Louisiana

Women and men in Louisiana experience different kinds of violence, study finds

Published

6 days ago

January 8, 2026

Women and men in Louisiana experience different kinds of violence, study finds

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana Illuminator) – More than half of adults in Louisiana have experienced physical violence during their lifetime but what those acts look like largely depends on the victim’s gender, according to an annual survey conducted last year.

In Louisiana, gun violence is much more likely to be carried out against men, while severe intimate partner violence — sometimes referred to as domestic abuse — is much more likely to happen to women, showed the result of a study by Tulane University, the University of California San Diego and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

“Violence is a gendered issue. It is different if you are a man or a woman or a boy or a girl,” Anita Raj, executive director of the Newcomb Institute at Tulane University and the study’s lead author, said in an interview.

Raj’s survey, the Louisiana Study on Violence Experiences Across the Lifespan, is the only comprehensive research of its kind conducted in the state. It was administered online in English and Spanish between May 13 and June 18, 2025, to more than 1,000 Louisiana residents 18 and older.

The survey shows Louisiana residents experience violence at an alarmingly high rate. Eight percent of people surveyed said they were subjected to physical violence in the past year, including 3% who said they were threatened with either a knife or a gun.

Who commits the violence and what form it takes largely depends on the victim’s gender.

Over half of women (58%) who had experienced physical violence within a year of the survey reported their spouse or partner were responsible for the incidents, compared with just 14% of men. Most men (53%) who had experienced physical violence in that time period said they were targeted by a stranger, compared with just 5% of women, according to the report.

Men were much more likely to be subjected to gun violence than women, however; 4% of men reported they had been threatened or attacked with a gun in the year before the survey was taken, compared with just 1% of women, according to the report.

Yet women (13%) were more likely to experience sexual harassment and sexual violence than men (6%). Almost one in four women (23%) surveyed also said they had been subjected to forced sex during their lifetimes, compared with 7% of men.

Severe intimate partner violence, sometimes called domestic violence, was also much more prevalent for women.

Almost 25% of women reported they had been subjected to potentially lethal forms of intimate partner violence — such as choking, suffocation, burns, beatings and use of a weapon — during their lifetimes. Only 6% of men reported being the victims of life-threatening violence from a spouse or dating partner.

Mariah Wineski, executive director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said the study’s findings align with what domestic violence shelters and other victim advocacy groups see on a daily basis.

“Many times, the most dangerous place for a woman is in her home or in her relationship,” Wineski said.

Intimate partner violence is more widespread among younger people. Twelve percent of respondents who are 18-24 years old and 15% of those ages 25-34 experienced violence and controlling behavior from a partner in the year before the survey was taken. Only 1-2% over people 55 and older reported the same problem.

Raj and Wineski said prevention programs aimed at reducing intimate partner violence need to start with adolescents in order to have the greatest impact.

“It is much more effective to change the attitudes and beliefs of a child or adolescent,” Wineski said. “They are at a better place in their lives for learning all sorts of new things, including how to interact with other people.”

Programs that promote economic stability and lift people out of poverty also help curb violence, according to Raj’s report.

Survey participants who reported not having enough money for food or other basic necessities were five times more likely to have experienced physical violence in the past year and six times more likely to experience intimate partner violence. People who are homeless were nine times more likely to experience intimate partner violence, according to the report.

“Policies that expand women’s economic and political participation, promote safety in workplaces and public spaces, and protect LGBTQ+ people advance not only equity but also safety for all,” the report concluded.

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.

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Louisiana

Louisiana Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Jan. 13, 2026

Published

28 minutes ago

January 14, 2026

Press Room

The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 13, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Jan. 13 drawing

16-40-56-64-66, Mega Ball: 04

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 13 drawing

5-8-4

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 13 drawing

1-7-5-0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Jan. 13 drawing

5-9-5-1-1

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.

By mail, follow these instructions:

Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.

Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:

Louisiana Lottery Headquarters

555 Laurel Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70801

To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:

555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.

When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Louisiana

Louisiana employment remains above 2 million for record-setting stretch

Published

12 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

What was once a difficult benchmark for Louisiana’s job market could become the new normal, according to an analysis from Leaders for a Better Louisiana.

Louisiana employment has topped 2 mil…

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Louisiana

Scam calls surge in Louisiana with over 50 million targeting residents in December

Published

1 day ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

Scam calls surge in Louisiana with over 50 million targeting residents in December

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Louisiana residents received over 50 million scam calls in December, according to new statistics from the spam blocking app TrueCaller, showcasing an alarming increase in unwanted calls month by month.

The app identified over 2.5 billion spam calls nationwide in December, with Louisiana residents specifically targeted by over 58 million scam calls and over 3 million scam texts during the month.

“It’s insane, so I don’t get my number out anymore,” said Peter Simon, a local shopper.

Technology makes scams more sophisticated

Carmen Million with the Better Business Bureau of South Central Louisiana said new technology and artificial intelligence make it easier for scammers to contact consumers.

“Technology is with us. And where we could tell consumers where to look out, what warning signs to look out for these scams, you know, the new AI has made it easier for these scammers to make it look really valid. And it can dupe some consumers into believing that they’re a legitimate cause when in case it’s a scam,” Million said.

Scammers use various tactics to trick people and steal information, money, and focus from their targets.

“There was one, like, cruises for a lot. And then there was a lot of political ones that were surprising,” Simon said.

Patricia Martinez, another shopper, expressed concern about vulnerable populations.

“I have senior parents, too, that I feel are all so vulnerable to AI, and I see it really prevalent in social media spaces as well. So, it can create a lot of disinformation,” Martinez said.

How to avoid scam calls

The main goal is authenticity and verifying what the caller claims to represent. If a scammer claims to be from a government agency or organization, consumers should check directly with that organization or agency to see if the claims are true.

“I would tell everyone, like, take me off your list. And they were, I don’t know if that helped, but they stopped calling, so,” Simon said.

Martinez recommended researching suspicious calls online.

“I would always go and Google the sources to see if other people have spoken out about them. Social media is a great place to see where other people have maybe had these issues,” she said.

Million advised consumers to be skeptical of all unsolicited calls.

“Automatically assume it’s not valid. Investigate. And always do your homework,” she said.

The Better Business Bureau tracks scams and encourages consumers to report them anonymously on their website’s scam tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker. Million said many consumers hesitate to report scams due to embarrassment, making the anonymous reporting option vital for gathering information.

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