Those of you heading into or out of Lafayette on I-49, give yourself a little more time to get through starting today. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
____________________________________________
Three weeks into the legislative session and there have not been any substantive pieces of legislation making its way through capitol. Jeanne Burns has an explanation…
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”
____________________________________________
An alleged drunk driver crashed into more than a dozen people watching a parade in Iberia Parish on Saturday. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
______________________________________________
Those of you headed into or out of Lafayette on I-49, be prepared for potential construction delays starting today. That’s because DOTD is beginning a major preservation project along a nearly nine-mile stretch from I-10 to the St. Landry Parish line. Deidra Druilhet (drool-YET) with DOTD says the work will entail pavement patching and concrete overlays – not only on the mainlanes, but also on the ramps.
Cut 4 (09) “…their particular destination.”
Druilhet says most of the work will be done during the overnight hours.
Druilhet says the parts of the project that would present the biggest disruptions would be reserved for the weekends, when volume won’t be nearly as heavy.
Cut 6 (13) “…the entire weekend.”
The 43-million-dollar project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2027.
_________________________________________________________
A Denham Springs representative is asking the LHSAA to make dance, cheer and lacrosse sanctioned high school sports under its authority. Republican Roger Wilder’s resolution passed in the House Education Committee unanimously and heads to the full House for further discussion. Wilder told the committee he was alerted to the issue by a constituent.
Cut 7 (11) “…concerns for me.”
Wilder says he especially noted how hazardous cheerleading can be, given the routines they do on hard surfaces.
Wilder says by placing cheerleading under LHSAA authority, along with dance and lacrosse, there could be safety protocols in place to protect the participants.
Cut 9 (07) “…and safety requirements.”
Unlike a bill, a resolution is non-binding. This one is a concurrent resolution, which means if it passes in the House, it will move to the Senate for its approval.
____________________________________________________________
Three weeks into the legislative session and it’s quiet when it comes to debate on significant legislation and that might be design. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the Landry administration is not pushing any significant legislation after doing a lot of heavy lifting in his first two years in office…
Cut 10 (12) “…reform legislation”
Pinsonat says the Landry Administration is not interested in rocking the boat with the governor set to run for re-election next year…
Cut 11 (12) “…we are delivering.”
Pinsonat says the most emotional debate of the legislative session so far was over a bill to prohibit the use of eminent domain for carbon capture and sequestration projects. Pinsonat says legislative leaders have made sure that and other controversial bills make it out of committee…
Cut 12 (11) “…insurance reform.”
_____________________________________________________________
A new AARP report finds that 900-thousand Louisianans are caregivers for adults, including older parents, spouses, neighbors and other loved ones. Director of Advocacy at AARP Louisiana, Andrew Muhl, says the Louisiana Legislature should do more to help these adults provide long-term care…
Cut 13 (11) “..cost effective.”
Muhl says 20-percent of long-term Medicaid dollars goes towards services so an individual can live at home, while 80-percent goes to nursing homes. He says AARP is advocating for that ratio to be more like 40-60 so more family caregivers can receive state assistance to keep their loved ones at home…
Cut 14 (10) “…could appropriate.”
AARP is advocating that the state provides an additional 750 waivers so families can take advantage of home and community-based services. Muhl says there are 12-thousand individuals on a waiting list seeking this state assistance…
Cut 15 (11) “…living at home.”
It costs 85-thousand dollars for an individual to live in a nursing home, while home care is 40-thousand dollars.
_______________________________________________________________
LSU senior safety Ty Benefield was one of the most sought-after defensive backs in the transfer portal as he was rated as the No. 2 safety. Benefield says his decision to choose the Tigers ultimately came down to a gut feeling.
Cut 16 (17) “…feeling in my heart.”
Before visiting Baton Rouge, Benefield had never stepped foot in Louisiana. The Irvine, California, native says the move to the South has been a drastic but rewarding change.
Cut 17 (18) “…it’s amazing, it’s cool.”
Through two weeks of spring practice, Benefield says the intensity of his new defensive coordinator, Blake Baker, has stood out.
Cut 18 (16) “…all the coaches are.”
______________________________________________________________
ULM football is two weeks into spring practice, and an ongoing quarterback battle is taking shape. Aidan Armenta, Landon Graves and Houston transfer Austin Carlisle are just a few players competing for the starting job. Head coach Bryant Vincent says it’s one of the best quarterback rooms he’s had during his time in Monroe.
Cut 19 (21) “…great days, too, also.”
Vincent says this year’s team has been a very competitive one so far.