Debate on new proposed congressional districts for the state begins today. While Democrats have proposed maps with a second minority-majority district, the republican submission expands two districts due to a population shift. Brooke Thorington explains

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

__________________________________

A special task force appointed by the Governor approves its action plan for reaching net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2050 … but some are less than enthused. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (38) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

_____________________________________

Louisiana may have its first reported case of a neurodegenerative disease that attacks white-tailed deer. David Grubb has the story…

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

____________________________________

The legislature is expected to begin debate today on new congressional districts in the redistricting session today. Due to population shifts in Louisiana, Republican Senator Sharon Hewitt says the proposed map she’s submitted enlarges districts of 4 and 5 geographically due to a decline in population in North Louisiana.

Cut 4 (07) “…possible.” 

In Hewitt’s proposed map District 4, Congressman Mike Johnson’s, would expand more to the east and south, and District 5, Congresswoman Julia Letlow’s, would add more parishes to the south of the current district including more of the Florida parishes.

On the topic of creating a second minority-majority congressional district and the proposed maps from Democratic Senators Cleo Fields and Karen Carter Peterson, Hewitt says just because a district qualifies as a 50-percent plus one minority district….

Cut 5 (08) “…their choice.”

In response to Senator Fields’ comments that the state is 33-percent Black therefore should have a second district for minority representation, Hewitt says it’s an oversimplification and geography has to be taken into consideration also. She says when you take minority voters out of District 2 to create a second district…

Cut 6 (12) “…minority district.”

The redistricting session, which must end by the 20th will also consider BESE, legislative, and Public Service Commission districts and possibly Supreme Court districts.

_______________________________________

This week, a special task force appointed by Governor Edwards approved a Climate Action Plan for Louisiana, designed to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050. Harry Vorhoff chairs the Climate Initiatives Task Force and says the plan has 28 strategies and 84 specific actions to attain that goal. He says a great deal of the state’s emissions come from the energy and chemical industries, and their concerns were kept in mind…:

Cut 7 (08) “…or no-carbon market.”

Louisiana Chemical Association (LCA) president Greg Bowser says his group is in basic support of the Action Plan, but they do have concerns that well-intentioned government regulation could prove costly for them, and everyone else…:

Cut 8 (10)  “….disastrous for our economy.”

The Action Plan outlines steps industry can take to lower greenhouse emissions by using more electrically-powered processes; moving away from fossil fuel-generated devices. Vorhoff says he appreciates the LCA’s concerns…:

Cut 9 (14)  “…availability of elecrtricity.”

But Bowser says history is full of cases where overreaching government regulation has impeded industry, progress and cost jobs; placing restrictions on businesses and industries before the technology to achieve those restrictions was in place. He says this is what worries them about Climate Action Plan..:

Cut 10 (09) “…that’s less stringent.”

You can read the details of the plan at “gov.louisiana.gov”

_____________________________________________

Louisiana may have its first reported case of a neurodegenerative disease that attacks white-tailed deer. Samples from an adult buck hunter-harvested in Tensas Parish showed signs of Chronic Wasting Disease or CWD.

Tensas Parish has been an area under observation by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries since 2018. Dr. Jim LaCour says LDWF has been preparing for CWD to make its way from neighboring states and into Louisiana.

Cut  11 (10)  “…not totally unexpected.”  

The state received a preliminary positive test result on the deer from the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at LSU, and now it awaits confirmation from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, which would put LDWF protocols into effect.

Cut 12 (12) “…of that area.”

Dr. LaCour says that we can help by keeping our eyes open for deer that look emaciated, uncoordinated, and have a lack of fear of people, among other warning signs, and reporting when we do.

Cut 13 (10) “…is acting abnormally.”

Additional information on Chronic Wasting Disease is available on the LDWF website.

____________________________________________

While folks in north Louisiana are feeling the chill this morning, before the end of the day the remainder of the state will also. State Climatologist Barry Keim says get ready as the cold front crosses the state causing the temps to decrease throughout the day.

Cut 14 (11)  “…into Louisiana.”

Along with a dip in the mercury, you’ll need an umbrella with widespread showers expected today to bring anywhere from one to four inches of rain. Northern parishes could see a wintry mix of precipitation but once it moves through the state, Keim says the front will be more about colder weather versus rain, just like Punxsutawney Phil predicted.

Cut 15 (12)  “…in the 40s.”

And don’t expect a reprieve for the weekend either. Keim says you’ll need an extra blanket and your winter coat well into next week and you can blame it all on the groundhog who saw his shadow Tuesday.

Cut  16 (12)  “…and Sunday.”

_____________________________________________

Brian Kelly had some solid wins and some notable losses on National Recruiting Day. LSU was able to add cornerback Jaelyn Davis-Robinson early in the day, before losing out on in-state players Trevonte Citizen and Danny Lewis, and Texas wideout Caleb Douglas. The Tigers did hit a home run by locking in five-star linebacker Harold Perkins, considered by many to be the top remaining prospect available. Greg Rogers, who coached Perkins at Cypress Park High in Texas, says LSU is getting a special young man.

Cut 17 (12) “ …that’s for sure.” 

Matt Moscona, of ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge, says the Tigers missed out on some of their biggest targets because the state of Louisiana is at a disadvantage when it comes to Name, Image, and Likeness packages available for players. LSU has tapped its boosters plenty over the last year, and Moscona says there’s a limit to how many times they’re willing to open their wallets.

Cut 18 (12) “ …stops producing milk.” 

___________________________________________

Louisiana Tech football signed five players on Wednesday, Jonesboro defensive back Devontae Mozee, an offensive lineman from Australia and Texas, Texas running back DeAnthony Gatson, and Joe Locke a tight end from Texas. First-year head coach Sonny Cumbie says they are good additions…

Cut 19 (11)_“done that” 

Running back DeAnthony Gatson is the most high-profile signee. The former USC commitment is a three-star running back. Cumbie credits the hard work of his assistant coaches in recruiting Gatson…

Cut 20 (20) “ ..are important.” 

A major winter storm is expected to sideswipe Louisiana bringing light snow and sleet to the state’s northern parishes. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The Violence Policy Center says 47-percent of Louisiana homes have guns and the state ranks third for the highest overall gun death rates. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

______________________________________

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for five parishes in northwest and north-central Louisiana. Meteorologist C-S Ross says Bossier, Caddo, Webster, Claiborne, and Union parishes could see some winter precipitation after midnight tonight…

Cut 3 (11) “…over passes”

Ross says they are only expecting light snow and sleet to fall in Louisiana, so plan on slippery road conditions…

Cut 4 (05) “…travel headaches”

Any ice accumulation that forms north of I-20 is expected to be less than a tenth of an inch. Also, more cold weather is on its way as temperatures will drop considerably after the cold front moves through. Ross says high temperatures on Friday will be in the 30s and 40s and we’ll see a couple of nights of below-freezing temperatures, but it could be worse…

Cut 5 (11) “..below zero”

_________________________________________

Louisiana ranks in the top five for states with the overall highest gun death rates. According to the Violence Policy Center, the Bayou State ranks third and Government Affairs Director Kristen Rand says states with a large percentage of gun owners and weak gun laws have a higher gun death rate.

 Cut 6 (11) “…since 2011.” 

The study says 47-percent of Louisiana households have guns and a death rate of 25 per 100,000 annually.

The overall gun death rates include homicides, suicides, and fatal accidental shootings. Rand says the majority of the types of gun deaths have evolved recently.

Cut 7 (07) “…homicides as well.” 

In 2020 the number of Americans killed by gunfire increased 14-percent and the spike was largely attributed to homicides. Rand says they are looking into the causes for the spike and says the pandemic was most likely a contributing factor and there was a significant increase in gun sales in 2020.

When asked what could be done to decrease gun death rates in Louisiana, which has a significant rate of gun ownership, Rand says awareness is key.

Cut 8 (11) “….and suicides.”  

Rand also says in homes with children, gun owners need to be aware of the dangers firearms pose as well.

The top five states with the highest overall gun deaths rates are Mississippi, Wyoming, Louisiana, Alaska, and in 5^th place, there’s a tie between Missouri and Alabama.

_______________________________________________

Tiger Rag Magazine has obtained a letter from the attorneys that represent Sharon Lewis, who was recently fired from her position as LSU’s associate athletic director of football recruiting and alumni relations, which requests the opportunity for Lewis to testify before the state, in the school’s ongoing Title IX investigation.

The letter was submitted to the Louisiana State Select Committee on Women and Children, which first asked Lewis to appear in April 2021. Tiger Rag editor Adam Hunsucker says at the time, LSU wasn’t interested in working with the committee.

Cut 9 (12) “…the investigation basically.”

Now that Lewis is no longer with the University, she’s ready to testify. Hunsucker spoke with Committee chairperson, State Senator Regina Barrow, who is working to get another committee meeting on the docket as soon as possible.

Cut 10 (12)  “…to do this.” 

Hunsucker says that Lewis’ latest move could prompt LSU to settle her case, rather than risk exposing more dirty laundry. If not, other witnesses could be moved to share their stories.

Cut  11 (06)   “….and cooperate.”  

Lewis filed a $50 million lawsuit in Apr. 2021, claiming LSU officials violated the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act to cover up Title IX complaints. The suit also claims Lewis was a victim of retaliation for reporting allegations former LSU football coach Les Miles sexually harassed student workers.

_________________________________________

During a lengthy press conference, where Governor John Bel Edwards denied any wrongdoing in the aftermath of Ronald Greene’s fatal arrest, the governor expressed concern that racism played a role in the death of Greene. Edwards says he doesn’t believe if Greene was white he would have been treated that way…

Cut 12 (11) “…happen again.”  

Body camera video from the traffic stop in Union Parish in May of 2019 shows white troopers beating and stunning Greene, a black man who led authorities on a police chase. Edwards believes racism played a role in the fatal incident…

Cut 13 (09) “…soon as possible”

The troopers involved in the fatal arrest of Greene have been fired, but no one has yet been charged with a crime. Edwards says Greene died a violent, terrible death and the state troopers involved committed criminal acts….’

Cut 14 (12)  “…too long” 

One of the troopers involved in the Greene arrest, Master Trooper Chris Hollingsworth, died in a car crash in 2020 shortly after learning he would be fired.

We expect to find out more information today on what Governor John Bel Edwards’ knew about Ronald Greene’s death, a black motorist who died while in State Police custody. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The Louisiana Workforce Commission is providing free CDL training to become a truck driver. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (34)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

______________________________________

Governor Edwards meets with the Legislative Black Caucus today to discuss what he knew about the death of Black motorist Ronald Greene, who died after a violent struggle with State Troopers. Republicans are calling for an investigation to see if the governor was involved in a cover-up. But Democratic state Senator Cleo Fields said on Talk Louisiana he’s willing to give Edwards the benefit of the doubt…

Cut 3 (07) “…real problem”

Edwards says he was made aware of Greene’s fatal arrest in May of 2019 the day after his death but didn’t see the videos of the arrest until October 2020. That’s when he called the actions of the officers in the video disturbing and unacceptable and should be investigated. Fields says his real frustration is that there is not a state agency investigating state police on a regular basis

Cut 4 (07) “…real problems”

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says it’s the Legislature’s responsibility to seek the truth about Edwards’ involvement in a possible cover-up of how Greene died. Landry supports a fact-finding mission by a legislative committee…

Cut 5 (11) “…that information”

State Police initially told Greene’s family he died from injuries suffered in a car crash. But a reexamined autopsy rejected L-S-P’s claim. Landry says Speaker Clay Schexnayder can call on the House Criminal Justice Committee to investigate who tried to keep Greene’s family in the dark on how he died…

 Cut 6 (10) “…cover-up” 

_________________________________________

February is American Heart Month, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute is sharing ways for people of all ages to maintain a healthy heart. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, and Dr. David Goff, Director of the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the NHLBI, says Louisiana is one of the states most at risk.

Cut 7 (11) “…high blood pressure.” 

Diet plays a major role in heart health. Dr. Goff says Louisiana faces some unique challenges due to our rich food culture.

Cut 8 (08) “…including Louisiana.”  

Americans have also been under a lot of stress since the onset of the pandemic. Dr. Goff says that managing that stress in positive ways is another important step we can all take in improving our vascular health.

Cut 9 (08) “…your overall health.”

For additional information, visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

_______________________________________________

If you’ve ever contemplated taking to the open road and becoming a truck driver, the Louisiana Workforce Commission has just the plan for you. It’s called the “Drive Your Future” program. LWC Secretary Ava Cates says it gives Louisianans a chance to change careers and be trained at no cost for their CDL

Cut 10 (07)  “…issues.” 

The American Trucking Association estimates the driver shortage could be as high as 80,000. Cates says the cost of training can deter many from entering the profession, so LWC is helping with that hurdle.

Cut  11 (09)   “….our country.”  

Cates says women make up only 7-percent of drivers and she highly encourages more females to enter the field. Cates says she’s read about a nurse who left the medical field and entered the trucking industry.

Cut 12 (08) “…registered nurse.”  

Training is only five weeks and LWC is partnering with community colleges and training sites across the state. For more information visit laworks.net and classes begin mid-February.

_________________________________________

The federal government is sending Louisiana 111-million dollars to plug and restore abandoned oil and gas wells. The money comes from the one-trillion dollar infrastructure bill and the first allocation is for 47-million dollars. Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s heard from communities across Louisiana about the environmental and safety hazards of orphan wells…

Cut 13 (09) “…infrastrucutre bill”

Many say why don’t oil companies pay to clean up abandoned wells. Cassidy says in many cases the wells were last owned by a company that’s now out of business or it’s hard to determine ownership of that well…

Cut 14 (11)  “…pay for it” 

The state Department of Natural Resources estimates there are 46-hundred abandoned wells in Louisiana and cleanup is likely to cost 400-million dollars. Cassidy says the 111-million dollars for orphan well restoration will create jobs and make Louisiana a cleaner place to live…

Cut 15 (08) “…get it done.”