As of noon Sunday, the Coast Guard says it has gained the upper hand on the oil spill off Plaquemines Parish. Coast Guard Lieutenant Phillip VanderWeit says Well 59 near Garden Island Bay began leaking more than a week ago, spewing tens of thousands of gallons of oil into gulf waters. He says so far, crews have collected almost 80-thousand gallons of oily water.
Cut 7 (12) “…safely as possible.”
Environmentalists fear the oil that seeped into the water could threaten marine wildlife and further erode Louisiana’s coastline. So far only one oiled bird has been observed.
Funds from the Lottery slipped in the third quarter of fiscal 2025. The Louisiana Lottery transferred close to $45.1 million to the state treasury but that’s down $1.4 million from last quarter and down $35.8 million when compared to the first three quarters of last fiscal year. Lottery President, Rose Hudson said, “Strong inflationary pressures and jackpot fatigue continue to have an adverse effect on sales this quarter.” The Lottery Corporation is looking to add value with second-chance promotions and partnerships with popular brands like NASCAR.
A flood watch will be in effect for the majority of the state by the National Weather Service starting tomorrow. Sean Richardson has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says there’s been 13% increase in motorcycle deaths from 2021 to 2023. He says it’s up to all drivers to make every effort to watch for motorcycles, and Fischer says motorcyclists also need to do their part: obey the same traffic laws as motorists, and always wear a helmet and always opt for a full-face helmet.