Fortified roofs were the main focus at the annual Louisiana Department of Insurance conference. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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A strong effort is ongoing to get the “Little Cajun Saint,” Charlene Richard canonized as a Saint. Colleen Crain has the story…
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A wildlife has burned 15-hundred acres in the Kisatchie National Forest, but Jeff Palermo reports officials are confident they can get fire contained by the end of the week…
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Fortified roofs were the main focus of last week’s annual Louisiana Department of Insurance conference. Commissioner Tim Temple says fortified roofs have proven to lower homeowner’s insurance premiums by as much as 50-percent.
In the past, the state had grant programs, in which homeowners entered into a lottery to be selected for a discounted fortified roof. Temple says no additional grant programs are currently scheduled, although there may be some coming in the future.
But he says thanks to the legislature this past session, homeowners can receive a higher tax deduction if they pay for fortified roof…
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Louisiana issued just 313 fortification certificates prior to 2023, but thanks to the state providing funding for the Fortify Homes Program, 54-hundred properties have been certified as of last February.
Temple says in the future, he would like building codes amended so that all new homes are built with fortified roofs.
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The five deep-water ports of the Lower Mississippi River have partnered up to develop a unified marketing strategy. Chairman of the Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission, Joe Toomy, says this collaboration will allow each port to emphasize their own strength…
The Port of Greater Baton Rouge, Port of South Louisiana, Port of New Orleans, Saint Bernard Port and Louisiana Gateway Port make up this strategic initiative. Toomy says the ports have traditionally worked independently, but two years ago discussions began that they should unify…
Toomy says this united effort between these five lower Mississippi River ports will help increase international trade, drive economic growth and attract new business…
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The Vatican is considering The Little Cajun Saint for sainthood as it’s believed she has performed miracles. Charlene Richard from Acadia Parish died in 1959 from leukemia at the age of 12 years old. President of the Charlene Richard Foundation, Nanette Reiners, says Richard knew she would die at a young age, but every day she offered her suffering for other people…
Word of Reiner’s deep faith and her passion to help others spread, resulting in many visiting her grave to pray and ask for their prayers to be answered. Reiners says several of those prayers were answered, including a pregnant woman from New York who was told by doctors her fetus had two severe brain abnormalities…
The Catholic Church considers someone for sainthood if they have performed at least two documented miracles. Reiners says the Dioceses of Lafayette and Alexandria have submitted evidence of the unexplainable happenings that have occurred as a result of Charlene’s intercession…
Richard has been declared a Servant of God. It remains to be seen if she will be declared Venerable, than Blessed and then finally a “Saint.” There are 11 canonized American Saints and Richard would be the first from Louisiana.
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Firefighters hope to have wildlife burning in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area in Natchitoches Parish contained by the end of the week. A lighting strike on August 3rd sparked the fire that has burned 15 hundred acres. Kisatchie National Forest spokesperson Jim Caldwell says they are using various methods to extinguish the blaze, and they can use some help from Mother Nature…
There are 110 people from ten states involved in fighting what is called the Backbone Fire. Caldwell says the Kisatchie National Forest has seen its share of wildfires, but this one is difficult to battle because of the terrain…
Caldwell says because of the wildlife, the entire Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area is closed….
Caldwell they are also urging the public to avoid the Longleaf Trail National Scenic Byway because of visibility issues from the smoke. No structures have been damaged and they do not foresee that from happening.
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Blake Baker enters his second season as the LSU defensive coordinator. The Tigers finished 61st in total defense last season. With Harold Perkins returning from an ACL injury, the LSU defense will be one of the most top-heavy linebacker rooms in the country. Baker says Perkins will be fun to watch this season.
South Florida transfer defensive tackle Bernard Gooden is one of the key additions that Baker and the staff are high on. Baker says Gooden’s smaller size helps him get off the ball quicker.
LSU not only added an abundance of defensive linemen in the transfer portal, but it also added two experienced safeties. Temarcus Cooley transferred in from NC State and AJ Haulcy transferred in from Houston. Baker says that Haulcy plays with a certain style that will help the entire defense.
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Tony Franklin returns as Louisiana Tech’s offensive coordinator this year after serving in the same role under Sonny Dykes from 2010-2012. Franklin brings over fifteen years of college coaching to the Bulldogs where he is known for his ability to develop the quarterback position. With a a quarterback battle between Blake Baker, Evan Bullock, and Trey Cook ongoing, Franklin likes what he sees from each player.
Louisiana Tech struggled for the most part offensively last season, but the Bulldogs return one of the best tight ends in the country in Eli Finley. Finley totaled 314 yards receiving with two touchdowns last season. Franklin says that Finley has the potential to be one of the top tight ends he has ever coached.