August 2020

Gov. Edwards’ goal: net zero greenhouse gases by 2050

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana’s governor has signed an executive order setting a state goal for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, drawing swift praise from environmental groups.

At least 23 other states and the District of Columbia have set greenhouse gas targets, though specifics vary, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.

“The real unique part about it is this is a fossil fueldriven state,” said Natalie Snider, senior director of coastal resilience for the Environmental Defense Fund.

GOP lawmakers, governor clashing over state election plan

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana lawmakers Wednesday plowed ahead with a contested emergency plan to run the state’s fall elections during the pandemic, setting up a looming clash with Gov. John Bel Edwards who intends to jettison the plan if it reaches his desk.

La.’s $300 federal jobless aid to start next week

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana should start issuing checks for $300 in weekly federal coronavirus unemployment aid next week, but as many as 87,000 people receiving state unemployment may not be eligible for the federal assistance, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Tuesday.

The state expects to receive $375 million in federal funds by the end of this week to start paying out the enhanced federal unemployment benefits offered by President Donald Trump’s executive order, Edwards said. Louisiana is working on changes to its unemployment computer system to process those payments.

Dem boundary breakers’ night: Obama, Clinton, Harris

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The Democrats’ historic boundary breakers joined forces Wednesday night at the party’s national convention in an urgent effort to rouse the diverse coalition Joe Biden will need to defeat President Donald Trump this fall.

Their overriding message: Vote this time; don’t just complain later. Your lives and democracy itself may be at stake.

Cuomo brushes back report of care home death undercount

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo responded Wednesday to an Associated Press report that his state’s coronavirus death toll in nursing homes could be a significant undercount, saying it makes sense to include only those residents who died on the home’s property.

Unlike the federal government and every other state with major outbreaks, only New York explicitly says that it counts just residents who died on nursing home property and not those who were transported to hospitals and died there.

California wildfires chase people from homes into smoky air

VACAVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Crews worked in blistering heat Wednesday to beat back wildfires that ignited across Northern California, sending thousands of people from their homes into smoky air, briefly halting traffic on an interstate and killing a pilot on a firefighting mission.

NKorea to unveil new economic plans in January party meeting

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea will hold a rare ruling party congress in January where leader Kim Jong Un will announce a new five-year plan to develop the country’s dismal economy ravaged by U.S.-led sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic, state media said Thursday.

The plans were confirmed Wednesday during a plenary meeting of the Workers’ Party’s decision-making Central Committee where Kim acknowledged economic shortcomings caused by “unexpected and inevitable challenges in various aspects and the situation in the region surrounding the Korean Peninsula.”

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Calendar Guidelines

It only takes one ... there is no second chance

The start of a new school year brings many emotions to parents including excitement and optimism. We hope for new growth and educational achievement. This year, no doubt, some may be experiencing anxiety about the pandemic or fear of the unknown.

As colleges across Louisiana begin welcoming students back, parents should also be aware of a hidden danger lingering on campus – counterfeit drugs.

Assistance available for crawfish farmers

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering assistance for farmers or ranchers whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, and this now includes crawfish farmers.