April 2018

State’s strict licensing standards targeted

LOUISIANA SPOTLIGHT

Louisiana is seen as having some of the most restrictive professional licensing requirements in the country, and talk of shrinking that list was high heading into the Legislature’s regular session.

Why is Louisiana the only state in the nation that requires retail florists to pass a licensing exam? Should braiding hair professionally need a license? Does the state really need exams and licensing provisions for interior designers?

Teen’s shooting death in Detroit livestreamed on Instagram

DETROIT (AP) — Authorities say two 18-year-olds in Detroit were live on Instagram showing money and a gun when one of them shot the other in the back of the head, killing him.

Police say the teen who fired the gun Monday night told investigators that he accidentally put his finger on the trigger and that the rifle discharged. He was taken into custody and the shooting remains under investigation.

The victim died before paramedics arrived at the home on Detroit’s northwest side.

FEMA urges homeowners to consider flood insurance

As the rainy spring season approaches, the possibility of homes flooding becomes greater regardless of the structure’s location.

Residents need to be wary of how a few inches of floodwater can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to their home, officials say.

In a press release Monday, FEMA strongly urged Louisiana homeowners, renters and business owners to purchase affordable flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.

Even when properties are not in floodplains or highrisk zones, flood insurance is still recommended, according to FEMA.

Higgins visits Jeff Davis Republican Women

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Clay Higgins, U.S Representative for Louisiana’s Third Congressional District, spoke at a Jeff Davis Republican Women’s luncheon Monday for the fourth time in his 15 months in office.

At the meeting, he spoke to the members on the state of the Republican Party, its delegates in Louisiana and his experience as a congressman so far.

Higgins said one of the strengths of the Louisiana delegation at the moment is its cohesiveness, compared with other states.

PERENNIAL ISSUE

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A proposed piece of legislation recently approved by the House Agriculture Committee could make it easier for would-be florists to set up shop in Louisiana, the only state that requires a license to arrange flowers.

Sheriff’s office arrests three in string of 2017 burglaries

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The last arrests in an investigation of parish-wide thefts that began in August 2017 were made last weekend when detectives with the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested three Lake Arthur men.

Lawmakers back $600M in borrowing for La. interstates “

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana lawmakers agreed Monday to finance about $600 million in interstate projects aimed at alleviating traffic snarls and boosting economic development, by borrowing against future federal highway dollars.

The joint House and Senate budget committee agreed without objection to the plan pushed by Gov. John Bel Edwards. Other approvals are needed before construction can begin, but the legislative support appeared to be the biggest hurdle to passage.

Three interstate projects would share in the dollars:

STATE BRIEFS

Alabama man arrested in fatal wreck

Feds: Decision on key wetlands plan moving up almost 2 years

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Army Corps of Engineers announced Monday that it’s moving up the permit decision date nearly two years for a key component of Louisiana’s plan to rebuild its shrinking wetlands.

The Corps had told state officials it could need until October 2022 to assess the environmental impact of a project to create new coastal land by enabling the Mississippi River to push mud and sand into open water. It said Monday that the new deadline is November 2020.

Okla. teachers walk out for second day in red-state revolt

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Hundreds of teachers crammed into the Oklahoma Capitol for a second day Tuesday to press demands for additional funding for the state’s public schools, and many of those schools remained closed amid a rebellion that has hit several Republican-led states across the country.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signed legislation last week granting 15 to 18 percent higher salaries to teachers. But some educators — who haven’t seen a pay increase in 10 years — say that isn’t good enough and walked out.