The latest update from the National Hurricane Center shows the disturbance in the Gulf is beginning to take an eastward track and now a tropical storm warning is in effect East of Morgan City to the Okaloosa/Walton County line in Florida. The system is moving north-northeast at 14 miles per hour and landfall is expected on the north central Gulf coast later tonight or early Saturday. The majority of rain from the storm will be east of Interstate 55.
State offices will close early today in the first recognition of the new holiday of Juneteenth. It was during a George Floyd protest organized by high school students at the state capitol last summer, in which those students who asked for Juneteenth to become a state holiday. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says he’s proud their request was answered.
President Biden also signed legislation making it a federal holiday.
The state is launching a vaccine incentive lottery program with prizes totaling 2.4 million. Governor Edwards says a study of other state vaccine lottery programs showed it’s highly effective at getting people off the fence. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says it’s worth trying everything.
The state is still registering about five to ten COVID deaths a day despite the fact that our percent positivity and overall case numbers have been quite low for months.
Triple-A estimates more than three-quarters of Americans will travel this summer and the motor club is projecting a sharp increase in overnight road trips with hotel stays. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says to make sure you have maintenance done on your vehicle before you go, including a battery check…
cut 9 (06) “….your battery”
And due to high demand of travel he highly recommends reservations.