Louisiana could lose 3.6 billion dollars in infrastructure and business if no action is taken to stop shoreline erosion. Emelie Gunn has more…
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New Tigers Coach Will Wade laid out his plans for the future of LSU basketball at a press conference in the student union today. Jeff Palermo has more…
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Same sex couples would face equal penalties for domestic violence, under a proposal to be taken up in the regular session next month. Marrero Representative Patrick Connick says currently, domestic violence laws only apply to household members, married or not, of the opposite sex.
Connick says Louisiana and South Carolina are the only two states with the opposite sex distinction on the books. He says after talking with the DA’s it was clear something had to be done to protect all couples from domestic violence.
Cut 4 (06) “sexual orientation is”
The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports Louisiana has a domestic violence rate twice the national average. Homosexuals report domestic abuse at a rate equal to or higher than heterosexuals, according to the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. Connick says it happens to people in all demographics.
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The Bayou State could lose 3.6 billion dollars in homes, businesses, and infrastructure over the next 50 years if Louisiana does not take action to stop the massive coastal land loss problem. That’s according to a study by the LSU Economics and Policy Research Group. Researcher Stephen Barnes says they studied the direct impact of land loss in different areas of the state…
The study determined economic losses between 390-million to 600-million dollars for Lafayette and Baton Rouge if no action is taken to restore the coast. Barnes says Lake Charles has become a hub for commerce, but it faces 490 million dollars in business disruptions from land loss.
Statewide, the study finds Louisiana could lose nearly 8 billion dollars in wages and consumer spending if no action is taken to restore the coast. But Barnes says if Louisiana goes through with its 50 year Coastal Master Plan to restore the coast, it will create jobs and boost the economy.
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A Medicaid program that serves mentally ill children will remain intact after the Senate Health and Welfare Committee rejects a proposal to eliminate it. The administration proposed cutting the program by April 1 to save the state $2.2 million because of cuts to the Department of Health made in the special session. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns is frustrated lawmakers didn’t use more rainy day dollars to avoid this.
In 2016, more than 47-thousand children and teens received psychosocial rehabilitation services through the program. Lawmakers heard testimony about the services that would be eliminated, including one that helps suicidal and depressed teens learn coping skills so they can stay in school and out of jails and hospitals. Houma Senator Norbert Chabert says these kinds of programs have to be protected.
LDH must also deal with an $8.1 million budget reduction, and keeping this program means they’ll have to trim a total $10.3 million from other areas. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow was shocked that a program that serves children on the autism spectrum was in jeopardy. She says there must be other ways to cut back on spending without eliminating such a vital service.
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LSU officially introduced its new basketball coach, Will Wade. The 34-year-old got a crowd at the student union fired up when he said he knows LSU can have a successful basketball program…:
Cut 12 (11) “no option to fail”
Wade’s head coaching career spans four years; two in Chattanooga and the past two at VCU. His overall record is 91-45, and at VCU he lead the team to the NCAA Tournament both years. Wade says he will do everything it takes to make the LSU basketball team the best it can be…:
Cut 13 (10) “first class fashion”
Wade takes over for Johnny Jones, who was 90-72 in five seasons at LSU. Jones was fired following LSU’s 10-21 2016-17 campaign. It’s said that Wade considers coaching at LSU his dream job because he says he’s always known there was something special here…:
Cut 14 (12) “we can make it work”
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