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  • USDA Opens Signup for Market Facilitation Program

    USDA Opens Signup for Market Facilitation Program

    WASHINGTON, July 29, 2019 – Signup opens today for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program to assist farmers who continue to suffer from damages because of unjustified trade retaliation from foreign nations. Through MFP, USDA will provide up to $14.5 billion in direct payments to impacted producers, part of a broader trade relief package announced in late July. The sign-up period runs through Dec. 6.

    “Our team at USDA reflected on what worked well and gathered feedback on last year’s program to make this one even stronger and more effective for farmers. Our farmers work hard, are the most productive in the world, and we aim to match their enthusiasm and patriotism as we support them,” said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.

    MFP payments will be made to producers of certain non-specialty and specialty crops as well as dairy and hog producers.

    Non-Specialty Crops

    MFP payments will be made to producers of alfalfa hay, barley, canola, corn, crambe, dried beans, dry peas, extra-long staple cotton, flaxseed, lentils, long grain and medium grain rice, millet, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, rapeseed, rye, safflower, sesame seed, small and large chickpeas, sorghum, soybeans, sunflower seed, temperate japonica rice, triticale, upland cotton, and wheat.

    MFP assistance for 2019 crops is based on a single county payment rate multiplied by a farm’s total plantings to the MFP-eligible crops in aggregate in 2019. Those per acre payments are not dependent on which of those crops are planted in 2019. A producer’s total payment-eligible plantings cannot exceed total 2018 plantings. View payment rates by county.

    Dairy and Hogs

    Dairy producers who were in business as of June 1, 2019, will receive a per hundredweight payment on production history, and hog producers will receive a payment based on the number of live hogs owned on a day selected by the producer between April 1 and May 15, 2019.

    Specialty Crops

    MFP payments will also be made to producers of almonds, cranberries, cultivated ginseng, fresh grapes, fresh sweet cherries, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts. Each specialty crop will receive a payment based on 2019 acres of fruit or nut bearing plants, or in the case of ginseng, based on harvested acres in 2019.

    More Information

    Payments will be made in up to three tranches, with the second and third tranches evaluated as market conditions and trade opportunities dictate. If conditions warrant, the second and third tranches will be made in November and early January.

    MFP payments are limited to a combined $250,000 for non-specialty crops per person or legal entity. MFP payments are also limited to a combined $250,000 for dairy and hog producers and a combined $250,000 for specialty crop producers. However, no applicant can receive more than $500,000. Eligible applicants must also have an average adjusted gross income (AGI) for tax years 2015, 2016, and 2017 of less than $900,000, or 75 percent of the person’s or legal entity’s average AGI for those tax years must have been derived from farming and ranching. Applicants must also comply with the provisions of the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation regulations.

    More information can be found on farmers.gov/mfp, including payment information and a program application.

  • Did Hurricane Barry Prevent A Near-Record ‘Dead Zone’?

    Did Hurricane Barry Prevent A Near-Record ‘Dead Zone’?

    NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Scientists are back from measuring the Gulf of Mexico “dead zone” where there’s too little oxygen to sustain marine life in a large underwater area starting at the sea floor.

    One big question is whether Hurricane Barry reduced the size from a predicted near-record 7,800 square miles (20,200 square kilometers).

    That June forecast was based on the amount of fertilizer and other nutrients carried in Midwestern floodwaters to the Mississippi River. The nutrients feed algae, which die and then decompose on the sea floor, using up oxygen.

    But tropical storms roil the water, mixing in oxygen. Hurricane Barry made landfall July 13 — 10 days before the measurement cruise began.

    Scientists returned early Wednesday. There’s a Thursday afternoon media teleconference to describe their findings.

  • Chaos At Louisiana Walmart After 2 Men Argue, Pull Guns

    Chaos At Louisiana Walmart After 2 Men Argue, Pull Guns

    BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Two men arguing at a Walmart customer service counter pulled guns on each other, setting off a stampede of panicked customers, some of whom thought there had been a shooting.

    East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux says a preliminary investigation did not find any evidence of a shooting Tuesday at a Walmart store in Baton Rouge, though authorities are still investigating.

    The incident occurred three days after a gunman opened fire at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, leaving 22 people dead and dozens injured.

    Customers running out of the Louisiana store told deputies they had heard “popping” sounds which they thought were gunshots. Gautreaux says surveillance video showed two men pulling guns during an argument. One was detained. Police and deputies were looking for the other.

  • Immunization records now available online and free

    Immunization records now available online and free

    Baton Rouge, La. — With the beginning of school right around the corner, the Louisiana Department of Health is reminding residents that immunization records are available online, and at no cost, without the need to contact a healthcare provider at LA.MyIR.net.

    LA.MyIR.net is available for free to all state residents, and allows them to securely view, download and print official copies of their immunization records on demand. These printed records are accepted by schools, employers, state agencies and other organizations that require proof of immunization.

    “Having easy access to your family’s immunization records is the first step to maintaining your and your family’s health,” said Dr. Alex Billioux, assistant secretary of the Office of Public Health. “We want to remind residents, especially parents, that immunization records are available online in the event that they need their children’s immunization records for school or recreational activity registration.”

    LA.MyIR.net is also useful for anyone seeking to track their or their family’s immunization boosters and yearly vaccines, like the flu shot, and is an efficient way to share vaccine information when visiting a new healthcare provider for the first time.

    “LA.MyIR.net is a simple, convenient and secure way for state residents to access their immunization records anytime, anywhere they need them,” Billioux said. “This program will serve as a way to improve immunization rates throughout the state, reduce the administrative burden of immunization records requests for healthcare providers and empower patients to take greater control over their health.”

    By using the LA.MyIR.net website, residents can register for an account. This account can be personalized for each family member. Accounts are linked to the state immunization registry. Once activated, official immunizations records for the user and/or their family can be viewed, downloaded or printed.

    Gov. John Bel Edwards signed Act 192 into effect on June 11, expanding the statewide immunization registry, Louisiana Immunization Network (LINKS). The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy requires pharmacist vaccinators to enter the vaccines they administer into LINKS. Patients whose immunization records were already stored in LINKS will be able to access their records through LA.MyIR.net. People who sign up for LA.MyIR.net who are unable to access their records should ask their immunization provider to enter their records into LINKS.

    LA.MyIR.net is part of a pilot program funded and supported by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Vaccine Program Office.

    For more information, visit LA.MyIR.net.

  • Dedication “Proud To Take A Stand” Monument

    For the Natchez civil rights monument commemorating black marchers’ “Parchman Ordeal” 54 years ago, $38,300 was included last March in a bill that earmarks money for a variety of local projects around the state.
    Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell has been leading the efforts to build the monument that will memorialize the plight more than 150 blacks endured in 1965 when arrested and jailed by Natchez law-enforcement officers as the marchers were protesting for civil rights.
    With a total cost earlier estimated at about $115,000, the black granite monument and accompanying plaza is located at the corner of Jefferson and Canal streets on the Natchez City Auditorium grounds.
    The state funds for this can be combined with the $38,300 the city Board of Aldermen has allocated along with more than $15,000 the mayor has said has been raised in private funds for the monument’s construction.
    It’ll commemorate the “Parchman Ordeal” when blacks protesting segregation and obstruction of their voting rights were arrested. They were thrown into the city and county jails or corralled into City Auditorium.  According to historical accounts, many marchers wound up being bused to the state prison at Parchman, stripped naked in cold weather and inhumanely packed into cells in unsanitary conditions. They were released a few days later.
    Grennell has said the monument is “to memorialize those who were part of this horrific event,”
    City funds were provided by money it gets from the Magnolia Bluffs Casino in Natchez. The casino pays rent for leasing the city-owned land it occupies.
    Plans for the “Proud to Take a Stand” monument called for it to be a six-foot-tall, 12-foot-long semicircle monument. It’s to be accompanied by a sitting wall and small plaza with a written narrative of the event and names of those arrested. It’ll also take note of the official contrition expressed in 2015 by the Natchez Board of Aldermen in a resolution apologizing to blacks “who suffered these injustices.”
    From the Parchman Ordeal GoFundMe page:
    Our mission is to memorialize and commemorate those who were unjustly arrested in Natchez, MS. October 2-5, 1965 by establishing a monument in honor of those wronged for taking a stand against racism and injustices against blacks in Natchez.
    About this project
    The Story
    The south is no stranger to racial division. Natchez, MS.  in the early 1960s was heir to segregation, oppression, and a local tourism economy built on a promotion of white antebellum culture and the motto “Where the Old South Still Lives.” Now, 53 years later, after hundreds of black Natchez citizens faced unjust, harsh imprisonment at Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, the city plans to memorialize those involved in the infamous ordeal by remembering those who took a stand against injustice with a monument.
    Background
    KKK violence, public marches in Natchez streets, and harassment in retaliation for earl voter registration activities led to a climate of unrest in Natchez by early 1960s. The assassination of Civil Rights Activist Medgar Evers in Jackson and the powerful stand by Rosa Parks in Montgomery were inspirational events to young local activists in Natchez.
    With tension on the rise, a list of 12 demands were presented to the Natchez government, with a threat of marches to follow if they were not met. The list included:
    1. For the mayor and board of aldermen to denounce the KKK publicly.
    2. Equal employment opportunities for blacks, including positions on the police force.
    3. To desegregate all public accommodations in compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
    To provide equal public services to residents in Negro sections of Natchez.
    5. To desegregate Natchez schools and appoint blacks to the school board.
    The Mayor and Board rejected the demands. On Saturday, October 2nd, more than 300 people lined up to march in defiance of the injunction; another 150 planned to march Sunday. Though these marches were to begin from two baptist churches downtown, the participants were picked up immediately on the sidewalks in front of the churches before the marches could proceed and taken to the Natchez City Auditorium for holding.
    All were arrested on charges of parading without a permit, and with the local jail filled, those over 12 years of age were sent to Parchman Penitentiary, more than 200 miles away. At Parchman everyone was stripped of their clothing. Men and boys were kept naked and housed and placed in cells that was only intended for 2, but with more than 10, with fans blowing and windows left open to the cold air at night. Women and girls were hosed down but allowed to keep their underwear on. All were given laxatives and allowed only minimal toilet paper. They were left to find their own way back to Natchez, with most being back within 5 days. The KKK harassed and threaded those who drive north to assist or check on them.
    More than 100 marchers were arrested on October 4th, bringing the total number of those arrested in Natchez to more than 500.

  • Never Finished Your Degree? There’s An App For That

    LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — The University of Louisiana System has launched a new program with the goal of getting Louisianians back to school and finishing their bachelor’s degree.

    System President and CEO Jim Henderson discussed the details of the Compete LA program at a luncheon last week for One Acadiana members, The Acadiana Advocate reports .

    The program is designed to re-engage the approximately 653,000 people in Louisiana with some college credits who dropped out before completing a degree. Henderson says the program is an opportunity to improve the state’s second-to-last ranking on adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher, but also a chance to work toward One Acadiana’s goal of having 55% of Acadiana’s population achieve a secondary education degree or certification by 2025.

    “For Louisiana to be competitive in the economy of the future, we have to develop a more educated workforce,” Henderson said. “Compete LA is designed to cut through the red tape of returning to school and provide supports at every step of the student’s educational journey.”

    By applying to Compete LA, the nearly one-in-five people in Louisiana who have some college but no degree will be matched with a coach who will evaluate the student’s completed courses to create a degree path to help the student reenroll and complete their degree as quickly as possible while working around their schedule.

    There are also ways businesses can partner with the program such as promoting employee benefits like tuition reimbursement and debt repayment, providing internship opportunities and sponsoring Compete LA.

    The program has 51 degree programs ranging from business and education to health care and the humanities.

    It was introduced in May and has already engaged with more than 1,100 students.

    The United States has a 30.9% educational attainment rate at the level of Bachelor’s Degree or higher. Louisiana sits at a 23.4% rate.

    Students interested in completing their degree can apply at www.CompeteLA.org or they can text CompeteLA to 58052.

  • Three Louisiana Men Arrested for Internet Crimes Against Children

    BATON ROUGE, La. – Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Office has arrested three men on child exploitation charges.

    “Child pornography is a dreadful crimes that repeatedly victimizes children,” said General Landry. “So My office and I will continue to do all we can to find and arrest those who possess, distribute, and produce these horrific sexual abuse images and videos.”

    Kerry Abercrombie, 31 of Alexandria, was arrested on 13 counts of possessing pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13, 2 counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, and 2 counts of computer-aided solicitation of a minor. The arrest was a result of an investigation by the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI), Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), Elgin (IL) Police Department, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office (LPSO), and Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office. This investigation is ongoing and further charges are possible. Abercrombie was booked into the Rapides Parish jail.

    Addison Breaux, 32 of Rayne, was arrested on 10 counts of possessing pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13. The arrest was a result of an investigation by the LBI, HSI, Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, and LPSO. Breaux was booked into the Acadia Parish jail.

    James Cassidy, 24 of Erath, was arrested on 14 counts of possessing pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13. The arrest was a result of an investigation by the LBI, HSI, Erath Police Department, Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, LPSO, and Vermillion Parish Sheriff’s Office. Cassidy was booked into the Vermillion Parish jail.

  • Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud Investigations Result in Several Arrests

    Troopers assigned to the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud / Auto Theft Unit brought two separate criminal cases to conclusion over the last week resulting in numerous arrests. The Insurance Fraud Unit is responsible for investigating referrals of suspected fraudulent insurance acts and promoting awareness of insurance fraud throughout the state.
    Orleans Parish- On September 6, 2019, Troopers arrested 49-year-old Dana Monk of New Orleans on one count of Automobile Policy Insurance Fraud following an investigation into a fraudulent automobile insurance claim with Progressive Insurance Company. The investigation revealed Monk reported a claim with Progressive Insurance Company in reference to her vehicle sustaining damage while driving over debris in the roadway in Orleans Parish. At the conclusion of the investigation, several discrepancies were discovered involving Monk’s incident. Monk reported the claim several hours after reinstating her automotive insurance on her vehicle, claiming the damage occurred after she reinstated her policy. A repair order from Toyota of New Orleans revealed Monk damaged the vehicle several hours prior to reinstating her automotive insurance policy. On August 9, 2019, an Arrest Warrant was obtained for Monk from the 41st Judicial District Court in Orleans Parish for violation of LRS 22:1925 Automobile Policy Insurance Fraud. On September 6, 2019, Monk surrendered herself to State Police and was transported to the Orleans Parish Prison where she was booked on one count of Automobile Policy Insurance Fraud.
    Iberville Parish- On September 11, 2019, Troopers arrested 39-year-old Whylithia Robinson and 43-year-old Richard Robinson, both of Plaquemine, following an investigation into the filing of fraudulent medical bills. Troopers’ investigation revealed that both Robinsons’ submitted false and forged injury claims with AFLAC Insurance Company alleging continued short-term disability. Richard Robinson also submitted a false injury claim alleging he sustained injuries in a crash he was involved in on September 13, 2017. Through investigative means, Troopers were able to confirm the crash report Richard Robinson submitted to AFLAC was fraudulent. Whylithia Robinson was booked into the Iberville Parish Prison for violating LRS 22:1924 Insurance Fraud (18 counts), LRS 14:72 Forgery (35 counts), and LRS 14:67 Theft (Felony).
    LSP Investigators work closely with the LA Department of Insurance, local judicial offices, and the Louisiana Attorney General’s office in successfully bringing individuals involved in committing insurance fraud to justice. The Insurance Fraud Unit has field offices located throughout the state in which Troopers investigate various types of insurance fraud cases such as staged crashes, “jump-in” crashes, fraudulent injury claims, worker’s compensation fraud, forged medical records, and inflated property claims.
    The public plays an integral role in identifying suspects accused of these crimes and is strongly urged to report criminal or suspicious activity. For more information and/or to contact the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud and Auto Theft Unit visit www.lsp.org/ifu.html.
    The Louisiana State Police on-line reporting system is also available to the public through a convenient and secure reporting form that is submitted to the appropriate investigators. Citizens can access the form by visiting www.lsp.org and clicking the Suspicious Activity link.

  • Family protests dropped charges in crash that killed teen

    OPELOUSAS, La. (AP) — The dismissal of all but one charge against a woman involved in a crash that killed a Louisiana teen has sparked a protest.

    KATC-TV reports the family of 17-year-old Aaron Quebedeaux stood outside the St. Landry Parish courthouse in Opelousas with signs on Tuesday. Brittany Coupel is charged with hit-and-run in the 2017 crash that killed Quebedeaux.

    Authorities initially believed the crash only involved one vehicle. Coupel told state troopers in 2017 that her car collided with the teen’s car.

    St. Landy Parish District Attorney Earl Taylor says State Police could not conclude who crossed the middle line.

    The teen’s mother, Laurie Quebedeaux, said Tuesday that she wants answers and justice for her son.

  • 4 Louisiana men plead guilty in Mississippi bribe scheme

    Four Louisiana men have pleaded guilty to charges connected to allegations that they bribed Mississippi’s former corrections commissioner and tried to bribe a Mississippi sheriff.

    Michael LeBlanc Sr. of Baton Rouge, Michael LeBlanc Jr. of Prairieville, Tawasky Ventroy of Opelousas and Jacque Jones of LaPlace each entered a guilty plea Wednesday to one count of conspiracy.

    All four men say they paid former Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps a $2,000 bribe for help in getting contracts to sell inmates phone service and commissary goods. They also admit to giving Kemper County’s sheriff $2,000 in casino chips in an unsuccessful attempt to bribe him.

    Epps was convicted of taking more than $1.4 million in bribes.

    U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate set Feb. 10 sentencing hearings for the men.