Louisiana Spotlight
A quarterly documentary-style series produced by LPB
A Tale of Two Ciities | Louisiana Spotlight
THE CONTROVERSIAL CREATION OF ST. GEORGE, LOUISIANA
LPB explores economics, race, and community identity
Thursday, January 30 at 7:00 PM on LPB’s statewide network.
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
The program will also be available for streaming on the night of the broadcast premiere at Louisiana Spotlight Webpage, on the LPB YouTube channel, and with the LPB App.