Louisiana has seen a relatively strong growth in personal income in the second quarter of 2018. Kevin Barnhart has the details.
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Ruston lawmaker Rob Shadoin announced today he’s resigning from the state House of Representatives to take a job in Baton Rouge as the deputy counsel for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Shadoin, who is in his second term, says 10 legislative sessions since 2016 made it difficult on his solo law practice.

Former soldier Ryan Taylor of New Llano has received a federal sentence of 11-plus years for creating a homemade bomb filled with chlorine gas and then detonating it on Fort Polk training grounds in the Kisatchie National Forest. The incident happened in April of 2017. U-S Attorney David Joseph says two responding soldiers suffered health effects that still cause problems today…
cut 11 (08) “…forever altered”
The chemical weapon created by Taylor is banned under international and national laws because of how it can impact a person’s body.

Governor John Bel Edwards was on hand in Lake Charles today when officials dedicated the 18-million dollar improvement made to Chennault International Airport’s two-mile runway. Edwards says this will enhance operations at the facility, which already houses major companies Northrop Grumman and Citadel Completions….
cut 13 (10) “…of companies”

At a 5.9 percent increase, Louisiana has seen a relatively strong growth in personal income in the second quarter of 2018, ranking second in the nation only to Texas at 6%.  The construction sector was responsible for most of the growth.  LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says while the healthcare sector is seeing growth, it’s following a national trend.

Cut 5 (10)  “…to go up.” 

Most of the Zachary Fire Department emergency response team returned home last night from the Carolinas after a 14 day mission responding to floods and damage from Hurricane Florence in South Carolina. Chief Mike Kimble says Louisiana emergency response teams are quickly becoming veteran first responders who are called upon by state’s across the nation.

Cut 8 (09) “…South Carolina”

Kimble says twos of his team are still in South Carolina.

Former soldier Ryan Taylor of New Llano has been sentenced to over 11 years in prison for manufacturing and detonating a chemical weapon at a Fort Polk training area. US Attorney David Joseph says one of the former soldiers may need a lung transplant because of the damage from inhaling the chlorine gas. He says they don’t know Taylor’s motivation, but they know he liked constructing devices that would explode…

Cut 10 (10) “…kind of a bomb”

Governor John Bel Edwards is in Lake Charles today for two events.  The first being the dedication ceremony of the newly renovated runway at Chennault International Airport.  The other event, welcoming the Houston Rockets to the campus of McNeese as they begin training camp.  In relation to the airport, Edwards says the renovation of the two-mile runway, one of the longest in the nation, is an investment into the future of the region.
Cut 12 (10)   “…for Lake Charles.” 

At a 5.9 percent increase, Louisiana has seen a relatively strong growth in personal income in the second quarter of 2018, ranking second in the nation. Manufacturing may have been the most expansive sector, but Scott says the oil industry seeing an uptick is also a contributing factor.

Cut 4 (10) “…a little bit.”

Texas led the nation at 6 percent.

Most of the Zachary Fire Department emergency response team returned home last night from the Carolinas after a 14 day mission responding to floods and damage from Hurricane Florence. Chief Mike Kimble says Louisiana crews evacuated hundreds of people including a few folks who were trapped on a flooded car in a swift current…

Cut 7 (11) “…those people.”

Kimble says two of his team are still in South Carolina.

Former soldier Ryan Taylor of New Llano has been sentenced to over 11 years in prison for manufacturing and detonating a chemical weapon at a Fort Polk training area. US Attorney David Joseph says a device containing chlorine gas exploded in the Kisatchie National Forest in April 2017. He says two responding soldiers who inhaled the chlorine gas had their military careers end because of the damage to their bodies…

cut 9 (06) “…shortness of breath”

Joseph says one of the former soldiers may need a lung transplant because of the damage from inhaling the chlorine gas, but he says the victims appear to be pleased with the sentence.

Most of the Zachary Fire Department emergency response team returned home last night from the Carolinas after a 14 day mission responding to floods and damage from Hurricane Florence in South Carolina. Chief Mike Kimble says Louisiana crews evacuated hundreds of people, and were responsible for saving the lives of six, including a few Carolina firemen.

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Three boats were dispatched and the men returned home safe.

At a 5.9 percent increase, Louisiana has seen a relatively strong growth in personal income in the second quarter of 2018, ranking second in the nation at 6%.  The construction sector was responsible for most of the growth.  LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says two things really stand out.

Cut 3 (12) “…at the national level.” 

The Bayou State is getting a 24-million dollar boost from the federal government to help us rehabilitate opioid addicts and keep them from falling back into the habit that’s killing thousands across the country every year. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Health Office of Behavioral Health Dr. Janice Petersen says it’ll help expand recovery facilities….

Cut 11 (09)   “…provided”

The grant comes courtesy of the CDC and the US Department of Health.

A Fort Polk solider has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for illegally making and deploying a chemical weapon in the woods of the Kisatchie National Forest. The solider grabbed photos of the incident as well, which ultimately ended the careers of two military investigators who later inhaled the Chlorine gas and suffered long term damage as a result. 24- Ryan Taylor plead guilty to the charges.

Visitors to the Louisiana Capitol may have noticed that scaffolding used to restore the building’s limestone and mortar is gone.  But work is still needed on the 86 year old building, so a new walkway is being built to shelter those walking into the front doors from falling mortar.  Louisiana Division of Administration spokesman Jacques Berry says the front doors are expected to be reopened before the end of the calendar year.

Cut 4 (11) “…top of the steps.”
After 15 years on the run, 44 year old Lonnie Payne is returning to East Feliciana Parish in shackles.  Payne had been living in Mexico since his July 2003 escape, when he was serving twelve years for a burglary in Jefferson Parish.  Last month, he attempted to come back to the states, presented border officials with a fake identity and after a few days in a Mexican jail, decided to give up and tell the US Consulate the details of his true identity.

The Bayou State is getting a 24-million dollar boost from the federal government to help us rehabilitate opioid addicts and keep them from falling back into the habit that’s killing thousands across the country every year. The federal grant will go to the state Department of Health. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health Dr. Janice Petersen says it’ll fund a comprehensive recovery program.

Cut 10 (10)   “support services.“

The trust fund that covers unemployment benefits for the state is projected to hit one billion dollars this year.  The trust fund, managed by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, is the twelfth strongest in the nation.  Dejoie says the next big milestone for the trust fund will be 1.275 billion, which will trigger beneficial results for employers who pay into the fund as well as those that draw the benefits from it.

Cut 14 (08) “…will go up.”

The Louisiana Restore Homeowners Assistance program has reopened its application process for those who suffered damage in the floods of 2016, on the heels of reports that Congress is nearing a deal that would allow those who received SBA loans to be eligible for federal grant rebuilding money. Division of Administration Executive Director Pat Forbes says the change to “Duplication of Benefits” policy is incredibly meaningful.
Cut 7 (12) “…debt burden”
For more information go to restore-dot-la-dot-gov.

Traffic is backed up on I-10 West in St. Martin Parish, because a construction crane fell on an S-U-V. One person was reportedly airlifted to a nearby hospital. A second crane at the site will be used to remove the fallen crane.

Scaffolding used to restore limestone and mortar at the Louisiana Capitol building is gone, but the job isn’t quite done as it’s been put on hold until more funding becomes available…
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The Louisiana Health Department has received a 24-million dollar federal grant to combat the opioid overdose epidemic. Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health, Doctor Janice Petersen, says the money will go towards prevention, increasing access to medication-assisted treatment and they’ll also use the dollars to help former addicts find work…
cut 12 (07) “….society”

Louisiana’s Congressional delegation expects legislation will be approved this week that removes the duplication of benefits provision that’s prevented thousands of 2016 flood victims from receiving additional assistance from the federal government. Executive director of the Division of Administration, Pat Forbes, says expanding the Restore Louisiana program to those who received SBA loans will result in an additional 215 million dollars in benefits making their way into flood victims’ hands.
Cut 8 (12) “…additional funds”
Louisiana has reopened the survey that must be completed to receive RESTORE grants, with a new deadline of October 19th. The deadline to finish completing the application for the funds has been pushed back to November 16th.

Louisiana receives a 24 million dollar grant from the feds to help fight the opioid epidemic. Matt Doyle has more.
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The front doors to the state capitol have been closed for nearly three years as a result work to repair the mortar and limestone on the first few floors of the 86-year-old building. But Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says they hope to re-open the doors soon, once a covered walkway is constructed…
cut 5 (07) “…to the tourist”
Berry says a covered walkway is needed, because old mortar from the upper floors could still fall to the ground.

Louisiana is the recipient of a 24-million dollar federal grant that will be used to combat the opioid overdose epidemic. Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health Doctor Janice Petersen says half of the grant will go towards improving access to treatment and reducing opioid overdose-related deaths through prevention strategies…
cut 11 (09) “…provided”

The front doors to the State Capitol have been closed for nearly three years as workers repaired the mortar and limestone on the first few floors of the 86-year-old building. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says the work is still not done on the exterior, but they hope to open the front doors for visitors with the construction of a walkway to protect them from pieces of mortar that may fall of the structure…
cut 4 (11) “…top of the steps”

The application process for federal grant rebuilding dollars through the Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program has has been reopened for 2016 flood victims…
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Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Lake Charles today. At 10 he’ll attend a dedication ceremony for the newly renovated runway at Chennault International Airport. After that event, the governor will welcome the Houston Rockets, who are holding a week-long training camp at McNeese.