Tightening up: Layoff notifications have gone out to some of the employees in Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office, The Associated Press reports. Edwards’ spokesman Richard Carbo says the governor’s office will reduce its staff to cope with a $1 million budget cut for the financial year that began July 1. Some employees were told Tuesday that they’d be losing their jobs. Carbo says he doesn’t have an exact number of how many layoffs would be made to balance the office budget. He also didn’t say how many people already have been notified they were getting pink slips. The governor’s office is trying to move those being laid off to other state agencies if there are available jobs that the employees could fill.
Talking it out: Gov. John Bel Edwards and Louisiana State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson will meet with President Barack Obama and other law enforcement, faith leaders and community advocates during a community meeting today in Washington, D.C. According to the governor’s office, the meeting is to discuss ways to keep people safe, build community trust, and ensure justice for all Americans. The trip comes more than a week after 37-year-old Alton Sterling was shot and killed by Baton Rouge police officers. A day later, a Minneapolis shot and killed 32-year-old Philandro Castile. Both shootings sparked protests throughout the nation.
In this corner: Southern University nursing professor Leah Cullins today announced her candidacy for the Metro Council District 10 seat. Cullins says people are tired of blight and lack of development in their neighborhoods, and she wants to change that. She also says she will work to foster a better relationship between police and the community they serve. “Repairing these rifts will take time, tough conversations, and most importantly, a belief in one another,” Cullins says in a statement. “The answer lies in trust. Trust that is earned. I am ready to earn your trust.” Beside working as a professor, Cullins also is the supervising nurse practitioner at AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Incumbent Councilwoman Tara Wicker has announced she will seek a third term on the council.
