The Atlantic Hurricane Season begins today and emergency preparedness leaders say the time is now to get a plan in place. Brooke Thorington has more…
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After passing in the House and a Senate committee, a so-called Constitutional Carry bill gets re-assigned to a second committee hearing. Kevin Gallagher reports on what that may mean…:
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For the second time in less than two weeks, a high school graduation is marred by gunfire. David Grubb has more…
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Today marks the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane Season and emergency preparedness leaders say there’s no better time than the present to begin preparations for the 2022 season. Communications Director at the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Mike Steele…
The last two hurricane seasons have also been unique because of COVID, congregate shelters were not viable. However, this season Steele says the plan is to return to congregate shelters but if COVID cases increase that plan could be revised.
Steele encourages residents to take advantage of the blue skies to work out a plan long before a hurricane or tropical storm is headed their way. And one of the best ways to be prepared is to visit GetAGamePlan-dot-org for a checklist.
Another item you want to check off your list is to review your hurricane insurance coverage and know what and what isn’t covered. Steele says that way you’ll know if you need to update your policy beforehand.
And after two devastating seasons in a row, Steele says thousands of residents in Lake Charles and southeastern Louisiana remain in temporary housing…
Steele says if you have a loved one that would have difficulty evacuating it’s best to develop a plan well before a storm is on the horizon to assist them.
This is also a good time of year to check that your generator is in working order ahead of possible prolonged power outages.
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A bill to allow Louisianans to carry a concealed weapon without a permit hits a big snag on its course to final passage. The House-passed HB37 recently won approval in a Senate judiciary committee, but – instead of being scheduled for a Senate floor debate & vote – was re-committed to the Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs Committee last week. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says when this happens, it means someone wants to see the bill fail…:
Cut 7 (12) “…sent to the governor.”
The Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs will consider the bill this afternoon. Even if it passes, it has very little time left to be scheduled for floor debate, voted upon and sent back to the House for concurrence before the clock runs out on the session Monday evening. Pinsonat says this has happened before, when lawmakers didn’t feel a bill was “must pass” legislation…:
Cut 8 (15) “…didn’t do as well.”
Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s bill would make Concealed Carry Permits optional for adults with no criminal record. However, without a permit one would have no right to concealed carry in other states with whom Louisiana has reciprocity agreements. Pinsonat says lawmakers have their reasons for trying to let the clock run out on the legislation; some perhaps due to recent events in Texas…:
Cut 9 (10) “…while in session.”
Pinsonat feels there is little will at the Capitol to override a veto of this particular bill, so letting it die is the likely strategy.
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One person was killed and two more injured after shots were fired following the graduation ceremonies of Morris Jeff Community School on the campus of Xavier University in New Orleans. The victim who died in the shooting was reportedly the grandmother of one of the graduates. The other two victims, both men, were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. According to NOPD deputy superintendent Christopher Goodly, gunfire erupted after an altercation between two women.
Cut 10 (09) “…victims right now.”
This is the second shooting at a high school graduation in just the last two weeks, following one on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University on May 19 that left four people injured. Goodly says the grounds around the graduation were well-secured by both NOPD and campus police.
Cut 11 (09) “…perimeter security.”
Police have detained multiple individuals for questioning but ask anyone with potentially helpful information to contact the NOPD homicide division at 504-658-5300 or leave an anonymous tip with Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.
Cut 12 (10) “…successful resolution.”
In response to the shooting, Governor John Bel Edwards issued his condolences for the victims and stated “In light of recent gun violence in Buffalo and Uvalde, gun safety discussions and action involving expanded background check and red flag laws are very much in order.”
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As the Russian invasion of Ukraine rages on New Orleans physician Dr. MarkAlain Dery (pronounced as Mark Allen Dairy) is serving as medical director to assist those in need of being medically evacuated from the war-torn country. Dery says he’s been in Ukraine for about three weeks now.
And because more and more Ukraine citizens have become targets of Russian soldiers, Dery is also helping by instituting an education process for everyday healthcare providers and the best way they can treat civilians who are severely injured in the conflict.
As the conflict continues Dery says there are more and more documented cases of Ukrainian civilians who are being attacked by Russian soldiers along with evidence of war crimes.
Dery says top US trauma physicians are assisting by helping train doctors and nurses in Ukraine on how to respond to injuries usually found on a battlefield.
Dery says they are also training fire and police on how to treat injuries and creating short videos teaching civilians how to respond when someone is severely injured.
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LSU will make the 169-mile trip east and open play on Friday night against third-seeded Kennesaw State in the Hattiesburg Regional. The Owls, champions of the Atlantic Sun Conference, are 35-26 this season and are making only their second-ever NCAA tournament appearance. Despite that, Tigers coach Jay Johnson says KSU isn’t to be taken lightly…
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Lane Burroughs has done a great job of building the Louisiana Tech baseball program over six seasons, leading the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament in each of the last two. Tech is talented, with two wins over LSU and the Conference-USA tournament championship as evidence. The Dogs’ greatest asset, according to Burroughs, might be their resiliency.
Cut 17 (12) “ …experience that.”
Tech opens play in the Austin Regional against Dallas Baptist on Friday.
Southeastern Louisiana heads to the Auburn Regional as the fourth-seeded, meaning they will open play against the top-seeded Tigers. The Lions went 2-3 against SEC foes this season, earning wins over Arkansas and Ole Miss. Coach Matt Riser says that type of schedule in the regular season is what has them prepared for the postseason.
The U-L Ragin’ Cajuns are back in the tournament for the first time in six years and as a reward, they will take on second-seeded TCU on Friday night. U-L dropped 2 of 3 to the Horned Frogs last season and outfielder Tyler Robertson hasn’t forgotten.
Cut 19 (11) _“…give them anything.”
The Cajuns may have gotten into the tournament by the skin of their teeth, but they plan on sticking around for a while. Senior pitcher Austin Perrin says he and his teammates have worked too hard to stop now.
Cut 20 (15) “ …get back to work.”
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