New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter and Senator Bill Cassidy are the only members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation that supported the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. Brooke Thorington has more.
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Louisiana Department of Health officials reveal a new business plan for “Building a Stronger LDH and a Healthier Louisiana.” More on that from Kevin Gallagher…:
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Former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain could be looking at life in prison following his trial on accusations that he raped multiple children. More from Dave Brannen.
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The state Department of Health releases its first new business plan in nearly a decade. It’s called “Together: Building a Stronger LDH and a Healthier Louisiana.” Health secretary Courtney Phillips says the plan calls for achieving 17 initiatives and over 40 goals; all under four major commitments…:
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She says the plan was drawn up after much research and discussions with health partners, stakeholders, and Louisiana families. In laying out some of the 17 initiatives in the plan, Phillips says attention will be given to improving care for persons with serious mental illness…:
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Phillips says the plan places emphasis on better access to dental care, an opioid treatment program, a crisis care response team, and more. She says the details may be viewed online at “ldh.la.gov”. Phillips says this is a one-year plan that will be revisited at the end of its term for review of progress made and fine-tuning. She says a lot of fine minds came together to forge the program…:
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The house passed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill Friday night and Louisiana Democratic Congressman Troy Carter says the bill is life-changing and will finally put funding towards severely overlooked projects like expanded broadband and the upkeep of our roads and bridges that can’t be ignored any longer.
Carter says he’s proud to stand with Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who co-authored the bipartisan bill in the Senate. Cassidy says passage of the bill is a major victory for Louisiana and the nation.
Cut 8 (13) “…flood resiliency.”
Carter and Cassidy are the only two members of the Louisiana delegation that supported the bill. Republican Congressman Clay Higgins issued a statement claiming the bill is socialist garbage and says the bill will cost nearly $4 trillion. Carter says otherwise.
Republican Congressman Mike Johnson issued a statement saying House Democrats have connected this bill with their separate bill to spend trillions more taxpayer dollars on programs they’ve yet to define. Cassidy however says the bipartisan bill only focuses on much-needed infrastructure.
The bill now goes to the president’s desk for signature.
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It will be much darker on your drive home from work this evening thanks to the time change. Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says with rush hour traffic in the dark now you’ll need to be extremely mindful on your drive home, and the time change can also impact your sleeping patterns.
Not only will drivers in Louisiana have to contend with darkness on the commute home now, but Redman says drivers also need to be aware of wildlife in both rural and metropolitan areas during the hours of dusk and dawn as temperatures begin to cool.
Redman also reminds motorists to check their headlights now that they are driving in the dark more. He says with 50-percent of crashes happening in the evening, yellowing and deterioration of headlight bulbs can decrease your visibility at night.
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Closing arguments are set to begin today in the child rape trial of former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain. Five male accusers took the stand, leveling graphic charges of sexual assault against him while they were children. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino:
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Strain did not take the stand in his defense and if convicted could face life in prison.
Ciolino suspects the defense will counter in their closing arguments that the allegations against Strain are not to be taken for granted.
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Ciolino says it’ll be difficult for the jury to diminish the damning testimony against Strain since it has come from five accusers and not just one or two.
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Ciolino can’t predict how long it’ll take the jury to reach a verdict, but that the panel is being sequestered and was told by the judge to bring extra clothing as they work to determine Strain’s fate.
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The LSU football team nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in program history on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa as the Tigers nearly defeated Alabama. But the Crimson Tide survived with a 20-14 victory over the Bayou Bengals. LSU had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but failed to score when they had it first and goal from the eight. Coach Ed Orgeron says the coaches didn’t help the players…
The Tigers defense played their heart out, holding Alabama to just six rushing yards and it’s the first time the Tide had not scored more than 30 points in 34 straight games, which is an FBS record. LSU will play its final three games at home, starting this Saturday night against Arkansas. Orgeron says he wants to see similiar effort the rest of the way…
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The Saints nearly pulled off an unbelievable come from behind victory on Sunday but Atlanta kicked a game-winning field goal on the final play of the game for a 27-25 win in the Caesars Superdome. New Orleans scored 22 fourth-quarter points to rally back from a 24-6 deficit, but Coach Sean Payton says their sloppy play during the first three quarters is what cost them the game…
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The Saints committed ten penalties and turned the ball over once. Plus there were numerous dropped passes. Payton says he was pleased with starting quarterback Trevor Siemian’s performance as he threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns…
The loss drops the Saints to 5-and-3, a full game back of Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South. There are nine games left as New Orleans is at Tennessee this Sunday. Safety Malcolm Jenkins says the team needs to be more consistent during the second half of the season…