ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) — Louisiana roads and highways chief Sheri LeBas is urging a Louisiana congressman to fight Air Force plans to dismantle an Air National Guard squadron that provides air traffic control at Alexandria International Airport.

The Town Talk reports (http://townta.lk/JpFfaT) LeBas wrote in a letter to U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander that Central Louisiana is in a fight to retain 110 jobs and an essential service for the community.

LeBas, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, said the Air Guard's 259th Traffic Control Squadron performs critical services locally, statewide and internationally.

In March, Air Force officials told the England Authority that the 259th would be disbanded and redeployed to other locations for the Air Force's drone program.

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