Governor Edwards is sounding the alarm about remarkable shortages at food banks across the state that have been drained by a string of natural disasters.
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A rosier than expected revenue estimation for the state has some House Republicans saying the .45 percent sales tax passed in June may no longer be needed…
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Authorities say they walked in on one of the worst cases of neglect they’ve ever seen in Rapides Parish after responding to a call about a natural death.
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Governor Edwards is putting out a call to action for Louisiana citizens to start stocking their local food banks for the holidays, as a series of natural disasters have devastated stores just at the time when banks usually can begin stocking up for spring and summer. Edwards says he’s gravely concerned after touring the half empty Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank yesterday.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans CEO Natalie Jayroe says she’s highly concerned about the drastic shortages, because food banks could already only provide about half of the meals that are needed in the US in past years. She says a lack of food effects the most vulnerable populations.
Food Bank of Central Louisiana Executive Director Jayne Wright-Velez says it’s troubling that supply is running low as demand skyrockets. That means the food banks are unable to keep emergency stockpiles.
Food banks accept cash and food donations, but say they can use funds to purchase foods at lower prices than you would pay for them at grocery stores.
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Some House Republicans are discussing legislation for the next session that would roll back the .45 percent sales tax passes in June because of a rosier than expected revenue forecast for the state. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris did not confirm that such legislation will be brought but says he has heard talk of phasing out last session’s sales tax over a few years…
The .45 percent sales tax, that is set to expire in 2025, is estimated to generate 466 million annually.
But Edwards disagrees with efforts to roll back that sales tax, backing a plan to reinvest the additional revenue from a surging economy into state services that have suffered a decade of cuts, and just recently stabilized funding.
The sales tax this fiscal year is down .55 percent from last year after the legislature let a majority of an expiring one cent sales tax lapse.
Edwards has championed the idea of using the increased revenue to fund at least a 1,000 dollar pay raise for teachers, which he estimates would cost about 135 million dollars a year.
Harris agrees with the need for a teacher pay raise, but says the money doesn’t have to come from the increased revenue. He suggested it could be found by making cuts and redirecting cash from other areas of government.
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A recent survey found that 1 in 3 Americans suffers from a “festive burnout” due to the holidays being a stressful time. Even though it’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, LSU Health New Orleans clinical psychologist Dr. Michelle Moore says several factors can contribute to making season not so jolly so early.
Cut 11 (09) “…starts at Thanksgiving.”
Moore recommends for those already dealing with festival burnout, it may be time to reconsider your holiday activities.
Cut 12 (07) “cooking for others.”
Moore says it makes sense that there is so much burnout because the season can last so long with festivities kicking off around Thanksgiving or even earlier.
Cut 13 (06) “…that’s going on.”
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Rapides Parish Sheriffs say they walked in on a fairly horrific scene in Plainview after responding to a call about a natural death, and now three people are under arrest and facing 2nd Degree Murder, Cruelty to the Infirm, and other charges. Captain Tommy Carnline says the deputy arrived after the call, and realized something was terribly wrong at the scene of the 25-year-old special needs woman’s death…
47-year old Marilyn Maricle, 52-year-old Glen maricle, and the victim’s mother, 47-year-old Karen Harrison Johnson have all been arrested.
Carnline says authorities have called it some of the worst neglect they’ve seen in their entire careers…
Carnline says they aren’t sure why the family allowed this to happen, but they do think it was intentional neglect.
The three have been booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center on a 1.1 million dollar bond.
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The Saints bring a 10-game winning streak into Dallas tonight to face a Cowboys team has won three in a row. Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense gets a lot of attention, but the Saints defense is allowing just 13 points a contest in their last three games. Coach Sean Payton…
New Orleans linebacker DeMario Davis says they need to slow down Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot…
Dallas brings a three-game winning streak into the game. Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins says they want to make Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott remain one dimensional…