TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalDemocrat says he'll take Trump-like path to presidency
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Democrat Andrew Yang understands he's unknown to much of America. But the political newcomer says he'll ride what seems like an improbable path to the White House just like President Donald Trump.
Yang, an entrepreneur who is generating buzz with his signature proposal for universal basic income, is banking on a high-profile appearance on the Democratic debate stage later this year for his message to catch on.
The 44-year-old made his first visit Tuesday to the early voting state of Nevada. At least 300 people turned out to his evening rally to wave signs that said "Math" and "Yang Gang" while the candidate predicted his rise through a crowded pack of 2020 contenders.
Yang said that like Trump, he'll break away by taking on issues no other candidate will talk about — especially his plan to give money to most every American.
Read more: https://www.wacotrib.com/news/ap_nation/headlines/democrat-says-he-ll-take-trump-like-path-to-presidency/article_33e58c91-45ba-5ea9-9fbf-425f27491647.html
Judge OKs bankrupt PG&E's plan for $235 million in bonuses
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge approved Pacific Gas & Electric Corp.'s plans Tuesday to pay $235 million in employee bonuses this year, despite the California utility's bankruptcy and objections from lawyers of victims of the state's massive wildfires.
The Sacramento Bee reports that U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali approved the plan at a hearing in San Francisco. His ruling came two weeks after he delayed a decision, saying he needed more information from PG&E about the thresholds employees would need to meet to qualify for the bonuses.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said the payments would be heavily weighted toward achieving safety goals and were needed to promote stability in its workforce amid the chaos surrounding the company. The payments will not go to senior management but be given to about 10,000 rank-and-file employees, the newspaper reported.
PG&E has said the bonus program was restructured with its Chapter 11 case in mind.
Read more: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/us/article/Judge-OKs-bankrupt-PG-E-s-plan-for-235-million-13789930.php
Julian Castro is finally running but fighting to get noticed
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Julián Castro's run for president followed a fast rise in the Democratic Party: a big-city Latino mayor of San Antonio at age 34, an Obama Cabinet member and a contender for Hillary Clinton's running mate in 2016.
But signs of an upward trajectory have been hard to spot in his presidential campaign, which on Wednesday returns to Texas — where even on his own turf, Castro's challenges have been laid bare.
He's been overshadowed by former congressman Beto O'Rourke, who remains a sensation in Texas after his narrow U.S. Senate loss to Republican Ted Cruz. He's drawn smaller crowds than rival candidates who've swung through the Lone Star State. His fundraising has been sluggish, in part because of his earlier choices. Although Democrats long regarded Castro as their brightest star in Texas, time and again he resisted calls to run for statewide office and must now build a supporter list from scratch.
Bigger-name candidates are also struggling for a foothold in a crowded 2020 field, and Castro aides point to a donor uptick in April. But the slow start has nonetheless puzzled some supporters and left a former up-and-comer who delivered Democrats' keynote speech at their 2012 convention in the back of the pack, not even guaranteed of making the first debates.
Read more: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/texas/article/Juli-n-Castro-is-finally-running-but-fighting-to-13790424.php
Louisiana senator: Gambling addiction 'shameful, embarrassing'
BATON ROUGE — Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, who revealed a gambling addiction in March, said the disease is "shameful and embarrassing" during debate on a sports betting bill here Monday.
The New Orleans senator, who is also chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, advocated for a portion of revenue generated from sports betting, if legalized, be directed to the state's compulsive gambling fund.
She said most people suffering with a gambling addiction are secretive.
"No one in the Capitol would have ever know Karen had a problem unless they saw me in a casino because it's shameful; it's embarrassing," Peterson said during debate of Senate Bill 153 during a Senate Judiciary B Committee hearing.
Read more: https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2019/04/23/la-senator-gambling-addition-shameful-embarrassing/3550189002/
Former Gov. Kathleen Blanco enters hospice care
BATON ROUGE — Former Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D), who has been battling cancer since 2017, has entered hospice care.
Blanco, 76, announced in 2017 she suffered from ocular melanoma. The cancer was first diagnosed in 2011 and reappeared in October 2017 during a routine checkup in Memphis, Tennessee.
During an event in December in which she was honored, Blanco said there was "no escape" from her cancer in what felt like a public farewell speech to the Council for a Better Louisiana audience.
"The cancer has metastasized and spread throughout my body," said Blanco, Lafayette's favorite daughter. "There is no cure."
Read more: https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2019/04/17/breaking-gov-blanco-enters-hospice-care/3495231002/
Louisiana sports betting clears first hurdle
Legal sports betting has cleared its first hurdle in Louisiana. The state Senate Judiciary B Committee voted 3-1 Tuesday (April 23) to approve legislation to permit sports betting in the state.
Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, was the lone vote against the proposal, Senate Bill 153. Peterson revealed earlier this year that she struggles with a gambling addiction.
If the bill is approved, Louisiana voters would determine the fate of sports betting this fall on a parish-by-parish basis. The earliest sports betting could be in place is January 2020, said Ronnie Jones, head of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Kenner, would allow sports wagering on professional and collegiate sports at Louisiana’s four horse racetracks with slot machines, 15 riverboat casinos and at Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans. Betting on high school, video game and electronic sports events would not be allowed. Sports betting would be limited to gamblers 21 and older.
Martiny said sports betting could generate anywhere from $40 million to $60 million annually, though there are questions about whether those targets are feasible. Mississippi is closing out its first year with sports betting, which has produced less than half the tax revenue projected.
Read more: https://www.nola.com/crime/2019/04/louisiana-sports-betting-clears-first-hurdle.html
Union urges denial of Convention Center hotel, citing company's prior ownership of private prisons
NEW ORLEANS -- The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center's board faced another headache over its controversial hotel project, as a local union urged it to reject the hotel because of the past involvement of the prospective project leader in privatized federal prisons.
Gabby Bolden-Shaw, vice president of the Unite Here Local 23 that represents about 1,700 hospitality workers in New Orleans, and other union members delivered a letter to the board Tuesday urging it to reject the current proposal for a 1,200-room Omni Hotel on the Convention Center's undeveloped acres south of the main hall.
The proposal currently under consideration is led by Baton Rouge-based nonprofit Provident Resources Group, which through a complicated legal structure would own the $558 million development and fund it by issuing tax-exempt bonds.
PRG, which was founded in 1999 by Baton Rouge lawyer Steve Hicks, owned 10 privatized federal prisons from 2001 through 2012, which were operated by the company now known as GEO Group, the country's largest operator of private prisons.
Read more: https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/business/article_82fb5068-6604-11e9-be65-db07ed751241.html
After Governor's Mansion security breach, State Police leader 'certainly alarmed'
Louisiana State Police Supt. Kevin Reeves said he's "certainly alarmed" by news of a breach in security at the Governor's Mansion last week when a man trespassed into the building and damaged property before falling asleep on a couch.
"Anything of this magnitude is of great concern," Reeves told Gannett in Louisiana.
Reynard Green, 34, of Baton Rouge, was booked Wednesday on simple burglary, criminal trespass and criminal damage to property, possession of a Schedule I narcotic and two counts of battery of a police officer.
East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said booking records show Green was found sleeping on a couch and had broken an antique table.
Read more: https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/article_f01ff0a0-65e0-11e9-86d6-b3e649d37033.html
Raymond Reggie, politically connected Mandeville businessman, pleads guilty to federal fraud charge
Once accused in a multicount $1.2 million fraud and money-laundering scheme, politically connected Mandeville businessman Raymond Reggie pleaded guilty Tuesday in Baton Rouge federal court to a single wire fraud count that alleges just over $14,000 in fraudulent conduct.
The long-running case involved Reggie billing a group of south Louisiana automobile dealerships — Super Chevy Dealers of Baton Rouge and Slidell-based Supreme Automotive Group — for advertising purchases he never made.
Reggie, who was scheduled to stand trial next week, previously pleaded guilty in the same case in 2014 to five counts of mail fraud and was later sentenced by U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick to more than 11 years in prison and ordered to make $1.2 million in restitution.
But a New Orleans federal appeals court tossed out the plea and sentence in 2016 because Reggie argued he was impaired by a stroke when he entered his guilty plea. Dick recused herself after that ruling.
Read more: https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/article_c109dfcc-65dd-11e9-9d17-1373aa96882a.html
Sweeping bill aimed at lowering auto insurance rates passes Louisiana House, heads to Senate
A sweeping proposal to change Louisiana’s legal system to drive down costs for auto insurers, a measure proponents say would reduce auto insurance rates, was approved by the Louisiana House of Representatives Tuesday night after a lengthy debate over why the state’s auto rates are so high and how to best address them.
State Rep. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, said his bill would make the state’s auto insurance market more competitive and require auto insurers to pass their cost savings from the bill to consumers.
Louisiana has some of the nation’s highest auto insurance rates, ranking second-highest in the country this year, according to Talbot.
“The only guarantee is if we don’t do anything this time next year we’ll be No. 1 instead of number two,” he said.
Read more: https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_f770c316-661c-11e9-869e-0b426bc79e89.html
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