BY DOUG GRAHAM | Staff writer Take dry trees, dry grass and dry ground, add a little wind and you have a serious problem. Since the middle of last week, about 2,434 acres have been damaged by fire in Louisiana, approximately as much land burned during all of 2019. Last week’s fires caused an estimated $3.6 million in damage to crops, woodlands and buildings, according to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. And more hot weeks – and likely more fires – are ahead. The administration of Gov. John Bel Edwards has decided to spend an unexpected $20.5 million windfall on the long-planned but slow-moving New Orleans-Baton Rouge passenger rail line. Some Republicans in the Legislature are upset about the decision, even though they approved the move at a hearing last week. They say they should have been given an opportunity to evaluate projects that would better aid hurricane-prone parishes or beef up evacuations. Months after a sales tax measure that would have provided raises failed at the polls, the Livingston Parish School Board voted Thursday to award district employees a bonus. “Our teachers and support staff workers are most worthy of these added dollars,” Superintendent Alan "Joe" Murphy said in a statement. The stipend would apply to the current fiscal year, according to a press release. | 