By Khalil Gillon Contributing Writer (Veritenews.org) — About six years ago, Raynata Lockett found out that she would soon lose a lifeline for herself and her four children. She had been receiving federally-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps, for a decade. But just as Lockett, a United States Army veteran, was set to graduate from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, she was told that because of disability benefits she received from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, her income was $100 above the threshold to qualify for the progr ..read more

By Ariana Figueroa Contributing Writer (States Newsroom) — The Biden administration last week finalized a new rule that would require anyone selling a gun to obtain a federal license and conduct background checks. The rule aims to close what’s known as the “gun show loophole.” Gun merchants who sell online, by mail or at flea markets and gun shows until now have not been subject to the same federal regulations as those who own and operate gun stores as their main source of income. “This single gap in our federal background check system has caused unimaginable pain and suffering,” Vice Presiden ..read more

By Greg LaRose Contributing Writer (lailluminator.com) — Lawmakers advanced proposals on Tuesday, April 9 to end part of Louisiana’s popular state-funded college scholarship program and place other awards within easier reach of home-schooled students. Legislation is moving forward to end the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Tech Award, which provides $6,000 per academic year for students to attend the public or for-profit two-year in-state school of their choice. House Bill 452, by Rep. Vinney St. Blanc, R-Franklin, gained approval on Tuesday of last week from the House Committee ..read more

By Christopher Tidmore Contributing Writer Monday evenings, early in the Legislative Regular Session, are usually relaxed occasions for conversation and crawfish. On April 8, the tables were set up in the Pentagon Barracks courtyard for just that, mere steps from the Capitol Building. Crawdads, shrimp, vats of lima bean succotash and pastas, strawberry shortcake and extensive libations were waiting by 5 p.m., the time the La. House normally adjourns for the day at that point in the session. Yet, there were no legislators to be found. By the time that they arrived two hours later, looking beat ..read more

By Nada Hassanein Contributing Writer (Special from Stateline via lailluminator.com) — Countless times, Kenda Sutton-El, a Virginia doula, has witnessed her Black pregnant clients being dismissed or ignored by clinicians. One woman was told by doctors that swelling, pain and warmth in her leg was normal, despite warning the clinicians that she had a history of blood clots. Sutton-El urged her to visit the emergency room. Tests found the pregnant patient did indeed have a blood clot, a situation that can be deadly. Some clients were told they weren’t doing enough to lose weight. After another c ..read more

By Delaney Dryfoos The Lens On last Tuesday (Apr. 9), St. John the Baptist Parish Council voted to rezone nearly 1,300 acres of land on the rural West Bank of the Mississippi River from residential to heavy industrial use. The land is currently leased to Greenfield Louisiana, LLC, which plans to build a massive grain-export facility in the historically Black community of Wallace. Within those involved with the zoning process, people’s opinions vary widely. Calling the process “transparent,” Lynda Van Davis, counsel and head of external affairs for Greenfield Louisiana, said that the company ap ..read more

By Wesley Muller Contributing Writer (lailluminator.com) — Legislation to allow local governments conceal public records for economic development reasons advanced last Thursday from the Louisiana House of Representatives. House Bill 461, sponsored by Rep. Steven Jackson, D-Shreveport, passed in a 79-18 vote and will head to the Senate for consideration. The bill would allow a city mayor, parish president or local government executive to declare any records confidential if they determine their public release “would have a detrimental effect” on an active business negotiation. It would also allo ..read more

(lailluminator.com) — The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened a Business Recovery Center in Crowley for businesses that have weathered challenges from last year’s extreme drought. The center, based at former Wells Fargo Bank location at 10 N. Parkerson Ave., opened March 28 at 9 a.m. It will have hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. No appointment is necessary, and all services are provided free of charge. The SBA recently made low-interest disasters loans available to businesses in the crawfish industry after Gov. Jeff Landry declared a drought-r ..read more

(lailluminator.com) — Students could be guaranteed domestic catch when seafood is on the school menu if a proposal before the Louisiana Legislature becomes law. The state House approved a bill Tuesday that would prohibit any public or private schools that receive state money from serving foreign seafood to students. House Bill 429, sponsored by Rep. Marcus Bryant, D-New Iberia, passed in a 94-7 vote with bipartisan support. It will next head to the Senate for consideration. An influx of cheap foreign catch, imported mostly from South America and Asia, has flooded Louisiana restaurants and reta ..read more

By Piper Hutchinson Contributing Writer (lailluminator.com) — Cashless concession stands at college football stadiums could soon be a thing of the past under a bill advancing in the Louisiana Legislature. The House Education Committee last week advanced House Bill 5 by Rep. Charles Owen, R-Rosepine, which would require public colleges and universities to accept cash at events, including sporting events. The bill passed on an 11-2 vote, with Reps. Barbara Freiberg, R-Baton Rouge, and Kim Carver, R-Mandeville, opposing the bill. Most college sporting venues have gone cashless in the past few yea ..read more