Soon-to-be Tropical Storm Claudette is expected to make landfall near Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes overnight and cross over the New Orleans area Saturday morning. National Weather Service meteorologist Ben Schott says basically everyone east of I-55 from the coast up to the Mississippi state line should be on alert.
To incentivize more people to get their COVID vaccine the state is launching a lottery program. And because individuals ages 12 and up can get vaccinated, for those under 18 there will be nine drawings for scholarships. Higher Ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says the money will be put in a START account.
Each scholarship is valued at $100-thousand.
Governor Edwards takes issue with the label “decriminalization” as a way to describe legislation he signed that removes the possibility of jail time for possession 14 grams or less of marijuana. Under the legislation, you can’t be sent to jail and only can be given a 100 dollar fine. Edwards says don’t confuse that for full legalization.
State offices are closed this afternoon in honor of Juneteenth. House Bill 554 by Baton Rouge Representative Larry Selders making Juneteenth a state holiday was signed into law on Thursday. President Biden also signed legislation making it a federal holiday. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says it’s a momentous occasion.