Watching the river flow: Gov. Bobby Jindal held a Unified Command Group meeting on Thursday with state emergency officials to discuss flooding response efforts in northwest Louisiana. The Shreveport Times reports reports the governor also will travel today to both Caddo and Bossier parishes to meet with local officials and survey response efforts to ensure that authorities have what they need to help combat the flood waters and protect communities. Currently, officials expect the Red River to crest at 35.5 feet on Saturday evening in Shreveport, which is the highest level in 70 years. Jindal is urging local officials and charging state agencies to take immediate steps to combat flood waters and to protect homes and important infrastructure. Read the full story.
Picking up the tab: Senators have rejected a plan approved by House lawmakers that would have Gov. Bobby Jindal’s office pay his security detail costs for his extensive out-of-state travel, rather than the state police. The Associated Press reports the House proposed transferring $2.5 million from Jindal’s office next year to the state police to cover the price tag of state troopers traveling with the Republican governor. The Senate Finance Committee, however, stripped that plan from the budget proposal Thursday. The state police spent $2.2 million in hotel, meal and other expenses for the governor’s state trooper security detail this year, for both in-state and out-of-state trips, lawmakers learned in a recent budget hearing.
‘Pure dynamite’: As a motivational speaker, Willie Larkin took up the nickname “Dynamite” after someone told him he was “pure dynamite” following a speaking engagement. Now he can be called President Dynamite. The News Star reports the University of Louisiana System Board on Thursday selected Larkin as the next Grambling State University president. He edged out Gilbert Rochon, who was the other finalist. Larkin and Rochon were two of five candidates interviewed this week on Grambling’s campus. UL System President Sandra Woodley said the system has searched for GSU’s next president for almost a year. She believes they’ve found the right person for the job. Read the full story.
