LUY-Development

Category: Regional News

  • Rare blue supermoon brightens the night sky this week in the closest full moon of the year

    Rare blue supermoon brightens the night sky this week in the closest full moon of the year

    CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Stargazers are in for a double treat this week: a rare blue supermoon with Saturn peeking from behind.

    The cosmic curtain rises Wednesday night with the second full moon of the month, the reason it’s considered blue. It’s dubbed a supermoon because it’s closer to Earth than usual, appearing especially big and bright.

    This will be the closest full moon of the year, just 222,043 miles (357,344 kilometers) or so away. That’s more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) closer than the Aug. 1 supermoon.

    As a bonus, Saturn will be visible as a bright point 5 degrees to the upper right of the moon at sunset in the east-southeastern sky, according to NASA. The ringed planet will appear to circle clockwise around the moon as the night wears on.

  • Louisiana Public Service Commissioner ask Louisiana utility companies to halt customer disconnect during heat state of emergency

    Louisiana Public Service Commissioner ask Louisiana utility companies to halt customer disconnect during heat state of emergency

    Baton Rouge –  Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis plans to ask the state’s utility companies to delay customer disconnections for non-payment, days after Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency. Lewis says the heat can be deadly and no one should go without power in these conditions.

    “While I understand they do not want to give the preference that people may not pay, this is life or death for people and we cannot be looking at profit margins over people’s health and life.”

    Lewis says there’s currently a heat advisory disconnection policy in place that if it’s over a certain temperature customers cannot be disconnected. The District Three Democrat represents 10 parishes, that include Baton Rouge and New Orleans, says he’ll make the request at today’s PSC meeting.

    “I will make a formal request today to all utilities. That includes water and natural gas to not disconnect anyone’s services throughout the heat state of emergency that the governor has issued.”

    While it is common for electric utilities to pause disconnects following natural disasters and other emergencies, Lewis believes utilities are a human right, not a privilege and not a commodity…

    “I need everyone to come to the table to center our people, center their health, and make choices that are just good for our society. Even if it’s not the best business practice for them.”

  • Saints’ Kamara suspended for 3 games, apologizes for role in 2022 fight, thanks Goodell for meeting

    Saints’ Kamara suspended for 3 games, apologizes for role in 2022 fight, thanks Goodell for meeting

    METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Saints star running back Alvin Kamara and Colts defensive back Chris Lammons each have been suspended for three regular-season games by the NFL because of their involvement in a February 2022 fight in Las Vegas.

    The NFL released its decision on Friday, two days after Kamara was excused from training camp to meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell.

    Kamara and Lammons pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges last month in a deal with prosecutors in Las Vegas that avoided trial and potential jail time.

    Kamara has been one of New Orleans’ most productive players as a rusher and receiver since being named offensive rookie of the year for the 2017 season.

    Speaking after practice Friday, but before the suspension had been announced, Kamara was contrite and expressed a desire to make wiser decisions going forward.

    “I never want to be involved in something where someone gets hurt or severely injured or anything. Poor judgment on my end, definitely a bad decision,” Kamara said. “I was completely wrong, embarrassed the Saints, embarrassed my family, my mother. Embarrassed myself.

    “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tough,” Kamara continued. “I’ve lost a lot throughout this ordeal. I’m definitely not looking for any pity and not looking for somebody to give me a pat on the back and say, ‘It’s OK.’ I know what I did. … And I definitely take responsibility. That’s part of being a man and growing. From here, I just got to make the right decisions and make the right choices.”

    (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

    Noting that he was out at 5 a.m. when the fight occurred on the eve of that season’s Pro Bowl, Kamara said he’d begun making a series of unwise choices well before the altercation and would have been better served by following former NFL coach Tony Dungy’s advice to players that they not to stay out past midnight.

    Kamara thanked Goodell for meeting with him on Thursday and said his visit went well.

    “I think we got accomplished what we needed to get accomplished,” he said. “Happy I got a chance to do that.”

    But Kamara declined to go into detail about what he discussed with the commissioner. Goodell has not commented on the meeting and NFL communications staff also have declined to comment.

    Kamara played throughout the 2022 season while the NFL waited for a resolution to his and Lammons’ court case.

    The two players were accused, along with two other defendants, of beating Darnell Greene Jr., of Houston, unconscious following an altercation that spilled out of an elevator and into a hallway.

    Kamara and Lammons pleaded no contest on July 11 to misdemeanors and agreed to each pay just more than $100,000 toward Greene’s medical costs. The plea agreements came in conjunction with a settlement of a civil case Greene filed. Financial terms of that deal remain undisclosed.

    Under the NFL’s player conduct policy, the league office may issue suspensions for conduct that is “illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible puts innocent victims at risk, damages the reputation of others in the game, and undercuts public respect and support for the NFL.”

    A conviction is not required for the NFL to suspend a player. The league reserves the right to take an independent view of available evidence, which in Kamara’s case, includes security video of the fight.

    In 15 games last season, Kamara gained 1,387 yards from scrimmage — 897 rushing and 490 receiving. He scored two TDs rushing and caught two scoring passes.

    For his career, Kamara has 8,888 yards from scrimmage (5,135 rushing, 3,753 receiving) and has scored 71 TDs (49 rushing, 22 receiving).

    Before Friday, Kamara had not done any interviews since training camp began last week because he wasn’t ready to publicly revisit his trouble in Las Vegas.

    “It’s hanging over you,” Kamara recounted. “Obviously, it’s self-inflicted. But nonetheless, it’s still something that’s, you know, it’s like a dark cloud. … It’s hard to kind of enjoy some of the smaller things.”

    Now, Kamara said, he’s comfortable — for the first time in about a year and a half — opening up publicly about past mistakes and moving forward productively.

    He said he felt like he “just had like a little boost in practice. I just felt better, like a weight was off.”

    BY BRETT MARTEL
    Updated 2:07 PM CDT, August 4, 2023
  • Saints Safety Tyrann Mathieu Works Preseason Shift, Hosts Fundraiser Event at Raising Cane’s

    Saints Safety Tyrann Mathieu Works Preseason Shift, Hosts Fundraiser Event at Raising Cane’s

    Metairie, LA (August 5, 2023) – Two Louisiana originals – Tyrann Mathieu and Raising Cane’s – teamed up today to serve fans Box Combos while raising money for the Tyrann Mathieu Foundation at the Raising Cane’s in Metairie, steps away from Saints training camp.

    Tyrann Mathieu working shift at Raising Cane’s

    The all-star safety greeted “Who Dat Nation,” who piled in the dining room and lined up in cars by the dozens for a chance to be served Cane’s craveable Chicken Finger meals by the “Honey Badger” himself. Tyrann worked the front counter and Drive Thru, trading interceptions for the intercom and ensuring the hot, fresh chicken was served safely.

    Tyrann Mathieu at Raising Cane’s

    Tyrann also FaceTimed Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves, who, in addition to the funds raised by each mention of Tyrann’s fundraiser throughout the event, doubled down by surprising the star with a check donation on behalf of Raising Cane’s in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars.

    Mathieu recieves check from Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves

    “I’ve always wanted to partner with Raising Cane’s, and being back home in Louisiana, it felt like the perfect opportunity,” said Mathieu. “I appreciate the donation. It really means a lot!”

    “Proud to support a Louisiana-favorite and his foundation,” said Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves. “It’s great to have Tyrann back home playing for the Saints and appreciate him giving back to the community through the Tyrann Mathieu Foundation and his football camp, Heart of a Badger.”

    ABOUT THE TYRANN MATHIEU FOUNDATION:

    Tyrann Mathieu Foundation, established by NFL player Tyrann Mathieu, is dedicated to providing resources and support to children and families in need. The foundation focuses on education, mentorship, and personal development programs to empower underserved communities and create opportunities for success. For more information about the Tyrann Mathieu Foundation and its initiatives, please visit www.tyrannmathieufoundation.org.

    ABOUT RAISING CANE’S®:

    Raising Cane’s is one of the fastest growing restaurant brands, with 750+ Restaurants in 35+ states, the Middle East and Guam and plans to open 100 new Restaurants across several new markets in 2023.  The company recently announced plans to be one of the top 10 Restaurant brands in the United States and is known for its ONE LOVE® – craveable Chicken Finger meals – which includes the iconic “Cane’s Sauce” – named the #1 most craveable sauce in the restaurant industry and most craveable chicken. For more information visit raisingcanes.com.

    *All photos courtesy of Bryce Ell*

  • Natchez mayor gives State of the City address

    Natchez mayor gives State of the City address

    NATCHEZ, Miss. – Mayor Dan Gibson used his annual State of the City address  Monday to highlight the accomplishments of his administration and thank the people helping fulfill what he calls the “Natchez Renewal.”

     

    As Gibson enters the fourth year of his term and prepares for his 2024 re-election bid, the mayor said he aspires for more jobs, businesses, tourism, health-care services, infrastructure and other improvements being sought for the city of about 14,000 residents.

     

    “The year ahead is going to be the most important year of this four-year term. We have so much to celebrate in what we have accomplished, but we also still have so much to do,” he said. “It is time for us to finish strong. Our race is not over.”

    Since he took office in July 2020, Gibson said, more than 1,000 new jobs have been created by Natchez-Adams County’s growing economy. It’s generated about $8 million more in revenues for the city treasury than three years ago – without a tax increase.

     

    When Gibson was elected mayor, Natchez and the world were gripped by the COVID pandemic that sickened people and the economy.

     

    During the post-COVID recovery, the city has embarked on multimillion-dollar projects with the help of federal, state and local funds along with bond issues.

     

    Gibson pointed to the $6 million repaving of at least 45 Natchez streets starting in August and $5 million worth of improvements for the Natchez Convention Center and City Auditorium that could be under construction by year’s end. These are being funded by the city borrowing money through bonds.

     

    He expressed confidence that several long-stalled Natchez developments will happen. They include the restoration and reopening of the Eola hotel, the renovation of the Broadway Street train depot and the return of commercial passenger air service at the Natchez-Adams County Airport.

     

    Gibson said the city’s crime rate has decreased by 40 percent from five years ago. (Natchez reported 946 violent crimes and thefts in 2018.)

     

    He expressed appreciation to various people and groups for their support and efforts in keeping Natchez “humming.”

     

    “Our Natchez Renewal is happening all because of you,” he said in his hour-long address delivered at a sparsely crowded City Auditorium and live streamed on Facebook and YouTube.

     

    Gibson especially credited the Natchez Board of Aldermen: Valencia Hall, Billie Joe Frazier, Sarah Carter Smith, Felicia Irving, Ben Davis and Curtis Moroney.

     

    “We may not always agree, but we always manage to come forward with a solid majority for the good of Natchez moving this Natchez Renewal forward,” Gibson said. 

     

    The mayor’s 2023 State of the City address can be replayed on Natchez’ Facebook and YouTube pages: 

    www.facebook.com/cityofnatchezms/videos/826663848814818

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AtfhCBCPNs&t=2423s

  • Saints Bring Back Tight End Jimmy Graham and Add Guard Trai Turner

    Saints Bring Back Tight End Jimmy Graham and Add Guard Trai Turner

    METAIRIE, La. (AP) — The New Orleans Saints have brought back former tight end Jimmy Graham and also agreed to contract terms with guard Trai Turner.

    The moves came Tuesday as veterans reported for the club’s training camp at team headquarters.

    The 36-year-old Graham, who did not play last season, became an unusual success story early in his career, having played only one season of college football at Miami — where he was a four-year basketball player — before the Saints made him a third-round draft choice in 2010.

    In just his second NFL season, with Drew Brees as his quarterback, the 6-foot-7 Graham caught 99 passes for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named to his first of five Pro Bowls. He had another banner season in 2013, with 1,215 yards and a career-high 16 TDs receiving.

    His run in New Orleans ended when he was traded in 2015 to Seattle, where he twice more caught 10 TD passes in a season but never reached the 1,000-yard receiving plateau in his three seasons with the Seahawks.

    Graham also spent two seasons each at Green Bay and Chicago. In his final season with the Bears in 2021, Graham caught 14 passes for 167 yards and three TDs.

    The 6-3, 315-pound Turner, a former LSU standout and a starter throughout his career, was a Carolina Panthers’ third-round draft choice in 2014. He spent his first six NFL seasons with Carolina but now is on his fourth team in as many seasons after spending 2020 with the Los Angeles Chargers, 2021 with Pittsburgh and last season with Washington.

    – By Brett Martel, AP Sports Writer

  • USDA Reminds Agricultural Producers of July 14 Deadline to Apply for Pandemic and Natural Disaster Revenue Loss Programs

    USDA Reminds Agricultural Producers of July 14 Deadline to Apply for Pandemic and Natural Disaster Revenue Loss Programs

    Alexandria, Louisiana, July 06, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers of the July 14 deadline to apply for both the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two and the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP). These revenue-based programs help offset revenue losses from 2020 and 2021 natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic.

    ERP and PARP offer a holistic approach to disaster assistance and provide economic support for producers who bear the financial brunt of circumstances beyond their control.

    “With a focus on revenue-based assistance, our goal is to provide all producers of eligible crops and livestock, including new and underserved producers, with the financial support they need to recover from the compounded, adverse economic impacts of market and weather instabilities,” said Ronald Guidry, Jr., State Executive Director for FSA in Louisiana. “Applying this holistic approach to assistance acknowledges the myriad of crises that producers have faced in recent years, from the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic to the more frequent and intense natural disaster events that have devastated farms, ranches and communities across rural America.”

    Eligibility     To be eligible for ERP Phase Two, producers must have suffered a decrease in allowable gross revenue in 2020 or 2021 due to necessary expenses related to losses of eligible crops from a qualifying natural disaster event. Assistance will be primarily to producers of crops that were not covered by Federal Crop Insurance or NAP, since crops covered by Federal Crop Insurance and NAP were included in the assistance under ERP Phase One.       To be eligible for PARP, an agricultural producer must have been in the business of farming during at least part of the 2020 calendar year and had a 15% or greater decrease in allowable gross revenue for the 2020 calendar year, as compared to a baseline year.      FSA offers an online ERP tool and PARP tool that can help producers determine what is considered allowable gross revenue for each respective program. Through cooperative agreements with FSA, nine organizations are also providing free ERP Phase Two application assistance to producers across the United States and territories.

    ERP Phase Two Policy Updates

    USDA recently updated ERP Phase Two to provide a method for valuing losses and accessing program benefits to eligible producers of certain crops, including grapes grown and used by the same producer for wine production or forage that is grown, stored and fed to livestock, that do not generate revenue directly from the sale of the crop.

    The value of the eligible crop intended for on-farm use will be based on the producer’s actual production of the crop and a price for the crop as determined by FSA’s Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs based on the best available data for each crop such as published crop price data or the average price obtained by other producers in the area. Acceptable, published sources including but are not limited to Federal Crop Insurance Corporation established prices, FSA established National Crop Table prices and National Agricultural Statistic Service prices.

    Revenue and pricing guidelines for expected revenue for wine grapes and on-farm forage is available online for producer reference and convenience when applying for ERP Phase Two.

    Requirement to Purchase Crop Insurance or NAP Coverage

    All producers who receive ERP Phase 2 payments must purchase crop insurance, or NAP coverage where crop insurance is not available, in the next two available crop years as determined by the Secretary. Purchased coverage must be at 60/100 level of coverage or higher for insured crops, or at the catastrophic coverage level or higher for NAP crops.

    Crops that are not eligible for crop insurance or NAP are still eligible for ERP Phase Two, but producers must obtain Whole Farm Revenue Protection or Micro Farm Program policy to meet linkage requirements.

    Maximize FSA Office Visits

    Producers should contact their local FSA office to make an appointment to apply for ERP Phase Two and PARP assistance. Producers should also keep in mind that July 15 is a major deadline to complete acreage reports for most crops. FSA encourages producers to complete the ERP Phase Two application, PARP application and acreage reporting during the same office visit.

    More Information  

    For more information, view the ERP Phase Two Fact Sheet, PARP Fact Sheet, the ERP Phase Two-PARP Comparison Fact Sheet, ERP Phase Two application video tutorial, PARP application video tutorial, myth-buster blog or contact your local USDA Service Center.

    USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

  • Supreme Court unfreezes Louisiana redistricting case that could boost power of Black voters

    Supreme Court unfreezes Louisiana redistricting case that could boost power of Black voters

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday lifted its hold on a Louisiana case that could force the state to redraw congressional districts to boost Black voting power.

    The order follows the court’s rejection earlier in June of a congressional redistricting map in Alabama and unfreezes the Louisiana case, which had been on hold pending the decision in Alabama.

    In both states, Black voters are a majority in just one congressional district. Lower courts had ruled that the maps raised concerns that Black voting power had been diluted, in violation of the landmark federal Voting Rights Act.

    The justices put the Louisiana case on hold and allowed the state’s challenged map to be used in last year’s elections after they agreed to hear the Alabama case.

    The case had separately been appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The justices said that appeal now could go forward in advance of next year’s congressional elections.

  • ‘A circus’: Mississippi Supreme Court Justice decries efforts to keep him in lawsuit

    ‘A circus’: Mississippi Supreme Court Justice decries efforts to keep him in lawsuit

    JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — In a rare address to a federal court Wednesday, Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph called efforts to attach him to a lawsuit challenging a new state law a “circus” with “no legal precedent in U.S. history.”

    Randolph was named a defendant in the lawsuit challenging House Bill 1020. The legislation was signed into law by Republican Gov. Tate Reeves in April. The new state law, which U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate has temporarily prevented from taking effect, expands the state’s role in courts and policing in Jackson.

    Speaking before Wingate, Randolph said Wednesday was the first day in over 19 years that he addressed a courtroom from the podium rather than from the judge’s bench.

    “I have never seen a circus like this one,” Randolph said. “I can’t find a case in U.S. history like this.”

    The lawsuit, filed by the national, state and local chapters of the NAACP, says “separate and unequal policing” will return to Mississippi’s majority-Black capital under the state-run police department whose territory would widen under the new state law. The law also creates a new court in part of Jackson with a judge appointed by Randolph and requires him to appoint four temporary judges to serve with the four elected judges in the area’s circuit court.

    Randolph said it is unprecedented for a state supreme court chief justice to be sued in a constitutional challenge to a state law.

    In a June 2 ruling, Wingate said Randolph could not be sued over the state law, removing him as a defendant in the lawsuit. Wingate cited the principle of judicial immunity, which prevents judges from being sued for most of their official acts.

    Attorneys for the NAACP argued Wednesday that Randolph should remain in the lawsuit as a “nominal party.” That could mean Randolph would remain in the suit even though he has no interest in its result.

    Reeves and legislative leaders said the law is intended to help curb crime. But, the NAACP and other critics say the creation of a new court and the appointment of judges by a white chief justice is a way for the majority-white and Republican-led Legislature to wrest local control from residents of Jackson and Hinds county, which are both majority-Black and governed by Democrats.

    After leaving the podium in federal court Wednesday, Randolph distributed documents to reporters that he said were photocopied letters and text messages from state judges. In the messages, the judges, some from Hinds County, thank Randolph for appointing special judges to reduce case backlogs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Randolph said the letters show he would not discriminate against a county when appointing judges.

    On Wednesday, Wingate also considered arguments about whether to consolidate the lawsuit over House Bill 1020 with a different lawsuit over another state law passed in 2023. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Mississippi Poor People’s Campaign and several other organizations, says Senate Bill 2343 will restrict free speech by requiring people to obtain permission from state law enforcement officials for any protest near state buildings.

    The NAACP lawsuit against House Bill 1020 claims the law is racially discriminatory under the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. The lawsuit against Senate Bill 2343 says the law violates the First Amendment’s protections.

  • St. Charles Parish sheriff explains how 28-year-old posed as a 17-year-old student at Hahnville High School

    St. Charles Parish sheriff explains how 28-year-old posed as a 17-year-old student at Hahnville High School

    Baton Rouge –  After receiving a tip that a 17-year-old student at Hahnville High School was instead an adult, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s office has arrested a 28-year-old Martha Jessenia Gutierrez-Serrano, and her 46-year-old mother, Marta Elizeth Serrano-Alvarado. Sheriff Greg Champagne said the two are charged with Injuring Public Records.

    “As far as we know she did nothing inappropriate at all, merely attended school. The information we got about the reason for her doing this was simple, she wanted to learn English, she wanted to become proficient at English,” said Champagne.

    He said investigators found a falsified Honduran birth certificate was used so she could attend school.

    Champagne said they wanted to notify the public especially those with children who attend Hahnville High School that there is no evidence of any other criminal activity or inappropriate behavior.  He said many are surprised how a 28-year-old woman was able to pose as a 17-year-old student for the last year.

    “I saw the photograph and she looked to me like a young teenager. So, I’m not surprised at all that based upon appearances alone, she was certainly accepted at face value for the age that the falsified birth certificate said,” Champagne explained.

    Champagne said there are other options available for those who want to learn English as a second language.

    “There are GED programs available, they may not have been as convenient as a public high school two miles away, but those options are available. Certainly, that is a much better option than falsifying an official government document,” said Champagne.

    Because the student did not have any transcripts when she enrolled, she was placed in the ninth grade.