A new report indicates Louisiana prisons utilize solitary confinement four times more than the national average. Matt Doyle spoke with one of the authors…
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Golf cart legislation allowing the vehicles to cross state highways in the town of Church Point is among the first six bills from 2019 session to be vetoed by Gov. Edwards, catching the bill’s authored by surprise. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 2 (31) I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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A report finds Louisiana has a four times higher rate of the use of solitary confinement for prisoners than the national average. Loyola Jesuit Social Research Institute Research Fellow Dr. Sue Weishar says they surveyed prisoners in solitary, and 77 percent reported stays of more than a year. She says that’s torture.
The survey was based on responses from 709 inmates who were in solitary confinement at the state’s nine prisons.
Weishar says the practice undermines the goal of rehabilitation because the intense mental and physical stress created by extended stays creates long term damage.
30 percent of respondents to the survey reported solitary confinement of more than five years.
Weishar says the abnormally high rate of solitary use is the result of poor policy from the Department of Corrections, and the report authors are demanding change.
Corrections responded, saying 3.75 percent of prisoners are in “restrictive housing” at the moment, and the number of those beds has been reduced by a thousand over the last two years reforms.
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A bill that would have allowed golf carts to cross LA 35 and other state highways within the town limits of Church Point is one of six the governor has vetoed from the 2019 legislative session. Rep. Phillip DeVillier says the town had a well thought out plan for permitting as they want to be more golf cart friendly.
Cut 6 (10) “…around 5000 people.”
DeVillier says he is disappointed Governor Edwards killed the bill as the safety concerns were addressed because the proposed law said drivers had to be 18, with a valid driver’s license, carry insurance on the golf cart, and the vehicle must be equipped with proper lighting.
DeVillier adds he was caught off guard by the veto and says the Governor had voted in favor of similar bills in other communities during his time as a lawmaker.
DeVillier says the measure may have a future in another legislative session.
Cut 8 (09) “…to do something.”
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The Louisiana Health Department announces they’ve reached a “subscrpition model” deal with Asegua Therapeutics that will result in the state treating an estimated 31-thousand people who have hepatitics C, which is an infectious liver disease. Health Secretary Rebekah Gee
There are at least 39-thousand people in Louisiana’s Medicaid program and prison system who suffer from Hepatitis C, which kills more people than all other infectious diseases combined.
Curing a person of Hepatitis C costs an estimated 24-thousand dollars per treatment, but Gee says under this deal, Louisiana will receive an unlimited supply of Hep C medication for five years at a cost of 58-million dollars a year
Gee says this innovative payment model cuts down on the cost of treating tens of thousands of individuals who have Hepatitis C
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Newly minted Pelican Zion Williamson arrived in town to a housewarming gift of a framed, signed jersey from Saints QB Drew Brees, a note welcoming him to the city, and a challenge.
Zion is probably the most nationally hyped athlete to ever play in New Orleans, and Brees welcomed the phenom by inviting him to become the new favored son of New Orleans sports…
Williamson created his own catchphrase “Let’s Dance” after the draft that’s become the go-to hashtag for all things Pelicans. Brees is clearly a fan of the 18-year-old’s calling card.
The 6’7 280-pound power forward was visibly shocked and grinning ear to ear as he took in the moment, and celebrated the gift.
The Pelicans posted video of the moment on their twitter feed.