 BY DEANNA B. NARVESON | Staff writer Court challenges: The legal team for death row inmate Jessie Hoffman has filed a flurry of last-minute court challenges in hopes of stopping the death row inmate from becoming the first person in Louisiana to be executed by nitrogen gas on Tuesday night as scheduled. Hoffman's would be the first execution in Louisiana in 15 years. A state judge in East Baton Rouge's 19th Judicial District Court and a federal judge in New Orleans will consider two of those challenges Tuesday morning, just hours ahead of the scheduled execution. Hoffman is on death row for the 1996 abduction, rape and murder of Molly Elliott in rural St. Tammany Parish. Read the full story.
New audit: A state audit found that pregnant Medicaid patients in Louisiana often struggle to access prenatal and postpartum care because there aren’t enough nearby doctors who accept the government-funded health insurance, provider lists are frequently inaccurate and many people lack reliable transportation, especially in rural areas. The report, released Monday by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, reviewed the state health department’s efforts to improve maternal health — an area where Louisiana has long ranked among the worst in the nation. Read the full story about the audit.
Entergy CEO: After luring Meta’s largest data center to Richland Parish, the CEO of Entergy Louisiana said Monday the state is poised to take advantage of economic opportunities driven by the push for artificial intelligence and renewable energy. The company is preparing to build three new plants. Read the full story. | 
