Legislation is introduced that would take funding away from local governments and universities that attempt to reduce police budgets for political reasons. Matt Doyle spoke with the author…
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The Main Street Recovery Program which assists small businesses with pandemic recovery losses puts the breaks on applications. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”
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The House Committee on Education and Committee on Health and Welfare are set today to discuss occupancy caps for spectators at athletic events. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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The schools of the UL System are participating in an initiative aimed at connecting McNeese State students displaced by Hurricane Laura with resources from other system institutions. UL System President Jim Henderson says more than 200 McNeese State students have registered for the Cowboy Relief Effort that helps with a variety of needs.
Cut 4 (06) “…cases, to housing.”
Henderson says it is a rewarding effort for the other schools of the UL System to step up with assistance and says the message to McNeese State students is clear.
Henderson says so far the response has been tremendous from students relieved to hear this type of help is available.
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Alexandria Representative Lance Harris introduces legislation that would punish universities, municipalities, and parishes for cutting police budgets.
Harris says he’s highly concerned with the growing “Defund the Police” movement and defund efforts he’s read about in other states. He wants the Legislature to make sure nothing like that happens in Louisiana.
Under the bill, any university or local government entity that cuts a police budget by at least 10 percent would have to report it to a Legislative committee that would then review the reasoning behind the cut…
Harris says the Legislature has a duty to intervene in this local budgeting issue because defunding the police in one jurisdiction could imperil regional public safety and business interests.
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The Main Street Recovery Program aimed to assist Louisiana small businesses with pandemic recovery is no longer accepting applications. State Treasurer John Schroder says the original amount of $275-million that the legislature set aside for the program is almost allocated.
The Main Street Recovery Program assists businesses with less than 50 employees recover losses due to the pandemic. The average payout per business so far has been over 10,000 dollars. Schroder says they even pulled advertising for the program because they received so many applications in the last 20 days.
Since the program began accepting applications July 28th, Schroder says they’ve issued approximately 6-thousand checks. Schroder says he knows businesses need the funds as quickly as possible, but it is not an instantaneous process.
Schroder says business owners who have submitted applications but have yet to receive a grant or a denial can continue to use the portal to check the status of their applications.
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The House Committee on Education and Committee on Health and Welfare are set today to discuss occupancy caps for spectators at athletic events. Chalmette Republican Ray Garafalo says lawmakers want more answers as to why outdoor athletic events have a more strict occupancy cap of 25% than indoor restaurants who are capped at 75%.
Cut 13 (13) “…that question yet.”
Garafalo says high school football games are a comradery builder and social event, adding that it is owed to the students to allow as many spectators as safely possible.
Cut 14 (06) “…into these issues.”
Governor Edwards has issued a statement saying the proclamation is based on scientific data and guidance from health experts and the White House Coronavirus Task Force in order to ensure the safety of Louisianans. Garafalo believes there is something deeper than that motivating the cap.
Cut 15 (13) “…show the public.”
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LSU Center Liam Shanahan says Saturday’s loss to Mississippi State was a wake up call for the Tigers and there are no excuses for their performance. During a zoom conference with reporters, Shanahan was asked if the unusual preseason was a factor in the 10-point defeat to the Bulldogs…
LSU safety Jacoby Stevens says they can’t let Saturday’s loss linger…
There were some bright spots from Saturday’s loss. Graduate transfer Jabril Cox played well in his first game in an LSU uniform after a standout career at FCS power North Dakota State. Cox had a pick six for LSU’s first score…
cut 18 (20) “…myself.
LSU junior wide receiver Terrace Marshall also picked up where he left off last season as he caught eight passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. This Saturday, LSU visits Vanderbilt, who held Texas A-and-M to 17 points in a loss. Marshall expects to be successful on Saturday…
cut 19 (16) “…the same’