By Greg LaRose | Editor-in-Chief
A new state law is now in effect that prohibits businesses from placing a surcharge on debit card purchases. Thing is, there’s already a federal prohibition on such fees. So why is there a new ban in Louisiana? Good question — let’s explore.
A new Louisiana state law prohibits merchants from adding surcharges to debit card transactions, but critics say the prohibition actually benefits banks and credit card companies. (Wes Muller/LAI)
By Wes Muller
A new state law prohibits merchants from adding surcharges to debit card transactions, but critics say the ban actually benefits the banks and credit card companies that created the fees.
By Greg LaRose
The two state agencies charged with enforcing Louisiana laws that limit the size and weight of big rigs have taken their eyes off the road in recent years, according to a new Legislative Auditor’s report. As a result, the review concludes it’s more likely that trucks carrying overweight and unpermitted loads are worsening the condition of highways and bridges.
Margee Green, executive director of the Louisiana Food Policy Council, campaigned for a legislative appropriation that she thought would provide small farmers with equipment grants to scale their operations. (Cheree Franco/Verite News)
By Cheree Franco | Verite News
Louisiana lawmakers reacted last year when the Trump administration cut two Biden-era programs that gave state governments federal funding to purchase food for food banks and schools from local farmers. The legislature provided $3 million to buy directly from farmers. But in the year since, the state has made a number of adjustments to the program, including a two-thirds reduction in the allocation.
By Kelcie Moseley-Morris
A group of leading anti-abortion organizations sent a letter to newly confirmed U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche urging him to review the U.S. Department of Justice’s authority to use a 150-year-old anti-obscenity law to prevent people from obtaining abortion medication or other related materials through the mail.
COMMENTARY
By Greg LaRose
Sen. Bill Cassidy’s milquetoast speech Friday to declare he would support the nomination of Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney capped a routine that’s become characteristic of his tenure while President Donald Trump has occupied the White House: Take a principled stance against executive power, follow it with capitulation, then provide a confounding explanation as to why you did what you did.
D.C. DIGEST
Trump urges childhood vaccine changes, splitting up MMR | States Newsroom
NEWS FROM THE STATES
Bloomberg gives $1.25M to abortion rights campaign | Missouri Independent
Rep. Ilhan Omar raises questions about undercover ICE agents at town hall | Minnesota Reformer
Death row inmate seeks US Supreme Court review | Tennessee Lookout
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