A Louisiana veterans’ advocacy group applauds the recent passage of the PACT Act. Kevin Gallagher explains what it is, and how it will help veterans
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A New Orleans non-profit that helps feed those in need has sparked a new idea to remain restaurants operational after hurricanes knock out the power. Brooke Thorington has more.
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DNA technology in the state advances to solving crime quicker, Brooke Thorington has more on what you see on your favorite TV crime drama that’s closer to becoming reality.
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A bill signing is scheduled this week in Washington DC for the federal PACT Act; legislation providing expanded medical care for veterans exposed to toxins during their military service. John Wells is chairman of the Slidell-based Military Veterans Advocacy. He says PACT – for Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics – will benefit about three-point-five million veterans nationwide…:
The PACT Act provides for expedited health care for vets assigned to handle burn pits or exposed to radiation in the line of duty. It will also provide compensation for those unable to work because of such exposure. Wells says the money will do a lot of good…:
President Biden is expected to sign the bill Wednesday at the White House. The PACT Act also provides for veterans to receive care at private medical facilities, in the absence of locally available Veterans Administration care. Wells says that contingency may well be needed…:
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Qualifying for the 2023 Louisiana governor’s race happens one year from today and we still do not have any announced candidates to replace the term-limited John Bel Edwards. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says a lot will depend on who controls the U.S. Senate after the federal midterm elections. He says after the national picture is clear Louisiana’s race will finally develop
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If Republicans take control of the senate Stockley thinks its more likely Cassidy and Kennedy stay there, opening the door for Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and Attorney General Jeff Landry. Stockley says the lack of a prominent Democratic candidate is a bad sign for Democrats.
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Stockley says with so many unknowns affecting the governor’s race it might be quite a while before we know who the major contenders will be.
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A New Orleans non-profit wants to equip restaurants with solar panels so they can remain operational during power losses. Feed Second Line Founder Devin De Wulf says the idea was sparked when the city lost power for 10 days after Ida and restaurants had to dispose of thousands of pounds of food.
De Wulf says they installed their first set of solar panels a few weeks ago at the Caribbean restaurant Queen Trini Lisa in Mid-City New Orleans. He says outfitting each restaurant runs between 60 and 90 thousand dollars, but there’s a way for the eateries to pay back into the program with energy savings. De Wulf hopes it serves as a model for the state.
In addition to preserving food, De Wulf says the solar-powered restaurants can act as cooling and phone charging stations for the neighborhood. He’s hoping the idea will take off and become a mainstay for a state that’s embattled with hurricane recovery.
He says instead of relying on other states to provide support after hurricanes we need to give ourselves the tools to do it on our own.
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The Louisiana State Police Crime Lab is the first in the country to receive approval from the FBI to conduct rapid DNA booking operations. Sgt. Dustin Dwight says the technology has the potential to keep criminals from being unknowingly released prior to the return of traditional DNA results.
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Dwight says for more than three years the state crime lab has been working with the FBI and other states to develop the Rapid DNA program. He gives the crime lab full credit for the achievement of being the first state in the country to implement the program.
When a qualified arrestee’s DNA sample is collected it’s run in the Combined DNA Index System and if it’s linked to a sample collected at a previous crime scene Dwight says all the involved law enforcement agencies are alerted.
The first Rapid DNA instrument was installed at the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and the state crime lab will add three more at other agencies in the state by the end of next year.
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LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte says she’s 100 percent after undergoing two surgeries on his ankle. Boutte, who is a potential first-round pick next year, says winning the Biletnikoff Award is one of the goals
Boutte admits he looked at transferring when a new coaching staff came in, but he’s built trust with head coach Brian Kelly’s staff
One of the new additions to LSU’s roster is running back Noah Cain, who has transferred in from Penn State. The junior from Baton Rouge says Frank Wilson’s return as the team’s running backs coach is one of the reasons he chose to come back home…
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The Ragin Cajuns are going through their first preseason camp with Michael Desormeaux as its head coach. The former U-L Lafayette quarterback spent the last six seasons on the Ragin Cajuns staff and was co-offensive coordinator last year. Desormeaux says his promotion to head coach doesn’t change his mindset
The big storyline at Cajuns’ camp is the battle for starting quarterback between sophomore Chandler Fields and junior Ben Wooldridge. Desormeaux says the staff is 100-percent confident in both guys