The Secretary of State’s office has once again started the process of replacing the state’s 10-thousand voting machines that are almost 30 years old. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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It may take a few years for Louisiana to fully feel the impacts of the Biden Administration’s ban on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters. Matt Doyle has the story.
cut 2 (30) ….I’m Matt Doyle.”
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The Secretary of State’s Office has re-started the process of replacing the state’s current stock of 10-thousand voting machines, which are decades-old. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says the Office of State Procurement is now accepting bids from vendors who can supply the state with new voting equipment.
Cut 3 (10) “…transparent elections.”
He says the state is looking to purchase new voting machines that provide a paper record…
Cut 4 (08) “…Louisiana elections”
Louisiana attempted to select a contractor in 2018 under former Secretary of State Tom Schedler, but the Edwards administration voided the deal with Dominion Voting Systems, claiming the bidding process was unfair. Ardoin says in this new request for proposals, vendors who bid will be asked to disclose any foreign ownership, countries in which they operate, and board member names.
Ardoin says bids are due by March 24th and if the process goes smoothly, the new voting machines could show up at your precinct in the spring of 2022
Cut 5 (11) “…for you.”
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President Biden’s moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters has sent a jolt through the state’s fossil fuels industry.
The moratorium does not unlicense ongoing operations but LSU Center for Energy Studies Director David Dismukes says the impact could be felt immediately…
Cut 6 (12) “…buried.”
The Administration also pushed ahead with its move to revoke the Keystone Pipeline’s permit.
Dismukes says the biggest impacts will likely be seen a few years from now because many in the industry have been preparing for this possibility…
Cut 7 (10) “…drill.”
Dismukes says the economic damage from this decision will be highly uneven with coastal communities like Houma getting pummeled while other regions of the state see less impact.
Cut 8 (12) “…diversity.”
The Biden Administration argues halting the extraction of fossil fuels is key to limiting future global warming.
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Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland is pushing for lawmakers to raise the state’s gasoline tax. McFarland plans to file a bill for the upcoming regular session that would raise the state’s current fuel tax by ten cents in the first year and an additional two cents every other year for the next ten years. But Governor Edwards does not expect the proposal to pass
Cut 9 (10) “..of COVID.”
Louisiana motorists currently pay 38-cents in taxes for every gallon of fuel, 20-cents goes to the state. McFarland says if Louisiana wants to get serious about addressing a 14-billion dollar infrastructure backlog, it needs to raise taxes on gasoline. In the past, Edwards has supported a gas tax hike proposal but raising taxes when the economy is struggling
Cut 10 (04) “…this year.”
Edwards believes the state’s best hope for additional dollars for road construction is if Congress approved a large infrastructure bill that would provide states with more money for highway projects
Cut 11 (05) “…that up.”
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26-year-old Jamie Sousa of Ponchatoula and 47-year-old Dexter Schexnayder of Deridder have been arrested after an inter-agency investigation found them allegedly preying on children on social media.
State Police Trooper Taylor Scrantz says during the investigation an undercover FBI agent posed as a 13-year-old online…
Cut 12 (11) “.custody.”
The two were identified as having separate conversations with the same agent.
Scrantz says this is a vital reminder to parents to always make sure you know what your child is doing on the internet.
Cut 13 (06)“…going on.”
Scrantz encourages parents to visit missing-kids-dot-org to get a game plan in action to make sure predators don’t go after your child…
Cut 14 (07) “…children.”
Shexnayder and Sousa are facing charges of indecent behavior with a juvenile, computer-aided solicitation of a minor, and attempted felony carnal knowledge. Sousa was also arrested separately from this incident on charges of child porn possession.
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