Governor-elect John Bel Edwards previewed his administration’s first term goals at the Council for a Better Louisiana’s annual luncheon. During the 17 minute speech, Edwards hinted at making changes to the state’s accountability system for public education. He wonders if our students are taking too many standardized tests…

cut 14 (10) “too many things”

Edwards will be sworn into office January 11th.

A vote is expected today in the US House on a transportation bill that would provide Louisiana an additional 100-million dollars a year in federal highway dollars. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the legislation would also help state and local governments interface traffic management with cell phones, Google, and Waze maps…

cut 11 (11) “existing roadways”

Graves helped craft the bill.

Louisiana ranks 47th for mental health care access according to the Mental Health Association. Director of Mental Health America of Louisiana, Brittany Howard, says Medicaid expansion would improve access to care, but that’s just one part of the puzzle. She says lawmakers need to be educated more on the importance of access to health care…

cut 5 (07) “to succeed”

She says 1 in 4 people suffer from some sort of mental illness.

The United States Department of Agriculture has mandated stricter inspection standards for catfish before it can be sold as food. Chad Causey with The Catfish Institute says they applaud the program because it’s another step in making food safer…

cut 7 (11) “healthy product”

Causey says the rule will require both domestic and imported catfish to meet safety standards set by the USDA.