The headstone of the mother of the first Black mayor in DeRidder’s history has been vandalized. Someone had knocked down the heart-shaped stone marking the final resting place of Ceola Harris at Beauregard Cemetery. Speaking exclusively to KALB-TV in Alexandria, Mayor Michael D. Harris says breaking the news to his family was very difficult.
Cut 7 (11) “…very, very hurtful.”
Mayor Harris says while there’s every indication that the act was intentional, he stopped short in saying it was racially motivated.
Scammers are trying to exploit Louisiana residents yet again for their personal information and unnecessary fees through a fraudulent text message. OMV Deputy Commissioner Matt Boudreaux says the text claims it comes from the OMV trying to collect a fee for an outstanding traffic ticket.
Cut 3 (12) “…through the mail.”
Plenty of reaction to President Trump’s recent proclamation giving 25 chemical companies, including 12 in Louisiana, a two-year exemption from new federal EPA emissions rules. David Cresson (cress-AWN), the president and CEO of the Louisiana Chemical Association, says the two-year exemption is necessary because there’s a lot involved in meeting these new rules.
But Anne Rolfes (RAWL-fiss), the director of the environmental group Louisiana Bucket Brigade, says people’s health are too important to take two years for these companies to meet these new standards.
Cut 10 (13) “…cancer-causing emissions.”
Cresson disputes Rolfe’s notion that there’s a correlation between people’s overall health and proximity to a chemical plant.