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Another beautiful day, plus an update on the tropics

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Another beautiful day, plus an update on the tropics

www.youtube.com – KSAT 12 – 2024-09-09 10:04:32

SUMMARY: Good morning! Meteorologist Justin Hor reports a cool start to the day with temperatures in the low 60s, rising to 80°F by midday and a high of 88°F under mostly sunny skies and a northeast breeze. A potential tropical storm in the Gulf is expected to strengthen, staying near South Padre Island, and may develop into a hurricane, tracking towards Louisiana, meaning minimal impact for Texas. Light rain is anticipated around the Coast but little to no rain in San Antonio, where highs of 92°F on Tuesday, 91°F on Wednesday, and mid-90s by the weekend are expected.

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Tropical Storm Francine will miss Texas to the east, but bring some impacts to the immediate coast.

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Bills aim to ban foreign funding for Louisiana ballot initiatives | Louisiana

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Justice Department dismisses lawsuit over Georgia election law | Georgia

www.thecentersquare.com – By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-24 14:54:00

(The Center Square) − Louisiana lawmakers are moving forward with a proposed constitutional amendment and companion legislation aimed at shutting down a loophole that critics say allows foreign actors to influence U.S. elections — not through candidates, but through ballot initiatives.

Senate Bill 109 and House Bill 590, filed by Republican lawmakers this session, would prohibit the use of funds, goods, or services donated by foreign governments, foreign entities or noncitizens to support or oppose any candidate, political party, or ballot measure in Louisiana — directly or indirectly.

While federal law already prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to candidates, it does not explicitly cover ballot initiatives. That gap, long noted by election watchdogs, has come under increased scrutiny following revelations of significant foreign-tied money flowing into ballot campaigns in other states.

The bills would make it a crime for any foreign source to contribute funds to support election-related activities. Violators could face fines of up to twice the amount of the donation and up to five years in prison. Individuals who knowingly accept such donations would be required to return the funds.

SB109 proposes a constitutional amendment that, if passed by the Legislature, would go before voters statewide on Nov. 15, 2025.

“This is a proactive measure to ensure Louisiana doesn’t become the next battleground for foreign-funded influence campaigns targeting our democratic processes,” Jason Snead, Executive Director of Honest Elections Project Action, told The Center Square. 

Louisiana’s move comes amid a broader wave of state-level action on the issue. More than 15 states have introduced similar bills this year, and six—including Ohio, which passed a landmark measure in 2023—have enacted bans on foreign funding in ballot initiatives.

Critics point to the 1630 Fund, a powerful nonprofit aligned with progressive causes, which has spent more than $130 million in 26 states to back or oppose ballot measures, often with funding tied to foreign nationals.

A Swiss billionaire, Hansjörg Wyss, has been identified as a major contributor to the fund, according to Americans for Public Trust. While Wyss has never become a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, he has reportedly poured nearly half a billion dollars into American progressive political efforts, according to Snead.

“In Ohio, for example, the 1630 Fund spent $20 million in just 18 months on ballot measures — most of it arriving after lawmakers began pursuing a ban,” Snead said. “It’s a cautionary tale. Once the money starts flowing, it can be hard to stop.”

Supporters of the bills argue that state action is urgently needed to fill the federal gap and to safeguard democratic processes, especially as ballot initiatives become an increasingly potent tool to bypass legislatures and rewrite state constitutions.

Louisiana, they note, has so far avoided becoming a major target of these influence campaigns — but that could change.

“What we told lawmakers is simple,” Snead said. “Don’t wait for the money to come before you act.”

The proposed bills also aim to block so-called “pass-through” funding structures, in which foreign donations are funneled through U.S.-based nonprofits, effectively masking their origin. Lawmakers are considering provisions to track and limit such intermediary channels.

“We don’t even know if the $280 million linked to the 1630 Fund reflects the full extent of his contributions to that group. And we have no way of knowing whether other foreign nationals are quietly directing money into U.S. nonprofits,” Snead said. “There’s nothing preventing other foreign nationals — even those with close ties to adversarial governments like the Chinese Communist Party — from exploiting the same loophole. We often refer to Wyss and the 1630 Fund as just the tip of the iceberg. There’s almost certainly much more foreign money influencing U.S. politics that we simply can’t see.”

As the measures advance through the Legislature, Louisiana joins a growing list of states working to close what many see as one of the most significant election security loopholes in U.S. law.

“There’s still a long way to go nationally,” Snead said. “But every state that takes action brings us closer to closing this gap once and for all.”

The post Bills aim to ban foreign funding for Louisiana ballot initiatives | Louisiana appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

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News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

New website shows public school officials' spending

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New website shows public school officials' spending

www.youtube.com – WDSU News – 2025-04-24 08:51:23

SUMMARY: A new website launched by Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming provides transparency on public school spending, revealing purchases such as luxury hotel stays and SUVs. While some see it as a step toward accountability, critics argue it may be intrusive. The site displays various expenditures, including a significant dinner at a high-end restaurant just before a school closure due to financial issues. Advocates, including parents, believe the data empowers communities to make informed decisions. However, there is controversy over the inclusion of staff salaries, with some feeling it invades privacy, though others, including teacher organizations, support the initiative.

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New website shows public school official’s spending

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Morning Forecast – Thursday, April 24th

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Morning Forecast - Thursday, April 24th

www.youtube.com – KTVE – 2025-04-24 08:27:04

SUMMARY: On April 24th, meteorologist Sammy Petraco reported ongoing scattered showers in Arkansas, with isolated rain in southeastern regions. Rainfall over the past 24 hours varied, with some areas receiving up to three inches while others saw minimal accumulation. Current temperatures are in the mid to upper 60s, with a humid environment expected throughout the week. Cloud cover persists, limiting sun exposure, and upper-level disturbances will continue to create scattered precipitation. Rain is likely tonight into Friday, with a cold front expected on Saturday potentially offering a brief reprieve. Daytime highs will be in the low to mid 80s.

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Today, more showers and storms expected in a scattered fashion in the afternoon and evening hours. If the past days haven’t already shown it, but it’s hard to pinpoint where the rain will happen, but the chance for rain is there. Clouds continue over the region with highs ranging from the upper 70s to low 80s, depending on shower and storm activity. Severe weather stays limited with winds out of the south 5-10 mph

Tonight, staying relatively the same as previous nights. Showers and storms may linger into the night before fizzling out to the east/ northeast. Skies stay broken to overcast with lows staying pretty muggy in the mid to upper 60s. Winds are light and variable

An unsettled pattern continues as rain chances are likely to end this week. That said, they will probably occur in a scattered to isolated fashion. Some of the storms that do develop may be a bit noisy and produce heavy rainfall. There is the potential to see a break in the rain early next week before the unsettled pattern continues after that. Temperatures reside in the lower to upper 80s with overnight lows falling only in the 60s. Keep the rain gear handy

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