The state bond commission is scheduled to vote on the financing plans for the $450 million upgrade to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome today. State Treasurer John Schroder says the renovation process will take place over three to four years with plans to implement new features to heighten the game day experience for fans. Schroder says the cost will be shared among the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, the Saints, and the state.
Former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain will be arraigned on eight sex crime charges today, four of those charges date from when he was 17-years old. Strain will appear in court in Covington to hear the crimes he is alleged to have committed over a 44 year period dating from 1975 through 2004–when he was serving as Sheriff. In June, the Louisiana State Police arrested Strain on six counts of sexually related crimes. According to Louisiana law, there is no statute of limitation on aggravated rape.
We are entering the peak hurricane season, but it’s been a month since any named storm has popped up in the Atlantic Basin despite estimates from NOAA that this season would see above-average activity. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s been close to four decades since things have been this calm in the Atlantic during this time period.
NOAA’s prediction of an above average season was due to the disappearance of the El Nino this year.
In a survey of one-thousand Louisiana residents, 71 percent of the respondents believe in climate change. Restore the Mississippi River Delta conducted the poll and pollster Greg Rigamer says the percentage of those who believe in climate change varies between regions.
Cut 7 (11) “…58-percent.”