The Louisiana Senate is scheduled to vote Thursday on a new congressional map that reduces the number of Black-majority congressional districts in the state from two to one. The Times-Picayune | Baton Rouge Advocate’s Tyler Bridges reports that legal battles over the map are likely to continue:
Rep. Edmond Jordan, D-Baton Rouge, who chairs the Legislative Black Caucus, promised a lawsuit calling for the creation of two winnable seats for Democrats. In the meantime, [Sen. Sam] Jenkins conceded, “The (Republican) majority is full speed ahead with this map. I doubt that any attempt to amend it will succeed. We may be stuck with what we have.” … Black voters turned out in large numbers proportionally during the seven-day early voting period in advance of Saturday’s primary elections. “People are angry,” Carter said in an interview. “People are deeply concerned about their democracy.”
Louisiana will temporarily return to open “jungle” primary elections for the U.S. House, under legislation approved by state lawmakers on Wednesday. House Bill 842 heads to Gov. Jeff Landry’s desk for his signature or veto. The Times-Picayune | Baton Rouge Advocate’s Meghan Friedmann reports:
Louisiana’s Senate primaries remain closed and will be decided when voters go to the polls on May 16. The state adopted a closed primary system for the U.S. House and Senate races in 2024, at Landry’s behest. Candidates who ran for the House in the suspended election will have to sign up to run again.
Community advocate Tia Fields, a policy analyst with Invest in Louisiana, writes in the Illuminator that Louisiana’s redistricting process fails to see value in all of its people:
(B)eneath the legal arguments and partisan maneuvering lies a deeper question: What does fair representation actually look like in a state as diverse and complex as Louisiana? If the answer continues to fall short of reflecting who we are, then no amount of procedural compliance will make the outcome feel just. The map we choose is more than a political tool. It is a mirror. And right now, it reflects a state still struggling to fully see and value all of its people.
Louisiana students among most improved in math, reading
Louisiana students are making better progress in math and reading than their peers in other states, according to a new report. From 2022-2025, state students ranked first and second in reading and math progress, respectively. Experts and state officials attribute the gains to recent changes in education policies. The Times-Picayune | Baton Rouge Advocate’s Elyse Carmosino and Patrick Wall report:
Starting in 2021, Louisiana adopted several policies modeled after ones that helped Mississippi students make major reading gains. Teachers were trained in research-based reading instruction that focuses largely on sounding out words, and many schools hired literacy coaches. The state also adopted new reading assessments for younger students, and launched tutoring programs for struggling readers.
Reality check: Gov. Jeff Landry and Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley rightfully celebrated the historic improvements made by the state’s public school students. Both leaders also are pushing to increase funding for Louisiana’s new private school voucher program, while leaving public school funding flat in next year’s budget. Louisiana should be looking to build on its recent education successes, not shifting money away from our public schools.
Expanding SNAP benefit to food delivery fees
Elderly and mobility-limited individuals could be one step closer to using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for online grocery orders. Rep. Barabara Carpenter’s House Concurrent Resolution 98, which advanced out of a state committee on Tuesday, tasks the Louisiana Department of Health with studying the expansion of SNAP benefits. WAFB’s Gabriella Mercurio explains how the proposal would remove access to food barriers:
Carpenter said delivery is not a convenience but a necessity for accessing food for many vulnerable residents. … “There are weekends, there are two other meals that seniors need to eat. If you’re homebound, a lot of the time you cannot walk the grocery store to pick up the groceries you need, and if you don’t have a family member to do it for you, then you’re stuck,” [Executive Director of the Ascension Council on Aging Darlene] Schexnayder said. She believes Carpenter’s idea could help fill that gap.
Free prison, jail calls linked to lower costs, better outcomes
An estimated 330,000 incarcerated people nationwide have access to free prison or jail communication services, according to a new report from Worth Rises. Communication with an incarcerated family member is critical to maintaining strong relationships, but is often out of reach due to high costs. Amanda Watford of Stateline explains how free phone calls create savings for prison systems, jails and families:
The researchers found that the free communication policies reduced average costs by about 62% for state prison systems and 68% for jails after agencies negotiated contracts directly with providers. … The report also found the policies have saved incarcerated people and their families more than $622 million to date. Most of those savings flowed to Black and brown families, who are disproportionately affected by incarceration, according to the report.
Free communication services also improve prison conditions:
Correctional staff at the facilities included in the study broadly supported the changes, according to the report, describing free communication as a tool that reduced tensions inside facilities and improved safety for both staff and incarcerated people.
The Federal Communications Commission recently loosened rules that capped the high costs of phone and video calls from jails and prisons. The ruling was challenged by Louisiana officials in February 2025, and will lead to increased call rates.
Number of the Day
43% – Share of Americans aged 15-34 who believe it’s “a good time” to find a job in the area where they live, compared to 64% of those aged 55 and over who say the same. (Source: Gallup via the AP)