BY TIMOTHY BOONE | Staff writer Impact on Louisiana used to underscore arguments against cuts: During his nearly nine-hour floor speech opposing passage of the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies used Louisiana to underscore his argument that the measure harms Medicaid. The legislation, signed into law Friday, includes tax breaks and increased funding for Republican priorities. It pays for them, partially, by cutting spending by $1.1 trillion over the next 10 years for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. That will lead to 17 million Americans losing healthcare coverage, according to the Congressional Budget Office. “Louisiana is a state that stands to suffer mightily as a result of this all-out assault on Medicaid,” said Jefferies, D-Brooklyn. He pointed out that the Republican supermajority in the Louisiana Legislature passed a resolution asking Congress not to slash Medicaid because the state, one of the poorest in the nation, simply couldn’t afford the extra costs. Republicans cast the changes as needed to shore up the healthcare programs by ensuring services remain available only for those truly in need. “A lot of the estimations are far overblown … especially in my district,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton. About 40% of his constituents are Medicaid eligible. Read the full story from Washington here: Summer feeding programs feel the pinch: Many schools in Louisiana participate in the Summer Food Services Program, a federal program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides free breakfast and lunch to children 18 and under when school is not in session. Local food banks also help many low-income families fill their pantries over the summer when children are home from school. But that mission has become more difficult this year due to rising food costs and a growing number of families seeking assistance, school systems and local food pantries say. Meanwhile, the Trump administration this year cut about $1 billion in federal aid that had helped schools, child care centers and food banks across the country purchase food from local farmers. Read the full story here Fort Johnson set to go back to old name: Two years ago, with flags, speeches and the clang of a hammer, Fort Polk became Fort Johnson, shedding its Confederate namesake and honoring a Black World War I hero. Now, in another ceremony this month, Louisiana's largest military installation will become Fort Polk once again. But the base's old name refers to a new person: Gen. James H. Polk, awarded the Silver Star for his World War II service. To many in the conservative, veteran-heavy Vernon Parish, the move is a welcome reversal, returning the fort to the name they'd continued using anyway. "If you did a poll, you would probably find 90% are happy," said Phillip Hunt, an at-large council member in Leesville. "That's what they've known it as." Read the full story here. | 