US Senator Bill Cassidy spoke today during a US House Natural Resources Committee field hearing in New Orleans. He says it’s vital for the federal government to ease regulations so that oil and gas production in the Gulf can continue to grow…:
CUT 5 (07) “today’s economy”
He says current federal regulations are holding development in the Gulf back, hurting the job market.

The Violence Policy Center says Louisiana comes in at number four in the nation in the rate of women who are murdered by men. VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand says most homicides are the result of arguments between people who know each other…:
cut 13 (08) “domestic violence”
She says they urge lawmakers to tighten up the books when it comes to keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.

How would you feel about “In God We Trust” decals being placed on cop cars or fire trucks? That’s what authorities are doing in Sulphur as a way to keep law enforcement’s image positive, but some say it skirts violation of the first amendment. Sulphur Police Chief Lewis Coats says many in the community donated money for the decals…:
CUT 7 (11) “110 percent”
Coats says he isn’t going to try to please everyone, and that the officers are excited about the decals.

Higher education in central Louisiana seems to be attracting more students. Louisiana State University of Alexandria says this fall they’ve reached the highest enrollment in school history, with 3,104 students. They say it’s a nearly 15 percent increase over fall last year and a 39% jump from 2013.