Louisiana

Louisiana interstate bridge Biden, Trump identified as notorious finally set to be replaced

Published

2 years ago

August 16, 2024

Louisiana interstate bridge Biden, Trump identified as notorious finally set to be replaced

Construction to replace Louisiana’s most notorious bridge on Interstate 10 could finally begin this year, ultimately clearing a national chokepoint for cross-country commerce.

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and his Louisiana Department of Transportation Secretary Joe Donahue this week announced a financial “notice to proceed” for the new $2.3 billion Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles.

“Since I took office in January, my administration has remained committed to getting this critical project off the ground,” Landry said in a statement. “Reaching the notice to proceed is proof of that dedication to the people of Louisiana, as well as our continued drive to improve and modernize Louisiana’s infrastructure.”

President Biden and former President Trump have both identified the existing 72-year-old Calcasieu River Bridge as a symbol of America’s aging infrastructure.

The old bridge, a narrow, steep structure, is an iconic landmark with more than 5,000 crossed flintlock derringer pistols on both side rails, but it provides a white-knuckle ride for those driving the vehicles that cross it.

It’s rated 6.6 out of 100 by the National Bridge Inventory and there were unconfirmed rumors that the Secret Service wouldn’t let Biden cross it when he visited Lake Charles in 2021.

The old bridge was built to have a 50-year capacity and carry about one-third of the 90,000 plus vehicles that cross it today.

Its reputation is national.

In 2019 then President Trump promised if he was reelected, “We’re going to build a new I-10 bridge (in Lake Charles).”

“It impacts our supply chain for the entire country,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told USA Today Network in 2023 when he visited Lake Charles to announce a $150 federal grant from the bipartisan Infrastructure Act.

Now the funding, about $1.2 billion federal and state money in hand with the balance to be raised in tolls after the new bridge is built, is finally locked down.

“A new bridge is long overdue, and clearing this hurdle puts our state closer than ever to seeing construction on this essential project,” Donahue said.

The state signed the public-private partnership agreement with Calcasieu Bridge Partners in January to build the new bridge, a project that’s 5.5-mile footprint will stretch from Lake Charles to Westlake. The Louisiana State Bond Commission approved the sale of private activity bonds for the project at its July 24, 2024 meeting.

Estimated construction time is seven years.

More: Garret Graves makes push to end Social Security penalty for teachers on way out of Congress

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

Source link

Click to comment

Louisiana

Silver Alert issued for missing New Orleans man

Published

9 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Silver Alert issued for missing New Orleans man

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Louisiana State Police issued a Silver Alert Friday for a 76-year-old New Orleans man who has been missing since Wednesday.

Elbert Welch was last seen in the 1700 block of Holiday Drive on May 6 at approximately 11 a.m. State police received the request to issue a Silver Alert at approximately 6:54 p.m. Friday on behalf of the New Orleans Police Department.

Welch is a white male with brown eyes and black and gray hair. He is 5′10″ and weighs approximately 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a khaki shirt, black pants and a blue baseball cap.

Family reports that Welch has a medical condition that may impair his judgment.

Welch is believed to be walking on foot in an unknown direction.

Anyone with information regarding Welch’s whereabouts is asked to immediately contact the New Orleans Police Department, 4th District, at (504) 821-2222 or dial 911. All questions should be directed to the New Orleans Police Department.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.

Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.

Source link

Louisiana

Louisiana baseball vs App State live score, TV and more from SBC series

Published

22 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana baseball vs App State live score, TV and more from SBC series

Pressure is back on for Louisiana baseball, especially on the weekend in Sun Belt Conference play.

The Ragin’ Cajuns (30-19, 12-12) dropped their final midweek game of the season, losing 9-6 to the University of New Orleans in extra innings. Now, the Cajuns are back on the road for SBC play, needing every win they can get to better their chances of snagging a regional spot. They travel to Appalachian State for what will likely be a chilly three-game series against the Mountaineers.

Seventh-year head coach Matt Deggs will go with junior Cody Brasch to start Game 1, a spot the right-hander is becoming accustomed to. Saturday’s are for Andrew Herrmann, the most reliable of the Cajuns’ arms through the year. App State will start junior righty Nick DiRito on Friday, followed by junior righty Gage Peterson and junior lefty Tanner Nolan to close out the series.

Here’s how to watch Ragin’ Cajuns baseball in its SBC series vs App State (28-18, 15-9), including time, TV schedule, live score and streaming information.

Watch Louisiana baseball vs App State on ESPN+

Louisiana baseball vs App State live score

What channel is Louisiana baseball vs App State on?

TV: None

Livestream: ESPN+

Radio: Varsity Network, 96.5 FM

Louisiana vs. App State will be available live on ESPN+ streaming service for the teams’ ninth SBC series of the 2026 college baseball season. Matt Present will provide commentary from Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.

What time does Louisiana baseball play App State today?

5 p.m. Friday, May 8
2 p.m. Saturday, May 9
12 p.m. Sunday, May 10

The Louisiana vs. App State series starts at 5 p.m. Friday at Beaver Field in Boone, N.C., followed by Game 2 at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Cajuns will close out the series at noon on Sunday.

Louisiana baseball vs App State weather update

Friday’s matchup will be played in semi-cloudy weather with sunshine throughout the day. It’ll be a high of 62 degrees and a low of 44 degrees. Winds will get up to about five to 10 mph, and there is less than a 7% chance of rain in the afternoon. Saturday’s game will be played in warmer weather with a high of 67 degrees, followed by Sunday’s high of 73 degrees.

Louisiana baseball vs App State history

Series record: Louisiana leads 14-9

In Lafayette: Series tied 6-6

In Boone: Louisiana leads 6-3

Louisiana’s last win: April 2, 2023 (6-0)

App State’s last win: April 1, 2023 (8-5)

Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.

Source link

Louisiana

Behind the Curtain: How Louisiana’s Parole System and Courts Shape Who Goes Free | The Lens

Published

1 day ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Behind the Curtain: How Louisiana’s Parole System and Courts Shape Who Goes Free | The Lens

This week on Behind The Lens, the public gets a rare look inside one of the most powerful and least understood parts of Louisiana’s criminal justice system: the parole process.

A sign posted on the door at the live parole hearing on the campus of Loyola University. (Photo by Gus Bennett / The Lens)

In Louisiana, Parole Board hearings are sometimes held in public, offering families, victims, attorneys, advocates, and reporters an opportunity to witness how decisions are made about who is granted freedom and who remains incarcerated. But those hearings reveal more than individual cases. They expose the broader tensions shaping punishment, rehabilitation, public safety, and political pressure across the state.

Reporters Bernard Smith and Gus Bennett join editor Katy Reckdahl to examine how parole decisions are influenced not only by testimony inside the hearing room, but also by a growing wave of legal and political changes moving through Louisiana’s courts and legislature. From rulings connected to the Louisiana Supreme Court to election season politics and criminal justice reforms, the episode explores how policy decisions made at the highest levels can directly affect incarcerated people, victims’ families, prosecutors, and entire communities.

The discussion also breaks down how recent state actions involving sentencing, parole eligibility, election dynamics, and judicial oversight are reshaping Louisiana’s criminal justice landscape in real time. Together, the team examines the human consequences behind those decisions and what they reveal about accountability, power, and transparency inside the system.

Theme music by Podington Bear. Additional music “Fading Prospects” by Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe:

Source link