# Vivian Transparency

> Independent local reporting and public records for Vivian, Louisiana. Owned by iTsMedia LLC; independent of the Town of Vivian and other government agencies.

Stories distinguish documented facts, firsthand reporting, attributed accounts and unanswered questions. Follow the linked source records and methodology for context. Published articles retain their original reporting; dated editor’s notes and follow-up stories record subsequent developments. This guide does not establish facts beyond the linked reporting.

## Explore the publication
- [Home](https://viviantransparency.com/): Independent local reporting and public records for Vivian, Louisiana. Follow local decisions, examine the evidence, and stay informed.
- [Case files](https://viviantransparency.com/cases/): Ongoing investigations, related stories, timelines and evidence.
- [Stories](https://viviantransparency.com/stories/): Reporting and commentary, identified by type.
- [Public records](https://viviantransparency.com/records/): Source documents, publication copies and provenance.
- [Magnolia sources and methodology](https://viviantransparency.com/methodology/magnolia-records/): Reporting methods, source provenance and evidence limitations.
- [Thomas B. Fitzgerald](https://viviantransparency.com/authors/thomas-b-fitzgerald/): Thomas B. Fitzgerald reports on local decisions and public records for Vivian Transparency. His reporting includes the removal of the magnolia beside the Vivian Post Office and the records surrounding that decision.

## Reporting and commentary
- [A towering magnolia is gone. Who decided it had to go?](https://viviantransparency.com/stories/vivian-post-office-magnolia-records-response/): Months before crews cut down the magnolia beside Vivian's post office, the mayor had sought help from Speaker Mike Johnson's office. Town records trace part of what followed, but leave the reason for removing the tree unanswered.

## Case files
- [Vivian post office magnolia tree](https://viviantransparency.com/cases/vivian-post-office-magnolia/): The October 27 cutting of Vivian's post office magnolia, the mayor's congressional correspondence, and the questions surrounding the decision.

## Source records
- [Request acknowledgment and follow-up correspondence through November 5](https://viviantransparency.com/records/magnolia-correspondence/): Correspondence with the Town’s attorney, October 31–November 5, 2026, covering the records request, the response, and an additional IT review.
- [October 27 public-records request: requester-provided copy](https://viviantransparency.com/records/magnolia-request-copy/): Fitzgerald’s October 27, 2026 request for records about the magnolia’s removal. He supplied this electronic copy and believes it is the version he printed, signed, and sent.
- [Town attorney response and congressional correspondence](https://viviantransparency.com/records/magnolia-town-response/): The Town attorney’s November 3, 2026 response, with congressional correspondence about the post office magnolia and a quoted USPS response.

## Publication information
- [About](https://viviantransparency.com/about/): Ownership, editorial purpose and publication practices.
- [Contact and corrections](https://viviantransparency.com/contact/): Questions, source material and correction requests.
- [Privacy](https://viviantransparency.com/privacy/): Website request logs, correspondence and published records.
- [Sitemap](https://viviantransparency.com/sitemap.xml): Canonical public page URLs.
- [RSS updates](https://viviantransparency.com/rss.xml): Published stories, case files and records.