Connect with us

Louisiana

Federal judge reinforces order for heat protection for Louisiana inmates at prison farm

Published

on

Federal judge reinforces order for heat protection for Louisiana inmates at prison farm


NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday ordered officials at the Louisiana State Penitentiary to increase shade and take other steps to protect prisoners doing agricultural labor from dangerous heat.

U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson’s order reinforced a similar one he issued in July. This one cites photographs showing inmates in the fields of a former slave plantation with a single pop-up tent for around 20 men, little protection from the sun and nowhere to sit. The photos were provided by Voice of the Experienced, the advocacy group that sued over conditions for inmates working the “farm line” at the immense prison farm in Angola.

“Taken at face value, Plaintiffs’ allegations in this matter have portrayed the State of Louisiana in a harsh and unflattering light. Defendants contribute to this depiction with their apparent obstinance towards proposing meaningful changes to conditions on the Farm Line,” Jackson, based in Baton Rouge, wrote.

A spokesperson for the state corrections department said officials would not comment until they had time to fully review Jackson’s order.

Advertisement

Jackson’s latest order said there were 50 instances of inmates reporting illnesses from July 2 to Aug. 5, with seven requiring emergency medical treatment. He ordered more tents be provided and that they be erected close to where prisoners are working. He also ordered that some form of seating be made available and that workers be given 15-minute breaks every 45 minutes when heat alerts are in effect.

State corrections officials appealed Jackson’s original July 2 order in the case. A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals pared some of the original ruling but kept some key requirements intact while the appeal continues. As he did on July 2, Jackson declined to halt farm line work during heat alerts.

The litigation over farm line conditions comes amid growing nationwide attention on lucrative prison labor systems with roots in the era of slavery. A two-year Associated Press investigation linked the supply chains of some of the world’s largest and best-known companies – from Walmart to Burger King – to Angola and other prison farms, where incarcerated workers are paid pennies an hour or nothing at all. Several companies, including Cargill, have since said they have cut ties or are in the process of doing so, with prison farms or companies that use incarcerated labor.





Source link

Advertisement

Louisiana

College savings accounts not affected by cyber incident, Louisiana official says | New Orleans CityBusiness

Published

on

College savings accounts not affected by cyber incident, Louisiana official says | New Orleans CityBusiness


KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Advertisement
  • Louisiana restores START 529 college savings accounts after cyber incident review.
  • Third-party analysis confirms accounts were unaffected and secure.
  • All pending transactions processed; guidance provided for missed automatic deposits.
  • Investigation ongoing, with more details expected once complete.

After taking its 529 college savings accounts offline in October following a cyber incident, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance announced Tuesday the accounts are back online and were not impacted. 

A third-party analysis into the incident found the state-hosted START 529 college savings accounts were not involved, LOFSA interim director Susannah Craig said in an email to account holders. They were taken offline in consultation with the Louisiana State Police and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, she added. 

All pending account transactions have been processed, Craig said, and any users with automatic deposits set up have been informed how to make one-time payments to replace those skipped during the account freeze. 

The cyber incident has not formally been described as a hack or a cyber attack, though officials said more details will be released when the investigation is complete.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Louisiana

Louisiana’s Dr. Ralph Abraham named CDC Principal Deputy Director

Published

on

Louisiana’s Dr. Ralph Abraham named CDC Principal Deputy Director


BATON ROUGE, La. (KALB) – Louisiana’s top health official is stepping down from his post to take on a new role at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Ralph Abraham, Louisiana’s Surgeon General, will serve as the agency’s principal deputy director.

Dr. Ralph Abraham(KALB)

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the appointment to NBC News, though it hadn’t been made public as of Tuesday, Nov. 25.

Earlier this year, Abraham directed Louisiana’s Health Department to cease promoting mass vaccination, advising patients to consult their doctors about vaccinations instead.

Advertisement

This internal memo, dated February 13, coincided with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s swearing-in as HHS Secretary.

Meanwhile, the CDC has been without a permanent director since August, when Kennedy removed Dr. Susan Monarez.

FILE - Dr. Susan Monarez
FILE – Dr. Susan Monarez(J. Scott Applewhite | AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)

Governor Jeff Landry has not yet announced a successor to Dr. Abraham.

Click here to report a typo. Please provide the title of the article in your email.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Louisiana

Louisiana State Police urge safe driving during Thanksgiving travel

Published

on

Louisiana State Police urge safe driving during Thanksgiving travel


MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Louisiana State Police is reminding families traveling for Thanksgiving to make driving safety a priority.

LSP said holidays are for fellowship and gratitude, not tragedies on the roadways.

State Police ask drivers whose holiday festivities involve alcohol or any substance that can alter their driving ability to make transportation plans beforehand. They recommend planning a different ride, or using a designated driver and public transportation options to prevent impaired driving.

LSP urges all drivers to wear seatbelts, saying it can make the difference between life and death. They also encouraged everyone to buckle up before the vehicle moves.

Advertisement

Anyone who sees reckless driving or hazardous road conditions should call LSP (*577) and report to any State Police headquarters.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending