By Elise Plunk | Reporter
‘They don’t need the government to tell them to slow it down.” - U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, as legislation to create guardrails for AI legislation was left unfinished as the House begins an extended break for the November elections. Read more below.
Congresswoman Julia Letlow signed a nondisclosure agreement in 2024 about the Meta data center project in Richland Parish. (Photo by Piper Hutchinson/Louisiana Illuminator)
By Julie O’Donoghue
Congresswoman Julia Letlow signed a nondisclosure agreement in 2024 regarding the Meta data center project in her district. Now her opponent in the U.S. Senate race is trying to turn it into a campaign issue. The NDA issue could also come up in the U.S. House races, including open races for the 5th and 6th congressional districts, where many of the closely guarded industrial projects will take shape.
State Sens. Blake Miguez, left, and Rick Edmonds are clashing over their respective residences in their campaign for the 6th Congressional District seat. (Louisiana Illuminator photos)
By Piper Hutchinson
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are not required to live in their district, but there is a residency requirement for Louisiana state lawmakers. If they move out of their district, their seat becomes vacated according to provisions of Article III of the state constitution.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks at a campaign event for U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Aug. 17, 2026. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)
By Jennifer Shutt
Despite the somewhat limited time in session, Speaker Mike Johnson said he believes Republicans have accomplished much during their nearly two years with unified control of government. But he brushed aside requests to keep the chamber in session to address warnings from several executives about artificial intelligence.
By Robbie Sequeira
In its latest effort to overhaul federal homelessness funding, the Trump administration is proposing to provide more money to localities that prioritize treatment-first policies such as sober living, more cooperation with law enforcement and more temporary and transitional housing. It’s a reversal from a decade-long federal approach known as Housing First that sought to permanently house people experiencing homelessness without requiring sobriety or participation in treatment programs as a condition.
By Kelcie Moseley-Morris
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it’s helping manufacturers increase the supply of estrogen-based hormonal patches and acknowledged a current nationwide shortage as more women seek hormonal therapies for symptoms related to menopause.
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