40% of households in Louisiana are considered in poverty and struggle to afford day-to-day needs, according to a new report by the Louisiana Association of United Ways. President and CEO Sarah Berthelot says basic needs are considered things like housing, child care, food, transportation, medical care. She says they hope the study can serve as a vital tool…:
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You can view the report at launitedway.org.

A constitutional amendment which bans those with felony convictions from running for state office has been declared invalid by the Louisiana Supreme Court. Derrick Shepherd, a Democrat from Marrero who pleaded guilty to money laundering in 2008, tried to run for a spot in the Louisiana House last fall, but he was stopped because the state doesn’t alliow convicted felons to run for office. The Supreme cour ruled today citizens voted on something different than what was enacted by the Legislature.

The contained burn chamber that will be used to dispose of 16 million pounds of M6 propellant at Camp Minden is scheduled to arrive at the Part of Natchitoches on February 6th. Col. Pete Schneider with the National Guard says the 400,000 pound container is on the Mississippi River now, but when it heads to Camp Minden it will be loaded onto a vehile…:
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The burn chamber was constructed in Oklahoma and the only other chamber like it is in Denmark.

New Orleans firefighters had a tough time this morning battling a major six-alarm blaze that had smoke covering downtown and caused the closure of the famous Canal Street between the CBD and the French Quarter. It started at one building then spread to another. Officials say there were no reports of injuries, but the risk now is for collapse.