LSU Freshman QB TJ Finley will get the start Saturday against South Carolina in place of the injured Myles Brennan as the Ponchatoula native beat out fellow freshman Max Johnson. Taylor Sharp has the story…
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The House signs a petition ordering Governor Edwards to cease the public health emergency and end all pandemic health restrictions. Matt Doyle has the story.
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LSU Freshman Quarterback TJ Finley will start against South Carolina on Saturday in Tiger Stadium. The Ponchatoula native earned the starting nod after beating out fellow freshman Max Johnson. This is a tough spot for a freshman to be in but his father David Finley says TJ has been preparing for this moment and will be ready to go.
Covid-19 put a stop to football activities in the spring and summer, and even though TJ couldn’t practice with the team, he used his time off to get into shape and cut some unnecessary weight.
David says that it’s not the speed of the game that Finley will need to adjust to when playing against the Gamecocks, it’s getting that first big hit out of the way.
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Amendment Five on the statewide ballot provides new options for manufacturers and local governments to schedule payments instead of property taxes for industrial expansions. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scotts says the new formula can be used as an economic development incentive.
Scott says the new format is basically payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT.
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Scott says the new form of payment would be optional.
Scott says assessors generally oppose the amendment.
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The 250 dollar Frontline Worker Tax Credit program still has a little money left in the pot and those who qualify and still haven’t applied only have about a week left to claim their cash.
Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says they’ve received over 245,000 applications and issued 250 dollar rebates to 134,000 individuals.
Qualifying workers must make under 50,000 dollars a year and must have worked in specific fields deemed essential during the stay at home order earlier this year.
The deadline to apply is October 31st or next Saturday. Robinson says they’re still getting a steady trickle of forms sent in every day.
Robinson says they’ve had to deny just over 46,000 applications so far for ineligibility and if you’ve applied by not received a denial letter yet…
Robinson says they’re waiting on additional information from 33,000 applicants.
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House Republicans sign a legislative petition ordering the Governor to end the public health emergency and suspending the Governor’s ability to issue new orders for a week, triggering a likely court battle.
House Republican Caucus Chair Blake Miguez says members preferred to handle concerns about COVID restrictions with legislation, but his veto threats left them no other choice.
Only one bill limiting Governor Edwards’ unilateral public health authority passed and Edwards has all but confirmed he will veto it. The bill would have allowed, on a majority vote in the House and Senate, for certain portions of his public health orders to be struck down.
House Democrats blasted the petition. Chair Sam Jenkins spoke on the House floor saying those that deny the reality of COVID need to go back to their district and talk to some COVID victims…
Governor Edwards has described the petition as reckless and irresponsible for public health and says its adoption would jeopardize federal emergency funding.
Miguez says his constituents have suffered under the restrictions and removing them will better allow the state to recover…
The petition began circulating over the summer amongst the House’s more conservative members but failed to gain enough signatures then.
Edwards is expected to challenge the petition in court, potentially freezing it from taking effect until the 3rd branch of government makes a ruling. Jenkins hopes it is swiftly rejected.
Attorney General Jeff Landry has advised the House GOP Caucus that the petition should hold up in court and he is prepared to defend it.
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