If you’re heading to New Orleans over the weekend, use alternative routes as I-10 East between Sorrento and Gramercy will be closed. Emelie Gunn has more…
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New Orleans is one of the top five cities for millennials to live, according to a report from Time Magazine. Jeff Palermo has more…
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Juveniles serving life sentences for murder will soon be eligible for parole after 25 years. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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If you’re heading to New Orleans this weekend, be aware Interstate 10 East between the Sorrento and Gramercy exits will be closed as crews will install a repaired on-ramp bridge. Rodney Mallett with the state Department of Transportation says it’s the same ramp that was removed earlier this year…
Mallett says it will take a month for the on-ramp to open after the section of bridge is replaced but the interstate will open up before at 5 a.m. Monday morning. He says when this part of the interstate was closed in March, delays were minimal and expects the same this weekend.
Mallett says the interstate will close at 9 p.m. tonight and is scheduled to open again early Monday morning but could open earlier, as it did for the same closure in March. He advises motorists to check online for updates on the closure and alternative routes.
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A report from Time Magazine finds New Orleans is one of the top five metro areas in the country for millennials to live. Demographer Greg Rigamer says it’s obvious that when you’re in the Crescent City the main age group is 25 to 34 and many businesses target that demographic.
The survey from Urban Land Institute finds the city saw a nearly 9-percent increase in millennials from 2010 to 2015. Rigamer says post Katrina New Orleans brought younger workers to the area and it helps the Crescent City likes celebrations, which attracts a younger crowd.
The cities that drew in more millennials are Virginia Beach, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia; San Bernardino, California, and Memphis, Tennessee. Rigamer says the cost of living in the Big Easy is also a significant factor in where millennials choose to live.
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Murderers convicted as juveniles will be eligible for parole after 25 years, as a bill by Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor wins final passage. Albany Representative Sherman Mack chairs the Criminal Justice Committee and pushed for 30 years instead of 25 because he says that’s what the families of the victims want.
But some lawmakers asked why the House spent so much time splitting hairs over a five year difference. New Orleans Representative Gary Carter says there’s no law they could pass to give the victims in these situations back what they lost.
The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that juveniles could not be sentenced to life in prison without the chance for parole. Crowley Representative John Stefanski says without this bill, Louisiana could be subject to litigation for not complying with federal law.
The measure finally passed on a 67 to 34 vote. It’s one of the 10 bills that are part of the governor’s criminal justice reform effort.
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Another special session has started at the State Capitol, after lawmakers failed to pass a budget for next fiscal year. Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards calls it an epic failure by House Republican leadership.
Legislators have been discussing a 28-billion dollar spending plan since March. The House wanted to withhold spending $100 million in case of a midyear shortfall, while the Senate only wanted to hold back $50 million to avoid deeper cuts to state agencies. House Appropriations Chair Cameron Henry expressed his disappointment in the session’s final minutes
Edwards says it’s a sad day in Louisiana because some lawmakers decided not to do what is in the best interest of the state. He says the options before lawmakers won’t be any different in the special than they were in the regular session.
Edwards says the House should have approved the budget passed by the Senate, which fully funded TOPS and spared higher education, prisons and child welfare programs from cuts.
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We’ll find out today who LSU plans to pitch in Game One of the Super Regional Series against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have already announced a starter. Sophomore left-hander Konner Pilkington will pitch on Saturday. Former LSU pitcher and now college baseball analyst Ben McDonald says Pilkington is the real deal…
Mississippi State has one of the best hitters in college baseball. Brent Rooker is hitting .395 with 23 home runs and 82 RBIs. McDonald says LSU pitchers will have to make some quality pitches against him….
Cut 18 (21) “kind of mistakes”
LSU brings a 14-game winning streak into the Super Regional series. The Tigers have scored 10 or more runs in half of those games. McDonald says the key for Mississippi State is no free passes to LSU hitters…