After multiple escapes from the Bridge City Center for Youth, the governor announces an investigation of the Office of Juvenile Justice.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Qualifying for the fall federal midterm elections begins today. Jeff Palermo takes a look at what we might see…:
Cut 2 (32) “….I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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In addition to statewide races there are plenty of key local races with the potential to heat up. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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After numerous escapes from the Bridge City Center for Youth, some of the inmates will be moved to Angola. Governor John Bel Edwards made the announcement Tuesday after a weekend in which six inmates escaped from the Jefferson Parish facility.
While some inmates will be housed at Angola the Bridge City facility will remain open but with additional security. Edwards says after everything that has happened it’s clear the Bridge City campus cannot continue to operate as it has.
Edwards says the Bridge City building is outdated and not properly equipped to serve as a youth facility and more security personnel will be provided in addition to the increase that was added last month. He says Office of Juvenile Justice will continue to oversee operations and while the situation is not ideal…
An initial review shows that there were numerous deficiencies and failures that contributed to the escape of six juveniles.
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Qualifying for the fall federal midterm elections begins today, at the Secretary of state’s Office in Baton Rouge. Candidates for the state’s six congressional seats, plus one U.S. Senate race, are expected to qualify over the next three days. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says five of six congressional races should be shoe-ins for the incumbents. But in District 3, Clay Higgins has an announced Republican challenger. Pinsonat says the race could become interesting…:
Pinsonat says he expects all incumbents will have a challenger of some kind, but doubts any will have the money or support to win this fall. In the U.S. Senate race, John Kennedy seeks another term, but is challenged by Democrats Gary Chambers, Luke Mixon and Syrita Steib. Pinsonat feels they are “spinning their wheels”…:
Pinsonat says qualifying over the next few days may yield a surprise or two, but he gives the edge to the incumbents in the fall elections. He says the midterms will be a hotly contested affair nationally, but expects Louisiana’s election results will have little effect on any major changes in Congress…:
Cut 9 (10) “…control of the House.”
Qualifying begins today and ends Friday afternoon.
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While today is first day for candidates to qualify for statewide office on the November ballot, there are also several key local races that are heating up. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins will be challenged by State Senator Greg Tarver who announced his candidacy from his family funeral home.
Alford says even though Perkins is the incumbent he’s viewed as a vulnerable after his failed US Senate bid in the middle of his mayoral term.
In Alexandria, incumbent Mayor Jeff Hall recently said he’ll run for re-election and Alford says he’ll be challenged by the previous mayor.
Alford says it will be a jammed packed ballot with several judicial races, including a Supreme Court judge race.
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Chemical giant BASF announces a $780-million project that will double production capacity at its plant in Geismar, in Ascension Parish. BASF Senior VP and plant manager Jeremy Lebold (LEE-bold) says, when complete they will produce 600-thousands metric TONs of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (or MDI) annually…:
Cut 13 (13) “…every single day.”
(Chemical is pronounced: METH-ih-leen die-PHEEN-ill die-EYE-so-sigh-uh-nate. You’re welcome…:))
Lebold says this is the third part of a three-phase expansion of BASF’s MDI manufacturing facility. He says the investment will help them retain over 1000 existing employees and create nearly 40 new direct jobs…:
Cut 14 (13) “…a billion dollars.”
Lebold says the expansion should be complete by sometime in 2025, and when done it will be one of the largest producers of MDI in America. He says the jobs created and jobs retained have a great pay scale at a great company…:
Cut 15 (12) “…for one another.”
Louisiana Economic Development says the BASF expansion will also create about 150 new indirect jobs.
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The three LSU players that were at SEC Media Days, Mike Jones, Jack Bech and BJ Ojulari raved about the new coaching staff. Jones says he’s very impressed with new defensive coordinator Matt House
LSU’s defensive line is expected to be a strength this season and edge rusher B-J Oljulari says there’s a lot of talent with that position group
Cut 17 (22) “…D-Line chemistry”
N-I-L has been around for over a year in college athletics as players are now able to receive cash for endorsement deals. That means some players are making more than others, but wide receiver Jack Bech says that does not create any dissension…
Cut 18 (18) “ …gets in our way”