Dry and windy conditions have increased the fire danger for Louisiana. LRN meteorologist Bill Jacquemin has more..
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One state lawmaker wants to put a stop to threats being made against schools. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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The National Weather Service has issued another Red Flag Warning for all of southeast Louisiana today. National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Efferson says the warning is in effect until six this evening.
Cut 3 (06) “…and spread quickly.”
Efferson says as such – and as witnessed yesterday in St. Tammany and Livingston parishes – today is not the day to be burning anything under any circumstances.
Cut 4 (10) “…very simple things.”
Efferson says you really shouldn’t use a charcoal grill today either; but if you do, make sure you take every precaution necessary.
Wildfires are also a problem in northwest Louisiana. Caddo Parish under a strict burn ban due to severe drought and high wildfire risks.
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The Red Flag Warning comes a day after high winds and dry conditions whipped up several fires throughout the state. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says the conditions yesterday made it impossible to be burning anything.
Yesterday, there were several hundred acres that were burning along I-12 in St. Tammany Parish, and Strain says the fire jumped the Interstate, forcing it to be shut down in both directions.
Cut 7 (08) “…of the Interstate.”
Strain says the St. Tammany fire was by no means the only fire burning yesterday.
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A state lawmaker has filed a bill aimed at putting a stop to school threats. Pineville Representative Mike Johnson’s bill would increase the penalties for terrorizing and menacing schools – and parents would be held financially responsible. Johnson says there would be certain instances where parents could face even more severe consequences.
Cut 9 (10) “…them criminally liable.”
Johnson says under his bill, all students will know about the state law and the consequences surrounding it – all in a way that they can understand.
Cut 10 (15) “…have severe consequences.”
Johnson says school threats are being posted online in increasing numbers in recent years, including a string of them in Rapides Parish last year, and he wants to put a stop to it.
Cut 11 (14) “…your parents responsible.”
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A year-long narcotics investigation in Terrebonne Parish has resulted in six arrests and the largest methamphetamine seizure in the history of the sheriff’s office. Lt. Blake Tabor says the coordinated operation also resulted in the recovery of significant quantities of other dangerous narcotics…
The six people arrested range in ages 25 to 59 and live in Houma, Gray and Schriever. Tabor says if you choose to deal narcotics in Terrebonne, the sheriff’s office will identify you, and build a case that leads to your arrest and conviction…
Tabor says information provided by concerned citizens helped spark the investigation…