Louisiana
EPA Opens Civil Rights Investigation Into Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’ – Inside Climate News
Robert Taylor is aware of so many individuals in his Louisiana hometown who’ve been identified with most cancers that it’s simpler for him to call those that don’t have the illness.
The 81-year-old Black man lives in St. John the Baptist Parish, a group nestled alongside a sequence of bends within the Mississippi River that advocates name “Most cancers Alley.” When Taylor and his neighbors found they lived close to the nation’s solely neoprene plant and that they’ve one of many highest most cancers dangers in response to an EPA evaluation, they weren’t utterly stunned.
“Our threat for most cancers is fifteen-hundred” per million folks, stated Taylor, who’s the manager director of the Involved Residents of St. John, a non-profit group that works to combat air pollution in the neighborhood.
The nationwide common is 32 per million folks, in response to an EPA evaluation from 2014. Meaning the danger of getting most cancers in St. John the Baptist Parish is 47 occasions greater than it could be in the remainder of the nation.
“It was one thing we had been suspecting,” he stated. “Just a few folks survived most cancers, however we noticed so many occurences of most cancers over time, we didn’t know the way or the place to attribute it.”
It’s one of many many the reason why his group and different advocates filed a grievance with the EPA in opposition to the Louisiana Departments of Environmental High quality and Well being. They alleged racial discrimination and a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in reference to the state companies and the plant, Denka Efficiency Elastoer, which was previously owned by DuPont and opened in 1969.
The EPA stated earlier this month they are going to examine the grievance. Darryl Malek-Wiley, a senior organizing consultant with Sierra Membership, which filed the grievance together with the Involved Residents of St. John, stated he obtained an e-mail from the EPA this week and an investigating officer will meet with the teams on the finish of this month. Native activists have been impressed to file the swimsuit as a result of the Biden administration has invited actions underneath federal tips.
“We’ve alleged that these two companies violated Title VI by subjecting Black residents of St. John to disproportionate air air pollution and associated hurt from ethylene oxide from varied close by sources in Most cancers Alley and in addition chloroprene from Denka,” stated Deena Tumeh, an lawyer for Earthjustice, which filed the grievance on behalf of a number of native teams. “And the results of that disproportionate air air pollution can be a really excessive most cancers threat.”
She added: “St. John the Baptist Parish really faces the very best most cancers threat from air air pollution within the nation.”
St. John’s Parish President Jaclyn Hotard stated she didn’t wish to prematurely touch upon any attainable outcomes or findings for the reason that EPA simply opened an investigation. “At this level we’ll permit the method to maneuver ahead,” she stated in an e-mail.
By advantage of their proximity to the plant, Taylor and his neighbors have been compelled to change into consultants within the sorts of chemical substances produced there.
A lot of the main target in LaPlace and Reserve is on a chemical used to make neoprene, referred to as chloroprene, which is assessed as a probable carcinogen. Lengthy-term publicity has been related to an elevated threat of most cancers, in response to the EPA. Neoprene is an artificial rubber used to make the whole lot from laptop computer sleeves to fan belts.
“Do they count on us to sacrifice ourselves, our lives?” Taylor requested, noting that the plant is situated within the coronary heart of a Black group. “Is that this a genocidal plant? Do they count on Black folks to die for the revenue of those folks? Are we to be sacrificed?”
What retains Taylor up at night time is the truth that there may be an elementary college subsequent to the plant that educates about 500 college students. These kids, he stated, are uncovered to chloroprene particulates greater than 400 to 700 occasions the EPA’s really useful most annual common for emissions.
Patrick H. Sanders, a faculty board member whose district encompasses Fifth Ward Elementary, stated he’s “personally involved” in regards to the plant’s proximity to the college.
“One, as a result of I grew up within the neighborhood, however secondly as a result of the youngsters are so younger—anyplace from pre-Okay to fourth grade—and there’s some concern for the security of the children and people which have been uncovered over time as nicely,” he stated. “There are some grave considerations in regards to the well being of youngsters in that space that won’t present up at this level however may have some long-term results.”
There was some speak about shifting the college, however he stated the conversations are all preliminary and there aren’t any concrete plans in place.
Malek-Wiley, who stated he was amongst those that coined the phrase “Most cancers Alley” to explain the world from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, stated St. John and different communities abut the vegetation as a result of many chemical services moved onto land as soon as occupied by plantations, and after Emancipation, many Black households got plots of land adjoining to the outdated plantations.
Mary Hampton, 83, a member of the Involved Residents of St. John, stated her household had no concept. Her father purchased an property and gave a plot of land to every of his 9 kids, so all of them may construct and reside in houses close to one another.
“My dad thought he was giving us a legacy, he was giving us a dying sentence as a result of all we’ve had is dying within the household ever since,” Hampton stated.
Malek-Wiley and different native advocates are hopeful that, with this newest authorized grievance, issues can be totally different—they usually all level to a go to from EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan throughout his “Journey to Justice” tour final yr.
In a press release emailed to Inside Local weather Information, a spokesman for Denka stated in that “the ‘disaster’ EarthJustice seeks to accuse The Louisiana Division of Well being (LDH) and The Louisiana Division of Environmental High quality (LDEQ), Denka Efficiency Elastomer and different industrial corporations of inflicting in its grievance merely doesn’t exist.”
“There aren’t any widespread elevated most cancers charges in St. John the Baptist Parish in contrast with the state common,” the assertion stated. Citing knowledge from the Louisiana Tumor Registry, the assertion stated St. John routinely ranks in step with or beneath the state’s common for total cancers in addition to “these cancers activists have sought to tie to the power’s operations.”
Alyson Neel, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Division of Well being, stated in an e-mail that her company “takes these considerations very significantly, and is totally cooperating with the EPA.”
Greg Langley, a spokesman for the Louisiana Division of Environmental High quality, stated the company’s allow course of is “neutral and unbiased.”
“We’re going to work with the EPA to resolve this matter, and actually we’ve already begun talking with them. Our hand is on the plow,” Langley stated.
Adrienne Katner, a public well being professor at Louisiana State College who has studied chloroprene and most cancers charges, stated the Louisiana Tumor Registry contains knowledge from those that have been by no means uncovered and “will not be actually a superb measure of what’s taking place alongside the fenceline group,”
Hold Environmental Journalism Alive
ICN gives award-winning local weather protection freed from cost and promoting. We depend on donations from readers such as you to maintain going.
Donate Now
In a broadcast report for the Louisiana Division of Well being this month, Katner stated that “for an extended time frame, for a lot of many years, the residents round right here have been uncovered to very excessive ranges of chloroprene within the air.”
She stated the plant started producing neoprene on the website within the Nineteen Sixties, and the chloroprene ranges have been a lot greater previous to emissions controls. These controls have been put in place a number of years in the past, however her report discovered that despite the fact that the plant had stopped manufacturing throughout Hurricane Ida in 2021, there have been nonetheless excessive ranges of chloroprene within the air.
Chloroprene, which is a probable carcinogen, is a mutagen, stated Katner. “What we learn about mutagens is that one molecule is sufficient to have an effect, and it could possibly impression totally different organs within the physique,” she stated. Katner added that chloroprene is related to totally different cancers.
Her report discovered different emissions like benzene, toluene, xylene, trimethylbenzene within the air and within the urine of people that reside close to the plant.
Lydia Gerard, a 67-year-old St. John the Baptist resident, stated she misplaced her husband, Walter, to kidney most cancers in 2018.
“He had by no means been sick and by no means went to the physician,” Gerard stated. “When he was identified in 2014 we observed blood in his urine. Inside every week he had his kidney eliminated, and he did nicely till 2018 when it had metastasized to his lungs.”
Gerard stated she and her husband began to fret in regards to the emissions from the plant after the EPA’s evaluation was revealed. They knew he had most cancers they usually began to marvel: “May this have been happening for some time,” she stated. “Had it been there a very long time.”
Hampton, who’s a member of Involved Residents of St. John, stated she’s going to proceed to combat along with her neighbors.
“I’ve misplaced two sisters, each to most cancers, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law and my father died with most cancers,” she stated. “I obtained a brother proper now who has most cancers, I’ve a brother who died with most cancers. Virtually everyone in my neighborhood has any person that both has, or has died with, most cancers.
“We will’t reside like this if we are able to’t transfer to go anyplace else.”
Victoria St. Martin
Well being and Environmental Justice Reporter, Philadelphia
Victoria St. Martin covers well being and environmental justice at Inside Local weather Information. Throughout a 20-year profession in journalism, she has labored in a half dozen newsrooms, together with The Washington Put up the place she served as a breaking information and normal project reporter. Apart from The Put up, St. Martin has additionally labored at The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., The Occasions-Picayune of New Orleans, The Trentonian, The South Bend Tribune and WNIT, the PBS-member station serving north central Indiana. Along with her newsroom expertise, St. Martin can be a journalism educator who spent 4 years as a distinguished visiting journalist with the Gallivan Program in Journalism, Ethics, and Democracy on the College of Notre Dame. She at the moment teaches on the Klein School of Media and Communication at Temple College. St. Martin is a graduate of Rutgers College and holds a grasp’s diploma from American College’s Faculty of Communication. She was identified with breast most cancers in 2011 and has written extensively in regards to the prevalence of breast most cancers in younger ladies. In her work, St. Martin is especially fascinated with well being care disparities affecting Black ladies.
Huntington’s Jamarion Washington is a Times Athlete of the Week.
Huntington’s Jamarion Washington talks about his team playing Edna Karr in the LHSAA football playoffs
U.S. News & World Report has released a database comprised of the top elementary and middle schools in 2025 in each state.
The rankings of schools can even be narrowed down by city and district levels.
Top 10 elementary schools in Louisiana
There are numerous Louisiana elementary and middle schools ranked within U.S. News’ database, and here are the top ten best ranked elementary schools statewide in Louisiana.
No. 1 T.S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School
According to U.S. News, T.S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School, located in Lake Charles, is ranked number one in Louisiana elementary schools and is a part of Calcasieu Parish Public Schools.
The student population of T.S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School is 300, and the school serves K-5.
No. 2 Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies
According to U.S. News, Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies is ranked number two in Louisiana Elementary School and is a part of Jefferson Parish Schools.
Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies enrollment is 368 students, and the school is kindergarten through fifth grade.
No. 3 Gretna No. 2 Academy for Advanced Studies
U.S. News says that Gretna No. 2 Academy for Advanced Studies is number three in Louisiana Elementary Schools and is a part of Jefferson Parish Schools.
The student enrollment at Gretna No. 2 Academy for Advanced Studies is 357 and serves the grades pre-k through fifth grade.
No. 4 Airline Park Academy for Advanced Studies
Airline Park Academy for Advanced Studies in Metairie is a part of Jefferson Parish Schools and is ranked number four in Louisiana Elementary Schools, according to U.S. News.
Airline Park Academy for Advanced Studies’ enrollment is 418 students and teaches pre-k through fifth grade.
No. 5 South Highlands Elementary Magnet School
South Highlands Elementary Magnet School in Shreveport is a part of Caddo Parish Public Schools and is ranked number five in Louisiana Elementary Schools, says U.S. News.
The student enrollment at South Highlands Elementary Magnet School is 517 and the school serves grades pre-k through fifth grade.
No. 6 Westdale Heights Academic Magnet School
Westdale Heights Academic Magnet School is part of East Baton Rouge Parish Schools and is ranked number six in Louisiana Elementary Schools, according to U.S. News.
Westdale Heights Academic Magnet School’s student enrollment is 464 and the school serves pre-k through fifth grade.
No. 7 Fairfield Magnet School
Fairfield Magnet School, located in Shreveport, is a part of Caddo Parish Public Schools and is ranked number seven on U.S. News’ list of the top Louisiana Elementary Schools.
Fairfield Magnet School has a student enrollment of 515 and teaches pre-k through fifth grade.
No. 8 Ray St. Pierre Academy for Advanced Studies
Ray St. Pierre Academy for Advanced Studies is located in Westwego, which is a part of Jefferson Parish Schools, and is ranked number eight in U.S. News’ list of Louisiana Elementary Schools.
Ray St. Pierre Academy for Advanced Studies teaches pre-k through fifth grade and the enrollment is 336 students.
No. 9 Phoenix Magnet Elementary School
Phoenix Magnet Elementary School, located in Alexandria, is a part of Rapides Parish Public Schools and is ranked number nine in U.S. News’ list of the best Louisiana Elementary Schools.
Phoenix Magnet Elementary School serves pre-k through fifth grade and student enrollment is 351.
No. 10 B.R. Foreign Language Academy Immersion Magnet
B.R. Foreign Language Academy Immersion Magnet is a part of East Baton Rouge Parish Schools and is ranked number ten in U.S. News’ list of Louisiana Elementary Schools.
Immersion Magnet’s student enrollment is 548 and serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.
Louisiana
Louisiana’s legislative leaders say they have a tax deal; final votes expected Friday • Louisiana Illuminator
State lawmakers have agreed to a pared-down version of Gov. Jeff Landry’s tax overhaul package but one that would still affect most people and businesses in Louisiana. The deal, hashed out in back-room negotiations Thursday, is expected to receive full approval Friday.
“A lot can change overnight, but as of right now, we’re comfortable with the number of votes we have…in the Senate,” said Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie.
“I believe we have the votes [in the Louisiana House],” Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Johnson, R-Pineville said.
The revised package calls for pushing the current sales tax rate of 4.45% to 5% for five years, starting July 1, 2025, when the state’s next fiscal year starts. It would drop to 4.75% in 2030 but still remain higher than the current 4.45% rate.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
In exchange for these higher, permanent sales taxes, most Louisiana residents would receive an income tax cut. The state would move from a three-tiered income tax system with a high rate of 4.25% to a flat rate of 3% accompanied by a significantly higher standard deduction threshold.
On the business side, the corporate franchise tax will be eliminated altogether, and the corporate income tax would move to a flat rate of 5.5% — right between the current lowest rate of 3.5% and highest rate of 7.5%.
The Legislature has also agreed to dissolve some government funds dedicated to special purposes and end some business and industry tax breaks to shore up state revenue. This includes ending the state’s many incentive programs such as the Quality Jobs and Enterprise Zone tax credits, among others..
A portion of the state inventory tax credit, which helps businesses cover their local parish tax bills, will be phased out for some employers in 2026. Money from the vehicle sales tax that was going to large transportation projects – such as the new Baton Rouge Interstate 10 bypass bridge and Interstate 49 expansions – will now be diverted for general government expenses.
In an interview Thursday night, Henry said he did not expect the current deal to leave Louisiana with a significant budget shortfall as some had feared. Still, lawmakers held off on taking votes on the tax package until Friday because they are waiting for the final revenue estimates to be finished by staff.
“Staff needs the time … . And we want time to read and digest the bills before we vote,” House Republican Caucus Chairman Mark Wright, R-Covington, said.
Landry was also throwing a political fundraiser Thursday night in Baton Rouge, and any tax votes taken before Friday would likely have coincided with the event.
Louisiana plastics plants among top wastewater polluters, thanks to lax regulations: report
Legislative leaders are also combining the bill that cuts income taxes with the legislation to increase sales taxes in order to pin down conservative Republican votes. Once the proposals merge, lawmakers will no longer be able to vote for the tax break without the corresponding tax hike.
“It’s to lock people in. You can’t vote for the tax cuts without voting for the revenue, too,” said Sen. Gerald Boudreaux of Lafayette, chairman of his chamber’s Democratic Caucus.
Republicans have supermajorities in the Senate and House, but Democrats will be needed to reach the 70 votes required to pass the sales tax hike legislation. Certain conservative Republicans have refused to vote for any bill that included a tax hike, which means bipartisan support becomes even more important to get the package across the finish line.
Much of the negotiations over the past two days has taken place between Landry and Senate Democrats, who had reservations about raising Louisiana’s sales tax rate to pay for an income tax reduction.
Louisiana already has the highest average sales tax rate in the nation when local parish rates are included. High sales taxes are more of a burden for poor people, who end up spending more of their paycheck to cover their cost.
Boudreaux said Democrats were given some concessions for agreeing to support Landry’s tax package. They were assured certain health care services wouldn’t be cut, and funding for early childhood education and juvenile vocation programs would be prioritized, he said.
The state funding formula for higher education might also be reworked to direct more support to Louisiana historically Black colleges and universities, according to Boudreaux.
The votes appear to be on tight margins, however.
Wright, as the head of the House Republican Caucus, expressed concern that the Legislature would start “losing people” who would vote for the tax bills the longer they waited to vote on Friday. Some lawmakers have made it clear they don’t intend to push their holiday travel to support the tax overhaul.
The special session must end by 6 p.m. Monday.
“It’ll be interesting because I heard they may have more Republicans missing as the day goes on, especially around five o’clock,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Matthew Willard of New Orleans, who has opposed Landry’s proposal.
YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.
Sixteen candidates have applied to become Nexus Louisiana’s new permanent leader.
Anita Tillman, co-chair of the selection committee overseeing the Nexus CEO search, provided an update at Thursday’s board of directors meeting.
Tillman says executive search firm Isaacson Miller presented 10 candidates to the committee on Oct. 31, and a second round of candidate presentations will be held on Dec. 5.
Semifinalist interviews will be conducted virtually on Jan. 14. The presentations serve as a way to discuss what the organization is looking for and give feedback to Isaacson, Miller about the type of candidates the firm should recruit.
Some prospective candidates have expressed interest but have yet to apply, according to Tillman.
“Once those interviews happen, and we drill it down to whatever the outcome is, then those candidates will be moved over to the full board to do rounds of in-person interviews and make their decision,” Tillman says.
The in-person interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of Feb. 10 and the search is expected to be completed before the end of February.
Nexus Louisiana began accepting applications for the position on Nov. 1. Part of the job description says that the new president and CEO will be critical in providing internal and external leadership. The individual will assess and align the organization’s structures while advocating for Nexus Louisiana as a critical driver of entrepreneurship and innovation in the Baton Rouge region across the state and globally.
Nexus has been without a permanent leader for two years following longtime CEO Genevieve Silverman’s departure in June 2022 after 14 years. Nexus management consultant Calvin Mills has handled leadership responsibilities since 2022.
View a description of the position.
Charli XCX announces
Colts’ Anthony Richardson Ready to Take on Lions Challenge
Former First-Round Pick Gets Revenge on Steelers
34-year-old and 32-year-old ID’d in related Augusta fatal shootings
Christmas in DC: Ultimate 3-Day Itinerary for a Magical Holiday with Kids
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Where Trump Gained and Harris Lost in New York
Should women serve in combat? Military experts weigh in
South Korea says Russia sent North Korea missiles in exchange for troops
You can sword-fight at this club. But no politics allowed
Massachusetts GOP slams liberal leaders after illegal immigrants accused of child rape arrested by ICE
-
Business1 week ago
Column: OpenAI just scored a huge victory in a copyright case … or did it?
-
Health1 week agoBird flu leaves teen in critical condition after country's first reported case
-
Business5 days agoColumn: Molly White's message for journalists going freelance — be ready for the pitfalls
-
World1 week agoSarah Palin, NY Times Have Explored Settlement, as Judge Sets Defamation Retrial
-
Science3 days agoTrump nominates Dr. Oz to head Medicare and Medicaid and help take on 'illness industrial complex'
-
Politics4 days agoTrump taps FCC member Brendan Carr to lead agency: 'Warrior for Free Speech'
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25739950/247386_Elon_Musk_Open_AI_CVirginia.jpg "Inside Elon Musk’s messy breakup with OpenAI")
Technology4 days agoInside Elon Musk’s messy breakup with OpenAI
-
Lifestyle5 days agoSome in the U.S. farm industry are alarmed by Trump's embrace of RFK Jr. and tariffs
