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What does commission recommend for Louisiana’s next voting system? Well, everything

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What does commission recommend for Louisiana’s next voting system? Well, everything


When Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin goes out to switch the ten,000 or so getting older voting machines the state makes use of every election, he could have an abundance of flexibility.

The state Voting Techniques Fee, which was purported to kind via the alternate options and advocate what sort of system it wished for Louisiana, mainly forwarded almost all the things on the desk Wednesday: ballots that may be marked by hand; ballots which are marked in a machine; preprinted ballots; and ballots which are printed for voters on the precinct.

The one factor commissioners did select was how the votes could be tallied: Paper ballots will likely be scanned, counted and locked in a field. They won’t be counted by hand.

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The 13-member fee was born through the top of false claims that Donald Trump misplaced his presidential reelection due to widespread fraud. The panel held many lengthy hearings over many months to succeed in Wednesday’s denouement the place commissioners would inform Ardoin how they want to see Louisiana vote sooner or later.

Ardoin now will translate these ideas into rules, which, after the general public has an opportunity to remark, would be the base that elections {hardware} and software program corporations will use to explain what tools and providers they may present and what value. The state would then select a bidder and negotiate a contract.

Ardoin stated the dearth of specificity from the fee provides him extra flexibility in cobbling collectively the rules and ensures extra corporations can take part within the bidding course of.

Louisiana is among the final states nonetheless counting on direct-recording digital voting machines, which aren’t outfitted with gadgets to make a paper report that Ardoin says might be used to audit outcomes and reassure voters that their votes are being precisely counted. Plus, the machines are so outdated that discovering substitute elements is changing into more and more troublesome.

The assembly got here after 9 distributors gave state and native elections officers, in addition to the general public, a hands-on alternative to make use of the programs they promote.

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One of many 13 commissioners, Lillian DeJean, appointed by the Governor’s Workplace of Incapacity Affairs, abstained from voting on the suggestions, saying not one of the distributors had tools or coaching sufficient to make sure the disabled group might vote simply, safely and securely. Certainly, the attachments to help disabled voting for 2 distributors broke down through the shows.

Just like the earlier hearings, Wednesday’s almost eight-hour assembly was separated between public remark and that of elections officers.

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Officers charged with staging elections argued sensible considerations, like how precinct employees would sustain with 1000’s of preprinted ballots to make sure that a pair hundred don’t stroll off and find yourself being stuffed in a poll field with the identical candidates’ identify being checked.

Amanda Gross, of the West Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Courtroom’s Workplace, did an experiment utilizing two accountants to tabulate the votes on 50 ballots at a single precinct. Turned out the depend of solely 50 ballots took 45 minutes and that individual polling station forged 750 votes.

Brandon Abadie, director of elections for East Baton Rouge Parish, feared humidity. A few of Baton Rouge’s polling stations are in firehouses and garages with out local weather controls. The paper might stick collectively or warp and trigger printer jams, he stated.

The general public testimony centered on hand-counting ballots.

Mike Lindell, the founder and CEO of My Pillow Inc., who has pushed Trump’s false election claims, stated “all machines” are open to cyberattacks and manipulations that undermine elections.

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He argued for counting handwritten ballots by hand. “We lose all the things after we use the machines,” stated Lindell.

Most of the audio system demanding hand-marked, hand-counted paper ballots additionally testified through the current legislative session in opposition to vaccinations. Christy Haik opposed including a second minority-majority congressional district earlier this 12 months.

On Wednesday, Haik scolded parish clerks for saying they couldn’t rent sufficient commissioners to depend ballots by hand. She stated a return to paper ballots and hand tabulation would energize “patriots” to return depend.

Lafayette Parish Clerk of Courtroom Louis Perret stated he would take the chance to promote for extra ballot employees, because the listening to was livestreamed.

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Louisiana

Why Losing Hits Harder In Louisiana: Insights & Reactions Revealed

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Why Losing Hits Harder In Louisiana: Insights & Reactions Revealed


You’ve heard the phrase “You can’t win ’em all.” Well, in Louisiana, when we don’t win, we are very likely to get upset. Now over the years, the New Orleans Saints before the mid-2000s were notorious for grabbing defeat out of the jaws of victory turning Saints fans into Aints fans, and employing the use of paper bags on their heads at games.

A recent survey from Captain Gambling including over 2,000 Americans determined how the average person from each state responds to a loss (since it’s a gambling site we are assuming they are only referring only to sports losses.)

via CaptainGambling

via CaptainGambling

According to the survey, 33 percent of Americans stay calm after a loss. Other reactions included:

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  • Laughing it off

  • Asking for a rematch

  • Walk away

  • Deny the loss

Not surprisingly, 15% of the survey respondents have actually gotten into fights with other players after losing. There is plenty of video evidence to support the finding if you do a quick search on YouTube. Even though he’s not originally from Missouri, Patrick Mahomes might have blown the curve on the calm nature of the state at 36%.

That being said, where does Louisiana rank in terms of handling a loss? At least we’re not at the top of the list. That honor goes to our neighbor to the north in Arkansas with 83% of respondents admitting they lose it when they lose. Louisiana follows on the list at number 2, with 80% of those surveyed admitting to being a sore loser. The primary reaction to losing in Louisiana is to deny the loss.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you’re looking for states that stay calm in the face of defeat, head to Utah and Iowa who are only 17% likely to get upset when they lose.

One interesting question on the survey asked if parents intentionally let children win games. While there was no official breakdown by state, 57% said they occasionally let their kids win, 30% said ‘Yes’ and 13% were not going to lighten up just because they were playing against a child.

As to why Louisianans react the way they do after a loss is up for debate, but I’d like to think it’s because of our fiery spirit and tenacity to never give up, even if it means denying we lost. Louisiana has plenty to celebrate, and here are a few things we’re proud of.

Fun Facts About Louisiana That May Surprise You

Gallery Credit: Townsquare Media

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Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted employment shows rise in unemployment, more job opportunities

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Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted employment shows rise in unemployment, more job opportunities


Data released today by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment figure continues to add jobs as the number of unemployed individuals rise.

Nonfarm is a measure of the number of U.S. workers in the economy, excluding those in farms, private households, and non-profit organizations. The state’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment for January 2024 increased by 7,600 jobs from December 2023, for a total of 1,958,400 jobs, a news release said. Compared to January 2023, seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased by 6,200 jobs.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission uses seasonally adjusted data to provide a more valuable and telling picture of Louisiana’s jobs and employment situation.

The construction sector gained 2,400 jobs from December 2023, the release said. Other major industries showing the largest gains in the month include professional and business services, which gained 1,200 jobs, and government, which gained 1,200 jobs.

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The Department of Labor defines seasonal adjustment as a measurement that removes the influences of predictable seasonal patterns to reveal how employment and unemployment figures change from month to month. In the course of a year, the size of the labor force, the levels of employment and unemployment, and other measures of labor market activity undergo fluctuations due to seasonal events, including changes in weather, harvests, major holidays and school schedules. Seasonal adjustment reduces the impact of these changes, making it easier to understand trends.

The number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals for January 2024 is estimated to be 85,129.The number of unemployed rose by 2,502 individuals from the December 2023.

Compared to January 2023, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 9,231. The number of employed decreased by 680 individuals compared to December 2023. Ultimately, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January 2024 is 4.1%, which is tied for the third-lowest rate in a series history for the month of January, according to the Bureau Labor of Statistics.

“With the help of our stakeholders, Louisiana added over 7,000 nonfarm jobs for January, with the seriesseeing 34 consecutive months with an over-the-year gain,” said Louisiana Workforce CommissionSecretary Susana Schowen. “We stand readily available and are committed to continuing to workalongside our partners to host hiring fairs and provide resources for job seekers.”

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Among Louisiana’s MSAs in January 2024, seasonally adjusted data shows:

  • Baton Rouge (421,200 jobs) added 1,500 jobs from December 2023 and gained 4,400 jobs fromJanuary 2023.
  • Alexandria (61,200 jobs) lost 200 jobs from December 2023 and lost 200 jobs from January 2023.
  • Hammond (49,900 jobs) added 200 jobs from December 2023 and gained 1,100 jobs from January2023.
  • Houma (85,800 jobs) showed no change from December 2023, but gained 1,300 jobs from January2023.
  • Lafayette (205,500 jobs) added 900 jobs from December 2023 and gained 1,000 jobs from January2023.
  • Lake Charles (96,200 jobs) added 300 jobs from December 2023 and gained 300 jobs from January2023.
  • Monroe (77,300 jobs) lost 200 jobs from December 2023 and lost 900 jobs from January 2023.
  • New Orleans (559,200 jobs) lost 1,400 jobs from December 2023 and lost 7,700 jobs from January2023.
  • Shreveport (177,400 jobs) added 600 jobs from December 2023, but lost 1,100 jobs from January 2023



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Wanted sex offender, 51, who was caught with child porn is found sleeping in Louisiana swamp living off rats he hunted with makeshift spear

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Wanted sex offender, 51, who was caught with child porn is found sleeping in Louisiana swamp living off rats he hunted with makeshift spear


  • US Marshals found Brian Schaller, 51, living in the shelter on March 14
  • He was convicted in 2016 for distribution of child porn and had active warrants for sexual battery and violating the terms of the sex offenders’ registry

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A wanted sex offender was found living in a stick and tarpaulin shelter deep in a Louisiana swamp and eating rats that he hunted with a makeshift spear.  

Brian Schaller, 51, was convicted in 2016 for distribution of child porn and had active warrants for sexual battery and violating the terms of the sex offenders’ registry. 

Earlier this month, US Marshals received a tip-off that he was living in the Atchafalaya Basin, East of Lafayette, and tracked him down to his encampment, deep in the swamp. 

He surrendered himself and told officers he had been living there since January, catching small animals and rodents in traps and killing them with a makeshift spear for food. 

Schaller had made a dilapidated hut out of stacked branches, covered with a tarp and held together with parachute cords and even created an alarm system with string and old cans. 

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Marshals received a tip-off that wanted sex offender Brian Schaller was living in a shelter in the Louisiana swamp 

Schaller had an active warrant from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office for allegedly violating the terms of his sex offender registry and from the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's for felony sexual battery and felony oral sexual battery

Schaller had an active warrant from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office for allegedly violating the terms of his sex offender registry and from the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s for felony sexual battery and felony oral sexual battery

The shelter was made of branches stacked together and covered in trash bags and tarp

The shelter was made of branches stacked together and covered in trash bags and tarp 

According to a release from the Marshals Service, Schaller was initially indicted in 2015 for distribution of child pornography. 

They said he also had an active warrant from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office for violating the terms of his sex offender registry and from the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office for felony sexual battery and felony oral sexual battery. 

On March 12, officers received a tip-off that Schaller was living deep in the swamp. 

They put together a team of uniformed officers, boats and even canine teams to track him. 

Then on March 14, the team started searching the swamp and found Schaller’s shelter a mile-in. 

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They surrounded it and ordered him to come out, they said: ‘Schaller complied with the verbal commands and was taken into custody without incident.’

Photos of the camp show a rudimentary shelter made from sawn off branches stacked on top of each other and covered over with trash bags and a tarpaulin. 

To the side of the shelter he had strung a washing line which was still covered in clothes. 

Schaller said he had been living there since January, surviving off small animals and rats that he killed with traps and a makeshift spear

Schaller said he had been living there since January, surviving off small animals and rats that he killed with traps and a makeshift spear

He had fashioned a basked out of small branches and had even created an early-warning system using string and old cans

He had fashioned a basked out of small branches and had even created an early-warning system using string and old cans

Officers also found a make shift spear, with a kitchen knife blade fastened to a stick with twine. 

Schaller had also made a basket out of small branches. 

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The Marshals said: ‘Schaller had several small game traps along the trails around his encampment, made from paracord and small limbs he had gathered. 

‘Schaller had also deployed an early warning system made from string and aluminum cans. 

‘Schaller told investigators he had been living off the land since approximately January and that he had been living off small game and rodents.’

Schaller was first arrested in December 2014 on 500 counts of child pornography possession and his bond was set at $51 million. 

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