After less than a week, the special session is over. The legislature has voted to delay the 2026 federal primary elections by 30 days, with the April closed primary moving to May. Democrats have fought against this GOP-backed plan, including Baton Rouge Representative Edmond Jordan.
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The legislation also moves qualifying from January to February. House Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Beau Beaullieu pushed back against the idea they’re trying to suppress the Black vote.
Republicans say this will give them more time in case the Supreme Court rules in the coming weeks that the current Congressional map is unconstitutional.
Louisiana lawmakers also approve a plan to fund the SNAP program while the federal government remains shut down. Jeff Palermo has the story.
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It took less than 24 hours for Monroe Police to make an arrest in connection with the murders of three people, including a two-year-old girl. 24-year-old Travis Payton is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, home invasion and criminal conspiracy. Payton had 11 prior arrests and three prior convictions; police say he was on probation at the time of the murders.