It’s a big day for NASA’s Michoud Assembly facility in New Orleans as the rocket factory played a significant role in the construction of Artemis Two, which is headed to the moon. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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A proposed constitutional amendment limiting governors to two total terms takes its next step on its journey towards the ballot. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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NASA is launching a spaceship to the moon today and NASA’s Michoud Assembly facility in New Orleans played a major role in the Artemis II mission. NASA spokesperson Craig Betbeze says both of Artemis II’s propellant tanks were built at the rocket factory in New Orleans east…
Cut 3 (12) “…into orbit.”
The Artemis II crew has four astronauts and they will loop around the moon. It’s the first crewed lunar mission since 1972. The astronauts will be in what’s called the Orion Crew Module, which was designed by NASA and Lockheed Martin. Betbeze says about two-thousand workers at Lockheed had a role in the construction of this spaceship…
Cut 4 (07) “…second to none.”
For more than 60 years, NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans and it’s known as “America’s rocket factory.” The government-owned manufacturing facility is one of the largest in the world. When NASA had the Space Shuttle, its external tank was built at Michoud. Betbeze says when the Space Shuttle was retired in 2010, the factory transitioned to the Artemis program…
Cut 5 (10) “…pickup trucks.”
In 2028, NASA plans on putting astronauts back on the moon and the spacecraft that will take them their will have many of its essential components built at Michoud.
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A proposed constitutional amendment to limit governors to two terms takes the next step in the legislature. Chalmette Representative Mike Bayham’s bill passed in the House Governmental Affairs Committee on a vote of 11-to-2. Under current law, governors who serve two terms can run for re-election after sitting out for four years. Bayham says former governors start with an unfair advantage.
Cut 6 (06) “…in the race.”
Bayham says that unfair advantage is one of the reasons why it took a future governor, Kathleen Blanco, longer to be elected governor, noting that she originally ran for governor in 1991.
Cut 7 (07) “…ending her campaign.”
In 1991, Edwards had served three non-consecutive terms and had been out of office four years after being unseated by Buddy Roemer. That year, he flipped the script and unseated Roemer in the primary and beat David Duke in a runoff that garnered national attention to secure his fourth – and ultimately final – term.
New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd was one of the two on the committee who voted “no.” She said it shouldn’t be up to statute to decide who gets elected governor and who doesn’t.
Cut 8 (09) “…vote for him.”
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A state senator’s quest to prevent additional school districts from adopting four-day school weeks advances to the House. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell’s bill passed the State Senate on a vote of 35-to-one, with Eddie Lambert of Gonzales casting the lone “no” vote. Mizell says she filed a bill last year mandating a five-day school week; at that time, there were six districts with four-day weeks.
Cut 9 (12) “…four-day school weeks.”
Mizell says four-day school weeks create logistical problems, including in her own district.
Cut 10 (10) “…nothing to eat.”
Mizell says she’s also concerned about the effects a four-day school week will have on academic achievement, especially with the state showing tremendous improvement in recent years.
Cut 11 (14) “…of their day.”
There are exceptions in Mizell’s bill – districts with a performance score of “A” from the Department of Education will be allowed to pursue a four-day week if they choose to, and those already on four-day weeks can continue with that arrangement.
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A bill that would prohibit the use of eminent domain for carbon capture storage and pipeline projects was rejected by the House Natural Resources Committee on a vote of 12 to 7. Lawmakers approved legislation in 2020 that gave the government the power to use eminent domain for carbon capture and Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association president Tommy Faucheux says you can’t turn back now…
Cut 12 (12) “…to invest.”
According to the Environmental Integrity Project, Louisiana leads the nation with 65 planned carbon capture projects.
The technology captures carbon dioxide produced by industrial factories and then it’s stored underground into large storage tanks.
Pineville Representative Mike Johnson spoke passionately in front of the House Natural Resources Committee about his bill that would put the power back with the property owner
Cut 13 (09) “…in the ground.”
New Orleans Attorney Lauren Mastio spoke in opposition to Johnson’s bill…
Cut 14 (12) “…legal necessity.”
Johnson argues that eminent domain should only be used for public purposes, like building a new road, a school or flood protection. He says eminent domain should not be used to benefit private industry and claims its against the state constitution…
Cut 15 (10) “…our constitution.”