The Secretary of State’s Office will be demonstrating new voting machines, starting today. Andre Champagne reports.
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One of the toughest lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina was the need for an improved flood protection system. Jeff Palermo reports the federal government reacted by spending 14.5-billion dollars.
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Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is urging President Trump and Louisiana’s congressional delegation to impose a ten-cent-per-pound inspection fee on all imported seafood. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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Starting today, the Secretary of State’s Office will be demonstrating several new potential voting systems as it prepares to select one to replace the outdated system that it’s used for the past 35 years. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says there are six systems the state will be testing, and all of them have a paper element to them.
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Watson says all voting systems being tested and demonstrated are currently being used elsewhere.
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Watson says in all, there are six voting systems being tested between now and September 18th, and all of them will represent a significant improvement over the state’s current voting system.
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All demonstrations will take place in the old governor’s mansion, and all are open to the public.
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We continue to look back 20 years ago this week when Hurricane Katrina ravaged southeast Louisiana. Katrina’s fierce winds caused extensive damage, but the storm surge that led to breaks in the levee system produced catastrophic flooding. U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Rene Poche says a much better flood protection system in place now.
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Two different administrations from two different parties directed Congress to appropriate 14.5-billion dollars to rebuild the levees in metro New Orleans. Poche says the design started in 2007 and construction was finally completed in 2018 on all of the storm barriers, flood walls, levees and pumps.
Poche says it’s still possible for a strong hurricane to overtop the system, but flooding can still be minimized.
Poche says work continues on providing even more flood protection as construction is ongoing on a one-billion dollar project to protect the River Parishes.
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Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is renewing his call for President Trump and Louisiana’s Congressional delegation to impose a ten-cent-per-pound seafood inspection fee.
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This is in response to the massive recall of potentially radioactive shrimp imported from Indonesia that was being sold in Walmart stores in 13 states, including Louisiana. Lieutenant Governor Nungesser says shrimp is coming in from overseas infected with antibiotics all the time, and it’s ending up on American’s dinner plates far too often.
Nungesser says this is why Louisiana passed a law that requires restaurants and suppliers to clearly indicate whether their seafood is imported or not.
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The EPA says the fire that resulted from the explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland is now 98-percent contained. The Department of Environmental Quality has been continuously monitoring air quality ever since the explosion happened Friday afternoon. Governor Landry told a news conference yesterday afternoon that had it not been for Mother Nature, the surrounding area would never have been covered in soot.
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Governor Landry says people in the affected area should have nothing to worry about at this time.
Smitty’s Supply employed about 450 people at the time of Friday’s explosion; and with their plant now destroyed, they’re now out of work. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller says the state is making resources available to them.
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LSU was not very successful last season when its defense was tasked with containing mobile quarterbacks. LSU will have to face Cade Klubnick, another dual threat quarterback on Saturday, who can hurt defenses with his legs. Head coach Brian Kelly says that the Tigers have to make sure they limit what Klubnick does.
The LSU offensive line battle has been one of the most important stories leading into the opener versus Clemson. LSU has narrowed down its remaining starting jobs on the offensive line to left guard and right tackle. Kelly says he could see the Tigers playing several guys on the offensive line against Clemson.
LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker got several experienced players to fit his scheme this season. Head coach Brian Kelly says that he sees a big difference in the defense this season. Kelly says that the confidence is standing out from a unit that has lots of experience.
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The Saints started to make cuts to its squad to get down to the 53-man roster before the season begins. Veteran running back Cam Akers was part of the first cuts after showing promise in preseason camp. Head coach Kellen Moore says it was a tough move, but he likes the depth the Saints have at running back.
The New Orleans offensive line injury bug continues to spread after tackle Landon Young injured his ankle in Saturday’s preseason game versus the Broncos. The Saints currently have six offensive linemen that are injured to some capacity. Moore says the Saints will have to overcome the injuries and plan accordingly as the regular season approaches.