It was a year ago today that torrential rains began pouring down on south Louisiana, causing a flood that’s been called the worst US natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The Lafayette Parish town of Youngsville saw most of its residents displaced because of the water. Mayor Ken Ritter says it looks now like all is well, but debt is what you don’t see…:
Cut 9 (10) “make ends meet”
By the time the rain stopped ten days later, 20 parishes had been declared federal disaster areas, and 13 people lost their lives.

In Caddo Parish, a monument advisory committee voted down a recommendation to take down the Confederate statue outside the courthouse in downtown Shreveport. What did pass was an idea to keep the monument where it is, but erect a plaque nearby adding historical context and erect two new structures around the courthouse dedicated to the Civil Rights movement.

Louisiana has moved up two spots to number two in Insure-dot-com’s ranking of states with the most expensive auto insurance rates. The website says Louisiana drivers pay, on average, $1900 a year, which is 46-percent higher than the national average. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says one factor is that 40-percent of drivers carry minimum car insurance limits and that also leads to more lawsuits…:
Cut 15 (12) “of that”

The eclipse is coming up August 21st and eye experts are urging spectators not to stare at the event without proper protection. Executive Director of the Optometry Association of Louisiana Dr. James Sandifer says looking directly at the sun can damage or destroy the photo receptors in the retina, which can cause permanent damage…:
Cut 5 (08) “gone forever”