YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER LAROSE, LA thelafourchegazette.com
SERVING: MATHEWS • GHEENS • LOCKPORT • VALENTINE • LAROSE CUT OFF • GALLIANO • GOLDEN MEADOW • LEEVILLE • GRAND ISLE
Sunday, July 5, 2015
New laws effective Wednesday impact drivers, smokers
La issues gay marriage licenses almost everywhere on Tuesday JANET McCONNAUGHEY Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana is changing the lines labeled “bride” and “groom” on its marriage licenses to “bride/spouse” and “groom/spouse” to accommodate same-sex marriages. But same-sex couples don’t have to choose who is bride or groom. “They could circle whichever one they choose, or mark out” the other, said Holly Vining, president of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association and clerk of court in Webster Parish. “Either way it would be valid.” Those are record copies, not for display, she noted.
MELINDA DESLATTE Associated Press
Photo by Lars Gange
BP agreed to an $18.7 billion settlement “agreement in principal” Thursday. Louisiana will receive more than $6.8 billion in new support, resulting in almost $10 billion total as a result of the oil spill five years ago.
Gulf states reach $18.7B settlement with BP over oil spill
See Licenses Page 3-A
MEETINGS MONDAY, JULY 6
VETERANS MEMORIAL DISTRICT, WARD 10 Special Meeting 5:00 p.m. Veterans Memorial Wall Hwy. 3235 - Galliano
TOWN GOLDEN MEADOW 7:00 p.m. Golden Meadow Town Hall LAF. PORT COMMISSION Committee Meeting 6:00 p.m. - Galliano Office TUESDAY, JULY 7
LADY OF THE SEA General Hospital Board of Commissioners 12:00 noon The Learning Center
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 LAF. PORT COMMISSION Board Meeting 10:30 a.m. - Galliano Office
Louisiana to receive more than $6.8 billion in new support
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — BP and five Gulf states announced an $18.7 billion settlement Thursday that resolves years of legal fighting over the environmental and economic damage done by the energy giant’s oil spill in 2010. The settlement money will be used to resolve the Clean Water Act penalties; resolve natural resources damage claims; settle economic claims; and resolve economic damage claims of local governments, according to an outline filed in federal court. The settlement involves Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. “If approved by the court, this settlement would be the largest settlement with a single entity in American history; it would help repair the damage done to the Gulf economy, fisheries, wetlands and wildlife; and it would bring lasting benefits to the Gulf region for generations to come,” U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement. The settlement announcement comes as a federal judge was preparing to rule on how much BP owed in federal Clean Water Act penalties. The judge had already found that 3.19 million barrels of oil — nearly 134 million gallons — spewed into the Gulf. Individual states also were pursuing litigation.
INSIDE
Arrests.............................5-A
Calendar of Events.........2-A
Classifieds................4-A/5-A Lottery.............................2-A Memorials.......................5-A
News In Brief..................2-A
Obituaries.......................5-A
Surfin’ the Net.................5-A
Worship Directory...........6-A
“Five years ago, the BP explosion and spill took the lives of 11 men and devastated our coast, our communities, and our economy,” said U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) in a statement. “Properly holding BP accountable and making sure that these monies go toward restoring our coast have been top priorities, and moving forward I’ll make sure we put shovels in the ground soon using this money wisely according to the detailed plan I’ve laid out.” Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell has reported that Louisiana will receive more than $6.8 billion in new support, resulting in almost $10 billion total. The state will receive this funding over 16 years, through the Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) and accruing interest through the RESTORE Act. New funding will go toward: - $5 billion for natural resource damages - $1 billion for state economic damages - $787 million in Clean Water Act penalties through RESTORE - Coverage for all states assessment costs and total reimbursement fees BP PLC chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg said
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana drivers only have to renew their licenses every six years beginning Wednesday, but they’ll have to pay more when they buy a car or seek a copy of their driving record. Those changes are among the new state laws that took effect July 1, along with a new 50cent-per-pack tax hike on cigarette smokers and scaled-back tax breaks for businesses. Wednesday marked the beginning of a new state budget year, so many of the laws that hit the books impact the state’s finances. CHANGES FOR DRIVERS Previously, drivers had to renew their licenses in Louisiana every four years. But lawmakers agreed last year to change the renewal period to six years, saying it could help lessen wait times at the Office of Motor Vehicles. They gave the motor vehicles agency a year to make the necessary system adjustments. With the change, the fee for a basic license is rising from $28.50 to $42.75 to cover the extra years of renewal. Fees for other licenses also will increase. Meanwhile, car buyers and sellers will pay $50 more for vehicle and salvage titles, boosting the fee to $68.50. And the price tag for getting an official state driving record is rising from $6 to $16. Those fee hikes are estimated to bring in an extra $82 million a year for the state treasury, to help balance the budget. See New Laws Page 3-A
Saving Coco …
See Settlement Page 3-A
Parents: make sure children are up-to-date on vaccinations for upcoming school year
AMERICAN LEGION #315 7:00 p.m. Galliano LAF. ANIMAL SHELTER Advisory Board 6:00 p.m. Lafourche Govt. Complex 4876 Hwy. 1 - Mathews
VOLUME 26 NUMBER 38
Vaccines are safe, effective and help protect other children from getting sick
Baton Rouge, La.—No need to remind the kids, but the beginning of the new school year is quickly approaching. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) is reminding Louisiana parents and guardians to make sure their children have received all vaccinations required by state law. “The important thing to know is that vaccinations are considered to be one of the most successful and cost-effective public health tools parents can use to help protect their children,” said DHH Immunization Medical Director Dr. Frank Welch. “Vaccine-preventable diseases include measles, influenza, mumps, whooping cough and pneumonia.” Louisiana law requires children who are ages 4 or older and entering kindergarten, pre-kindergarten or Head Start programs have proof
they have received the following vaccinations: - a booster dose of poliovirus vaccine (IPV); - two doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR); - three doses of hepatitis vaccine (HBV); - two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine (Var); and - a booster dose of diphtheriatetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP). Children in day care also need to be up-to-date with their age-appropriate immunizations. Children who are 11 or older and are entering the sixth grade must have proof they received all the age-appropriate immunizations listed above, as well as the meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine and tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap). See Vaccinations Page 2-A
Photo courtesy of Lockport Fire Dept.
An apartment at City Place Townhomes in Lockport was struck by lightening and then caught on fire Tuesday afternoon. Lockport Volunteer Firefighters and first responders were alerted that the apartment owner was not home but a dog was in the apartment so they went in to rescue her. Pictured is Lieutenant Allie Autin with a very thankful Coco.
There is no better place to get your meats & fixings for the 4th of July holiday Weekend!
7114 Hwy. 1 - Lockport 13086 Hwy. 3235 - Larose 2113 S. Alex Plaisance Blvd. - G.M. Prices Good Through Tuesday, July 7th
10 Lb. Bags, Fresh
Chicken
Leg Quarters Lb.
.29¢
13-14 Oz. Selected Varieties
Hillshire Smoked Sausage
1
$ 99
Family Pack
Ribeye Steaks
Lb.
7
$ 99
Sanderson Farms
Fresh Chicken Breasts
Lb.
.99¢
15 Oz.
30 Oz.
Bryan Juicy Blue Plate Mayonnaise Jumbos
.99¢
2
$ 99
Lays Potato Coca Cola Chips 12 Oz. Cans, 12 Packs
3 $1098 For
Must buy 3. Singles $499
Buy 1 Get 1 FREE