Yahoo reports Louisiana has the second most lightning strikes in the country right after Florida. Emelie Gunn has more…
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A UCLA Williams Institute study finds same sex marriages could bring millions into Louisiana. Scott Carwile speaks with the study author to find out how…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”
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Louisiana appears to be the only state still fighting the Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriages. Jeff Palermo has more…
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In Louisiana Radio Network’s ongoing gubernatorial Q&A, we asked the four major candidates about agriculture. We asked, if elected, would you propose a budget that keeps funding levels for the Department of Agriculture and the LSU and Southern AgCenters at least at their current level? Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says it’s important to keep funding these entities because agriculture has a $12 billion economic impact on the state…
Democratic Amite Representative John Bel Edwards says he’s committed to maintain funding to the AgCenters. He says, since 2008, state funding for the LSU AgCenter has been cut 23-percent and Southern’s AgCenter funding has dropped by 30-percent…
US Senator David Vitter says it’s important to stabilize the budgets for these entities. He says since 2008, the number of full-time employees at the LSU AgCenter has decreased by 31-percent…
Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle says he’s committed to continue funding at current or higher levels. He says as as goes Louisiana’s farming, in a lot of ways, so goes Louisiana’s economy as a whole…
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A report by Yahoo says Louisiana has the second most lightning strikes a year in the country. Louisiana trails Florida but is just ahead of Mississippi. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we average about 827,000 strikes a year and lightning has caused 142 fatalities since 1959, or about 2.5 deaths a year.
Keim says Louisianians spend most of our time hunting, fishing, and participating in other outdoor activities which increases our vulnerability to lightning strikes. He also debunks a myths about what happens when lightning hits.
According to State Farm, Louisiana ranks 4th in the nation for lightning claims. In 2014, State Farm paid 6.5 million for more than 13-hundred insurance claims related to lightning stikes in Louisiana. Keim advises people to get in a car or go inside if lightning gets bad during a thunderstorm and no matter what, don’t hide under a tree. He says be careful when touching metal objects when lightning can be seen.
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According to a UCLA Williams Institute study, same sex marriages in Louisiana could mean a 28 million dollar boost to the economy over the next three years. Study author Lee Badgett says many small businesses will thrive if this estimate proves true.
Badgett says there are about 4,000 gay couples living in Louisiana and it is expected that half will get married within the next three years. She says they used the US census to calculate the economic impact these marriages could have on the state.
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Badgett says this will also increase the amount of jobs available in the wedding fields. She says the state government will find sales tax revenue from hotels and restaurant meals.
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Despite a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, Louisiana is still not recognizing same-sex marriages. The Jindal Administration has said they are waiting on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to rule on a case involving Louisiana’s same-sex marriage ban. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says the state is fighting an uphill battle…
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Clerks of Court are holding off on issuing marriage licenses until a 25-day period concludes where Supreme Court decisions can be challenged. State Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says the decision has no mandate or order from the highest court that makes the decision final. Ciolino says this statement sends the message Louisiana intends to fight the federal government over a civil rights issue…
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Now that the Supreme Court has ruled that states must recognize same-sex marriage, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will likely move forward with its case on gay marriage. The ruling by the appeals court will most likely be a formality, and Ciolino says the state won’t have to wait long for its decision…
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According to 24-7 sports, LSU football’s 2016 recruiting class is ranked number one in the country. With national signing day still several months away, the Tigers have 17 verbal commitments, including two five-star prospects, cornerback Saivion Smith from Florida and St. Thomas Aquinas defensive tackle Edwin Alexander from Hammond. 24-7 sports, Shea Dixon, says Coach Les Miles has hired some great recruiters…
Dixon says not only is LSU receiving verbal commitments from some talented football players, they are also filling positions of need, especially on the defensive side of the ball
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Ten of LSU’s commitments are from Louisiana. Dixon says the Tigers are also doing the well in Texas, as four of their verbal pledges are from the Lone Star state