Brown, Apollo, an 16 week old, 22 pound Catahoula Leopard dog sits on March 23, 2021, in New Orleans, in the weeks before he was shot on April 10, 2021 by New Orleans police officer Derrick Burmaster. (Derek Brown via AP)

A New Orleans police officer who fatally shot a puppy goes on trial in a lawsuit

A New Orleans police officer who shot and killed a puppy is being sued by the dog’s owners in federal court. The jury trial began Monday.

This combo of images released by the Arkansas Department of Corrections shows the recapture of escaped inmate Grant Hardin, an ex-police chief and convicted killer, by Arkansas law enforcement officers and the U.S. Border Patrol , Friday, June 6, 2025, near Moccasin Creek in Izard County, about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) northwest of Calico Rock prison. in Calico Rock, Ark. (Arkansas Department of Corrections via AP)

Recaptured Arkansas prison escapee known as the ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ sent to SuperMax prison

Convicted killer and recaptured prison escapee Grant Hardin, known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” has been transferred to the Varner SuperMax prison southeast of Little Rock, Arkansas prison authorities announced Saturday.

Prisoners walk through a yard at the Varner Unit of Arkansas' Department of Corrections, Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Gould, Ark. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Arkansas death row inmate dies in prison of unknown causes

Arkansas death row inmate Latavious Johnson died of unknown causes at the Varner SuperMax prison on Friday afternoon, according to the state’s department of corrections.

The Orleans Parish jail is pictured in New Orleans on Friday, May 16, 2025.(Brett Duke /The Advocate via AP, file)

Authorities investigating a new social media post by a New Orleans jail escapee on the run

Authorities are investigating an Instagram photo showing a man who identifies himself as Antoine Massey, a fugitive still at large after escaping more than two weeks ago from a New Orleans jail.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry talks to reporters outside the Supreme Court, Jan. 7, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

As Louisiana’s governor faces ethics charges, his lawyer raises bar for future ethics investigations

Louisiana is poised to adopt new measures that watchdogs warn raise barriers to holding public officials accountable via the state’s ethics board.

The Orleans Parish jail is pictured in New Orleans on Friday, May 16, 2025.(Brett Duke /The Advocate via AP, file)

New Orleans jail escapee releases videos, prompting search of home where they were made, source says

A man who identifies himself as New Orleans jail escapee has released videos on social media while still on the run from authorities.

Nana Sula "Janet" Evans blesses the remains of 19 African Americans repatriated from Germany during their memorial service at Dillard University's Lawless Memorial Chapel in New Orleans, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Scott Threlkeld/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)

New Orleans holds burial of repatriated African Americans whose skulls were used in racist research

New Orleans celebrated the repatriation and burial of the remains of 19 African American people whose skulls had been sent to Germany for racist research practices in the 19th century.

Troopers with Louisiana State Police escort Orleans Parish Prison escapee Lenton Vanburen to a waiting vehicle late Monday, May 26, 2025, at Louisiana State Police Headquarters after he was captured in Baton Rouge, La. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP File)

A growing number of New Orleans fugitives’ friends and family arrested for aiding in jail escape

The 10 men who escaped from a New Orleans jail more than two weeks ago by cutting out a hole behind a toilet received help from at least 15 people, many of them friends and family who provided food, cash, transport and shelter according to court documents.

New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams talks during a news conference at his office, Jan. 19, 2022, in New Orleans. (Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP, File)

New Orleans DA pulls out of jailbreak investigation amid conflict of interest allegation

Facing allegations of a conflict of interest, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams removed himself this week from a Louisiana Attorney General-led investigation into the massive jailbreak that saw 10 men escape a New Orleans jail earlier this month.

The Orleans Parish jail is pictured in New Orleans on Friday, May 16, 2025.(Brett Duke /The Advocate via AP)

New Orleans jail, site of a brazen inmate escape, faces flooding and plumbing failures

The New Orleans jail where 10 inmates escaped from earlier this month is experiencing “significant flooding” from what a sheriff called “ongoing and severe plumbing failures.”

The Orleans Justice Center jail, left, in New Orleans is seen on Friday, May 16, 2025. (Brett Duke/The Advocate via AP)

New Orleans’ jail system was troubled decades before 10 inmates made an audacious escape

The recent jailbreak in New Orleans followed decades of dysfunction in the city’s jail system and recent warnings that conditions were ripe for catastrophe.

The community of Geismar is seen in the shadow of a chemical and petroleum industrial corridor, that is a known source of ethylene oxide emissions, in Ascension Parish, La., Friday, June 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Louisiana stifles community air monitoring with threat of million-dollar fines, federal lawsuit says

A coalition of Louisiana environmental groups is suing the state over a law they say violates their free speech rights by restricting them from sharing information about air quality.

Residents watch as law enforcement search for a fugitive that escaped a prison in New Orleans, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)

Mistrust in law enforcement complicates the search for the New Orleans jail escapees

As authorities scour New Orleans for escapees from a jailbreak, they’re also confronting a history of mistrust in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.