The state Office of Public Health in Acadiana is holding a back-to-school hygiene drive for the next month. Teiko Foxx reports it’s a first-of-a-kind event where the goal is to reduce anxiety and improve self-esteem for middle schoolers struggling with personal hygiene…
Cut 1 (29) “….I’m Teiko Foxx.”
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While the national average for a gallon of regular gas is the highest it’s been in 10 months at $3.85, in Louisiana, prices have remained steady. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The governor has declared a state of emergency due to the extreme heat. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The Louisiana Department of Health is hosting its first back-to-school hygiene drive for students beginning today through September 15 in Acadiana. Regional Medical Director Dr. Tina Stefanski says the goal is to reduce anxiety and improve self-esteem…
Stefanski says statistics show when students have their needs met, they actually perform better in the classroom. She says the supplies collected are not just for young girls in middle schools…
Stefanski says items including menstrual products, soap, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, body wipes, lotion, deodorant, and hair combs will be collected and delivered to schools throughout Acadiana. She hopes the community joins the efforts of supplying essential hygiene products…
Stefanski says only new and unused items will be accepted. Items can be dropped off at libraries and health units in Iberia and Vermillion Parishes between now and September 15th.
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The national average for a gallon of regular gas is $3.85, the highest it has been in about 10 months. But Triple-A Fuel Analyst Don Redman says at least in Louisiana, the price has remained steady about the past week, but it’s still about 30 cents higher than it was a month ago.
Redman says typically at the beginning of the school year demand tends to wind down and in September demand will decrease even more. He says they are advising motorists to budget $3.50 to $3.75 a gallon.
Redman says the price at the pump has increased since OPEC-plus countries decided to cut production a million barrels a day. He says concerns of an economic slowdown, especially in Asia, prompted the cutback.
He says higher gas prices erode your personal finances, but a dramatic drop in gas prices would be an indicator that the economy is suffering.
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A Livingston Parish judge will soon be tasked with hearing the state’s first child custody battle between a divorced same-sex couple. A Denham Springs woman is suing for custody, despite the fact she’s not a biological parent of the child. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled that laws applying to heterosexual marriages must also apply to legal same-sex unions…:
Cut 10 (13) “…this has to happen.”
In many states, a biological mother’s ex-wife has the same custody rights as an ex-husband, but in Louisiana, they do not. Plaintiff’s attorneys argue that the child was born while the couple were married, so parental custody rights should apply. Ciolino says, in his opinion, Louisiana needs to comply with the High Court’s ruling…:
Cut 11 (12) “…different-sex marriages.”
The defendant claims she is the sole biological parent and her ex-wife has no custodial rights. Ciolino says this should be a fairly easy decision for the judge in the case. He calls it “cut and dry”…:
Cut 12 (09) “…Louisiana statute.”
Livingston Parish Judge Erika Green is scheduled to hear the case in early September.
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Governor Edwards declares a State of Emergency due to the extreme heat. Spokesperson for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Mike Steele, says the prolonged excessive heat is putting significant stress on resources in some areas of the state and the declaration is procedural for funding.
Steele says the high temperatures and humidity are impacting agriculture and other industries. And low water levels along the Mississippi River are causing problems for water systems in south Louisiana.
Cut 14 (06) “…these conditions.”
Steele says unfortunately the heat has been responsible for some deaths and visits to emergency rooms for heat-related illnesses have already exceeded the yearly average.
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LSU football’s star safety Greg Brooks Jr. has been dealing with a bout of vertigo but should be okay to return to practice today. The fifth-year senior from Harvey is a leader for the Tigers on defense. He says he’s seen great things from his young teammates.
Defensive coordinator Matt House spoke to the media on Saturday and said the team needs to get off the field on third downs more and to get more turnovers. Brooks on how they can do that.
Cut 17 (13) “…building ahead.”
LSU’s defense is more experienced than last year and Brooks says that fall practice has been more about improving rather than getting situated.
Cut 18 (11) “…going to be good.”
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The Ragin Cajuns had their first scrimmage of preseason camp yesterday and second-year coach Michael Desormeaux is pleased to see how Ben Wooldridge is performing as the team’s starting quarterback. Desormeaux says Wooldridge is moving around well as he’s set to return from a torn ACL. Wooldridge sees areas of his game that need improvement
Wooldridge also says what the biggest change is in this year’s team compared to last year’s.