RSS Feed

88 new confirmed COVID cases, two deaths in local parishes

Sun, 12/06/2020 - 12:23pm

The Louisiana Office of Public Health reported 88 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and two fatalities in St. Mary, St. Martin and Assumption parishes for the 48 hours ending at midday Sunday.

Across the state, hospitalizations and ventilator usage continued to climb.

Thirty-four new confirmed COVID cases were reported for St. Mary, raising the total since the pandemic began to 2,361. Those cases were detected with molecular tests. Another 123 positives were reported as a result of the less sensitive antigen tests and are listed as probable.

St. Martin has 39 new confirmed cases for the two days for a total of 2,819. Another 105 cases are listed as probable.

Assumption has 15 new cases for a total of 991 with 101 probables.

The OPH reported one confirmed COVID-related fatality each in St. Mary and St. Martin. The death tolls rose to 91 plus six listed as probable in St. Mary and 69 with five probables in St. Martin. Assumption's fatality total remains at 24 confirmed and one probable.

Statewide:

--3,939 cases raise the pandemic total to 235,869 confirmed with another 15,254 probables.

--36 newly reported fatalities raise the confirmed toll to 6,309 with 275 probables.

--The number of COVID-positive people in hospitals grew by 35 to 1,392.

--8 more people are on ventilators for a total of 162.

Dragna is new Morgan City mayor

Sat, 12/05/2020 - 11:18pm

GEOFF STOUTE

gstoute@daily-review.com

Lee Dragna will be Morgan City’s next mayor as he earned 56% of the vote to defeat Kevin Voisin in a runoff Saturday.
Dragna, a Republican, collected 1,530 votes, while Voisin, who didn’t register with a party, had 1,226 votes (44%).
“I just want to thank everybody for going out and voting and having confidence in me to get this job done,” Dragna told KWBJ-TV 22 following the election.
The mayor-elect pledged to not let the voters down.
“I will bring this city back to the glory days that it was,” he said.
Dragna said he has been talking with U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, and he said they would begin next week working on items on the federal level that will benefit Morgan City.
The new mayor, who will replace Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi, offered his praise for Voisin.
“I want to congratulate him for a nice, clean run,” Dragna said, noting both did well.
Dragna said Voisin offered his help, if needed, and Dragna said he would be reaching out to Voisin.
“We will work together to get this done,” he said of improving the city.
Voisin also congratu-lated Dragna, who he said ran a “good, clean campaign,” and wished the mayor-elect success in his upcoming term.
Voisin thanked his supporters, too.
“I’d just like to thank everyone who supported and voted for me and trusted me to be their next mayor,” he said.
Also on Saturday’s ballot, two runoffs involving seats in the 16th Judicial District Court were decided, while parish voters rejected two millage proposals and a statewide constitutional amendment.
In two runoffs involv-ing 16th Judicial District Court seats, Anthony “Tony” Saleme of Morgan City won the ES 2, Div. 5 runoff, and Roger P. Hamilton Jr. of New Iberia was the victor in the ES 1, Div. 1 runoff.
Saleme, a Republican, earned 60% (11,149) of the vote, while fellow Republican Natalie Broussard of New Iberia earned 40% (7,498).
Hamilton, an Inde-pendent, collected 58% (3,115) to 42% (2,262) for Democrat Alicia Butler of New Iberia.
The 16th Judicial Dis-trict represents Iberia, St. Mary and St. Martin parishes.
Also Saturday, St. Mary Parish voters rejected two millages proposals and a statewide constitutional amendment.
The millage proposal that would combine the property tax millages for two drainage districts that were combined into St. Mary Consolidated Gravity Drainage District 2A in April failed 66% (1,876) to 34% (964). The district was formed by combining District No. 2 in the Morgan City-Siracusa area and District No. 6 in the Amelia area.
Combining the property taxes would have meant a single property tax of up to 7.3 mills for 20 years, beginning in 2021, would be collected.
In the Patterson area, a 10-year, 2.24-mill tax proposal for St. Mary Parish Recreation Dis-trict No. 4 failed with 59% (523) voting against and 41% (370) voting for the tax.
The tax would have supported operations and maintenance of the Patterson Area Civic Center and recreation programs.
Saturday marked the second straight year the tax has failed to gain public approval. It was on the books for 10 years before it failed to receive public approval for renewal a year ago, forcing it to be placed on the ballot again as a new tax. That was done in Saturday’s election.
Also, a statewide con-stitutional amendment that would allow the governor to appoint up to two out-of-state residents to serve on each of the state’s three college system government boards failed overwhelmingly locally, with 84% (6,152) voting against it to only 16% (1,196) voting for it.
Statewide, the meas-ure failed with 76% (385,656) voting against it and 24% (118,651) voting for it.

Little-noticed amendment shot down by state's voters

Sat, 12/05/2020 - 9:57pm

A quiet amendment targeting at-large appointments to state college authorities drew a loud "no" from Louisiana voters Saturday.

Amendment 1 was failing statewide by a 77-23 margin with 3,703 of 3,934 precincts reporting and the early votes counted. The amendment drew 103,432 yes votes to 349,716 no votes.

The amendment would have allowed the governor to appoint, with Senate approval, out of state residents to fill at-large positions on the boards that govern the Community and Technical College, LSU, Southern and University of Louisiana systems.

The biggest controversy surrounding the amendment may have been the way it landed on the ballot. The Legislature voted during the October special session to put the measure before voters, too late to be among the seven amendments that were on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The Public Affairs Research Council estimated that adding the amendment to Saturday's ballot cost $376,000. Pointe Coupee, Red River, Claiborne and Sabine parishes had no runoffs, so the amendment was the only item on their ballots.

UPDATED WITH FINAL RESULTS: Tax propositions take a beating in Saturday voting

Sat, 12/05/2020 - 9:05pm

St. Mary voters rejected a pair of property tax proposals Saturday, including one designed to facilitate the merger of Morgan City and Amelia drainage districts.

That proposition would have effectively merged the property taxes levied by the separate districts into a single property tax of 7.30 mills in the combined district, St. Mary Consolidated Gravity Drainage District 2A. The Parish Council formed the district earlier this year by combining districts serving Morgan City and Amelia.

With all 13 precincts reporting and the early votes counted, 1,876 people, or 66%, voted no, and 964 people, or 34%, voted yes.

In Recreation District No. 4, a 2.24-mill tax proposition failed. The proposition drew 370 yes votes, or 41%, to 523 no votes, or 58%.

The tax would raise about $127,000 year for the district.

Dragna wins race for Morgan City mayor

Sat, 12/05/2020 - 8:47pm

Businessman Lee Dragna won the race to become Morgan City's mayor Saturday, according to complete but unofficial returns.

Dragna got 1,530 votes, or 56%, to 1,226, or 44%, for former Parish Councilman Kevin J. Voisin with all 11 precincts and the early vote counted.

The turnout for the runoff election was about 36%, a little more half the turnout for the Nov. 3 primary.

Dragna will succeed Frank "Boo" Grizzaffi as mayor.

UPDATED 10 P.M.: Saleme, Hamilton win 16th JDC judgeships

Sat, 12/05/2020 - 8:41pm

Roger P. Hamilton of Iberia Parish and Anthony "Tony" Saleme of Morgan City won runoffs Saturday for the 16th Judicial District judgeships.

With early voting and absentee votes counted and all 141 precincts reporting in the Division F race, Assistant District Attorney Saleme had 11,149 votes, or 60%, to 7,498, or 40%, for Iberia Parish Council member Natalie Broussard.

Saleme ran on his record as a prosecutor in the District Attorney's Office. Broussard campaigned on her experience as an attorney in general practice and her political experience.

In Division H, Roger P. Hamilton had 3,115 votes, or 58%, to 2,262, or 42%, for "Alicia" Butler with all 64 precincts reporting and the early votes counted.

Both candidates are from Iberia Parish.

The 16th JDC covers St. Mary, Iberia and St. Martin parishes.

UPDATED WITH EARLY VOTING: St. Mary awaits returns in runoffs, proposition balloting

Sat, 12/05/2020 - 8:16pm

Polls closed at 8 p.m. in runoffs for Morgan City mayor, two judgeships and other local propositions.

Businessman Lee Dragna and former Parish Councilman Kevin J. Voisin ran to succeed Frank "Boo" Grizzaffi as Morgan City's mayor. Absentee and early votes had Dragna ahead with 619 votes to 449 for Voisin.

In the 16th Judicial District, Iberia Parish Councilwoman Natalie Broussard and Assistant District Attorney Anthony "Tony" Saleme of Morgan City ran for the District F judgeship. The early and absentee votes had 3,940 votes for Saleme to 2,946 for Broussard.

"Alicia" Butler and Roger P. Hamilton Jr., both of Iberia Parish, ran for the District H judge post. The 16th JDC covers St. Mary, St. Martin and Iberia parishes. The early and absentee votes put Hamilton ahead 1,291-816.

Voters in the Morgan City-Amelia area were also asked to set a combined maximum property tax of 7.3 mills for the consolidated Gravity Drainage District 2A, which resulted from the merger of districts serving Morgan City and Amelia. The early and absentee voting had 736 votes against to 339 for.

Recreation District No. 4 voters were asked to approve a 2.24-mill property tax expected to raise $127,000. The no votes were winning the absentee and early votes, 156-9.

A lone state constitutional amendment would allow the governor to appoint up to two out-of-state residents as at-large members on the three state college and university system governing boards. St. Mary early and absentee votes were running against the amendment, 2,046 no votes to 345 yes votes.

54 new confirmed COVID cases in local parishes

Fri, 12/04/2020 - 12:17pm

The Louisiana Office of Public Health reported 54 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in St. Mary, St. Martin and Assumption during the 24 hours ending at midday Friday.

Statewide, another 3,102 cases were reported while 32 more COVID-positive people were hospitalized.

In St. Mary,10 new cases confirmed by molecular tests raise the pandemic total to 2,327. Another 114 tests detected by the less sensitive antigen tests are listed as probable.

St. Martin has 33 new confirmed cases for a total of 2,780, plus 99 probable cases.

Assumption has 11 new confirmed cases for a total of 976 with 91 probables.

No new fatalities were reported Friday, so the death tolls remain at 90 in St. Mary with another six listed as probable; 68 in St. Martin with five probables; and 24 in Assumption with one probable.

Statewide:

--3,102 new cases raise the total to 232,479 confirmed with 14,698 probable cases.

--24 new deaths raise the confirmed toll to 6,274 with 274 deaths probably COVID-related.

--32 more COVID-positive people are hospitalized for a total of 1,357. The number has grown by 116 since Sunday.

--12 more people are on ventilators for a total of 154.

La. Treasurer John Schroder hospitalized with COVID-19

Fri, 12/04/2020 - 11:36am

By DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

Louisiana State Treasurer John Schroder has been hospitalized to be treated for COVID-19, the treasurer’s office announced Thursday.
“Treasurer Schroder is responding favorably to treatment and is experiencing little discomfort,” the office’s statement says. “He is in contact with treasury staff via email and phone to maintain the department’s programs.”
As treasurer, Schroder chairs the state Bond Commission, which oversees borrowing by state government and local government entities. His office manages state funds and handles unclaimed property disbursements. Recently, Schroder was in charge of a $275 million program the Legislature created to help small businesses with COVID-19-related expenses.
Also on Thursday, U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson told the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana that he and his wife recently had been infected with COVID-19 but had recovered. Johnson previously had not publicly discussed his illness.
“After returning from Washington a couple of weeks ago, both Congressman Johnson and Mrs. Johnson began showing symptoms of COVID-19,” his spokesperson Whitley Alexander said in a prepared statement, according to the report. “They were tested and the results came back positive. Following the guidance of their doctors and the House Attending Physician, they immediately began quarantine at home. They have both since recovered and have just completed their quarantine. Congressman Johnson worked throughout his illness from home, and is back now serving the constituents of Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District in his full capacity.”
Johnson’s district encompasses northwest and part of central Louisiana and includes the Shreveport/Bossier City metro area. Last month, he was elected vice chairman of the House Republican Conference.
U.S. Rep. Garret Graves’ office on Thursday said the congressman had been exposed to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and would quarantine in accordance with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
“He will be tested and is making arrangements to safely travel back to Louisiana,” the statement said.
Graves represents Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District, which is in south-central Louisiana and includes most of the Baton Rouge-centered Capital Region.
Schroder, Johnson and Graves are all Republicans.

Trump’s lawyers want Georgia’s election results thrown out

Fri, 12/04/2020 - 11:34am

By NYAMEKYE DANIEL, The Center Square

Attorneys for President Donald Trump told a Georgia legislative panel Thursday they plan to file a lawsuit to throw out the state’s certified election results and have the General Assembly select the state’s presidential electors.
Presumptive President-elect Joe Biden defeated Trump in Georgia in the Nov. 3 election, and Biden has maintained a lead over Trump after a hand recount and audit, and the near completion of a second recount requested by Trump. Trump’s campaign, however, continuously has made unconfirmed claims of election fraud in Georgia.
Trump attorney Ray Smith told members of the state’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Thursday that since he believes the election was a “flawed process,” he plans to ask the court to order the General Assembly to appoint the electors, based on the U.S. Constitution.
“This hearing is just the tip of the iceberg,” Smith said. “We are filing today a petition in the Fulton Superior Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Because of the irregularities and the abject failure of the secretary of state of this state and the counties to properly conduct the election, it is impossible to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.”
Smith said the lawsuit includes witness testimony, multiple violation reports and video footage he says shows Fulton County election workers counting ballots unsupervised. The court previously has ruled against the claims and most of the evidence presented Thursday in a similar lawsuit.
In a Senate Government Oversight Committee meeting earlier Thursday, Ryan Germany, general counsel for the secretary of state’s office, told lawmakers there is no evidence of widespread fraud in the presidential election.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Monday his office was investigating more than 250 “credible” claims of illegal voting and “violations of state election law.” He said there are multiple investigations regarding absentee ballots in Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb and other counties.
County election offices in Georgia worked Thursday to wrap up an electronic recount of the more than 5 million votes cast in the presidential election after a formal request for a recount Nov. 21 from Trump. With all precincts reporting Thursday, Biden led Trump by more than 10,000 votes, according to preliminary results. Biden had a margin of more than 12,000 votes Nov. 19 after a hand recount and audit.
Germany outlined the election process and was riddled with questions during two hours of testimony Thursday morning. A handful of Republican senators said they plan to propose legislation to tighten the authentication of absentee ballots, including adding a photo identification or notary requirement.
More than 1.3 million absentee ballots were cast in the election. Trump, Gov. Brian Kemp and other GOP lawmakers have called for a sample audit of the absentee ballot signatures.
“We just selected the most powerful person in the world. If I go buy land in my hometown, I have to have a notary public to notarize my signature,” Sen. Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega, said. “Any other business documents that you sign most of the time have to be notarized or witnessed. How can we certify this election this week knowing that a fourth of the ballots hasn’t been verified by professionals, or even audited?”