Louisiana Spotlight delves into the controversial creation of St. George, exploring the complex motivations behind municipal division and the profound implications for Baton Rouge and the state. What drives a community to seek separation, and what are the hidden dynamics of urban incorporation? Baton Rouge faces a critical moment of municipal transformation as communities grapple with the deeper meanings of cityhood, local governance, and social boundaries.
From the initial push for a separate school district to a decade-long legal battle, the program examines the intersection of race, economics, and community identity.
Hosted by LPB’s Karen LeBlanc, co-anchor of Louisiana: The State We’re In, we talk one-on-one with Dustin Yates, the newly elected mayor of St. George.
Also helping us explore the topic will be a panel that includes:
Scott Bergeron - St. George Resident and Business Owner
Belinda Davis - Associate Professor of Political Science at LSU and the President of Once Community One School District
Dwight Hudson - EBR City Council Member, District 9
Carla Powell Lewis - East Baton Rouge School Board Member and President of the East Baton Rouge School Board from 2023-2025