Cash flow: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’ chief financial adviser says catastrophic flooding has made it more likely the state will need a short-term bank loan to keep paying for government operations. The Associated Press reports that Jay Dardenne, commissioner of administration, told a panel of state officials today the need for the loan was “more probable than not.” The Edwards administration was worried about cash flow problems even before the storms, because his predecessor and lawmakers heavily drained state treasury reserves to patch together prior year budgets. With Louisiana’s flood response costs mounting—and the timeline for receiving federal disaster aid not certain—that heightens cash flow concerns. Dardenne said the state has documented about $13 million in disaster spending so far, and he expects that figure is low.
Still closed: State offices will remain closed in 12 parishes on Friday as south Louisiana begins the recovery process from the catastrophic flooding resulting from heavy rainfall this past weekend. Louisiana Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne announced that state offices would be closed in Acadia, Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Lafayette, Livingston, St. Helena, St. James, St. Martin, Tangipahoa and Vermilion parishes. Dardenne is encouraging state employees without damage to assist co-workers who’ve sustained damaged. Essential personnel not dealing with personal flood damage or helping others should contact their supervisors, Dardenne says in a statement. State employees can call 1-800-360-9660 or (225) 342-0498 for more information regarding office closures.
End of an era: The U.S. Department of Justice plans to end its use of private prisons after officials concluded the facilities are both less safe and less effective at providing correctional services than those run by the government, The Washington Post reports. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates announced the decision today in a memo that instructs officials to either decline to renew the contracts for private prison operators when they expire or “substantially reduce” the contracts’ scope. The goal, Yates wrote, is “reducing—and ultimately ending—our use of privately operated prisons.” Read the full story.
