Seeing red: Republicans are dominating fundraising in Louisiana’s top two races on the Oct. 24 ballot, for governor and lieutenant governor—and pouring more of their own money into their competitions as well, according to the latest campaign reports. The GOP has been the more dominant political force in state politics in recent years, with Republicans holding every statewide office. Democrats are hoping to end the string of GOP victories, but they continue to lag in fundraising efforts. Reports outlining campaign donations and spending for the latest quarter, from April 18 through July 16, were due to the state ethics board Monday. The Associated Press has the full story.
Power by design: A Louisiana-based engineering firm has designed the foundations for the first offshore wind farm in the United States, which began installation this week. New Orleans CityBusiness reports the foundations for the five-turbine wind farm were designed by Keystone Engineering of Mandeville and built by Houston-based Gulf Island Fabrication Inc., which constructs large oil platforms. The project, Deepwater Wind, is expected to expand in the future as more contracts come on board. The platforms, located off the coast of Rhode Island, will generate about 30 megawatts of power and have the capability to power 17,000 homes. Developers hope to start generating power by October 2016.
The damage: Rapides Parish sustained more than $1 million in public costs related to recent flooding of the Red River, according to the latest estimate. The Town Talk reports that the estimated $1.1 million in public costs includes damage to roads and flood gates, as well as cleanup costs such as removing silt and debris. Though shipping has resumed on the Red River, Central Louisiana Regional Port Executive Director Blake Cooper says about $300,000 worth of work still needs to be done, including dredging and removing debris. The newspaper reports that Rapides, Grant and Natchitoches parishes could see up to 75% of costs for repair and cleanup of public infrastructure covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The river rose above 37 feet in early June, nearing a high-water mark last seen in 1945.
