Lawmakers just came out of a special session, and Governor John Bel Edwards is already saying they might need another, as the state is still facing a huge budget shortfall. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is trying to get a handle on the amount of flood damage. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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Extreme flooding has caused a levee breach at Bayou Darrow in Grant Parish. Emelie Gunn has more…
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As lawmakers begin a regular session, Governor John Bel Edwards says another special session could be needed to address next fiscal year’s shortfall, which currently stands at about 800-million dollars. Edwards is still disappointed lawmakers failed to raise the needed revenue or make the necessary cuts to get the job done in the recently completed special session…
Edwards says without an additional 800-million dollars in revenue, some critical cuts will occur to vital services in the state
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Alexandria Representative Lance Harris, Head of the Republican Legislative Delegation, says it will take long-term reforms to solve the state’s fiscal crisis.
Harris says he is optimistic about legislators’ opportunity to address the deficit, because they are still early in the budget balancing process. He says balancing the budget will be a matter of prioritizing.
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A bill to be discussed in regular session would increase the mandatory waiting period to receive an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. Author of the legislation, Republican West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffmann, says the extension would give a woman the opportunity to think through the process…
Hoffmann says Louisiana is one of the top pro-life states in the country and he’s very proud of that. He says several other states have already implemented this.
Hoffmann is the chairman of the House of Health and Welfare. He says he’s proud of the fact that each year the legislature brings in new bills to make Louisiana a pro-life state.
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Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says the total number of homes damaged in the state has climbed to over 6-thousand. He says so far 7 parishes have been approved for federal assistance.
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Steele says the legwork to prepare additional parishes for assessment has already begun. He says people who have sustained damage to their homes should register for federal assistance, even if they are not in one of the approved parishes.
Steele also warns people to stay off flooded roads.
You can register for federal assistance at emergency-dot-la-dot-gov.
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A levee at Bayou Darrow in Grant Parish has been breached due to extreme flooding after massive amounts of rainfall. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says things will get worse before they get better. He says the community of Georgetown is virtually an island.
McCain is concerned that there could be a medical emergency if people refuse to evacuate and there is no way to get help to those residents. He says if you have the opportunity to leave an area that has the potential to flood, please do.
McCain says this is the worst flooding Grant Parish has ever seen and it’s breaking records. He says the Louisiana National Guard is using super sack sand bags to plug up the hole in the breached levee at Bayou Darrow.
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