A new report suggests Louisianans apparently aren’t that good at budgeting money. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is seeking to reinstate the death sentence of a convicted killer who fatally shot an LSU student in 1992. Jeff Palermo has the story.
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The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has received an update on the new Lake Charles I-10 bridge project. Andre Champagne has the story.
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When it comes to budgeting money, Louisianans apparently aren’t that good at it. That’s according to a new study by WalletHub, which ranks Louisiana as the second worst state in the country in money budgeting, ranking ahead of only Mississippi. Analyst Chris Lupo says you can blame that in part on Louisiana’s relatively low median income.
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In devising its rankings, WalletHub examined 12 key indicators of budgeting habits, and Lupo says Louisiana came in towards the bottom in all of them – 47th in spending and debt, 50th in credit and 49th in savings. Also:
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Lupo says one reason many Louisianans pay only the minimum in their credit card accounts is a by-product of the state’s relatively low median income.
Cut 6 (10) “…their daily expenses.”
Lupo says all of those factors are also bringing Louisianans’ average credit rating down. The state’s average credit rating is 675 – the second lowest in the country, once again ahead of only Mississippi. The state with the best budgeters, according to WalletHub is Hawaii.
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The explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland happened more than two weeks ago, and people who live near the site are getting frustrated at what they say is a lack of progress in the cleanup effort. Pat Mashburn says he wakes up every morning to the stench of oil and diesel; and for the last two weeks, he’s been conducting a test with a paper towel to see how much oil is in the Tangipahoa River.
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Mashburn says people who live near the explosion site face long-term environmental damage with no relief in sight.
Cut 8 (08) “…any of that.”
Mashburn says he’s especially frustrated by what he says is a relative lack of communication from environmental officials.
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Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has started the legal process in the state’s attempt to reinstate the death sentence for convicted killer Dale Dwayne Craig. In 1992, Craig fired three bullets through the head of LSU freshmen student Kipp Gullet after stealing his vehicle.
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Craig was a few days shy of his 18th birthday when the crime took place and can not be put to death because of a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that says capital punishment can not be carried out if the person was 17 or younger at the time of the crime.
Cut 11 (12) “…precedent.”
To get the legal process going, the Attorney General’s office has filed a motion with the 19th Judicial District in Baton Rouge to reinstate the death sentence for Craig. She expects it will be denied and that will allow the state to appeal the lower court’s ruling to get the case in front of the U-S Supreme Court.
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In 1994, Craig was found guilty of first degree murder and the jury determined he should receive the death sentence. A five to four decision by the Supreme Court in 2005 determined it was cruel and unusual punishment to carry out death sentenced against juvenile offenders.
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The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has received an update on the new 2.3-billion-dollar Lake Charles I-10 bridge project. Project spokesman Johnathan Hill says that it’s currently in the design phase and is prepping for construction, which will start early next year.
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The new Lake Charles I-10 bridge will take several years to construct, but Hill says that it is expected to be ready for use by 2030.
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Lake Charles’ new I-10 bridge will require a toll a year after the bridge opens. Hill says that the gap will give drivers time to get used to the new travel.
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Head coach Brian Kelly provided positive news regarding the health of two of his key players — first, junior center Braelin Moore; and then, tight end Trey’Dez Green.
(Moore is listed as day-to-day with an ankle injury, and Green will be questionable with a sprained MCL.)
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When Moore was injured on the first play of the game versus Louisiana Tech, sophomore DJ Chester came into the game to replace him. Head coach Brian Kelly says the staff is comfortable with him starting if Moore cannot go this week.
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LSU head coach Brian Kelly feels his team’s preparation leading up to the Louisiana Tech game was not where it needed to be. He says that the focus and preparation have to improve moving forward.
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Saints starting safety Julian Blackmon seriously injured his labrum in the regular season opening loss against the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Kellen Moore says Blackmon is expected to miss significant time, which could end up being the entire season.
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The Saints had a chance to tie the game on the last drive, but they came up just short. Head coach Kellen Moore says he liked the overall team performance, but there’s a lot that the black and gold need to improve on.
Cut 20 (17) “…our chances.”