Louisiana had to shell out 2.3 million dollars responding to cyberattacks the past year, 1.7 million of it on the November ransomware attack that crippled the Office of Motor Vehicles. Matt Doyle has the story.
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The United Cajun Navy is helping in the aftermath of a deadly tornado outbreak that killed at least 24 people earlier this week in Tennessee. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
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Construction is set to begin later this month for a project to replace the 60-year-old LA 532 overpass over I-20 in Webster Parish. DOTD spokesperson Erin Buchanan says the final utility relocation is underway now and once that is finished, the construction will start.
Cut 3 (10) “…the construction process.”
The brand new overpass is just east of Minden is expected to be complete in Fall 2021 and will cost $8 million.
The state has received $76 million from the feds to fund several projects. Buchanan says other projects include replacing three closed bridges in Red River and Bienville Parishes.
Cut 4 (12) “…in those parishes”
The 52-year-old LA 507 bridge between Womack and Castor in Red River Parish is being replaced by a $2.1 million project that is expected to start in April and finish in Spring 2021.
Buchanan says two bridges built in 1968 on LA 4 between Castor and Lucky in Bienville Parish have also closed for several months due to poor conditions. Buchanan says closures happen out of concern for safety.
Cut 5 (11) “…was too extensive.”
Those bridges will be replaced as part of a $2.3 million project set to begin in April and are also expected to wrap up in Spring 2021.
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The Louisiana Division of Administration had to spend 2.3 million dollars, mostly on personnel, responding to cyberattacks last year.
Spokesperson Jacques Berry says last year’s series of attacks are evidence that the threat to public sector entities from cyberspace is growing.
Berry says these kinds of attacks require fast responses, and they don’t come cheap.
He says the 2.3 million dollar figure does not include local government spending on the responses.
1.7 million of it went towards response to the massive ransomware attack that crippled the Office of Motor Vehicles in November, but hackers should know they’ll never get a dime from the state…
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Louisiana volunteers are helping in the aftermath of a deadly tornado outbreak in Nashville, Tennessee. United Cajun Navy founder Todd Terrell says the organization often recruits volunteers as the need for help arises.
Terrell says they’ve recruited volunteers from Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky to assist in their efforts and expects the number of volunteers to grow.
The United Cajun Navy is no stranger in helping following disasters. With this deployment, they are currently helping to feed a group of about 500. Terrell says it is basic hotdogs and hamburgers for now, but Cajun cuisine is on the way.
Cut 10 (11) “…are really effected.”
Terrell says they have partnered with a church in the area to establish a home base where they can receive any sort of contributions that Louisiana residents would like to send to help.
Cut 11 (10) “…Cajun Navy Facebook page.”
At least 24 people are dead as the result of the early Tuesday morning tornado outbreak and many are still unaccounted for.
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The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested 21-year-old Ashlin Faith Lewis, who was found passed out inside a vehicle with a crying infant in a car seat. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says the engine was running when a deputy approached the vehicle in a field south of Bogalusa
Cut 12 (06) “…soaked in urine.”
Haley says EMS was called to the scene and the infant was transported to Our Lady of Angels Hospital
Haley says a deputy woke Lewis up and she failed a sobriety test. He says heroin and drug paraphernalia were found on her possession and now she faces numerous charges….
Haley says Lewis was also wanted out of a Bogalusa on a warrant for the alleged assault of a health care worker.
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