<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody" style="font-weight: bold;">What’s a “battleground state” and a “swing state”?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Both terms refer to states in which the Republican and Democratic parties have similar levels of support among voters.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">According to Politico, the battleground states for this year’s presidential election are Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“Together, the 11 battleground states will deliver 146 electoral votes — more than half of electoral votes necessary to win the presidency,” Politico’s Charlie Mahtesian wrote in June.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The list includes the bellwether behemoths of Ohio and Florida; the fast-growing Mountain West states of Nevada and Colorado; increasingly diverse North Carolina and Virginia, both altered by Hispanic population growth; and slower-growing Iowa, New Hampshire and Wisconsin.”</span>

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<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-weight: bold;">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.politico.com/2016-election/swing-states.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadBrief">Sidewalk parking a matter for police</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody" style="font-weight: bold;">Property Standards seems reluctant to do anything about vehicles parked on sidewalks, parked in yards not drives and vehicles with no tags. They seem only to be interested in tall grass.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody" style="font-weight: bold;">I have called and the response was for me to make a list. I declined as someone is paid to do that job, nor do I have the authority to enforce city codes.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody" style="font-weight: bold;">The city officials talk about a more walkable city and a good start may be getting the sidewalks cleared. And those problems may be in the police jurisdiction, either way no one seems interested.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Cars parked on neutral ground fall within the purview of the Police Department, and complaints about junk vehicles on private property, along with commercial litter and tall grass, are regulated by city property standards officials, said Terry Magnon, chief building official with the city of Lake Charles.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“Section 5-203 and Section 13-15.5 of the Code of Ordinances provides that junk or inoperable vehicles are not permitted to be stored on private property unless removed from public view through the use of a building, screening fence, or approved cover and also require that inoperable vehicles be stored in an approved manner until returned to service,” Magnon said in a statement forwarded to The Informer.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“If the public feels that there is a violation of either of these sections on private property, they can contact the Office of Property Standards … . Inspections are typically performed within 24 hours.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The office is open 8 a.m.-</span><span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Its number is 491-1295. “If our staff is assisting other callers and not able to answer your call, please leave a message and they will return your call as soon as possible,” Magnon said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Illegally parked vehicles can be reported to Lake Charles police at 491-1456.</span>

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<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-weight: bold;">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.cityoflakecharles.com.</span>

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<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-size: 8pt;">The I</span><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-size: 8pt;">nform</span><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-size: 8pt;">er answers questions from rea</span><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-size: 8pt;">ders each Sunday, Monday a</span><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-size: 8pt;">nd Wednesday. It is re</span><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-size: 8pt;">searched and written by</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 8pt;">Andrew Perzo</span><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-size: 8pt;">, an</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-style: italic; font-size: 8pt;">American Press</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-size: 8pt;">staff wri</span><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-size: 8pt;">ter. To ask a question, call</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-size: 8pt;">494-409</span><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-size: 8pt;">8 and leave voice mail, or ema</span><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote" style="font-size: 8pt;">il informer@americanpress.com.</span>