Louisiana received a top rating when it comes to highway safety laws by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. Emelie Gunn has more…
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A recently filed bill would remove the penalties for not having health insurance for Louisiana residents. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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Head Coach Ed Orgeron’s first recruiting class at LSU is ranked in the top 10. Jeff Palermo has thoughts from Coach “O”…
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Louisiana receives a top rating for its highway safety laws by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. President Jackie Gillan says the Bayou State was one of only five states plus the District of Columbia to earn the highest rating of green, because it has 9 out of 15 recommended traffic safety laws, including a law that requires everyone in a vehicle to buckle up…
Gillan says Louisiana also gets a high rating because it requires all motorcycle riders to wear a seat belt. The most recent data shows in 2015, there were 726 motor vehicle deaths in Louisiana. She says even though the Bayou State received a green rating, that doesn’t mean there isn’t work to be done.
Gillan says Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety also recommends tightening the state’s minimum age for getting a learners permit to 16 and passing other laws to protect teen drivers…
She’s hopeful the legislature can enact their suggested travel laws when the legislature meets for a regular session in April.
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One of the first bills filed for the 2017 regular legislative session seeks to undo penalties put in place by the Affordable Care Act. Covington Representative Paul Hollis says he filed the legislation on the first day bills could be submitted. He says the proposal would no longer require Louisiana residents to pay a fine for not having health insurance.
Hollis says the bill comes in response to President Trump’s executive order that allows state departments to waive any provision of the Affordable Care Act “that would impose a fiscal burden on a state.” He says there’s a lot up in the air regarding Obamacare, but it’s clear it’s not what’s right for Louisiana.
Hollis expects a great deal of support from the legislature when they convene in April. He says this legislation keeps money in people’s pockets and government out of healthcare decisions. He expects more states will follow suit.
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A former Caddo Parish School Board employee has been arrested after police say he misappropriated at least $260-thousand in public funds. Cindy Chadwick with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Brandon Lewis bought car parts using the School Board’s account.
Chadwick says Lewis, who was the board’s transportation buyer, then forged invoices to cover his tracks. She says an investigation by the Caddo-Shreveport Financial Crimes Task Force led to an audit of Lewis’ spending. She says the audit found that Lewis also used the account to purchase other items from vendors.
Chadwick says Lewis also bought $40-thousand in VISA gift cards, which he used for himself. Lewis is charged with unauthorized use of an access card, felony theft, and forgery. She says the crimes took place for more than a year.
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A gay rights activist group has responded to President Donald Trump’s statement that he will not remove President Obama’s executive order protecting the LGBTQ community from workplace discrimination within the federal government. Equality Louisiana President Baylor Boyd says at this point he is cautiously optimistic.
Boyd says they remember Mr. Trump’s campaign promises to defend members of the LGBTQ community, but they aren’t convinced. He says that’s hard to believe, given the leaders the President has chosen for his administration.
The provision includes measures to protect people from discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation or gender identity. But Boyd says that order won’t matter much if Mr. Trump follows through on his other promises.
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According to the football recruiting experts, LSU’s 2017 class is the seventh best in the nation. The Tigers signed 23 players, most of the new additions are on the defensive side of the football. Coach Ed Orgeron says the Tigers did well along I-10 by getting Plaquemine defensive back Todd Harris and a defensive lineman from Lafayette
The new recruits on offense are highlighted by the two quarterbacks in the class. Lowell Narcisse of St. James and Myles Brennan from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Orgeron has a lot of confidence new offensive coordinator Matt Canada can develop both of them
LSU missed on several big-time prospects. Three of Louisiana’s top five players signed with Alabama, wide receiver Devonta Smith, defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis and linebacker Christopher Allen. Orgeron on keeping in-state talent home