Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his appointments to several Louisiana boards and commissions.
Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board
The Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board’s mission is to assist state and local leaders in developing and coordinating human trafficking prevention programs, to identify gaps in prevention and intervention services, to conduct a continuing comprehensive review of all existing public and private human trafficking programs, to increase coordination among public and private programs to strengthen prevention and intervention services, and ultimately, to make recommendations with respect to human trafficking prevention and intervention.
Linsey L. Barnard of Shreveport has been appointed to the Human Trafficking Prevention and Advisory Commission. Barnard is the director of Hub Ministry and will serve as an executive director of a direct service program for victims.
ROCKFORD Acknowledging the city’s struggle to contain a pandemic-fueled violent crime surge last year, Mayor Tom McNamara on Wednesday said public safety remains his top priority.
During a pre-recorded annual State of the City address released Wednesday, McNamara announced plans to expand the scope of his domestic violence prevention office “to address violence and public safety issues across the community.”
“Clearly, the last 14 months have been some of the most challenging in our city’s 169-year history,” McNamara said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has left death and illness, along with economic and social destruction, in its wake. However, as we have so many times in our past, the people of Rockford came together to face the challenge. Our community is resilient, and our people have tremendous grit. We must not just simply reopen. Instead, we must rebuild.”
Every year, hundreds of people, primarily children, are trafficked all across our state. Their bodies sold for things like sex, while their lives are destroyed.
As prepared for delivery:
I want to thank Father Paul Yi for the opening prayer, the Jaguar Battalion and Brittany Jackson – a music teacher at Sharon Hills Elementary for the anthem, and Rep. Barbara Freiberg for leading the pledge of allegiance.
Good evening. Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, members of the legislature, distinguished guests, and my fellow Louisianans:
I am honored to be speaking to you from the campus of Southern University. Thank you, President Ray Belton for your hospitality and to your entire team for helping us put this event together following current COVID-19 mitigation measures. I also want to thank you for sharing your campus with the public as a hub for drive through testing and vaccinations. Your efforts have been nothing short of tremendous. In fact, this weekend, the Southern System administered over 1,000 shots.
ROCKFORD Rockford s next class of emergency dispatchers underwent specialized training Wednesday to listen for evidence of strangulation during 911 calls about domestic violence.
Strangulation is a common theme in the backgrounds of domestic violence homicide victims. It can serve as a warning of severe danger and require specialized medical treatment, said Jennifer Cacciapaglia, manager of the Mayor s Office Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Prevention. We become concerned that the strangulation could occur more and more aggressively, leading to lethality, Cacciapaglia said. The idea is for 911 operators to catch it when a survivor calls as early as possible and communicate that to EMTs and the police.