LSU’s annual “Louisiana Survey” shows many people are concerned about coastal land loss but aren’t worried it will affect them personally. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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If you’re planning on boiling a few pounds of crawfish this weekend, David Grubb has good news for you…
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m David Grubb.”
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State Police release more details about the officer-involved shooting in Lafayette after the suspect barricaded himself inside his home. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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LSU’s annual “Louisiana Survey” shows many people are concerned about coastal land loss, but aren’t worried it will affect them personally. Manship School of Mass Communications research director Mike Henderson says 85-percent of people surveyed fear that land loss is a serious problem…:
Cut 4 (11) “…to future generations.”
The survey polled over 500 adult Louisianans of a variety of ages, genders and races. Henderson says another finding under the topics of coastal land loss was that two-thirds of respondents felt hurricanes hitting the Bayou State are stronger than ever, and their frequency is also increasing. Those storms often cause floods, but only about 40-percent said flooding was worse in recent years…:
Dr. Henderson says the survey also asked about public policy to encourage mitigation against future hurricane and flood damage and losses…:
Cut 6 (13) “…subsidizing elevation.”
However, he says, about 60-percent of respondents were solidly against property insurance rate increases in flood-prone or storm-prone areas. Find the report at “lsu.edu/manship/research”
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With the holiday weekend approaching, many folks will be either hosting or partaking in a good crawfish boil. LSU Ag Center professor Greg Lutz says after a slow start to the season, there should be plenty of good eating.
Lutz says that recent temperatures and some timely rainfall have provided a nice boost for the crawfish crop, and the supply should stay high into the peak of mudbug season this summer.
As the summer rains keep the ground wet, oxygen levels will rise and crawfish will get more active. Lutz says that means fatter and tastier crawfish. So grab your favorite boil mix, plenty of paper towels, and get to it.
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As COVID cases are beginning to increase again in certain parts of the country and the CDC extends the public transportation mask mandate until May 3rd, closer to home, State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says case numbers along with hospitalizations remain relatively unchanged.
Cut 10 (12) “…concerned about.”
Kanter says they are seeing a slight increase in COVID infections via wastewater detection in Orleans Parish however it’s still too early to tell if it’s significant.
Nationally new cases are up about 10% over the past week and the average number of hospitalized COVID patients nationwide has increased by a hundred. Kanter says they are keeping an eye on how things progress over the next few weeks and if they show signs of increasing severe illness.
On Thursday the state reported 504 new COVID cases, 60 hospitalizations, and 3 three fatalities.
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State Police release more details about the officer-involved shooting in Lafayette early Thursday morning. Trooper Thomas Gossen says when Lafayette Police tried to serve a warrant to suspect 18-year-old Trevon Bonner, he barricaded himself inside his home. Officers then used an armored vehicle to breach the door to give Bonner a phone so he could communicate with officers.
Cut 13 (10) “…striking Bonner.”
Bonner was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Officers were trying to serve an attempted murder warrant to Bonner after a 13-year-old girl was shot hours before his standoff with officers.
Gossen says it’s become common practice for state police to be asked to investigate whenever an officer-involved shooting takes place.
Details that state police have released so far pertain to interviews with officers on the scene and body camera footage from the incident. Gossen says the investigation is ongoing.
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The New Orleans Pelicans are already on their way to Los Angeles to prepare for Friday’s elimination game against the Clippers. A win puts the Pels in the playoffs for the first time in four years in a matchup with the Phoenix Suns. After beating the Spurs Wednesday night, coach Willie Green let the squad know, he’s not ready for this run to end.
The Pelicans Big 3 of Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and Jonas Valanciunas combined for 81 points against the Spurs and they will have to come up big again versus LA. The X-factor for the Pels could be rookie forward Herb Jones, who has played well beyond his years. Ingram, for one, wouldn’t be surprised.
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Spring football has concluded in the Sun Belt Conference…In Lafayette, the Ragin Cajuns are in transition. After leading the U-L to its best season in program history, Billy Napier is now the head man at Florida and Mike Desormeaux has big shoes to fill. The first-year head coach is excited about this year’s group of players and looks forward to seeing if they can build on last season’s success.
At UL-Monroe, Terry Bowden enters his second season leading the Warhawks. Last season was full of upheaval with more than 20 players joining the team during the summer through the NCAA transfer portal. Bowden says there’s much more continuity this season and that should make his team more competitive in a very tough league.
Cut 19 (15) _“…starting for us.”
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