Current, the

Lafayette, Louisiana · Founded 2018 · Nonprofit local news serving Acadiana and South Louisiana

Overview

The Current is an independent, non-profit news journal. Founded in 2018 by local journalists and based at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Lafayette, Louisiana, it covers the politics and culture of Lafayette and southern Louisiana, with an emphasis on in-depth reporting on local institutions, public policy, education, health, and civic life. Its stated mission is to connect Lafayette to stories that matter and help readers understand how their community works. The newsroom joined the Deep South Today regional nonprofit network in September 2025, which has enabled it to expand its staff and coverage area.

Founding and Background

The Current traces its origins to April 2017, when it appeared as a glossy print monthly published by IND Media, the company behind The IND Monthly (formerly The Independent Weekly), Lafayette's alternative newspaper. Christiaan Mader — a Lafayette musician and journalist — formally established it as an independent nonprofit newsroom in 2018. It has since operated as a digital publication, publishing news stories on its website and through its newsletter, The Wire. Mader has described The Current's purpose as being a community-first publication that puts Lafayette's readers ahead of advertiser or partisan interests. Board member David Begnaud, a CBS News correspondent and Lafayette native, has been involved in The Current's community events, including hosting the Undercurrent Awards, which recognizes local residents making civic contributions.

Deep South Today and Expansion

In September 2025, The Current joined Deep South Today — the regional nonprofit network led by President and CEO Warwick Sabin that also includes Mississippi Today (Jackson) and Verite News (New Orleans). The partnership was announced as an opportunity to expand The Current's staff and ambitions. "This partnership will unlock new resources, enable us to staff up to cover new beats and become even more ambitious in how we connect you with what matters in Lafayette," Mader wrote at the time. Within the first year of the partnership, The Current hired two additional reporters.

In May 2026, The Current expanded its coverage beyond Lafayette for the first time, adding a Southwest Louisiana desk with an investigative reporter based in the Lake Charles area, funded in part by the Skyline Foundation. The expansion marked The Current's first venture outside Acadiana and gave the Deep South Today network a presence across a wider stretch of Louisiana. "When The Current joined the Deep South Today network of newsrooms eight months ago, we were determined to grow the size of their newsroom and the scope of their coverage as quickly as possible," said Sabin. "The Current is now providing essential local news and accountability reporting in a part of Louisiana that has been underserved."

Funding

The Current is supported by reader contributions, foundation grants, major gifts, and advertising. As a member of the Deep South Today network, it files under Deep South Today's 501(c)(3) status (EIN 47-2158741). Its most recent Form 990 and a list of major funders are available at thecurrentla.com/about/. All content is published as a public service and is available to readers at no charge.

The Current · thecurrentla.com
Acadiana Center for the Arts, 101 W. Vermilion Street, Lafayette, Louisiana

Editor: Christiaan Mader (founder) · Managing Editor: Leslie Turk

Network: Deep South Today (Mississippi Today · Verite News · The Current) · joined September 2025

Newsletter: The Wire · thecurrentla.com/about/