Since there won’t be any increase on the gasoline tax, a Shreveport lawmaker recommended firing Department of Transportation employees to pay for highway construction. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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Monroe-based CenturyLink announces plans for a CEO succession. Emelie Gunn has more…
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”
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Senior left-hander Jared Poche starts on the mound today for LSU as they host Texas Southern to begin the Baton Rouge Regional. Jeff Palermo has a preview…
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
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After a proposal to increase the state’s gasoline tax was tabled for the session, one lawmaker proposed firing thousands of state transportation workers to pay for better roads. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh says the state has the money in the budget, they’re just not spending it right.
Cut 4 (08) “of em”
Seabaugh says that would free up a couple hundred million dollars to pay for highway projects and DOTD wouldn’t even notice the employee reduction.
Cut 5 (09) “do the job” (2x)
But state Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says that’s not a practical solution to fund transportation infrastructure. He says all of the employees he was referring to are people that are in parishes around the state that perform routine maintenance and road closures during disasters.
Cut 6 (08) “the actual work”
Wilson says these are the folks digging ditches, replacing signs, changing lightbulbs, and other things motorists take for granted. He says even if the department eliminated employees, it wouldn’t be enough because the average DOTD employee only makes around $40,000.
Cut 7 (09) “maintain things”
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It’s been over nine months since the flood waters rose across south Louisiana, and federal flood recovery dollars appropriated by Congress are finally getting into the hands of flood victims. Nick Speyrer with the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program says Governor Edwards passed out the first handful of reimbursement checks to those who already completed their rebuilding.
Cut 8 (12) “to come”
Speyrer says flood impacted homeowners have several options in this program. He says flood victims who have completed construction can be reimbursed, and those who have not can get federal dollars to pay for rebuilding. He says there’s another option for those who do not have their own contractor.
Cut 9 (09) “their house”
Checks are currently going out to flood victims in Phase I of the program, which includes uninsured low to moderate income households with elderly or disabled residents who lived outside the floodplain. Speyrer says over 2,000 families have already qualified for Phase I, and from there assistance will go to other flood victims.
Cut 10 (11) “the 2016 floods”
Speyrer says the first step for flood victims to receive federal aid is to complete the survey at restore.la.gov.
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Monroe based CenturyLink announces a CEO succession plan. Company Spokesperson Ann Marie Sartor says CenturyLink’s current CEO, Glen Post, will remain in his position until January of 2019 and then become the executive chairman of the board. She says the new leader of CenturyLink is coming from the company they recently purchased.
Cut 11 (10) “this year”
Sartor says even with the change in leadership, the headquarters will remain in Monroe and this will not affect employees.
Cut 12 (07) “do today”
Sartor says Post has been with CenturyLink for the last 25 years and has transformed the company. She says future CEO Jeff Storey is a distinguished leader who has proven himself as a skilled executive.
Cut 13 (10) “the board”
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The Senate has unveiled its funding plan for next fiscal year, and it does not call for any cuts to higher ed, prisons, and Department of Children and Family Services. Senate President John Alario says their plan also fully funds the TOPS scholarship program.
Cut 14 (09) “their budgets”
The plan from the Upper Chamber puts $220 million back into the budget that the House wanted to hold back, which means funding can be restored for state agencies. DCFS was facing a cut that could have led to the loss of 67 child welfare workers. Alario says by not withholding 2 percent of the revenue forecast, they are able to fully fund the department.
Cut 15 (08) “care of that”
One agency that will face a cut is the state Department of Health, which will see a $34 million budget reduction. Deputy Secretary Michelle Alletto says $19 million in cuts will fall primarily on mental health programs. But she says the department should be able to handle the cut.
Cut 16 (11) “the program”
The budget was approved by the Senate Finance Committee and heads to the Senate floor for their approval. The budget disagreement between the House and Senate will likely be settled in a conference committee.
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The road to Omaha begins for the LSU Tigers as they open the Baton Rouge Regional this afternoon by hosting Texas Southern. Senior left-hander Jared Poche of Lutcher will start on the mound….
Cut 17 (08) “what happens”
If the Tigers win and Poche is determined to be the winning pitcher, he’ll tie Scott Schultz as the all-time winningest pitcher in LSU with 38 victories. Poche says it’s a great honor, but he didn’t do it alone..
Cut 18 (08) “fortunate”
LSU is one of the favorites to win the College World Series and claim their first national championship since 2009. Coach Paul Mainieri believes his team is ready for the journey….
Cut 19 (14) “out played us”