SNAP’ed: Louisiana will end its food stamp program that helps nearly one in five state residents by January, unless lawmakers add more money to next year’s budget for the social services agency during the upcoming 10-day special legislative session, WDSU-TV reports. The state’s Department of Children and Family Services is slated to take a cut of around $34 million in the budget passed by lawmakers. Agency officials said that will force them to shutter the food stamp program, which provides 19% of Louisiana residents with assistance. Read the full story.
Inmate labor: Louisiana lawmakers agreed to allow state prisoners to do construction work at the state Capitol complex and the corrections department’s headquarters after Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the measure by Rep. Kenny Havard, R-St. Francisville, into law. Inmates do custodial work on state grounds and in state buildings and prior to the bill’s passage could do construction work at state prisons and correctional facilities. Inmates are paid between 4 and 70 cents per hour or earn credit toward an earlier release. Read the full story.
‘Berlin Lobster:’ Louisiana crawfish, likely breeding from dumped aquarium pets, have invaded the waters of Berlin and efforts to eradicate the invasive species has led to culinary trends in the city. The German government was unable to slow the onslaught of the crustaceans over the last two years so they turned to the private sector and licensed fishermen to catch them and sell them to seafood restaurants and street stalls where the novelty has been dubbed “Berlin lobster.” Read the full story.
