Several Louisiana organizations are teaming up to urge lawmakers to protect SNAP and Medicaid, which are currently threatened as Congress debates the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” Dr. Jennifer Avegno (ah-VEGG-noh), the director of the New Orleans Health Department, says cuts to SNAP would be counterproductive to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s mission to get Americans to eat healthy.
Cut 6 (13) “…needs every day.”
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has launched aggressive enforcement actions to curb illegal offshore wagering and unauthorized online sweepstakes targeting Louisiana residents. Chairman Christopher Hebert says the Board sent over 40 cease-and-desist letters to offshore wagering platforms, including Bovada.
Senator Bill Cassidy says the release of the 2025 Social Security and Medicare Trustees’ report, projects that Social Security will become insolvent in 2033. Cassidy warned that inaction will leave millions of Americans vulnerable.
Cut 13 (10) “…hurts the tax payer.”
The Louisiana Department of Health reported the state’s first human West Nile Virus case of the year. This is in Livingston Parish, and the patient is hospitalized due to complications. The virus has been active in Louisiana since 2002. It can cause severe illness in one out of 150 infected people, potentially leading to paralysis or death. So far this year, 14 parishes have confirmed West Nile Virus activity; last year, there were 57 cases and three deaths.