Today is the first full day of Summer and State Climatologist Barry Keim says it has arrived right on cue. He says the wet weather pattern in the state for the past six weeks or so has kept temperatures down. But Keim says that pattern has changed and now the forecast is calling for more seasonal temperatures…:
CUT 12 (10) “of the year”
Keim says the long term forecast for the summer season is calling for near normal temperatures with below normal rainfall.

Figures released today by the Commerce Department show personal income in Louisiana grew at a 0.8 percent annual rate for the first quarter of this year. The Bayou State trails the national growth rate and ranks 35th among states after a negative performance in oil and gas extraction.

The new IBM technology center in Baton Rouge was supposed to cut the ribbon today but they cancelled the ceremony reportedly because of  Governor Bobby Jindal’s religious freedom executive order. Company executives wrote a letter to the governor saying the matter goes against what IBM stands for, equal rights and opportunity for everyone and discrimination for no one. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Jindal’s executive order actually doesn’t carry much weight…:
CUT 4 (07) “does nothing”
Pinsonat calls this situation pure politics.

The New Orleans Pelicans will officially introduce Alvin Gentry as their new head coach this afternoon.