Traditionally at this time, the House and Governmental Affairs Committee would be reviewing data for redistricting, but not this year. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (30) “…Brooke Thorington.”
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The search for new voting machines in Louisiana has been withdrawn by Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin amidst outcry over the process. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Phase Three allows restaurants to move to 75 percent capacity but industry advocates say that alone won’t be enough to save many teetering eateries. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Rep. John Stefanski, chair of the House and Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees redistricting says the timeline to approve new districts in the state will be pushed back after receiving word that the Census will not have numbers ready for them until the end of September.
Stefanski says in the past apportionment data from the Census is usually turned over in February. Stefanski says then traditionally a special session would be called for the fall to approve the districts.
In addition to the pandemic, Census enumerators experienced multiple hurdles collecting data in Louisiana. Stefanski says Louisiana was the last state in the country to report numbers.
As for when we should see the new allocations of districts, Stefanski says best case scenario if they receive numbers at the end of September….
Stefanski says they have a year after they receive the numbers to allocate districts but would like to have it completed by July 2022 because that’s the next congressional qualifying date.
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Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin withdrew the ongoing search for new voting machines amidst complaints about the process from lawmakers.
Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt sent Ardoin a letter asking him to restart the procurement process for new machines with more legislative, public, and expert input on best practices for obtaining modern voting machines.
Two vendors also filed complaints against the Secretary of State. The contract for the new machines will run roughly 100 million dollars.
Hewitt says one of her biggest concerns about the previous procurement process was that it was being conducted based on outdated requirements that didn’t take into account modern threats.
Those new federal standards were adopted just weeks after the process began.
Hewitt says when the new procurement process begins they hope to have outside voting security and cybersecurity experts more involved.
Ardoin released a statement about the decision saying in part “I am withdrawing the RFP to spend the next few months seeking to undo the damage to voter confidence done by those who willfully spread misinformation and disinformation.”
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Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris applauded the state’s move into Phase Three but says the industry is still reeling.
Phase Three allows for restaurants to operate at 75 percent capacity. Harris says he hopes we can soon do away with any capacity limits.
Texas recently did away with all capacity restrictions in-state businesses.
Harris says there’s a misconception that 75 percent capacity means 75 percent of their non-pandemic level seats. He says he hears the same story from friends all the time…
Harris says about 20 percent of state bars and restaurants have been lost to the pandemic with about 15 to 20 percent in danger of closing imminently.
Harris asks for patience from customers are they experience the highly limited bar and music venue openings, he says standing room, dancing, and bar service are still no-go’s…
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Two young boys from Ponchatoula have been found safe in Santa Rosa County, Florida after they were reported missing Tuesday afternoon. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy James Travis says the eight and four-year-old boys were located Wednesday afternoon after an eyewitness confirmed it was their mother, 38-year-old Shawntel Heck, who had taken the boys after their father left them briefly in his car.
Travis says authorities in Florida were alerted because they believed Heck, who has family in the area, was headed there. It was the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s office that found the stolen car Wednesday afternoon.
Travis says the children were found unharmed and are in protective custody. The mother has yet to be located.
Travis was asked why there was a delay in the Amer Alert when they were reported missing on Tuesday afternoon and the alert was issued Wednesday morning.
Shawntel Heck faces a charge of simple kidnapping and unauthorized use of a vehicle.