The fall elections have been pushed back due to hurdles created by Hurricane Ida. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Southwest Louisiana residents ravaged by Hurricane Laura could receive more federal relief dollars to fund the rebuilding of homes and businesses. Dave Brannen has more
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The October primary in Louisiana is officially postponed to November due to hurdles imposed by Hurricane Ida. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin’s plan, approved by the Governor, moves the primary from October 9th to November 13th and the November 13th election to December 11th.
Ardoin says they are still surveying polling locations for safety and electricity, and some of the hardest-hit areas might not be back online until October. While October 9th might seem like enough time there are a number of deadlines that fall before an election.
Ardoin says he’s heard from several civic groups in support of postponing the election, but he admits he has received feedback from some candidates and advertisers who are not in favor of the postponement.
The June primary in 2020 was postponed for COVID mitigation measures and 16 years ago the fall election was also postponed due to Katrina.
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There’s great news today for southwest Louisiana residents awaiting much-needed federal dollars for still ongoing repairs from Hurricane Laura last year. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says the White House is requesting Congress send two-point-three-billion-dollars to the region.
Cut 6 (07) “…huge step forward.”
But, Hunter says it’ll probably be next year before the funds begin to flow into the Bayou State since there are quite a few hurdles to clear on Capitol Hill before the money wins final approval.
Hunter says the more than two-billion-dollars, if given final approval, should have as a top goal of getting people back in their homes.
Given all those that must sign off on the Biden administration’s disaster relief funding to help post-Laura victims, Mayor Hunter says it’ll be a while before the money spigot is turned on.
Cut 8 (07) “…hits the streets.”
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Ten days into the restoration effort, the Louisiana Public Service Commission reports 345-thousand utility customers in southeast Louisiana are without power. That’s down from more than one million outages after Hurricane Ida roared through the Bayou State. Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May says electricity is finally flowing again in Lafourche Parish…
Over 94-percent of the utility customers in Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Charles, and St. John the Baptist Parish are without power. In Tangipahoa Parish, about 50-percent of the customers are without power. May says they have updated restoration times…
May says they hope to make significant progress in St. Charles Parish soon,
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Terrebonne Parish does not have a fully functioning hospital since Hurricane Ida came ashore on August 29th. Terrebonne General sustained considerable roof, water and electrical damage and Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Doctor Robert Hart says the Chabert Medical Center in Houma took a significant hit from the storm
Ochsner St. Anne Hospital in Raceland and Lady of the Sea in Galliano are also closed. Hart says St. Mary Hospital in Morgan City has been a success story as they have double the patients…
Ochsner Health President Warner Thomas says it will take some time for health care access to improve in the Bayou Region of the state….