SUMMARY: Dr. Jeremiah Smith, director at Brentwood Hospital, presented plans for a new Behavioral Health Crisis Center in Shreveport to the Caddo Parish Commission. The $5.1 million project aims to provide specialized care for individuals experiencing mental health crises, offering a psychiatric emergency center for up to 60 patients. The facility, similar to Baton Rouge’s The Bridge Center for Hope, will accommodate voluntary and involuntary patients, including those affected by drug-related psychiatric issues. The center will reduce ER congestion by providing a dedicated space for crisis care. The project is supported by the Louisiana Health Department, with a public hearing scheduled for Feb. 20.

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Trump unplugs federal funding for Louisiana EV charging stations

by Wesley Muller, Louisiana Illuminator
February 7, 2025

President Donald Trump has suspended all federal funding, including money for Louisiana projects, that he considers part of a wider “scam” to force people to buy electric vehicles. 

Congress allocated $73 million to Louisiana in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as part of its National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. At Trump’s direction, the Federal Highway Administration issued a memo Wednesday to suspend the program and withhold any money that hasn’t already been spent. 

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development was slated to disburse the NEVI dollars among local companies to build EV charging stations along the state’s interstate corridors. Businesses interested in building the stations would be able to compete for the money, with DOTD issuing grants to cover up to 80% of the project costs. 

Louisiana lagged behind most other states in rolling out its NEVI grant program, but state transportation officials managed to launch it just before Trump took office and had begun accepting grant applications. 

Louisiana lags on electric vehicle charging program, but DOTD sees ‘no reason to rush’

There was no immediate response to questions about the NEVI program from DOTD Public Information Officer Rodney Mallet or the department’s media staff.

The agency has closed its online NEVI grant application portal and added a notice in red capital letters: “INDEFINITELY POSTPONED PENDING FHA REVIEW.”  

Trump has repeatedly expressed his dislike of President Joe Biden’s signature legislative achievements that included funding for clean energy and transportation technology. Despite this, EV demand has surged in the U.S. and around the world, according to an analysis from Cox Automotive.

Trump’s move could be temporary. The FHA memo said the administration plans to review each state’s grant process before unfreezing the money. 

Ryan McKinnon of the Charge Ahead Partnership, which lobbies for EV charging standards, issued a statement Friday in defense of the NEVI program, saying the EV charging marketplace faced many problems long before NEVI’s existence with unfair competition from electric utilities poorly-planned installations. 

When interest in electric vehicles first began to grow, many chargers were placed in locations where drivers rarely stopped and were often not maintained. NEVI started to change that by prioritizing establishments that had successful business models for EV charging and placing chargers along busy roadways where drivers used them, McKinnon said. 

“We hope the FHWA takes this opportunity to ensure state NEVI plans are encouraging private investment in EV charging while also being confident that federal funds are not being wasted,” he said.

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.

SUMMARY: The Louisiana Fiscal Review Committee has recommended placing Bogalusa under a fiscal administrator due to ongoing financial distress, marking the second such appointment in six years. The situation worsened after Mayor Tyrin Truong’s election, who has faced legal issues including drug trafficking allegations. A July audit revealed the city failed to comply with a previous three-year fiscal stability plan, with budget preparation delays and accounting errors costing millions. The city owes over $1 million to the IRS and nearly $300,000 to the state. Troubled relations within the city council further complicate the financial recovery efforts.

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