House Bill 222 would require Louisiana Medicaid to cover dental procedures needed to clear patients for surgeries or cancer treatment; the fiscal note projects modest costs. Lawmakers say the change could remove a barrier to care.

The House voted 89‑8 to advance HB1243, shifting rate‑setting, budgets and hiring authority for the Sewerage & Water Board to the New Orleans City Council. Supporters say it speeds fixes; opponents warn of financing risks.

Senators approved SB389 to require agent registration, training and background checks for NIL deals involving high‑school and college athletes, then sent the bill to the House.

Three Democrats debated voting rights, Medicaid and taxes in Baton Rouge as Louisiana heads to a May 16 primary.

LDI warns two firms — Innovative Partners and LifeX Research — are not licensed to sell health insurance in Louisiana after multiple complaints of denied claims.

Sen. Bill Cassidy’s hearings with HHS Secretary RFK Jr. exposed a clash between scientific oversight and party loyalty as Cassidy heads into a Trump‑tinged primary.

St. John the Baptist Parish set its Spring Election for May 16; early voting runs May 2–9 and online registration closes April 25.

City Council moves to wrest final approval of long‑term tax breaks from the Industrial Development Board as watchdogs and lawsuits spotlight costly PILOT deals.

A Good Jobs First report finds Louisiana among 14 states that don’t disclose revenue lost to data center tax breaks, raising fresh questions as Hyperion expands.

House Education Committee advanced bills to study TOPS ROI and propose repayment rules for some students, prompting debate over accountability and access.

A House committee advanced a $47B Louisiana budget that locks in $420M for early childhood, funds new workforce centers and adds targeted higher-ed dollars. The bill now heads to the House floor.

An 86-year-old woman from Nantes who moved to Anniston to marry a longtime sweetheart was arrested April 1 and is now being held in a Louisiana ICE facility as her family and French consular staff press for repatriation.

A Tennessee man detained by ICE was found unresponsive at Winn Correctional Center and later died, a case that adds to a rising number of in‑custody fatalities.