The House Transportation Committee put the brakes on a proposal that would prohibit the state department of transportation from putting tolls on existing interstate systems. Sulphur Representative Les Farnum authored the legislation as he’s concerned about tolls being used to fund a new I-10 bridge in Lake Charles…
cut 12 (06) “….could be next”
Despite Farnum’s argument, his bill failed on a six to nine vote. Several local groups also opposed the bill like the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce and Ascension Parish government. Tolls might also be needed to build a new I-10 Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. Louisiana Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says he does not want to limit his options…
cut 14 (11) “…Mississippi River bridge”
It has yet to be decided if polls will be needed in Lake Charles to build a new I-10 bridge.

The National Hurricane Center released its final report on Hurricane Ida today and the major storm that hit southeast Louisiana last August will go down in the record brooks…
cut 9 (09) “…per hour”
State Climatologist Barry Keim says the 150-miles per hour maximum sustained winds at landfall ties it with Hurricane Laura and the Last Island Hurricane of 1856 as the strongest storms in terms of wind to ever impact Louisiana.

Fentanyl has had its impact on many families as studies show Louisiana has experienced one of the largest increases in deaths caused by the synthetic opioid. A Senate committee approved legislation today that would call for longer prison sentences for those who knowingly lace drugs with fentanyl and give them to someone else. Lilly Harvey works as an advocate for tougher penalties for drug crimes and says fentanyl use is increasing among junior high students…
cut 4 (09) “…students alone”