There are many in the town of Arabi who suffered significant damage from a powerful tornado that ripped the through St. Bernard Parish community last night. Lifelong resident Tony Vitale says his home was demolished
Vitale says thankfully he, his wife, and his nine-year-old son were not injured as the twister ripped his home to pieces.
The HUD announcement of $450 million for those recovering in southwest Louisiana from 2020’s Hurricane Laura is welcome news in Calcasieu Parish. Alberto Galan who’s overseeing Long Term Recovery for the parish says the funding will in large part finally help with those unmet housing needs.
Galan encourages those in need to first fill out a survey with the state’s Office of Community Development.
River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot’s bills to increase penalties for carjacking and catalytic converter theft passed in committee and are on their way to the Senate. His legislation did receive opposition however from Attorney Sarah Whittington with the Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana who says the bills are repetitive and increasing the penalties is burdensome to the state.
LSU President William Tate told members of the House Ways and Means Committee the school’s library is on his list of improvements. Tate told lawmakers that the majority of funds will have to come from the state as private donations for libraries across the country have dwindled. If the library is a priority, it’s going to have to be one for all parties involved.
A new library is estimated to cost $150 million.