The United Cajun Navy is assisting with recovery efforts in Mississippi where tornadoes leveled the small towns of Rolling Fork and Silver City. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
______________________________________
The state fire marshal’s office is investigating a deadly fire in Monroe that claimed the life of a young boy. Jeff Palermo has the latest….
Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”
______________________________________
Pollock Representative Gabe Firment has filed a bill requiring insurance companies to offer policyholders an endorsement where the insurance company would pay to upgrade a damaged roof to fortified standards. Firment says it’s a way to lower costs and decrease damage.
Legislators held a special session earlier this year to put $45 million in an incentive fund attract insurance companies to write policies. Firment believes building stronger homes would allow people to live in the area where the home is located.
The Fortified Grant Program legislation passed in 2022 helps homeowners build stronger roofs with some construction improvements. Firment says keeping wind and rain out of the home decreases damage which makes homes a better risk for the insurance companies.
Legislators will push for funding for the Fortify Grant Program in the upcoming legislative session.
_______________________________________________
The United Cajun Navy is assisting people in the small towns of Rolling Fork and Silver City, Mississippi after tornadoes leveled the communities Friday night. UCN founder and president Todd Terrell says they’ve shifted from search and rescue to distributing supplies and food.
Terrell says they are asking the public to help by either donating money or supplies and you can find a wish list of supplies on their Facebook page. He says their mission is far from over.
Cut 7 (11) “…people up there.”
Terrell says the devastation is comparable to the 2010 Joplin, Missouri tornado and the 2021 Mayfield, Kentucky twister where whole communities were leveled.
At least 26 people were killed in Mississippi from the EF4 twister, and Terrell says it’s a miracle there weren’t more fatalities. He credits the ability to use heat sensors in planes and drones.
If you are unable to make a donation or volunteer Terrell is asking the public for prayers. More severe weather is forecasted for the area today and throughout the week.
_______________________________________________
Many in Louisiana are amazed the LSU Lady Tigers are in the Final Four in Kim Mulkey’s second season as head coach. Mulkey took over a program that won nine games during the 2020-21 season. Prior to this season, she brought in several new players out of the transfer portal…
All American forward Angel Reese came to LSU after leading Maryland to the Sweet 16 last season. The Baltimore native says she needed a fresh start and Mulkey to coach her hard…
Another big offseason addition was assistant coach Bob Starkey. Starkey was an assistant coach when LSU made five straight trips to the Final Four in the 2000s. Mulkey says Starkey is a perfect fit…
_______________________________________________
Louisiana U-S Representative Julia Letlow’s Parents Bill of Rights Act is waiting for discussion in the Senate after it passed out of the House by a slim margin. The Republican from Richland Parish says the legislation is a vehicle by which parents and educators can have a productive dialogue over what’s taught in public schools…
The legislation needs 60 votes in the Democratic-majority U-S Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says the legislation faces a dead end in the upper chamber. But Letlow says the legislation should not be partisan, since it’s main goal is to make sure parents have the right to know what’s taught in the classroom….