Louisiana saw a 2-percent population increase in the 2020 Census from the previous decade but compared to the national average of 7-percent growth, the slight increase is not as promising as it sounds. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The House Criminal Justice Committee agrees with a proposal to give Louisiana voters a chance to decide if recreational marijuana use should be legal. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo”
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2020 Census data shows the Bayou State’s population at 4.6 million, a 2-percent growth from the 2010 tally but well below the national average growth of 7-percent. Demographer Greg Rigamer says there’s a simple answer as to why Louisiana’s growth is below average.
Cut 3 (05) “…money.”
Rigamer says when you look at several business surveys Louisiana consistently ranks low for a number of reasons in attracting and retaining residents.
Cut 4 (12) “…and income.”
Our neighboring state to the west, Texas saw the largest population boom in the sheer number of people for the 2020 Census. After the 2010 Census Louisiana lost a congressional seat due to a post Katrina population shift. But as for the 2030 outlook Rigamer says the current trend is not promising.
Cut 5 (09) “…live here.”
Louisiana is ranked 25th among state population, the same spot it held after the 2010 Census.
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The New Orleans Police Department is looking for a street performer that wears a Star Wars Chewbacca costume. That person allegedly stabbed another person after a verbal altercation with the victim on Saturday night in the French Quarter. New Orleans paramedic Holly Sherman from A&E’s “Nightwatch” told Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge she received a strange call about the incident.
Cut 6 (11) “..Bigfoot costume”
When Sherman finally arrived on the scene in the 700 block of Toulouse Street, she realized that the call had some truth to it.
Cut 7 (07) “.got somebody…”
Sherman says that working in New Orleans, she responds to bizarre calls frequently.
Cut 8 (07) “…crazy calls..”
A witness says the suspect’s costume head fell off during the altercation revealing a black male in his 20’s. If anyone has any information, contact NOPD eight district at 504-658-6080.
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A Senate committee unanimously approves a bill requiring the National Anthem be played before all sporting events at publicly funded facilities in Louisiana.
Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt wrote the bill. She says it’s in honor of veterans…
Cut 9 (07) “..country”
Hewitt noted there are no penalties included in the bill for facilities that do not comply.
Hewitt says another reason she brought the bill is to try to teach the youth about patriotism.
Cut 10 (11) “…to that”
There was no vocal opposition to the bill, only a red card signed in objection by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
State Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Joey Strickland attended the committee in support. He says as veteran, and father to three veterans…
Cut 11 (11) “…Louisianans”
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The House Criminal Justice Committee approves legislation that would give Louisiana voters the opportunity in 2022 to decide if recreational marijuana use should be legal. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s proposal passed on a seven to five vote
Cut 12 (14) “…drug dealers”
Nelson says there’s growing support among the public to legalize marijuana. He says it’s an activity that can be taxed, generating as much as 200-million dollars in state revenues. He says some of that money can go towards beefing up law enforcement…
Cut 13 (08)“….significant”
The Louisiana Sheriff Association Executive Director Michael Ranatza says taxing the legal use of marijuana is not worth it, because it will bring on a host of other problems. He pointed to a study out of Colorado that shows marijuana was mostly likely to be present in adolescents who commit suicide…
Cut 14 (08) “..of yours”
The Louisiana District Attorneys Association also opposes. St. Tammany and Washington Parish D-A Warren Montogmery says legalizing recreational marijuana will bring a host of problems…
Cut 15 (12) “…mental health issues”
With the committee passage of Nelson’s bill, the Louisiana House will have its first debate on a bill that seeks to legalize recreational marijuana use.