Louisiana
Bathroom bill advances from Louisiana House
Legislation to restrict the use of bathrooms in schools, prisons, and domestic violence shelters to one’s biological sex passes in the House on a 79-16 vote.
Haughton Representative Dodie Horton supports the bill because it protects females from biological males who identify as females from entering a women’s restroom.
“It’s commonsense legislation that adds protection for your daughters, for females and I’ve never seen so many females stand up against a bill that is to protect women,” said Horton.
New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman said there are real issues they need to address instead of a bill that’s vindictive towards the transgender community.
“When you pass hateful legislation against the LGBTQ community it is very, very spiteful and mean. And people leave our state because of it,” said Freeman.
Freeman referred to a gay physician in her district who moved, along with his family, to another state because of anti-LGBTQ laws that have been enacted in Louisiana.
Horton said the bill is not anti-anyone, it’s about protecting children against predators.
“No one says trans are predators. There are predators out there, believe me, and I pray that this bill will stop, at least help people think twice about going into a bathroom that they don’t belong in,” said Horton.
Freeman said the small transgender population, which makes up 1.4% of the US residents, are not known to be sex offenders so why prohibit them from using the bathroom of their choice on a state level?
“The highest risk of a sex offender is white males. So, should we keep them out of all the bathrooms? That’s probably a great idea,” said Freeman.
Bill author Denham Springs Representative Roger Wilder said he’s working with domestic violence advocates on House Bill 608 because such legislation will keep them from receiving federal funds which is most of their budget.
Yasin Gungor
19 April 2026•Update: 19 April 2026
At least eight children were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in the US state of Louisiana, local police said Sunday.
Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Christopher Bordelon said officers responded to the shooting just after 6 am (1100GMT), following a domestic disturbance call.
The age of the deceased ranged from one to 14 years, he said, adding that the incident involved at least 10 individuals across four separate locations.
The suspect attempted to flee by carjacking a vehicle and driving to neighboring Bossier City, where police located and shot him dead.
Bordelon said Shreveport police officers pursued the suspect’s vehicle into Bossier, where three officers discharged their firearms, killing him. He said investigators believe the suspect was the only person who opened fire at the locations.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux described the attack as “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” adding: “It’s a terrible morning.”
No immediate information was available about the condition of the injured.
Louisiana
‘Growth pays for growth’: Entergy’s Fair Share Plus model to save Louisiana customers $2.8 billion
Think tank proposes capping Social Security benefits at $100,000
A Washington think tank proposed capping annual Social Security benefits at $100,000 for couples as a way to shrink a looming deficit in the retirement trust fund.
When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
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