Ticking up: Mortgage rates increased slightly, adding to cost pressures for buyers. The average for 30-year, fixed loans rose to 6.22%, up from 6.19% last week, Freddie Mac said in a statement Thursday. A year ago, the average was 6.6%. Read more from Bloomberg. A subscription may be required.
Stalling: The U.S. Senate failed to advance competing plans to address rising health insurance costs, rejecting both a GOP bill by Sen. Bill Cassidy to expand HSA support for ACA enrollees and a Democratic proposal to extend enhanced ACA tax credits. Neither reached the 60-vote threshold, leaving lawmakers deadlocked ahead of expected premium hikes. Read more from Louisiana Illuminator.
Next spring: The Eagles, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Kings of Leon, and Louisiana native Lainey Wilson are among the headlining acts for the 2026 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The full lineup, which was announced Thursday, includes locally-loved artists like John Foster, Kenny Neal and Lost Bayou Ramblers. The festival runs during two weekends from April 23 to May 3 and tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. See the complete weekend breakdown from WBRZ-TV.
