The Army Corps of Engineers announces they will build an underwater dam at Myrtle Grove to stop salt water from the Gulf of Mexico from reaching public and industrial water supplies in upper Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes as well as New Orleans. Corps spokesperson Ricky Boyette says it’s needed because the Mississippi is at a low level, but still navigable for ship traffic…
cut 6 (12) “…lower than normal”
He says the work will likely start next week.

According to the nonprofit group, TRIP, there were 883 traffic fatalities in Louisiana in 2022 that’s up 21-percent from 2019 when 727 were killed. TRIP’s director of policy and research Rocky Moretti says the number of pedestrians and cyclists killed is alarming…
cut 10 (13) “….and bicyclist”

The CDC says 97 percent of Americans, sixteen and older, have some type of antibodies against COVID, either from having it or being vaccinated. And LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease specialist, Dr. Fred Lopez says the study found that only 78 percent actually had COVID.
Cut 13 (12) “…natural infection.”
It’s estimated 53-percent of Louisiana residents are fully vaccinated.

The most recent economic impact study indicates Northwestern State University’s economic value is $520 million in income and the school supports more than seven thousand jobs. University President Dr. Marcus Jones says many are not aware of the impact a college has on a region.
Cut 7 (10) “…located.”
Jones says the school’s $520 million impact represents one and a half percent of the total gross regional product of northwest and central Louisiana.