A new study by Tulane University researchers say people in New Orleans should start planning to relocate. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
____________________________________________
The Louisiana Department of Health has released its annual report card on public drinking water systems, and fewer water systems received a failing grade. Jeff Palermo has the story.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
____________________________________________
The legislation that provides for easy cancellation of automatic renewal subscriptions continues to move through the legislative process. Joe Gallinaro has the story.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”
______________________________________________
Researchers at Tulane University say it’s only a matter of time before New Orleans gets swallowed up by gulf waters. Lead researcher Torbjorg Tornqvist (TORB-yorg TORN-quist), a professor of earth and environmental sciences at Tulane, says due to climate change, sea level is gradually rising, and that will lead to further coastal erosion.
Cut 4 (08) “…Gulf of Mexico.”
Tornqvist says as a result, people need to start planning now to move to higher ground.
Cut 5 (12) “…locations for example.”
Tornqvist says the most sustainable areas of New Orleans are the areas that date back prior to 1900, which escaped relatively unscathed following Hurricane Katrina more than 20 years ago. Still, though, he says perhaps as early as the end of this century, the entire city could be swallowed up by gulf waters. He says one thing that can be done to delay the inevitable is to restart the Mid-Baritaria Sediment Diversion Project that was cancelled last year.
Cut 6 (13) “…big storm surges.”
The authors of the study, which was published in the journal Nature Sustainability, says erosion can potentially shift the coast as much as 60 miles inland, which would also put cities like Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles in danger.
______________________________________________
Tomorrow, the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee will begin public hearings on a new legislative map, which is necessitated after the Supreme Court declared the current map an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says when all is said and done, Louisiana will likely send an additional Republican to Washington next year.
Cut 7 (09) “…safe Democratic district.”
Cross says the most likely outcome is a map that yields five Republican-leaning districts and one Democratic-leaning district.
Cut 8 (12) “…the Supreme Court.”
Many Democrats will likely be pushing for a map that yields the same partisan makeup as the current one, but Cross says it will be next to impossible to draw one up that will pass Constitutional muster.
Cut 9 (09) “…thing in mind.”
The legislature must finalize a new map by June 1st, which is when the session must end. After a new map is adopted, the U.S. House election process will start again from square one.
_________________________________________________________
The Louisiana Senate has responded to last month’s fatal mass shooting at the Mall of Louisiana by passing legislation that would result in a death penalty charge the next time a gunman fires his or her gun at a crowd of people and kills someone. Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh added an amendment to a House-approved bill that expands the definition of first-degree murder to such a situation.
Cut 10 (10) “…upon that person.”
Seabaugh says the way the legislation is written, the death penalty would still be on the table for the defendant even if he or she shoots an unintended target.
Cut 11 (10) “…to kill him.”
On April 23rd, 17-year-old Martha Odom of Lafayette Parish was fatally shot when another teenager allegedly shot at a group of people. Odom was one of six people shot. Investigators say she was an innocent bystander.
First-degree murder charges are usually handed down if a person kills another person while also committing a felony. There was very little discussion when Seabaugh brought the amendment up for a vote.
Cut 12 (09) “…you actually hit.”
The legislation passed on a 35 to nothing vote and heads to the House floor for concurrence.
_________________________________________
The Louisiana Department of Health has released its annual report card on drinking water. L-D-H provides a letter grade for each of the state’s 909 community public water systems. L-D-H Chief Engineer Steven Joubert says there are fewer “D” and “F” graded systems — it went down from 105 in 2024 to 90 in 2025.
Cut 13 (10) “…seek to improve.”
Joubert says the water system grades can be found on L-D-H’s website.
Cut 14 (07) “…at that report.”
Sixty-seven-percent, or 608, of the state’s 909 community public water systems received “A” grade. Several water systems in St. Tammany Parish received an “A” grade, along with systems in East and West Baton Rouge parishes, as well as West Bank Water System in New Orleans.
Shreveport received an “F” grade, and that’s based on seven criteria that includes operation and maintenance, infrastructure sustainability and customer satisfaction. Joubert says Shreveport is taking steps to improve its water system infrastructure.
Cut 15 (06) “…work to improve.”
_________________________________________
The LSU baseball team will begin a series against sixth-ranked Georgia tomorrow night. It will be a tough test for the Tigers’ pitching staff as the Bulldogs have one of the best offenses in the country. LSU has a team ERA above five, and they lead the league in walks allowed and wild pitches. Pitching Coach Nate Yeskie…
Cut 16 (15) “…and support them.”
William Schmidt is expected to make his second straight Friday night start. He’s 5-4, with a 3.90 ERA. Schmidt has had some struggles, but Yeskie was encouraged with his last start against South Carolina…
Cut 17 (21) “…of the stretch.”
Deven Sheerin has emerged as LSU’s best reliever. He has a 3.16 ERA with four saves and has struck out 48 in 31.1 innings pitched. Sheerin missed last season because of a knee injury and Yeskie says the big right-hander used the year off productively…
Cut 18 (17) “…him some perspective.”