AM LRN Newscall Sept 28

We complete our look at the six major candidates for governor by hearing from Attorney General Jeff Landry. Teiko Foxx has more from the Republican from Acadiana…

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

_______________________________________________

Early voting starts tomorrow and there are plenty of items on the ballot, Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

______________________________________________

Headed to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans airport? Starting today, the long-awaited new I-10 westbound flyover ramp is open for motorists. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 3 (32) …I’m Teiko Foxx.”

______________________________________________

We complete our daily profiles of the six main candidates running for governor by hearing from Republican Jeff Landry. Landry says if he’s elected governor he’ll spend every day of his administration fighting crime, improving education, and building up the state’s workforce…

Cut 4 (08) “…don’t come.”

Landry grew up in St. Martinville. Served in the National Guard for eleven years and that included a tour in the Middle East during Desert Storm. He’s also worked as a police officer and a sheriff’s deputy

Landry says he’ll be a law and order governor and his efforts as Attorney General the last eight years prove that.

Cut 5 (11) “…reduce crime.”

Landry graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and started his own oil and gas environmental service company. He also served as executive director of the St. Martin Parish Economic Development. Landry served in Congress prior to his election as A-G.

The son of a school teacher, Landry says he wants to improve education in public schools by letting the teachers teach…

Cut 6 (11) “…teachers teach.”

_________________________________________________

Big changes for SNAP recipients go into effect Sunday. DCFS Secretary Terri Ricks says able-bodied adults ages 18 to 52, without dependents will be limited to three months of benefits, unless they live in one of the 33 exempted parishes that have high unemployment or not enough jobs available.

Cut 7 (12) “…a month.”

They must provide proof of at least 80 hours a month they are looking for a job, volunteering and/or working. Ricks says those who will be impacted have received notification. Previous requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, she says, haven’t changed.

A Cost-of-Living Adjustment also goes into effect Sunday. Ricks says SNAP recipients who are eligible for the maximum benefit should see about a 3.5-percent increase in their monthly food allotment. For example…

Cut 8 (09) “…ten dollars.” 

Ricks says the cost-of-living-adjustment, also known as COLA, is based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index trends.

Cut 9 (06)  “…higher and higher.”

For more information visit dcfs.la.gov

_________________________________________________

Early voting begins this Saturday for the October 14th primary. John Tobler with the Secretary of State’s office says everyone has something on their ballot and you can cast your ballot from 8:30 in the morning until 6 o’clock at night.

Cut 10 (12) “…their ballot.”

Tobler says the Geaux Vote app will also tell you where the early voting locations are in your parish and where to cast your ballot on election day if you don’t vote early. And to help expedite the process…

Cut 11 (13) “…voice heard.”

Voting in person is still the preferred way to perform one’s constitutional duty in Louisiana and Tobler says doing so early continues to become more popular.

Cut 12 (10) “…election day.” 

Expected voter turnout for the primary is between 42 and 46 percent, which Tobler says is average for a governor’s race.

_________________________________________________

The newly constructed ramp providing direct access from I-10 West at Loyola Drive to the Louis Armstrong Airport project opens today. DOTD Spokesperson Daniel Gitlin says this will dramatically ease traffic flow for motorists who use the Kenner corridor every day and for those headed to the airport.

Cut 13 (11) “…the goal”

The new exit will allow travelers headed to the airport from the direction of New Orleans to avoid the light by passing over Loyola Avenue and Veterans Boulevard intersection in Kenner.

Gitlin says the eastbound ramp which will allow exiting airport drivers to merge directly on I-10 eastbound toward New Orleans is near completion. He points out that there is still additional work to finish before the project is complete.

Cut 14 (12) “…are connected”

The ramp is part of the $125.6 million I-10/Loyola Drive Interchange Project which started in 2020. While he’s looking for to the opening of the second exit in two weeks, Gitlin says today is special.

Cut 15 (08) “…this point”

____________________________________________________________

Louisiana Tech jumps back into Conference USA play tonight as they travel to the Sun Bowl to face the UTEP Miners in El Paso, Texas. Tech enters the game with a 2-3 record, while the Miners are 1-4 after losing to UNLV last weekend. Second year Bulldogs Coach Sonny Cumbie says UTEP is better than what its record shows…

Cut 16 (17) “…football team.”

The Bulldogs have not won a game on the road since December of 2020. Offensive lineman Abe Delfin believes the streak comes to an end tonight…

Cut 17 (17) “…this week”

____________________________________________________________

Saints running back Alvin Kamara makes his season debut Sunday when New Orleans hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at noon. Kamara was suspended the first three games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy stemming from a fight at at Las Vegas casino. Kamara says he stayed active while away from the team

Cut 18 (14) “…to play”

The Saints have struggled on offense without Kamara. They rank 20th in the league in total offense and 25th in scoring, averaging just 18 points per game. Kamara says it will take a collective effort to get the offense going…

Cut 19 (17) “…run the ball” 

Kamara says they have the talent to put more points on the board…

Cut 20 (15) “..execute better”