The Meta data center in Richland Parish is paying off quite handsomely for schoolteachers there – literally. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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Deputies in St. John the Baptist Parish rescued four people from a car that crashed into a canal off the side of I-10. Kace Kieschnick has more.
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The under-construction Meta data center in Richland Parish is paying dividends for teachers in a huge way – literally. The increased tax revenues from the project have led to teachers receiving a bonus this year of up to – listen to this number – FIFTY-THOUSAND DOLLARS! Holly Ridge Elementary School teacher Sarah Morris says she’s shocked by the enormity of the bonus.
Morris, who teaches third and fourth grade, says the jaw-dropping bonus makes life a lot easier for her and her fellow teachers.
Mangum High School head football coach Scott Wilcher says the bonus is a huge help to him and his family.
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The bonuses are part of an overall investment in the Richland Parish region of more than 50-billion dollars.
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St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff’s deputies rescued four people from a car that crashed into a canal off of I-10 early Monday morning. Sheriff Mike Tregre says the deputies were nearby for another crash and were directed to the partially submerged vehicle.
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The crash occurred around 1 a.m. near the Spencer Chauvin Memorial Bridge. Tregre says the deputies acted immediately and it was just their human reaction to jump into the canal and pull them out.
State Police is investigating the cause of the crash. The two adults and two children in the car were taken to New Orleans area hospitals, and Tregre says he has not received any negative news on their health. He says he hopes they can one day meet the deputies under better circumstances.
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In the latest back and forth between state leaders and the city of New Orleans, Governor Jeff Landry says the Crescent City is no longer a key to the success of Louisiana. Landry says New Orleans is not the economic driver it once was.
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Landry made that statement to reporters following a press conference where Meta announced it is committing more than 50-billion dollars to its Richland Parish Data Center project. Landry says Meta’s investment brings the total invested in Louisiana by businesses to 150-billion dollars since he took office in 2024.
A political rift started growing between Governor Landry and newly elected New Orleans Helena Moreno, when Moreno and other city officials pushed back against a new law that combined the city’s civil and criminal district courts. Landry points out Orleans Parish was the only parish in the state with two separate district courts and they should be treated like every other parish.
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Moreno responded to Landry’s latest comments by saying the focus should always be to strive for every city, every town and every parish to reach their fullest potential.
The mayor is asking for a face-to-face meeting with the governor to go over the city’s finances. New Orleans is strapped for cash which is forcing Moreno to furlough employees and delay projects. Landry says he’ll meet with the mayor, but he says one important condition needs to be met.
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Tragedy in Ponchatoula as a three-year-old boy died in a hot car late last week. Police Chief Bry (“bree”) Layrisson says police responded after the vehicle owner found Jahcari James locked inside.
Cut 12 (10) “…just fell asleep.”
Chief Layrisson says this is merely a tragic accident; and while the investigation is ongoing, he does not expect any criminal charges to be filed.
Layrisson says family members attempted life-saving measures on the little boy until first responders arrived; but given the time he was inside, it was hopeless.
Cut 14 (06) “…the heat exhaustion.”