Sunday Brunch

By Greg LaRose | Editor-in-Chief

The monumental U.S. Supreme Court decision eclipsed all other news in Louisiana politics, and arguably across the nation, over the past week. Our recap of the decision in Callais v. Louisiana leads off this week’s newsletter, but I’d encourage you to spend some time catching up on our coverage on the latest developments since the ruling was issued.

By Piper Hutchinson

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s existing congressional map Wednesday as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander in a ruling that may have implications for core tenets of the Voting Rights Act.

By Wes Muller

A variety of proposals to continue the state’s campaign against the mislabeling and misrepresentation of imported seafood are nearing final passage in the Louisiana Legislature.  One would give more power to the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry to investigate and seize unlawful seafood.

By Piper Hutchinson

Louisiana could soon replace all references to “gender” in state law to “sex” under proposed legislation advancing in the state Legislature. Opponents of the proposal have raised concerns it will erase transgender people from state law and that it could conflict with federal civil rights law.

In an effort to attract a large space flight project to Louisiana, state lawmakers are pushing through a package of bills to give special legal protections and tax breaks to aerospace companies, though details about what projects might be coming remain confidential. 

This year’s elections for two replacements on the state Public Service Commission unfold as utility regulation in Louisiana approaches a crossroads. The rapid development of artificial intelligence data centers and their high demand for electricity have put a spotlight on the regulatory board.

There’s a disease spreading amongst deer in the United States, including northern parishes of Louisiana, that has no cure. The state implemented measures to contain the spread, but those could soon be dialed back at the will of state legislators, worrying scientists who study the disease and its expansion.

Republicans’ massive spending and tax cuts law last year made major changes to some U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, mainly the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that helped about 1 in 8 Americans afford groceries in 2024. As a result, the farm bill passed last week was a “skinny” version and relatively short on major policy updates.

After facing costly power bills this winter, consumers shouldn’t expect relief for the summer months, according to new projections for household utility costs. Projections show a pronounced impact in the South because of its higher temperatures and widespread air conditioning usage.

The idea of a special tax on millionaires is gaining traction as lawmakers in at least a dozen states have proposed new taxes for the wealthiest residents. The taxes can take different forms, such as taxing annual incomes above a certain threshold or taxing capital assets, including high-value stocks and real estate.

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