Legislation to require Louisiana schools to provide menstrual products for students advances to the House floor. Brooke Thorington has more.
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Congressman Garret Graves says he’s still fighting to bring down spiking flood insurance costs for Louisianans. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
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House Bill 248, which removes Robert E. Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day from the state’s official list of holidays, moves on to the Senate after gaining approval in the House. David Grubb has more…
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According to Money Geek, Louisiana ranks second in the nation among states with the most distracted driving fatalities. Head of Data Analytics Doug Milens says they created a rate of distracted driving deaths based on miles driven in each state…
The definition of distracted driving goes beyond looking at your phone, he says it includes things like eating or even having to correct a child’s behavior while driving.
Milens says they analyzed 2020 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and 2,880 people died in the U.S. in distracted-related crashes, despite the fact that Americans drove 344-thousand fewer miles.
Distracted driving rates increased by 12-percent in the US in 2020.
The study found Louisiana and North Carolina had the most significant increase in distracted driving fatalities from 2019 to 2020. Milens says that coupled with high auto-insurance only adds insult to injury in the Bayou State.
Texting while driving is the most common distracted driving offense in Louisiana.
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A bill to require public schools in Louisiana to carry free menstrual products for students in either a restroom or an accessible location passes in House Education. While researching her legislation, bill author New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman says she learned that many students experience “Period Poverty.”
Anaya Bhatia, Caddo Parish Magnet High School student and co-president of GirlUP an organization supporting the needs of female students, told lawmakers the legislation would help female students who have little access to menstrual products.
Bill co-author New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes says the cost for local school districts would average $500 for the first year to install dispensers. Hughes says if the toiletry needs of males are supplied in school restrooms, then they should also support the needs of females.
The bill passed unanimously in committee and is scheduled to be heard on the House floor Thursday.
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Congressman Garret Graves says efforts are still underway to provide homeowners relief from new, greatly-increased flood insurance premiums. The National Flood Insurance Program’s “Risk Rating 2.0” has gone into effect, and Graves says it’s an undue burden on many. He says amendments have been drafted to provide temporary relief, but the Democrat majority in the U.S. House isn’t interested in fixing the problem…:
Cut 10 (07) “…offering the amendment.”
Graves says amendments to delay the new rates from being collected, are being blocked from proposal on the House floor. Risk Rating 2.0 sets flood insurance rates based upon a structure’s value and the flood history of its location, rather than the old system which used flood zone maps. Graves says it was supposed to lower rates for property owners…:
Cut 11 (09) “…these increased costs.”
Graves says he and colleagues in flood and hurricane-prone areas continue working on possible solutions to the high cost of flood insurance. He says one proposed bill has some bipartisan support…:
Cut 12 (13) “…these rates together.”
Graves says the ultimate solution is to build better storm and flood mitigation measures, so flood insurance is not a necessity.
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Southern University Laboratory School junior Kelsie Tillage was recently named a recipient of the Gold Congressional Award, the highest honor that Congress can bestow upon any civilian youth between the ages of 14 and 24 for initiative, service, and achievement.
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Since the inception of the award, there have been 5,000 gold medalists, and of those only 84 are from Louisiana, placing Tillage in a very exclusive company. Standing out is nothing new for her, however, as she’s a member of her school’s student government association, volleyball team, was named student of the year in her district, and completed hundreds of hours of community service, mostly focused on child literacy.
Kelsie, who’s also earned the Duke Tip Scholar award and participated in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, says she didn’t set out to earn any awards and that serving others is something she’s done throughout her life.
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Tillage maintains a 4.29-grade point average at Southern Lab and is dually enrolled in Southern University honors and AP courses. As far as career plans, Tillage says she’s still discovering her interests for now.
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Following their series win over Georgia, LSU baseball seems to have found its bearings. The Tigers have won six of eight and are climbing the power rankings. Cade Doughty capped the series with the Dawgs by blasting a walk-off home run in Sunday’s rubber match. He says there’s no time to look back with plenty of tough competition ahead.
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Stopping LSU’s offense has been job number one for opposing pitchers, no easy task against a lineup so deep and talented. Dylan Crews is batting .328 this season with 13 home runs for the Tigers and says he keeps his approach simple…
Cut 17 (16) “ …extend on really.”
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The U-L Ragin Cajuns have won 10 of their last 12 in the Sun Belt Conference and sit three games behind Texas State in the standings. They’ll take on the Bobcats next weekend, but up first is UT-Arlington, and Coach Matt Deggs says his team won’t take the struggling Mavericks lightly.
With just a couple of weeks to go in the regular season, the Cajuns are jockeying for position in the conference and in the RPI as they try to get back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016. Deggs says the pressure is on, but he’s confident.