Two Eunice men file a recall petition against Governor John Bel Edwards. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Southwest Louisiana’s prolific chemical industry is temporarily out of commission due to Hurricane Laura. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Ten parishes were added to the list of parishes approved by FEMA on Tuesday for the assistance that helps fund post-storm home repairs and addresses other damages. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
(See below cut 12 for the 10 parishes approved for FEMA Individual Assistance.)
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A recall petition to remove Governor John Bel Edwards has been filed by two Eunice men. The two have 180 days to collect about 600,000 signatures needed to trigger the recall vote. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s a puzzling move considering the West Point grad is in his element right now.
An April poll of Edwards’ job performance put him at 66 percent approval and only 18 percent disapproval. A July poll showed 61 percent support for the state’s public health emergency actions.
Pinsonat says recalling a Governor is a mammoth task made all the more unlikely by the current pandemic conditions.
Only one US Governor has ever successfully been recalled. That was the 2003 California gubernatorial recall that led to the election of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
If 20 percent of registered voters sign the recall petition an election would be held to potentially replace Edwards. Pinsonat says there’s no way that happens.
Lee Joseph Vidrine and Michael Lyn Vidrine are listed on the petition. No contact information for the two was provided and attempts to contact the two have not been successful.
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Severe hurricane damage to southwest Louisiana has halted chemical manufacturing in one of the nation’s busiest industrial zones. Louisiana Chemical Association President Greg Bowser says they were spared the anticipated 15 feet of storm surge but the category four winds did a number on their facilities.
The Lake Charles Liquefied Natural Gas import terminal is one of the nation’s few LNG terminals.
Bowser says power is the biggest immediate concern, but so is the fact many of their workers are scattered across the region.
Bowser says it is likely the plants will get power ahead of the four-week timetable for residential areas.
Bowser says some workers are looking at long commutes once plants are online, but that’s not feasible for everyone so they’re pushing to get temporary FEMA housing for workers.
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Governor Edwards says ten more parishes were approved by FEMA on Tuesday for the assistance that helps fund post-storm home repairs and addresses other damages.
Cut 10 (08) “…assistance to nine.”
The Governor’s request for another 14 parishes is still pending federal approval. Edwards encourages residents of approved parishes to register for FEMA assistance, even if they think they may not be eligible.
Edwards says Disaster unemployment assistance applications can be submitted now, but there is a 30-day deadline from the time of each parish’s declaration to apply.
Cut 11 (05) “…for state benefits.”
Disaster unemployment is $108 per week. Edwards says now is the time for residents to register for DSNAP, or Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, in the event that it becomes available in their area.
While Edwards says he’s grateful for the critical needs assistance grants of $500 per household for those who are displaced from their homes, he is seeking more assistance.
Cut 12 (09) “…take advantage of.”
Edwards says applications are open and can be done at DisasterAssistance.gov. The ten parishes added yesterday were Acadia, Ouachita, Vermilion, Rapides, Natchitoches, Sabine, Winn, Grant, Jackson and Lincoln.
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The Department of Children and Family Services is asking those impacted by Hurricane Laura to pre-register for the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says DSNAP helps people who have lost food as a result of a disaster and is not tied to income the same way SNAP is.
Cut 13 (09) “…you should register.”
Walters says the food pods are set up to feed hurricane victims for the time being, but the target date for DSNAP to go into effect is September 10.
Those currently receiving SNAP benefits are already registered for DSNAP, but Walters says DCFS has a new system and with that, their old database of DSNAP registrants is gone.
Cut 15 (12) “…need to pre-register.”
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LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron says he respects the decision made by receiver Ja’Marr Chase and defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin to opt of the 2020 season. During a zoom press conference, Coach O said he doesn’t want anyone to opt-out, but everyone’s situation is different. Orgeron told the rest of the team next man up
Orgeron says it’s possible that one or two more players will decide to opt-out. Coach O says it will not be easy to replace Chase, but the team is full of good receivers…
Chase is expected to be a top-five pick, while Shelvin is a first-round talent if his weight is now an issue. Orgeron says he Shelvin could have been a dominant player for the Tigers this season
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The Saints say they’ve received state approval to have fans at their second home game of the season, a Sunday night match-up against Green Bay on September 27th. Governor Edwards says he feels comfortable with the team’s plans on fans entering the stadium and remaining socially distant during the games…
The Saints say they are still talking with the city on how and when to accommodate fans safely. Edwards says the state’s approval is contingent on the continued decline in new coronavirus cases in New Orleans
cut 20 (11) “ understand that”
Edwards says the state’s approval is based on a capacity of no more than 25-percent.