New Orleans returns home with a 2-0 series lead after shocking the Trailblazers in Portland. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”
______________________________________
Electric bills for Entergy customers are going down a few bucks, and just in time for summer. Jeff Palermo has more.
Cut 2 (28) I’m Jeff Palermo”
___________________________________
The House is set to discuss a budget today that would fully fund TOPS, but slash funding for higher education and healthcare. Michael Farrar has more.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”
____________________________________________
The Pelicans are rolling back into New Orleans up 2-0 in their first round playoff series against the Trailblazers, after a suffocating defense sucked the life out of Portland’s star duo of CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard. Pelicans Senior Vice President of Sales Mike Stanfield says New Orleans’ stars are putting on a clinic.
Cut 4 (09) “special team.”
Stanfield says over the course of one of the most successful seasons in a decade, the fans have bought in, and turned up.
Cut 5 (07) “sixth man”
The team is planning to throw a party for fans in attendance, with free tee-shirts, pep rallies, a fan fest outside, and…
Cut 6 (08) “exciting atmosphere.”
Game three tips off Thursday at 8pm with a potential series clinching game four on Saturday at 4pm.
_________________________________________________
Entergy has announced that the tax savings from the federal tax reform bill will be passed back to customers starting in May. The savings will be implanted in two stages through September. Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May says by fall, the average customer will be saving six bucks a month.
Cut 7 (12) “per month”
May says the savings are the result of the trillion dollar tax cut, as well as upgrades to Entergy’s infrastructure.
Cut 8 (09) “lower cost.”
And the saving will come just in time to blunt the impact of dreaded Louisiana summer electric bills.
Cut 9 (07) “going up”
Customers will see an additional drop of about two dollars a month after Katrina/Rita costs fall off in October.
___________________________________________________
The full House will consider a budget today that funds TOPS, but includes deep cuts in healthcare and higher education. The budget has come under fire from leading Democrats, including Governor John Bel Edwards who says the cuts are a massive blow to crucial state services.
Cut 10 (11) “dollars”
Edwards says it’s a budget that’s so bad, it shouldn’t even be in consideration.
Cut 11 (10) “this long”
The Democratic Caucus is calling on its members to vote against the budget. They say it unfairly targets Democratic constituencies, while funding institutions in GOP districts.
But GOP House Delegation Chairman Lance Harris says the budget has one success, and that’s fully funding TOPS.
Cut 12 (09) “already planned”
Harris says the budget being discussed is not final, and a great tool for identifying where to start in a future special session.
Cut 13 (08) “that process”
____________________________________
The state education board approved a plan to include opioid abuse prevention education in Louisiana public school curriculum. Press Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Education Sydni Dunn says educators can bring a unique set of skills to the fight against opioid addiction.
Cut 14 (10) “of prevention”
Dunn says the program will be tailored to younger audiences, and is aimed at explaining the dangers of opioid abuse.
Cut 15 (09) “preventative action”
Dunn says the education will be folded into existing substance abuse programs already in place at public schools.
Cut 16 (11) “themselves”
_______________________________________
Can the Pelicans make it three straight wins over Portland. Host of the Locked on Pelicans Podcast, Jake Madison, says look for the Trail Blazers to make some adjustments to give them some advantages on the offensive end of the court…
Cut 17 (17) “some problems”
Jrue Holiday scored a career playoff-high 33 points in the victory on Tuesday night. Madison says the Trail Blazers need to do a better job defending Holiday…
Cut 18 (17) “bit more”
Madison says even though the Pelicans are up two games to nothing, the series is not over…