Louisiana has seen a 29 percent increase in the suicide rate since 1999, that according to a CDC report that revealed national suicide rates have skyrocketed over the last two decades. Louisiana Department of Health Suicide Prevention Coordinator Danita Leblanc says the state, and country, need to beef up their suicide detection efforts, increase the amount of mental health education, and expand mental health services, but that’s tough to do under a budget crunch.
The Louisiana Department of Corrections is warning that unless additional tax revenue is raised by June 30th, thousands of inmates will be released. Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc says they can’t absorb that kind of budget cut, because it’s not like corrections can cut back on staff.
The current budget, without additional funds, would require a nearly 63-million dollar cut to corrections.
US Congressman Garret Graves says they’re one step closer to a massive reform of the way the feds handle flooding and hurricane protection projects. The 2018 Water Resources and Development Act would allow local governments to take over funds for the execution of protection projects from the Corps of Engineers. Graves says passing this bill would speed up construction of some desperately needed hurricane protection and coastal restoration plans.
Four people have been arrested in the shooting death of a 17 year old West Monroe girl. Hannah Crenshaw was shot in the front yard of her home Wednesday night. Chris Williams, Jeterrius Patrick, Cortez Williams, all in their early 20s, and 35-year-old Paul Tillman, all of West Monroe, were charged with Criminal Conspiracy and 2nd Degree Murder.