Lawmakers defer two pro-choice bills aimed at making the state’s all-out ban on abortions less onerous. House Criminal Justice chose to shelve HB 598, which would have clarified that non-viable ectopic pregnancies can be treated through surgery. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell (New-ELL)argued her bill is a pathway to saving a mother’s life from a problem pregnancy…:
Cut 7 (15) “…to their patients.”
Louisiana Right to Life director Ben Clapper told panel members HB 598 is unnecessary…:
Cut 8 (11) “…pregnancies and more.”
The House Criminal Justice Committee also voted against a bill that would have exempted miscarriages from the state’s near-total abortion ban.

Despite pushback from Black lawmakers, the Louisiana House approved a bill that would hold back third graders who fail multiple literacy tests. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s measure is modeled after a policy Mississippi is using. But New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd is not impressed…
cut 15 (06) “……scoring 45th”
But Nelson says Mississippi’s reading scores have improved since the program was enacted in 2013.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services has won an award. The nonprofit organization, Code for America, has awarded DCFS with its Government Changemaker Award. Secretary Terri Ricks says in 2019 the state partnered with Code for America and launched a one-way text messaging service that helps recipients at critical times…
cut 11 (12) “…be helpful”
Ricks says they also use text messaging to keep SNAP recipients informed.