Southern University gets a major boost in its efforts to save its campus from erosion. David Grubb has the details…
Cut 1 (36) “…I’m David Grubb.”
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Acadiana Congressman Clay Higgins introduces two bills intended to shore up security in schools. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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A bipartisan House committee wants to hear from Governor John Bel Edwards as they investigate the State Police Custody death of Ronald Greene. Kevin Gallagher has the story…
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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Facing the potential of $43-million in damaged infrastructure, Southern University received some major help in its efforts to stop storm runoff from eroding the historic bluff adjacent to the university. Governor John Bel Edwards and leaders of the Southern system were on hand as Congressman Troy Carter announced a huge influx of grant dollars…
Cut 4 (11) “…the Mississippi River.”
The $7.6 million in grant dollars comes from the USDA’s Emergency Watershed Protection Program. Carter says that because Southern is an agricultural college and 20 percent of the campus is used for training in that field, the Louisiana DOTD was able to successfully apply for the funds.
Cut 5 (12) “…across the country.”
The project will construct permanent erosion control measures to stabilize Southern’s ravine. Carter says he was unaware of just how dire the situation was until about a year ago when he was invited to a presentation at the campus conducted by retired U-S Army Gen. Russel Honore’…
Cut 6 (13) “…the Mississippi River.”
These funds are coming to DOTD alongside the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which will bring over $7 billion back to Louisiana. Over $2.3 billion has already been allocated to the state since the legislation was signed into law in November 2021.
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Louisiana District 3 Congressman Clay Higgins introduces legislation intended to make schools safer & more secure. Higgins says he is reintroducing two bills he filed in 2018 that failed to win final passage. Higgins says one is the School Watch And Tactics Act, also called the SWAT Act…:
Cut 7 (09) “…tactical skills.”
Higgins says the bill would assure that school resource and security officers possess the training and skills to face an active shooter situation. A second resurrected bill from Higgins would require the federal departments of Education and Justice to determine how many schools even have security officers and how many need one…:
Cut 8 (12) “…no data of that.”
Higgins says one bill won House passage in 2018, but failed in the Senate. The other did not pass in the House. Since then, he says, there have been too many more school shootings – including last week’s massacre in Uvalde, Texas. Higgins says members of Congress may feel differently now about taking action…:
Cut 9 (10) “…these school shootings.”
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The special House committee looking into the circumstances of the State Police custody death of Ronald Greene has requested that Governor John Bel Edwards appear at their meeting on June 16th. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says it’s unclear when Edwards saw the police body camera video that shows troopers beating Greene before he died
Cut 10 (08) “…they say.”
Greene died in May of 2019 and a recent Associated Press Investigative Report says Edwards and his top lawyers saw the body-camera video of Greene’s violent arrest in October of 2020. But Magee says the district attorney who could move forward with criminal charges against the state troopers involved didn’t see the video until the spring of 2021…
Cut 11 (11) “…bottom of it”
Greene’s family was told he died in a car crash in Union Parish. But police body camera video shows Greene was beaten by troopers following a high speed chase. During Wednesday’s meeting, Magee read written testimony from Doctor Frank Peretti, a coroner in Arkansas who oversaw Green’s autopsy
Cut 12 (12) “..tree branches.”
A special legislative committee has been holding hearings since March looking into a coverup. Magee hopes the meeting on June 16th featuring Governor Edwards will be the last one.
A statement from the governor’s executive counsel Matthew Block says they are confident that this testimony will demonstrate that neither the Governor nor anyone his staff had any role in any attempt to cover up the facts related to Mr. Greene’s death.
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The state Department of Insurance says nearly a dozen firms have decided to stop writing coverage in Louisiana; meaning the state-run insurer of last resort, Louisiana Citizens, will have to cover them. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says this will grow the number of homes and businesses covered by the state significantly…:
Cut 13 (13) “…90-thousand policv range.”
Donelon says some companies simply decided covering Louisiana was too costly. Other actually became insolvent from paying out claims for the many hurricanes in recent years. He says about 30-thousand homes and businesses will have to resort to Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance. After Hurricane Katrina, Donelon worked to get Citizens’ customers back under less-expensive private coverage. He says he and DOI will do that again…:
Cut 14 (14) “…property insurance business.”
Donelon has this advice for those who have had their property insurance canceled, non-renewed, or whose insurance company has gone out-of-business…:
Cut 15 (11) “…their commercial property.”
The Department of Insurance website: “ldi.la.gov”
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The LSU Tigers have already packed up and made their way to Hattiesburg where they will begin play in the NCAA tournament on Friday against third-seeded Kennesaw State out of the Atlantic Sun Conference. Jay Johnson says there could be a lot of offense on display as LSU’s high-powered attack matches up with an Owls lineup that averages more than seven runs per game.
Cut 16 (13) “…well to win.”
Expectations and pressure are always present when you represent LSU, from each member of the coaching staff down to the equipment managers. Johnson says his team wants to win every game they play, though he feels the pressure they put on themselves to succeed won’t be a negative this weekend.
Cut 17 (19) “ …the right way.”
The last time Louisiana Tech met Dallas Baptist, the Bulldogs were beaten 7-4 at home. They’ll meet again on Friday in the first game of the Austin Regional with Tech coming in as the two seed. Coach Lane Burroughs says what happened in March won’t have much to do with Friday’s outcome…
Cut 18 (20) “ …finished.”
U-L Lafayette makes its 17th appearance in the NCAA tournament this weekend in the College Station Regional. The Ragin Cajuns will be joined in an impressive field by fifth-ranked Texas A&M, Oral Roberts, and their opening opponent, TCU. Pitcher Austin Perrin says the Cajuns can win if they play the game their way.
Cut 19 (11) _“…give them anything.”