A nationwide survey by the NFIB finds that inflation has overtaken labor quality as the top problem for small businesses. Aside from inflation, NFIB state director Dawn McVea pointed to several other areas of frustration…
cut 9 (06) “….labor shortages”
McVea says the percentage of business owners expecting conditions to improve over the next six months is at its lowest love in the 48-year history of the survey.

Many residents in Northwest Louisiana are without power after storms swept through the area last night. SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says about 37,000 customers in the Shreveport-Bossier area are without power.
Cut 5 (12) “…and dangerous.”
Sullivan says approximately 1,500 customers in the Mansfield area and nearly 600 in Logansport are also without service.

Legislation is heading to the Senate floor that will make it harder for a pregnant woman to get abortion-inducing medications without a prescription Bill author, Slidell Republican Senator Sharon Hewitt…
Cut 14 (10) “…medical oversite.”
An abortion-rights lawyer is concerned the legislation will also penalize the pregnant woman, but Hewitt says she’ll amend the bill to make sure that does not happen.

The House Health and Welfare Committee has approved a resolution that would prevent a rule from the governor going into effect that would mandate children 16 and up must be vaccinated to attend a public school, college or university. Shreveport Pediatric Infectious Disease specialist Dr. Joseph Bocchini spoke in opposition and says the decision to incorporate any vaccine into the routine schedule for children is based on the merits of the vaccine.
Cut 6 (08) “…other staff.”
Supporters of the resolution say the COVID vaccine has shown it does not prevent infection and they claim there are still health risks with getting the vaccine.