The Office of Juvenile Justice is set to apply for a bond to phase out two old, decaying youth prisons, with newer “Therapeutic Model” facilities. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”
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One in five adults in the state, just over 650,000, started college but never got a degree. But a new program from the University of Louisiana system aims to get those individuals degrees. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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Governor Edwards says even though Louisiana mostly made it through Barry OK, he knows it’s just the beginning of Hurricane Season, and we have a long way to go…
Cut 3 (30) “,,.I’m Matt Doyle”
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Louisiana is beginning the 60-million-dollar process of replacing two 70-100-year-old youth prisons with newer, “Therapeutic Model” buildings.
Deputy Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice Dr. James Bueche says they think they can pay for the new facilities by applying for bonds and paying those bonds with future savings.
Cut 4 (06) “ facilities”
The office will have to before the bond commission and apply for the bonds before any potential construction could take place.
Bueche says the older facilities are falling apart and in constant need to repair, which costs a lot of money. He says the new buildings will be smaller, safer, and more efficient.
Cut 5 (11) “…dorm”
The plan is to replace the Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe, and The Center for Youth outside of New Orleans.
Bueche says the more therapeutic approach has paid dividends in other cities, not just by saving money on maintenance, but by reducing recidivism.
Cut 6 (09) “…better”.
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A new program called Compete Louisiana aims to ease the burden of returning to college for those that may have finished school without receiving a degree. President of the University of Louisiana system Jim Henderson says many of those adults are now finding it harder to compete for jobs and they need to finish what they started.
Cut 7 (09) “…ability to compete.”
One in five adults in the state, just over 650,000, started college but never got a degree, with two-thirds living in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Acadiana areas. Henderson says time management is the biggest hurdle for those that are targeted by the program.
Cut 8 (07) “…that is meaningless.”
Henderson says coaches will be assigned to individuals to figure out the right program and advise the student on the process and the entire academic pathway.
Cut 9 (09) “…it to scale.”
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The optimism of small business owners has seen a modest downturn, slipping 1.7 points to 103.3. NFIB State Director Dawn Starns says business owners are becoming more cautious with spending and credits the end of the legislative session for a reason for the droop.
Cut 10 (07) “…to the vest.”
Starns says at the end of the day, optimism is still historically high, but there’s just a general slowdown.
Cut 11 (10) “creating new jobs.”
Starns says the national political scene has a huge impact, and following the recent Democratic debates and discussion of the 2020 election, small business owners are being more cautious not knowing what may happen.
Cut 12 (10) “…the fall hits.”
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Governor Edwards is praising the state’s level of readiness in the face of Barry but wants to remind folks that “This is just the beginning of Hurricane Season, and we have a long way to go.”
The Governor singled out some impressive feats, such as a record breaking 900,000 sandbags distributed statewide. He says now is the time to figure out what residents can do even better…
Cut 13 (09) “as well.”
Edwards says he was happy with the state’s response to the crisis, but they can always find ways to be faster, and more efficient in the face of a storm.
Cut 14 (07) “…preparation”
Edwards says one thing that really inspired confidence for the next storm was how well the state’s levee systems held up. He says not a single levee was breached, with only a few even being overtopped.
Cut 15 (08) “…locations.”
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LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron told hundreds of reporters at SEC Media Days that the Tigers will be running a spread offense, it’s not a threat as he’s seen the playbook. Orgeron says the playbook calls for quarterback Joe Burrow to run the football…
Cut 16 (25) “be physical”
On the defensive side of the ball, Orgeron says the Tigers have the best group of defensive backs he’s ever coached in 35 years. And the old D-Line coach plans to work more with the defensive line this season
cut 17 (24) “those guys”
LSU is coming off a 10-win season and the Tigers will likely start the 2019 season ranked in the top ten in the preseason polls. Orgeron says he feels good about his coaching staff, but the line play needs to be better
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