A controversial move by the Louisiana Republican Party last night. The group’s executive committee voted to endorse Attorney General Jeff Landry for governor eleven months before the election. Marsanne Golsby has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”
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After the second high-profile death of an infant, the Department of Children and Families Services was alerted beforehand that he was in possible danger, Secretary Marketa Garner Walters defends her agency. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (33) “… I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The Louisiana Republican Party executive committee voted last night to endorse Attorney General Jeff Landry in next year’s governor’s race. LA Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford called it historic—and controversial.
Cut 3 (12) “…same thing.”
Alford says people are upset because the Republican State Central Committee canceled a larger endorsement meeting and the executive committee met digitally last night. But Alford questions how much the endorsement actually means.
Cut 4 (13) “…in Louisiana politics.”
Alford says this is a sign of Landry flexing his political muscles a year away from the election. And he believes the Louisiana Republican Party will benefit from Landry’s fundraising skills. But with all that, he thinks the endorsements might actually backfire. He recalls the 2015 governor’s race when frontrunner David Vitter was hammered by other GOP candidates.
Cut 5 (11) “…repeat of that.”
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The Department of Children and Family Services is under fire again after news of another infant fentanyl overdose death. Days before one-year-old J’ahrei Paul of Baton Rouge’s Halloween death, the agency received an anonymous report he was in possible danger. Secretary Marketa Garner Walters was asked by reporters why they waited until Saturday to issue a press release.
Cut 6 (07) “…can say them. “
Walters says ongoing staffing shortages and a 32-percent increase in child welfare cases in the last six months in the Baton Rouge area alone, are among the reasons this case fell through the cracks. After telling a Senate Health and Welfare Committee in September the agency had a fail-safe program in place, following the June death of a two-year-old who died of a fentanyl overdose death, Walters says one person will now oversee the assignment of child welfare cases.
Cut 7 (06) “…of response.”
At the September committee meeting, DCFS presented a seven-step plan to improve the agency’s response to child welfare cases which included the hiring of more caseworkers after the agency experienced a recent decline of approximately 500 employees. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes has been extremely critical of Secretary Walters and continues to call for her resignation. Walters says she has no plans to leave her post.
Cut 8 (07) “…be right here. “
DCFS is holding hiring fairs in an effort to increase the number of employees to handle the ever-growing child welfare caseload.
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It’s getting dark earlier now that we are back on Central Standard Time, and that can make driving home in the evening a little tricky. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesman Mark Lambert says a study done several years ago by Stanford University suggests there is a real, measurable effect of time changes on motorists…:
Cut 9 (09) “…Savings Time ends.”
Lambert says the drive home will be happening during twilight hours, when visibility is lessened. He says motorists can help avoid accidents with just a few simple steps…:
Cut 10 (11) “…when it’s dark.”
Lambert says there is statistical increase in traffic accidents on the Monday after a time change; especially when “falling back” to Standard Time.
A lot of folks walk or job in the late afternoon / early evening hours. Lambert has some advice for them to help drivers avoid them. He says, first: where light or reflective clothing…:
Cut 11 (09) “…against the traffic.”
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There was no multistate Powerball winner Saturday, so the jackpot for tonight’s drawing is a bona fide record setter. Louisiana Lottery spokesman Dustin Annison…:
Cut 12 (06) “….jackpot lottery ever.”
The Powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $1.9-Billion; the largest lottery game jackpot in U.S. history. Annison says excitement is building over the chance to become an instant millionaire…:
Cut 13 (10) “… very exciting times.”
A single ticket winner selecting a lump-sum cash payment would collect just over $929-million. Annison says tickets sales always surge as the jackpots swell…:
Cut 14 (10) “..14.4-million.”
He says at least 25-percent of the money spent here in Louisiana on any and all lottery tickets goes to a help fund K through 12 education.