Latest news with #NolanMcKendry
American Press
01-08-2025
- Science
- American Press
Gulf of America ‘dead zone' shrank sharply in 2025, scientists say
By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square The Gulf of America's 'dead zone' has shrunk significantly this summer, with scientists measuring a hypoxic area of just over 4,400 square miles — roughly a third smaller than last year and far less than the long-term average, federal officials announced Wednesday. The dead zone, a stretch of oxygen-depleted water that forms annually off the Louisiana and Texas coasts, is caused primarily by excess nutrients washing into the Gulf from the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin. This year's zone, measured during a July 20–25 survey aboard the research vessel Pelican, was 4,402 square miles — 21% smaller than NOAA's early-season estimate and the 15th smallest on record, according to NOAA-supported scientists from LSU and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium. 'This year's significant reduction in the Gulf of America's 'dead zone' is an encouraging sign for the future of this area,' said Laura Grimm, acting NOAA administrator. 'It highlights the dedication and impactful work of NOAA-supported scientists and partners, and serves as a testament to the effectiveness of collaborative efforts in supporting our U.S. fishermen, coastal communities, and vital marine ecosystems.' The measured area is equivalent to roughly 2.8 million acres of bottom habitat temporarily made unavailable to marine life such as fish and shrimp due to low oxygen levels. That marks a 30% drop from 2024, when the zone spanned a massive 6,703 square miles — more than 1.3 times the long-term average and nearly 3.5 times larger than the target goal of 1,930 square miles set by the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force. Despite this year's improvement, the five-year running average remains high at 4,755 square miles—still more than double the federal benchmark. Dead zones emerge when excess nutrients — mostly nitrogen and phosphorus from upstream agriculture and wastewater — fuel algae blooms. As algae die and sink, their decomposition consumes oxygen in bottom waters. Without sufficient oxygen, marine species must flee or perish. In 2024, the area west of the Mississippi River experienced heavy hypoxia with extremely low oxygen readings and little water mixing, according to NOAA. 'The stratification of warmer surface water over cooler, saltier bottom water was strong enough to prevent oxygen replenishment,' researchers wrote in a followup report. Some bottom waters saw oxygen drop across the lower five meters of the water column. Even with relatively low chlorophyll readings — indicating modest live algae near the surface — researchers noted high concentrations of degraded algae and organic detritus near the seafloor, still enough to drive significant bacterial oxygen consumption. The Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force, a coalition of federal and state agencies, has worked for over two decades to reduce nutrient pollution flowing into the Gulf. The EPA established a dedicated Gulf Hypoxia Program in 2022 to accelerate these efforts. 'The Gulf of America is a national treasure that supports energy dominance, commercial fishing, American industry, and the recreation economy,' said Peggy Browne, acting assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Water. 'I look forward to co-leading the work of the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force to assess evolving science and address nutrient loads from all sources.' So far, nitrogen loading from the Mississippi River has not declined since the 2001 adoption of the Hypoxia Action Plan, scientists noted. NOAA's June 2025 forecast, which had predicted a dead zone of 5,574 square miles, was based on U.S. Geological Survey nutrient data from spring river flows and fell within model uncertainty ranges. NOAA's Coastal Hypoxia Research, Ocean Technology Transition, and Uncrewed Systems programs are working to improve monitoring and prediction tools. This year, several autonomous surface vehicles were deployed alongside ship-based crews to compare mapping methods. Researchers said ASVs may provide a more cost-effective way to track dead zones in the future. NOAA also partners with the Northern Gulf Institute and Gulf of Mexico Alliance to expand observational capabilities and state-level technical support.
American Press
10-07-2025
- Business
- American Press
New federal tax credit could expand school choice programs like Louisiana's
(Metro Creative Services) By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square A new federal tax credit program tucked into a broader tax bill passed by Congress could significantly expand private school scholarship options for low and middle-income families nationwide — if states choose to participate. President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill creates a federal income tax credit of up to $1,700 per year for individuals who donate to certified scholarship granting organizations. These groups, typically nonprofits, use donations to fund private school tuition scholarships for students from qualifying low-income households. Louisiana is well-positioned to plug into the new federal program. For more than a decade, the state has run a similar tax credit scholarship initiative. Organizations like ACE Scholarships Louisiana, Aspiring Scholars, Arete Scholars and Son of a Saint currently operate under the Louisiana Department of Education's oversight, using private donations to fund tuition scholarships for eligible families. But the new federal program, set to begin in 2027, would create a parallel system with national reach. Governors will decide whether their states opt in, and participating states will need to certify which scholarship granting organizations meet federal requirements. 'This could definitely make more choices and more financial assistance available to families — which is always a good thing,' Erin Bendily from the Pelican Institute said. 'But it may be especially beneficial in states that don't already have these types of programs.' Under the federal framework, qualifying scholarship granting organizations must meet strict requirements. They must spend at least 90% of donations on scholarships, verify family income eligibility, avoid earmarking funds for specific students and prioritize current or returning scholarship recipients. To prevent double-dipping, the value of the federal tax credit would be reduced by any state tax credit the donor receives. And contributions claimed under the federal program cannot also be deducted as charitable donations. Additionally, the legislation expands the types of education expenses that can be covered by 529 college savings accounts. Beginning in 2026, families will be able to use those tax-free accounts for private K-12 tuition, tutoring by licensed teachers, dual enrollment fees, and even special education therapies. The annual withdrawal limit for K-12 use will rise from $10,000 to $20,000. Separately, the bill makes permanent a federal tax exclusion for employer-paid student loan assistance and ties it to inflation, making such benefits more attractive for workers and employers alike. The changes are being hailed by school choice proponents, but not without caution. Education policy observers note that the legislation invites deeper federal involvement in K-12 policy — a space traditionally overseen by states. 'There's always excitement when families get more options,' Bendily added, 'but some people do worry about the federal government stepping into what's always been a state-led area.' Bendily mentioned the contentious debate about the federal government's role in education. 'Do we need a federal agency? If so, you know, what power should it have? How can its work perhaps, be done in a different way, maybe through other agencies? How many strings attached should come with federal money that go down to states and schools at the local level. These are all very important questions,' Bendily continued. It's not yet clear how Louisiana will respond. Gov. Jeff Landry has not announced whether the state will join the program Questions also remain about how families currently receiving state-level scholarships would interact with the federal program. Could they receive both? Would they have to choose? 'These are the kinds of questions we'll need to work through — both at the policy level and in conversations with families,' Bendily said. The new federal credit does not require states to already have a program in place, meaning states with no current school choice infrastructure could now develop one with federal backing.
American Press
14-05-2025
- Business
- American Press
Legislators kill two taxes on carbon capture
A liquid carbon dioxide containment unit stands outside the fabrication building of Glenwood Mason Supply Company in 2023, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. New York is forcing buildings to clean up, and several are experimenting with capturing carbon dioxide, cooling it into a liquid and mixing it into concrete where it turns into a mineral. (Associated Press) By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square Louisiana lawmakers have rejected two separate proposals that would have imposed new taxes on carbon capture and sequestration operators, stalling efforts to generate local revenue from the growing industry. Rep. Shane Mack's House Bill 44, which proposed a per-ton injection tax on carbon dioxide stored underground, failed in committee last week in a 4-10 vote. The Livingston Parish Republican originally proposed a $3-per-metric-ton tax but amended it down to $1 in response to industry concerns. 'There are several industrial representatives that are comfortable with a $1 tax,' Mack said during testimony. Under the bill, revenue from the tax would have been distributed to parishes where carbon is stored, based on the geographic footprint of each facility. The Louisiana Department of Revenue would have collected the tax, and the Department of Energy and Natural Resources would certify injection volumes. The bill drew pushback from the oil and gas industry. Tommy Faucheux, president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, warned that imposing a tax too early in the industry's development could chill investment and drive CCS projects to other states. A second measure, House Bill 646 by Rep. Robby Carter, D-St. Helena, proposed a 30% excise tax on the gross proceeds of geologic carbon storage. Carter voluntarily deferred the bill until next year, but not before voicing his broader concerns about CCS. 'I think everyone on the floor knows I'm against carbon sequestration,' Carter said. 'I see us in 50 or 60 years, St. Helena being like the problems with the coast — having a big problem with these wells, with the carbon bubbling up, or even having lakes form where they've fallen in, and having no money because we didn't get any money to take care of it.'
American Press
14-05-2025
- Health
- American Press
Report: Louisiana still battling fentanyl crisis
(Metro Creative Services) By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square Louisiana continues to face one of the most severe drug overdose crises in the nation, according to a new analysis of federal mortality data. The state ranks seventh nationwide in overdose deaths, averaging 39.4 deaths per 100,000 residents — 43% above the national average of 27.5. The findings come from a study by Georgia-based Bader Scott Injury Lawyers, which analyzed five years of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report shows Louisiana averaged 1,828 overdose deaths annually from 2018 to 2022, with fatalities more than doubling over that period. The state saw its highest number of overdose deaths in 2021, with 2,463 lives lost—up from 1,140 in 2018. Synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, are driving the surge. Recent FDA data cited in the study show emergency room visits for fentanyl overdoses have jumped 320% since 2019, and synthetic opioids are now detected in 76% of all drug-related deaths nationwide. Southern states dominate the top 10 in overdose mortality, with West Virginia leading the nation at 65.9 deaths per 100,000 residents. Louisiana is not far behind, and several of its parishes are among the state's hardest hit. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, Jefferson Parish recorded the most opioid-involved deaths in a recent year (193), followed by St. Tammany (84), Lafayette (68), and Rapides (63). While overdose deaths in Louisiana have declined slightly from their 2021 peak — dropping from 15,665 in 2021 to 13,937 — the number remains elevated compared to 2016, when the state reported 12,566 fatal overdoses. 'This study reveals the extent to which Louisiana has been devastated by the opioid epidemic,' said a Bader Scott spokesman. 'The crisis is fueled by a combination of prescription painkillers, heroin, and increasingly, synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Socioeconomic challenges, limited healthcare access, and geographic factors have all contributed to this deadly trend.' Experts say addressing the crisis will require a multi-pronged approach: Expanding access to addiction treatment, making overdose-reversing medications like naloxone more widely available and investing in prevention efforts targeted at vulnerable communities.
American Press
07-05-2025
- Business
- American Press
Teacher stipends survive committee, could be headed to House floor for a vote
By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square Louisiana lawmakers are moving forward this week with a more targeted version of the defeated Amendment 2, which voters rejected in March for being overly complex and far-reaching. On Monday, the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee advanced House Bill 678, a pared-down constitutional amendment that focuses solely on consolidating the state's two primary savings accounts and a companion bill that would fund $2,000 stipends for the state's teachers. HB678, which passed without objection, is a substitute for the original HB472 and is a central piece of lawmakers' effort to revive key elements of the failed 130-page rewrite of Article VII. The new version is significantly shorter — just five pages of actual bill language and three pages of digest — and is framed as a 'single-issue' measure. 'This particular amendment—of course when I first drafted it—it was still part of the Article VII rewrite, which was very, very lengthy,' Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, told the committee. 'But we always intended on making it smaller. I was just trying to meet the bill filing deadlines. In Ways and Means, we amended it down to just the fund combination.' The proposed amendment would merge the Budget Stabilization Fund (commonly known as the Rainy Day Fund) with the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund, and repeal the latter. It would also eliminate current caps on mineral revenues flowing into the general fund, thereby potentially increasing recurring revenue for the state. 'If you remember in Amendment 2, we were combining our two savings accounts,' Emerson said. 'This is the statutory companion. This allows us to grow that fund to about $3 billion. It's a single issue. I would say pretty simple, but obviously, it's a little bit legal — talking about Revenue Stabilization and Budget Stabilization — but that is exactly what the language says we're doing.' The amendment proposes changes to several sections of Article VII of the state constitution and would go before voters on Nov. 3, 2026, a date chosen to coincide with a high-turnout election cycle. The measure is part of a broader effort to revive fiscal reforms contained in the failed March amendment, but this time through standalone bills to avoid overwhelming voters. A companion bill, HB473, which also passed committee without objection, would reallocate savings generated by HB678 to pay down the state's unfunded liabilities in the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana. That move is intended to eventually fund $2,000 stipends for teachers —though those payments would not arrive until November 2026 at the earliest.
