After exhausting its first round of grants in less than three minutes, the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program will open its second round of grants for 500 Citizens policyholders in two weeks. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx”
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Amendment 4 on the October 14th ballot would allow local governments to remove property tax exemptions from nonprofit organizations that lease housing. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The District 22 Senate race in Lafayette, Iberia, and St. Martin parishes is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the state. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (33) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter has introduced the PRIME Act to increase athletic budgets at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Junior Colleges. Carter says a larger funding stream would allow HBCUs to become more competitive.
Cut 4 (07) “…better training.”
Last year, LSU had an athletic budget of $192 million, while Southern University reported only $18 million. Carter says larger athletic budgets allow universities to hire talented coaching staff for their athletes.
Cut 5 (13) “…university experience.”
Texas A&M’s Kyle’s Field is estimated at a $485 million facility. Morehouse’s Forbes Arena is only $8 million. Carter hopes both Democratic and Republican lawmakers will help push this legislation through.
Cut 6 (12) “…goal post.”
These grants will be awarded by the Department of Education.
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Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program will open its second round of 500 grants of up to $10 thousand in two weeks for Citizens policyholders to strengthen their roofs. Donelon says the first round of grants was very successful.
Cut 7 (07) “…seconds pass.”
The LFHP has enough funding to award approximately 3,000 grants. Donelon says residents will have to meet certain requirements to be eligible for the grant including…
Cut 8 (08) “…flood zone.”
Grant funds are paid directly to contractors. Homeowners are financially responsible for all costs beyond the full grant amount. Grant funding is limited to construction costs.
The Legislature set aside $30 million for the program earlier this year. Donelon says this will provide relief to Citizens policyholders who are paying the highest premiums.
Cut 9 (13) “…or succession.”
The remaining grants will be available to all eligible homeowners across the state in upcoming weeks.
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Amendment 4 on the October 14th ballot would allow local governments to remove property tax exemptions from nonprofit organizations that lease housing and have repeated public health or safety violations. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says the entity must have at least three violations within a 12-month period.
Cut 10 (09) “…tax exemption.”
Procopio says passage wouldn’t mean the tax exemption status is automatically pulled…
Cut 11 (06) “…to do that.”
When it comes to blight, Procopio says some believe this is one proposed way to punish the violator but on the other hand…
Cut 12 (05) “…the voters.”
Early voting for the October 14th primary ends Saturday evening.
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The District 22 Senate race, which includes Lafayette, Iberia, and St. Martin parishes is one of the most competitive in the state. The top two candidates are House GOP leader Representative Blake Miguez and the largest sugar cane farmer in the area Hugh Andre. The Advocate Journalist Tyler Bridges says the winner will determine if the higher chamber remains conservative in a pragmatic bipartisan manner.
Cut 13 (10) “… LGBTQ rights.”
And Bridges says the winner of this race will also determine the next Senate President Pro Tem.
If Miguez, who’s currently leading in the polls, wins, Bridges believes the Senate will go to the extreme right.
Cut 14 (11) “…woke Liberals.”
Andre, who Bridges says isn’t as polished as Miguez, is well known in the area for being self-made and his uncle and grandfather were sheriffs in St. Martin Parish. Bridges says the bipartisan political establishment in the district favors Andre.
Cut 15 (12) “…everybody.”
Out of the five candidates running for the Senate seat, Republicans Andre and Miguez are expected to force a runoff. The seat is being vacated by Senator Fred Mills who is term-limited.
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The Saints have failed to score more than 21 points in ten straight games, but head coach Dennis Allen is not planning on making any changes with his offensive staff…
Cut 16 (16) “…on the board.”
A lot of the criticism is coming down on Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. Allen says the longtime OC understands the fans want to see better results…
Cut 17 (13) “…get it fixed.”
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LSU football coach Brian Kelly says he has the utmost confidence in his defensive coordinator Matt House. Through four games, the Tigers’ defense ranks 105th in scoring defense, allowing 31 points a game. Kelly says one major reason why LSU’s defense has struggled is the number of new and young players on the field…
Cut 18 (15) “…at a higher level.”
Kelly has confirmed they’ve hired former LSU defensive line coach Pete Jenkins as an analyst. He’s considered a guru when it comes to coaching defensive lineman. Kelly says he’ll help out John Jancek, who was named D-Line coach when Jimmy Lindsey had a medical emergency before the season…
Cut 19 (19) “…in that room.”
While LSU is struggling on defense, the Tigers have an elite offense. It’s ranked sixth in the country, averaging 530 yards a game. Kelly says the LSU offense is looking like the one Joe Burrow directed in 2019….
Cut 20 (20) “..about the defense”