State Fire Marshal investigators believe a charging cell phone could be responsible for a blaze that injured a one-year-old child. Michael Farrar has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”
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A bill is nearing final passage that would allow students who missed out on TOPS in high school a second chance after two years in college. Jeff Palermo has more.
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The state legislature is interested in setting up a task force to study daylight saving time versus standard time. Covington Representative Mark Wright says he gets asked about moving the clocks back an hour every fall all the time
Florida recently passed legislation to stay on Daylight Saving Time year round, but Congress has yet to agree with Florida’s Sunshine Protection Act. Wright says studies have shown turning the clock back an hour creates problems
Wright has a resolution calling for a task force that will report back its findings to the legislature next year.
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The State Fire Marshal’s office believes a cell phone is responsible for a fire that injured a one-year-old child in Jeanerette. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says a 14-year-old resident told detectives he was sleeping in a room with his little sister, when he awoke to use the bathroom, he smelled smoke and saw the mattress on fire
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The toddler suffered second-degree burns to her head, arms and legs. She was taken to Galveston, Texas hospital for treatment. Rodrigue says electronic devices should always be properly ventilated when they are being charged….
Detectives learned it was an I Phone 6 that caught fire. Rodrigue says an electrical malfunction can happen when a cell phone is charging, if it’s not properly ventilated
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Students who had the GPA, but were a few points shy of qualifying for TOPS in high school could get another shot at the scholarship under a bill that is almost to the governor’s desk. The legislation would allow students who scored 17, 18, or 19 on the ACT, but have a 3.2 GPA after two years in college to collect TOPS for their last two years. The bill’s sponsor, New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop:
The bill would affect 47 current Louisiana college students. Welsey says it’s unfair that college students who are excelling are forced to take on debt because of youthful mistakes.
Wesley says he was moved by stories of students who were valedictorians in high school, but just couldn’t perform on the ACT. The New Orleans Democrat says hard working students shouldn’t be punished just because they’re bad testers.
The bill passed committee and is on its way to the House floor.
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Louisiana now meets the highest standard of air quality according to EPA standards. Governor John Bel Edwards says the success is the result of notable increases in air quality in the Baton Rouge area parishes. DEQ Environmental Scientist Vivian Aucoin says its great news for quality of life in the Bayou State.
Ozone is formed in the atmosphere when nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds interact with sunlight, and can be exacerbated from human activity. Aucoin says this makes ozone control a tough task.
Aucoin says it’s been a tough fight, but over the years a series of regulations have helped bring Louisiana into compliance.