The state Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority releases its updated Coastal Master Plan for fighting erosion and wetlands loss. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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The state launches a hotline to report suspected juvenile sex trafficking. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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So far this year we’ve learned that Senator John Kennedy and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser aren’t running for governor and Treasurer John Schroder is. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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An autism indicator is now available on Louisiana identification cards. Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles spokesperson Matthew Boudreaux says the indicator was added to drivers’ licenses in December 2021 and now it’s an option on ID cards. He says it was added as a public safety measure for law enforcement.
Boudreaux says the word Autism will appear below the photograph and a puzzle piece will be next to the word Louisiana on the ID.
To have the indicator added to your driver’s license or ID card Boudreaux says a Medical Examiner’s Certification of Autism Spectrum Disorder form must be completed, along with a statement from a qualified mental health professional.
Cut 6 (11) “… identification card.”
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Available now online, is Louisiana’s 2023 Coastal Master Plan. The plan is a roadmap for combating the state’s ongoing erosion, land loss, and flood risk problem. Ben Haase is executive director of the state’s Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority (CPRA). He says the master plan is updated every six years, to incorporate changes in technology, costs, and logistics…:
Cut 7 (11) “…50 years from now.”
The plan can be viewed online at “coastal.la.gov.” Haase says the Coastal Master Plan has been in existence since 2007 and has been responsible for a lot of progress in fighting coastal land loss…:
Cut 8 (12) “…by this document.”
The 2023 update of CPRA’s plan includes a new project selection process, improved predictive models, new risk metrics, and other improvements. Haase says you are welcome to go online and read the plan, and your feedback is welcomed. He says the plan encompasses literally ALL of Louisiana’s coastal areas…:
Cut 9 (10) “…portion of our coast.”
Public hearings on the Coastal Master Plan are scheduled for late January through mid-February in Baton Rouge, Houma, New Orleans, and Lake Charles, before submitting the plan to state lawmakers.
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In 2021 there were 607 confirmed or suspected juvenile victims of human trafficking in Louisiana. On January 1st, the state launched a hotline for reporting human trafficking. Christy Tate, a child welfare manager with the Department of Children and Family Services says it’s a central point for individuals to report suspected trafficking.
To report trafficking you can call 1-855-4LA-KIDS (1-855-452-5437) and option 4 will direct you to a live person who’s trained to ask questions to determine if it’s trafficking or not.
Tate says they’ve already received calls and the hotline is a vital advancement in the state’s work to protect children.
Tate says if you suspect something to call and you can choose to remain anonymous.
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We are starting to get a better idea of who’s in and who’s out of the governor’s race since Senator John Kennedy announced he’s staying put and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser will seek re-election. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says it appears some of the biggest names in state politics are no longer interested in the job.
As of today, the two major candidates are Attorney General Jeff Landry and Treasurer John Schroder, both Republicans. So far, a Democrat hasn’t officially announced but Cross says that could change with neither Kennedy nor Senator Bill Cassidy running for governor.
As for who’s considered a frontrunner in the race, Cross says Landry, who’s been endorsed by the state Republican party, appears to have more working in his favor as opposed to Schroder.
Between the two Cross says it could come down to a competition to see who’s the most conservative.
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Saints players cleaned out their lockers on Monday after failing to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season. New Orleans Coach Dennis Allen says the 7-and-10 record they posted this season is not the standard
Cut 16 (15) “…for championships”
Allen says the indication he’s been given is that he’ll return next season as the head coach. But he says no decisions have been made on offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael or anyone else on the staff…
2022 was the first losing season for the Saints since 2016. For the second straight, the injury bug hit New Orleans hard. Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, Marshon Lattimore and Marcus Maye missed multiple games as the Black and Gold had to use 75 different players. Allen says at least they didn’t suffer many soft tissue injuries…
Cut 18 (26) “…to play faster.”
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The LSU men’s basketball team looks to snap a two-game losing streak tonight when they host Florida. The Tigers are 1-and-2 in SEC play. After upsetting Arkansas, Coach Matt McMahon’s team has lost back-to-back games to Kentucky and Texas A&M on Saturday…
Florida enters today’s game with an 8-and-7 overall record, 1-and-2 in the SEC. McMahon says they have a veteran group led by their leading scorer and fifth-year forward Colin Castleton…
Tip-off is at 6 PM.