Lawmakers were paid their 161 dollar daily per diem during the 49 days the Capitol was closed due to COVID-19. Matt Doyle has more…
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A proposal to make it illegal for drivers to handle their cell phones while behind the wheel is headed to the Senate floor. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
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Notable names from Louisiana are supporting “Feeding Louisiana Love,” a social media campaign aimed at raising awareness and funding for a statewide network of food banks. Feeding Louisiana executive director Korey Patty says 773,000 Louisiana residents struggle with food security under normal circumstances.
Cut 3 (12) “…especially providing food.”
Feeding Louisiana estimates and additional 233,000 Louisiana residents will experience food insecurity this year because of COVID-19, which is about 21% of the population.
Notable musicians such as Amanda Shaw and Hunter Hayes are part of the campaign. Patty says Hayes is doing a performance later this month where proceeds will be donated toward the cause.
Patty says food banks have the ability to make monetary donations go a long way.
Cut 5 (11) “…food banks have.”
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The Capitol may have been closed for 49 days but Louisiana lawmakers were still paid their 161 dollar daily per diem throughout that period.
Advocate Bureau Chief Mark Ballard says despite the compressed schedule legislators will still collect 14,000 dollars aimed at reimbursing expenses for lawmakers while in session.
Lawmakers receive the per diem on top of their 17,000 dollar annual base salary.
Ballard says many lawmakers argue that they were doing legislative work during that period, even if it wasn’t at the Capitol.
Lawmakers must pass a balanced budget by July 1st, and the regular session ends June 1st. Ballard says if a June special session must be called…
Per diem payments to lawmakers for the regular session cost the state about two million dollars a year.
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Vidalia Mills, a Louisiana-based producer of yarns and fabrics is adding to its production portfolio with the purchase of an automated surgical mask making machine and two automatic N-95 mask making machines to help manufacture PPE. Managing partner Dan Feibus says the machinery should arrive by the end of the month.
Cut 9 (10) “…or early August.”
Feibus says the machinery has the capability of producing 50 masks a minute.
Feibus says Vidalia Mills has also deployed twenty high-speed weaving looms to make lightweight cotton fabrics for the medical gowns and consumer face masks.
Cut 11 (05) “…locally sourced cotton.”
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On a five to one vote, the Senate Transportation Committee approved a proposal to make it illegal to use a hand-held cell phone while driving. Covington Senator Patrick McMath says distracted driving causes numerous wrecks and the phone is what distracts most drivers
McMath’s measure heads to the Senate floor, but similar bills have failed to pass in previous sessions. The legislation has the support of the Department of Insurance. Warren Byrd spoke on behalf of Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon…
McMath says 19 states already have a handheld cell phone ban for drivers and statistics show the number of accidents has decreased in those states.
Richard Brown, the president of a civic group called Citizens for a Better Kenner, testified against the legislation. Brown says the bill does not target the real culprit behind distracted driving…