LRN PM Newscall June 3

Landfall of Tropical Storm Cristobal along the Louisiana coast is possible Sunday night or early Monday morning.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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Some evictions are set to resume when the state enters Phase Two. Matt Doyle spoke with a housing advocate about the process and your rights…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Tropical Storm Cristobal is slowly moving inland over eastern Mexico, but it’s expected to get back into the Gulf of Mexico and start heading north on Friday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a landfall along the Louisiana coast is possible Sunday night or early Monday morning

Cut 3 (09)  “…very, very closely.”  

The National Hurricane Center forecasts the storm will stay at tropical storm strength when crossing the Gulf of Mexico, but Keim says conditions for reaching hurricane strength are favorable.

Cut 4 (11)_ “…realm of possibility.”

Keim says in preparation for the storm’s landfall, flash flood watches have been posted across southeast Louisiana.

Cut 5 (10)  “…this to happen.”

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Some courts are set to resume operations in Phase Two and with that the resumption of evictions.

Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center Executive Director Cashauna Hill says evictions are a legal process that cannot proceed without a court hearing…

Cut 6 (12) “…their home.”

Landlords with federally backed mortgages will not be able to file for evictions until the federal moratorium ends August 24th.

Hill says if the court agrees that you should be removed from your home then you will be given a certain amount of time to leave. If a tenant does not leave within the prescribed time period…

Cut 7 (08) “…the home”

Hill warns that landlords have attempted to force residents out of their homes before the process is complete by changing locks, shutting off the water, or killing the power. She says that’s illegal…

Cut 8 (09) “…often.”

If that happens Hill encourages you to reach out to their office.

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The Louisiana Speaker of the House and Senate President form a joint organization aimed at promoting a unified message about the work both chambers are doing.

Leading Louisiana Executive Director Lionel Rainey says the Governor has a big platform right now and the public deserves to hear a clear message from legislative leaders.

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The organization was formed as a 501 c4. The IRS deems those groups non-profits that are allowed to engage in advocacy and legislative lobbying, along with moderate support for political candidates.

Rainey says the organization will be promoting legislation like the 300 million dollar small business grant fund that was sent to the Governor’s desk.

Cut 10 (11) “…to work.”

Governor Edwards has expressed concern about the bill due to it taking money away a federal funding package meant to help local governments stabilize their budgets.

Rainey says there’s a lot of vital bills set to be discussed this special session and interested members of the public should follow them on social media for updates.

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Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says the failure to reappoint Ronnie Jones as the chairman of Louisiana’s Gaming Control Board appears to be bad blood.  Jones has held the position since 2013.  Nungesser thinks it is a case of a lawmaker holding a grudge from being summons for entering a casino unlawfully last year.

Cut 12 (08) “think its retaliation.”

A Louisiana State Police trooper issued Peterson a misdemeanor summons for violating a self-imposed casino ban when she gambled at L’Auberge Casino in Baton Rouge in February 2019, then later admitted she has a gambling problem.  The debate over the confirmation decisions was held behind closed doors in an executive session, with no public discussion on appointments.

Nungesser says the timing of the retaliation could not be worse as everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction to get the state back where it needs to be.

Cut 13 (07) “…kind of action”