LRN PM Newscall June 22

A recent operation by the Central Louisiana Violent Crime Abatement Teams results in over 150 arrests. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Louisiana Tech and the Baltimore Ravens are mourning the sudden death of linebacker Jaylon Ferguson. David Grubb has more…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.”  

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Louisiana has received more than $100 million in federal housing assistance to assist over 20-thousand residents with past rent dating back as far as April 2020. Gina Campo, Deputy Executive Director with the Office of Community Development says the program will assist those who are in danger of being evicted.

Cut 3 (09) “…guidelines.”

Campo says to be eligible for the Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Programtotal the total household income must be at or 80 percent below the area median income. Parishes with populations over 200 thousand are running their own rental assistance programs and the state program is for the remaining 57 parishes.

Cut 4  (06) “…people as possible.”

The application process is completely paperless and Campo says homeowners affected by COVID who are behind on their mortgage may also be eligible through the Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Fund program.

Cut 5  (06) “…is there.”

Again, the website is laCOVIDhousing.com

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In a collaborative effort over a two-week period, the Central Louisiana Violent Crime Abatement Team made just under 200 arrests after a very successful detail. Master Trooper Casey Wallace says several law enforcement agencies worked together to identify and apprehend a number of criminals.

Cut 6  (11) “…byproduct of the arrests.” 

Wallace says due to the increase in violent crime 19 different law enforcement agencies in the central part of the state sat down and shared information and they were able to devise a plan to apprehend as many violent offenders as possible.

Cut 7 (11) “…and did.” 

And since the mass arrests, Wallace says they are already seeing a positive impact in the area. Wallace says hospitals and ambulances in central Louisiana have reported a notable decrease in weekly drug overdoses.

Cut 8 (07) “…to one.” 

The operation also seized a number of illegal drugs including methamphetamine, PCP, ecstasy, fentanyl, and more than five thousand dollars in drug-related currency.

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The NFL was rocked this morning by the news of the death of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson at the age of 26. Ferguson, who was born in Zachary, played his high school ball at West Feliciana before attending Louisiana Tech, where he earned the nickname “Sack Daddy” while racking up an FBS-record 45 sacks in his career. His coach at West Feliciana, Robb Odom is in shock…

Cut 9 (13) “…light up a room.”

Odom says Ferguson was one of the building blocks of the West Feliciana program as it climbed from contending during his high school career to winning the 3A state title in 2017. Ferguson set the tone in the locker room and on the field, serving as a leader and role model for his teammates.

Cut 10 (12) ” …the community.” 

Jaylon Ferguson is survived by his son and two daughters and his wife Doni Smith. Odom says in a short time Ferguson left a strong legacy as both a competitor and as a man.

Cut 11 (10)  “…a better person.” 

A Baltimore police spokesperson called the death “questionable,” but said there were no signs of foul play or trauma to his body. An autopsy is still pending.

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Governor Edwards has signed legislation that requires every nursing home in the state to have an emergency preparedness plan approved by the state Department of Health. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says it’s in response to last year’s botched evacuation involving seven nursing homes owned by Bob Dean…

Cut 12 (11) “…happen again.”  

Over 800 nursing home residents were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish prior to Hurricane Ida’s landfall and over a dozen residents who spent time at the ill-equipped facility died shortly after the event.

Edmonds says previous says law required nursing homes to have an emergency preparedness plan, but it did not require approval from L-D-H….

Cut 13 (06) “…the inspection.”

Edmonds says nursing home operators will now be required to update their emergency plans and submit such plans to the LDH emergency preparedness manager for approval no later than March 1st every year…

Cut 14 (10)  “…transparency” 

The Louisiana Nursing Home Association supports the legislation.