Hard times: Nearly one in five Louisiana residents lived in poverty last year, according to new U.S. Census data released Thursday, The Associated Press reports. The data show little change in Louisiana’s poverty rate from 2014 to 2015. The state had the third-highest poverty rate in the country for 2015, at 19.6%, falling behind only Mississippi and New Mexico. In 2014, 19.8% of Louisiana’s residents lived in poverty. The Census Bureau estimates nearly 890,000 of Louisiana’s 4.7 million residents lived below the federal poverty line last year, which was about $24,000 for a family of four. Mississippi’s poverty rate was at 22%, and New Mexico’s was 20.4%. For the same period, the national poverty rate was 14.7%. The nation’s lowest poverty rate was in New Hampshire, at 8.2%.
Current affairs: With a 95-3 vote, the U.S. Senate approved a $10 billion water projects bill on Thursday that would bolster flood-prevention projects in Baton Rouge, where torrential rains last month damaged thousands of homes. The Associated Press reports the bipartisan bill would authorize 29 projects in 18 states for dredging, flood control and other projects overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The bill includes $100 million in grants and loans to replace lead-contaminated pipes in Flint, Michigan, and other cities with lead emergencies, as well as $50 million to test water for lead in schools and $70 million for water infrastructure loans. The measure now goes to the House, where approval of a similar bill is expected as soon as next week. Read the full story.
Out of pocket: Samsung has recalled 1 million Galaxy Note 7 phones due to reports that their batteries can overheat and start fires in some cases, USA Today reports. Samsung says it received 92 reports of batteries in the popular smartphone overheating in the U.S., resulting in 26 instances of burns and 55 of property damage, including fires in cars and a garage, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Samsung Electronics America says Note 7 replacement units will be available in the U.S. at most retail stores by Sept. 21. Late last week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned consumers to stop using and charging their Galaxy Note 7s because of the risk of exploding batteries. Before that, the FAA warned to avoid turning on or charging Note 7s in airplanes. Read the full story.
