The Nation Federation of Independent Business isn’t pleased with the sales tax discount weekend.
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A federal lawsuit alleges two Orleans Parish inmates were held in jail for five months after completing their sentences, and they are seeking restitution. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is not pleased that crawfish have been found in one of their lakes and a retention pond. Jeff Palmero has more…
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Today and tomorrow, Louisianans will be able to purchase school supplies and other items at a reduced state sales tax rate of 3-percent, compared to the normal 5-percent. National Federation of Independent Business State Director Dawn Starns says she hopes small businesses will see an increase in business but it was more beneficial for retailers when the law allowed for tax free weekend.
Starns says it’s difficult for retailers to get the message out to shoppers about the discount. She says they are disappointed to see what this holiday has become as it was so successful in the past.
Starns says some small businesses are promoting this weekend the best they can. She says they hope legislators will one day change it back so consumers can have a couple of days to purchase items tax free.
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A federal lawsuit filed in Baton Rouge alleges two Orleans Parish inmates were kept in jail for five months after their sentences were served. Attorney Emily Washington with the Macarthur Justice Center says Jessie Crittindon and Leon Burse were eligible for release in August 2016, but they stayed in the River Bend Detention Center in Lake Providence until January 2017.
The suit alleges constitutional and state law violations were made against the two inmates. The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, the East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the state Department of Corrections are named in the suit. Washington says officials knew these men were supposed to be released, but they took no action to do so.
This was both men’s first criminal conviction, and both of them are fathers. Washington says they’re seeking restitution for the inmates and a declaration from the court that what these agencies did was against the law.
ECPSO says they are reviewing the suit. An attorney for OPSO says they will vigorously defend this matter. DOC has not issued a comment.
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Crawfish have been found in Michigan and that state’s Department of Natural Resources is not happy. They say the red swamp crayfish damage earthen structures and compete aggressively for food and habitat, disrupting the food chain for many species in the water. LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Specialist Greg Lutz says while crawfish are well adapted to our geography…
Red swamp crayfish are a prohibited species in Michigan. Lutz says their DNR is probably concerned about the white spot syndrome, which is a viral disease seen in Louisiana crawfish ponds.
Crawfish are extremely fertile and can lay up to 600 eggs at a time and reproduce twice a year. Lutz says that means, there could be the chance of a Red Swamp Crayfish population becoming established in Michigan.
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Researchers say bold new approaches need to be taken to shrink the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Eugene Turner co-authored a report on the oxygen-deprived area that cannot support marine life. He says a lot of nitrate is coming down the Mississippi River from agricultural land use. By reducing the amount of nitrate, they could shrink the dead zone. One way to do that would be to plant perennial crops like wheat in farms that runoff into the Mississippi.
Turner says farmers could even make some money by selling the wheat. Other methods include altering fertilizer application rates and improving nutrient management. He says the amount of nitrates coming down the river is directly proportional to the size of the dead zone.
Cut 14 (08) “proportional response”
To shrink the dead zone from the size of New Jersey down to the size of Delaware would require a 59 percent reduction in the amount of nitrogen runoff. Turner says it will take policy changes on the state, local, and federal level to make that happen.
Cut 15 (08) “nitrogen released”
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After missing all of last season while recovering from his third torn ACL injury, Saints edge rusher Hau’oli Kikaha (ha-OH-lee key-KAH-hah) is ready to make a big impact on the Black and Gold defense. He’s battling with veteran Alex Okafor for starting weak side defensive end. Kikaha says he’s making progress…
Starting left guard Andrus Peat is entering his third season. Peat says he’s trying to help out first round pick Ryan Ramczyk, who could be the starting left tackle for the injured Terron Armstead…
Five-foot-seven Tommylee Lewis is fighting for a roster spot. The second-year wide receiver from Northern Illinois caught seven passes last year. Lewis is also hoping to become the team’s primary punt returner…