Louisiana gets another big pot of federal money to help with rebuilding from hurricanes in 2020 and ’21. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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President William Tate has big plans for LSU, but one lawmaker wants to ensure a major project isn’t left out. David Grubb has more…
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Legislation to increase penalties for carjackings catalytic converter theft advance from committee and head to the senate. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Louisiana will receive nearly $1.3-billion in federal assistance for continued rebuilding from hurricanes in 2020 and 2021. The money comes from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. Governor John Bel Edwards says he is grateful to HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge for expediting the aid…:
HUD is giving Louisiana nearly a half-billion dollars in Community Development Block Grants for housing assistance for those still struggling with recovery from Hurricane Laura & Delta in 2020. The Governor says this is enough to help those with low-to-moderate incomes…:
Cut 5 (10) “…from those disasters.”
In addition, HUD has allocated another $1.27-billion for rebuilding from Hurricane Ida last summer. Edwards says this will go a long way to meeting the need of residents and communities in Ida’s path…:
Cut 6 (08) “…was announced today.”
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LSU President William Tate sat before the House Ways & Means Committee on Monday to lay out his request for a funding boost for the state’s flagship university. Tate is seeking $731 million from the state for a variety of capital improvements, but Houma Representative Tanner Magee was interested in one particular project.
The university’s library has been deteriorating for a number of years, something that has embarrassed students, faculty and staff, and alumni. Magee says that in previous years, despite those outcries, LSU has put other priorities ahead of the library and he’d like that to change.
In response, Tate pointed out that the majority of funds will have to come from the state as private donations for libraries across the country have dwindled. If the library is a priority, it’s going to have to be one for all parties involved.
LSU’s master plan calls for a new library to be built at a cost of $150 million.
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Legislation to increase penalties for the theft of catalytic converters and the use of a firearm in a carjacking advance from committee. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot, who authored both bills referred to a case in East Baton Rouge where catalytic converters were stolen from 15 school busses.
In Senate Bill 70 Businesses that purchase converters, like scrapyards would have to keep a record of who sold them the converters in an effort to discourage the illegal sale of the converters.
And to deter the crime of carjackings Talbot’s Senate Bill 161 will increase penalties when a firearm is involved in the car theft.
The two bills did receive opposition in committee, Attorney Sarah Whittington with the Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana says the bills are repetitive and increasing the penalties for these specific crimes will be burdensome to the state.
Both bills passed unanimously out of Senate Judiciary Committee C and head to the Senate floor.
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Former State Police Sergeant Albert Paxton tells state lawmakers he believes L-S-P officials tried to cover up important details surrounding the 2019 State Police custody death of Ronald Greene. Greene died after body camera shows he was beaten and tased by troopers. Paxton points to the bodycam footage of Lt. John Clary which didn’t emerge until nearly two years after the incident
Paxton testified before a House committee that’s trying to determine if there was a coverup involving the death of Greene. The former L-S-P sergeant says an official in the local district attorney’s office told him that Lt. Colonel Doug Cain got mad when he heard about possible charges against Clary for his role in Greene’s death
Greene died in May of 2019 after a long police chase that ended in Union Parish. The local district attorney John Belton has said he absolutely believes troopers committed a crime in Greene’s arrest, but he’s letting the U-S Justice Department determine if charges should be filed.
When Paxton worked at State Police he investigated the Greene death and he believes Lt. John Clary, who was the highest-ranking officer of the six state troopers at the scene of Greene’s arrest tried to obstruct the investigation…
Cut 15 (06) “…telling the truth”
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After a disappointing start to SEC play, where they dropped two of three to Texas A-and-M, the LSU Tigers are 15-5 and have dipped to 21st in the DI Baseball Rankings. Defense has been a big issue for LSU, with fielders committing 35 errors so far. Coach Jay Johnson says he’s keeping things in perspective as the team works to get better.
Pitching remains a question mark as well. Who takes the mound against Louisiana Tech tonight is as much a mystery as the weekend starters. Until some arms start to emerge, Johnson says he’s confident the Tigers can piece things together.
Cut 17 (18) “ …go seven innings.”
Louisiana Tech enters “The Box” looking for a sweep of the series with the Tigers, having beaten them 11-6 back on February 23. Coach Lane Burroughs understands how big this game is for the Bulldogs’ postseason aspirations.
Burroughs has an experienced lineup that has played in and won a lot of ball games. He gives plenty of credit for Tech’s start to that veteran leadership.
Cut 19 (18)_“…right trajectory.”
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