12:30 LRN Newscast

Facebook parent company Meta is planning to build a five-billion-dollar artificial intelligence data center near Monroe in Richland Parish. The facility would employ as many as 500 people with an average salary of 82-thousand dollars. Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says northeast Louisiana is one of the poorest areas in the country…

Cut 7 (12) “…about it.”

Congressman Garret Graves says President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet selections are a sign of significant change, particularly in energy policy. Graves anticipates that Trump will open areas like the Gulf of Mexico for production.

Cut 10 (11) “…begin future production.”

LSU Police are looking for whoever stole approximately 40 championship rings from legendary gymnastics coach D-D Breaux’s offic. Breaux retired as coach in 2020 and still works for the university in an ambassador role. She says she normally keeps her door locked when she leaves for the day; but one day earlier this month, she didn’t. She says she first realized that something was amiss when a news article she kept on top of the case of rings was moved.

Cut 3 (09) “…of this case.” 

The value of each ring stolen is believed to be more than three-thousand dollars. So far, police have no suspects.

And now, a look at today’s commodities.