Governor John Bel Edwards revealed a “Doomsday” budget that calls for 76 million dollars in cuts for the Department of Corrections. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Movers and shakers from across the bayou are headed to DC for Washington Mardi Gras this week. Matt Doyle talked to LAPolitcs about the annual tradition…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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The state’s unemployment rate has dropped again to level we haven’t seen in nearly ten years.  Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

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The American Lung Association has released their “State of Tobacco Control” and shows Louisiana lags behind the nation in reducing tobacco use.  The report card gives the state “F”s in four out of five key categories.  Regional Director of Health Promotion for ALA Amy Ellis says it’s time for the state legislature to stand up and pass a law to strengthen the state’s existing smokefree air law…

Cut 4  (11) “the state.” 

The report finds Louisiana youth are emerging as one of the fastest growing tobacco users.  Ellis says the Tobacco 21 initiative, raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21, has worked well in other state’s discouraging youth to start smoking and hopes to see it come to Louisiana…

Cut 5  (08)  “some lives.”

The report estimates that 72-hundred deaths in Louisiana are directly related to smoking with 23 percent of residents who regularly use tobacco, making it the 6^th highest in the country.  Ellis says the report card paints a grim picture of smoking habits in the state…

Cut 6 (11)  “Tobacco 21.”

One “B” was given for the Strength of Smokefree Workplace laws.  It’s against state law to smoke in most public places, but bars and casino’s still allow smoking in most of the state.

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Governor John Bel Edwards’ worst-case-scenario budget calls for a 76 million dollar cut in state funding for the Department of Corrections. The cuts are a combination of attrition, canceling of infrastructure repairs, and the lowering of per diems paid to local sheriffs who house state inmates.  Corrections Secretary James Leblanc says the per diem cut in particular is dangerous.

Cut 7 (11)  “state inmates”

Leblanc says state prisons are full, and if local sheriffs cannot afford to house them, it could lead to an inmate housing nightmare.

Cut 8 (09) “our department”

Leblanc says the state has not built a new prison since the late 80s. He says the funding cuts will strain an already crumbling prison infrastructure.

Cut 9 (11)  “about it”

Leblanc says the cuts could lead to unsafe conditions for both inmates and corrections officers.

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Governor John Bel Edwards, Louisiana’s Congressional delegation, state legislators, and lobbyists, are in DC this week for the annual Washington Mardi Gras. It’s a tradition that sees movers and shakers from the state throw a miniature Mardi Gras in the heart of the nation’s capital. LAPolitics publisher Jeremy Alford says it’s one of the hottest tickets in town.

Cut 10 (08) “empty handed.”

The events sees Louisiana politicians flood the capital to network and build a donor base for future elections. Alford says the epicenter is ten minutes down the road from the White House.