Governor Landry makes a generous announcement in Shreveport in the wake of Sunday’s tragedy. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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This week is the fifth annual Love The Boot week – the state’s largest litter cleanup and beautification effort. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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Mandeville Senator Patrick McMath and Governor Landry say it was a productive meeting as they discussed McMath’s proposal to dismantle the Department of Children and Family Services. Jeff Palermo has the story.
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Out of unspeakable tragedy comes some good. Governor Landry has announced that the Love One Louisiana Foundation, which is led by his wife Sharon, will be paying for the funerals of all eight children killed in Sunday morning’s mass shooting. In making the announcement in Shreveport, Governor Landry said he hopes the gesture will bring some comfort during a very trying time.
Cut 4 (14) “…in this world.”
The First Lady’s foundation also sprung into action following the terror attack on Bourbon Street early New Year’s Day last year. Landry says he’s thinking 0f everyone affected by Sunday’s tragedy, especially the two women who remain in critical condition after being during the rampage carried out by the father of seven of the eight children.
Cut 5 (14) “…City of Shreveport.”
In addition, the Community Foundation of North Louisiana has set up two funds. The CEO is Kristi Gustavson.
Cut 6 (10) “…prevent domestic violence.”
You can learn more or make a donation on the foundation’s website at cfnla-dot-org.
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This week is Love The Boot week. It actually got underway Saturday and runs through this Sunday. This is the fifth year for the initiative; Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says four years years ago, he got the legislature to move Keep Louisiana Beautiful under his office.
Cut 7 (09) “…all 64 parishes.”
Nungesser recalls when he went to a Chamber of Commerce announcement years ago when he was in private business, where he expected the president of Nissan to announce that he was going to build a plant in New Orleans East. What he said instead had a profound effect.
Cut 8 (08) “…employees living here.”
Nungesser mentioned a new law that allows people to anonymously report people who litter, and they’re issued tickets. He says those citations are very effective in preventing repeat occurrences of littering.
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Throughout the week, more than 28-thousand volunteers will participate in over 12-hundred cleanup and beautification efforts throughout all 64 parishes.
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Mandeville Senator Patrick McMath has met with Governor Landry about revamping the state’s child welfare system. McMath introduced legislation last week that would dismantle the Department of Children and Family Services, moving most of its functions within the Louisiana Department of Health and having State Police run the child abuse hotline.
Cut 10 (06) “…doesn’t exist now.”
McMath is also proposing that the attorney general’s office would handle child support enforcement.
Cut 11 (10) “…abuse and neglect?”
McMath, Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow and other state lawmakers have been critical of DCFS for not taking the proper steps in preventing deaths of several toddlers, despite receiving calls from the public about their safety before they died.
Governor Landry expressed frustration last week about not being informed about McMath’s proposal before he presented it to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. McMath says since then, he’s had a good meeting with Landry and DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris, and the plan is to pass legislation that dramatically changes how the state handles child welfare problems.
Cut 12 (05) “…change is necessary.”
Senate Health and Welfare meets tomorrow, and it’s possible it will vote on McMath’s bill at that time, or it could wait until next week.
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If you drive a pickup truck in this state, this is the week when you will want to especially make sure that you’re wearing your seatbelt. That’s because this week is “Buckle Up In Your Truck Week,” which is an extension of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over initiative. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says the name of the week-long enforcement period is self-explanatory.
Cut 13 (14) “…numbers this week.”
Fischer says they’re taking a week to single out pickup trucks because the latest survey shows that almost one of every five pickup truck drivers in Louisiana do not wear their seatbelts.
Cut 14 (09) “…for whatever reason.”
Fischer says that may explain the disproportionate percentage of unrestrained pickup truck drivers who die in crashes.
Cut 15 (13) “…wearing their belts.”
Pickup truck drivers pulled over for not wearing their seatbelts this week will be issued 50-dollar tickets.
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LSU baseball was swept for the second straight SEC series over the weekend, getting outscored 22-8 by Texas A&M. With the team’s recent struggles this season, head coach Jay Johnson says his philosophy will undergo some changes in the near future.
Cut 16 (20) “…a big way.”
LSU leads the SEC in wild pitches with 59 on the season, which is 21 more than the second-most in the conference. Johnson says both the pitchers and catchers have to do a better job of limiting them.
Cut 17 (12) “…on a positive.”
The Tigers haven’t missed the postseason since 2011, but they now find themselves in real jeopardy of missing the NCAA Tournament, sitting at just 6-and-12 in SEC play. The typical mark to reach the postseason is around 13 conference wins, putting added pressure on LSU to pick up key victories down the stretch. Johnson still believes there’s a chance his team can turn things around.
Cut 18 (13) “…and help guys.”
The Tigers look to get back on track against UNO tonight at 6:30 p.m.
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UL-Lafayette dropped two of three games to Troy over the weekend. Coach Matt Deggs says the outcome came down to a few missed opportunities, including a misplayed ball in the outfield that sparked a five-run sixth inning for the Trojans in Friday’s 7-6 loss.
Cut 19 (16) “…with the series.”
The Cajuns look to get back in the win column tonight when they host Grambling at 6 p.m.
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ULM baseball has now dropped its last three Sun Belt series. The Warhawks lost two of three games to Arkansas State over the weekend and managed just six runs across the entire series. Coach Ford Pemberton says his team needs to get back to being more disciplined at the plate.
Cut 20 (10) “…in some moments.”
ULM is at Northwestern State tonight. First pitch is set for six p.m.