The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season has started and NOAA expects we’ll get an above-average number of named storms this year. Matt Doyle has the story.
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The Shot for a Shot campaign kicks off today in hopes of increasing the state vaccine roll by ten thousand. Brooke Thorington pours out the details.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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A Port Allen Senator wants to take the roughly half point of sales tax that is set to expire in 2025 and extend it long term but dedicate it solely to infrastructure projects. Matt Doyle has more.
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The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins today and NOAA is predicting we’re in for yet another above-average season.
Estimates are we’ll see 13 to 20 named storms, 6 to 10 hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes. State Climatologist Barry Keim says that’s because there are low odds of an El Nino forming.
Keim also notes that what is considered an “average” number of named storms for a season was readjusted upward this year given the increased activity over the past 30 years.
The average expected number of storms is updated every ten years based on the average number of named storms over the previous 30 year period.
Keim says it’s unlikely we’ll have another season like last year’s, but there’s still a pretty good chance that we see some dangerous storms in the Gulf.
The season runs through November 30th.
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A bill to create a grant program for the $180-billion dollars in federal funds dedicated for broadband expansion in the state heads to the Senate floor today. Marksville Representative Daryl Deshotel says House Bill 648 establishes a structure in which unserved communities can apply for funding.
Deshotel says upon passage he hopes the Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities, also known as GUMBO, can get things kicked off as soon as it is signed by the governor.
Deshotel says the state currently has about 1.2 million residents who do not have access to broadband.
The bill received unanimous passage in the House.
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The ‘Shot for a Shot’ month-long campaign kicks off today in Louisiana. It is a joint effort with the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control and the Louisiana Restaurant Association to incentivize more residents to get vaccinated for COVID. ATC Commissioner Ernest Legier (Leh-jay) says you can get a free shot at participating bars or restaurants by showing proof you’ve been vaccinated in the last seven days.
Cut 10 (07) “…nonalcoholic beverage.”
Legier says ATC and the LRA came up with the campaign when the governor asked state agencies to submit ideas for vaccine incentives. Legier says no public funds are being used and the LRA will reimburse participating member restaurants and bars at the end of the month. Legier says it’s a fun way to get more people vaccinated.
The program hopes to increase the state’s vaccination rate by 10,000 and Legier says this is the first of several vaccine incentive programs the state will be rolling out.
Customers can show proof of their completed vaccination regime through the LA Wallet app or with a state-issued vaccination card between June 1st and June 30th or until funds are exhausted.
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Senate Finance will take up legislation today that would turn point four five percent of the state’s sale tax that is expiring in 2025 into a long-term infrastructure-only dedication.
Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says by 2025 his proposal would generate 350 to 380 million dollars a year to build new infrastructure and repair our existing crumbling roads and bridges.
Cut 13 (10) “…infrastructure.”
If signed into law the bill would transition the sales tax money out of the general fund and into a dedicated infrastructure trust fund over a three-year period starting in 2022.
Ward says the legislation lays out some of the early “mega project” priorities that would be tackled should this proposal get approved.
Ward says there’s a lot of talk in the capitol about the importance of infrastructure and lawmakers need to start backing up that talk with action.
The bill would have to move fast as the session is set to end on June 10th.
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Despite a 13-17 record in the SEC, LSU received an invite into the NCAA Tournament and will be the third seed in the Eugene Regional and will face Gonzaga on Friday night. There was some doubt that LSU would receive a Regional after losing to Georgia in its lone SEC Tournament game. LSU pitcher Landon Marceaux is excited their season continues…
Oregon and Central Connecticut are the other two teams in the Regional. The Ducks are a 14-seed nationally. Coach Paul Mainieri believes his team can go on a run…
2018 was the last time LSU traveled for a Regional. They played in Corvallis, Oregon, and lost to the Oregon State Beavers twice to end their season. Senior pitcher Devin Fontenot remembers that trip…
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For the first time in Louisiana Tech baseball history, the Bulldogs will host an NCAA Regional. La Tech will play host to Rider, North Carolina State, and Alabama in the Love Shack. Bulldogs Coach Lane Burroughs is glad they were awarded for their great season by getting an opportunity to host…
Tech won the Conference USA West but lost to Old Dominion in CUSA’s tournament championship game. Ruston hosted the tourney and Burroughs is excited for the opportunity to play a few more games at home after their fans showed up strong for the Conference USA Tournament