The Bayou State is no exception in the ongoing nationwide shortage of truck drivers as we hear in this report from Dave Brannen…:

CUT 01(35)      “…Brannen”

A Louisiana State Trooper has been arrested by Texas authorities, after striking and killing a pedestrian about a month ago. Investigators say 45-year-old Patrick Bell was driving through Jasper County, when he drifted off the road and hit the man. A toxicology screen reveled Bell was impaired at that time.

It’s been nearly seven weeks since Hurricane Ida made landfall and the recovery remains slow in the coastal town of Dulac in Terrebonne Parish. Former state representative Joe Harrison says many families in the small town of just 1000 people are eager to rebuild, but residents are struggling to get an adjuster to come to their damaged home…:

CUT 11(10)      “…They’re not here.”

Economic development news: industrial gas supplier Air Products says it will build a $4.5 billion clean energy facility in Ascension Parish to produce blue hydrogen. The plant will also be able to capture carbon dioxide emissions and store them underground. Air Products president Seifi Ghasemi (Say-fee Gah-sim-ee) says their vision is to make Louisiana a leading player in energy transition and a hub for clean energy production…:

CUT 08(12)      “…kind of products.”

The facility is expected to be built and online by 2026

Industrial gas supplier Air Products will build a $4.5 billion clean energy facility in Ascension Parish. Brooke Thorington has more on what this means for the state.

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

The truck driver shortage continues nationwide leaving some store shelves nearly bare, and goods not getting to where they are needed.  Our state is no exception, says Renee Amar, CEO of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association. Amar says you should consider buying Christmas gifts, including specific toys, sooner rather than later.

Cut 5 (09) “…of the toys.”

Almost seven weeks after Hurricane Ida made landfall, the recovery remains slow in the coastal town of Dulac in Terrebonne Parish. Former state representative Joe Harrison says the biggest need remains housing, but says there has been movement on getting travel trailers to the hard-hit areas. They serve as a temporary place to live for families who have destroyed homes. Sherry Verdin lives in Dulac and says they are waiting on FEMA for assistance…

Cut 10 (11)  “…from nothing” 

A new videogame development studio is coming to Louisiana. Chris Stelly with Louisiana Economic Development says it’ll be located in New Orleans. Called “Possibility Space,” He talks about the mission of Possibility Space whose founder and CEO is Jeff Strain, a Louisianan, who has created and influenced some of the biggest online games in the industry’s history.

Cut 12 (08) “…for global consumption.”

The industrial gas supplier Air Products will build a $4.5 billion clean energy facility in Ascension Parish. The plant will produce blue hydrogen which uses natural gas to create an alternative fuel.  Governor John Bel Edwards says this will be the world’s largest permanent carbon dioxide capture project to date.  The complex will also feature carbon capture at the production source and store it underground.

Cut 7 (12) “…manufacturing base.”  

The truck driver shortage continues nationwide leaving some store shelves nearly bare, and goods not getting to where they are needed.  Our state is no exception, says Renee Amar, CEO of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association. She says the truck driver shortage and the significant growth in e-commerce since the beginning of the pandemic is causing major problems in the delivery of goods.

Cut 4 (11) “…seeing right now.”

It’s been nearly seven weeks since Hurricane Ida made landfall and the recovery remains slow in the coastal town of Dulac in Terrebonne Parish. Former state representative Joe Harrison says the biggest need remains housing

Cut 9 (12) “…deal with” 

A court hearing in Monroe took place Wednesday for former state trooper Jacob Brown who is facing a federal charge of deprivation of rights under color of law in the 2019 beating of black motorist Aaron Bowman. Bowman’s attorney, Donecia Banks-Miley, expressed disappointment that Brown was freed on bond.

Cut 13 (12) “…was not detained.”

Brown’s bond was set at $50,000 and he remains free pending trial.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is threatening to strike unless an agreement is reached with major studios. Aaron Bayham, Director of Operations at Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge says Ninety-eight percent of IATSE (eye-ott-cee) union members voted to approve a strike if an agreement is not reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Bayham says there are a number of items being negotiated which include pay rates, breaks, and rates that were given to new media which are now the majority of productions.

Cut 5 (10) “…their deals.”

A court hearing in Monroe took place Wednesday for former state trooper Jacob Brown who is facing a federal charge of deprivation of rights under color of law in the 2019 beating of black motorist Aaron Bowman. Bowman was reserved in his comments, but what he said was noteworthy in the attack on him and that of Ronald Greene who died after being beaten by troopers the same year.

Cut 15 (09)  “…all get justice.”

The truck driver shortage continues nationwide leaving some store shelves nearly bare, and goods not getting to where they are needed.  Our state is no exception, says Renee Amar, CEO of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association.

cut 3 (08) “….on the road”

While there seems to be no silver bullet to solving the driver shortage, Amar says the LMTA is offering scholarships through its foundation to offset some of the expense for drivers to obtain their CDL licenses

The industrial gas supplier Air Products will build a $4.5 billion clean energy facility in Ascension Parish. The plant will produce blue hydrogen which uses natural gas to create an alternative fuel.  Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s a tremendous step in clean energy.

Cut 6 (10) “…footprint.” 

The plant will also be able to capture carbon dioxide emissions and store them underground.

Ex-state trooper Jacob Brown remains free on bond after pleading not guilty to a federal charge that he beat a 46-year-old black man following a 2019 traffic stop in north Louisiana.

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

A shooting on the campus of Grambling State early Wednesday has prompted an increase in security. One person was killed and another injured when shots were fired between two non-students in front of the student union building. However, two students were caught in the crossfire and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is threatening to strike Monday unless an agreement is reached with major studios. Aaron Bayham, Director of Operations at Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge says no one wants to see a strike especially with so many productions in the works he says members are standing firm if negotiations aren’t reached by Midnight Sunday.

Cut 6 (10) “…strongly about.”

The current agreement expired in July.

A new video game developer, called Possibility Space, announces plans it will build a development studio in the New Orleans area that will build large-scale video games for a global audience. Chris Stelly with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development credits a well-educated workforce in this field…

Cut 11 (11) “…at the workforce.”

A court hearing in Monroe took place Wednesday for former state trooper Jacob Brown who is facing a federal charge of deprivation of rights under color of law in the 2019 beating of black motorist Aaron Bowman. Bowman’s attorney, Donecia Banks-Miley, expressed disappointment that Brown was freed on bond.

Cut 13 (12) “…was not detained.”

Today marks exactly two years until the 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial primary, and potential candidates are already making plans. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there are two Republicans who almost certainly will enter the race to be governor because they’ve already talked about it…

Cut 7 (11) “…Jeff Landry.”

A new videogame development studio is coming to Louisiana. Chris Stelly with Louisiana Economic Development says it’ll be located in New Orleans. Called “Possibility Space,” Stelly says the firm will employ dozens at six-figure salaries.

Cut 10 (07)  “…year plus benefits.” 

An exact location for the studio in the Big Easy has not been picked.

Ninety-eight percent of union members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees approved a strike if an agreement is not reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Aaron Bayham, Director of Operations at Celtic Studios says there are a number of items being negotiated which include pay rates, breaks, and rates that were given to new media which are now the majority of productions.

Cut 5 (10) “…their deals.”

The proposed strike would begin Monday.

ACT scores have dipped slightly in Louisiana as the Class of 2021 earned an average ACT composite score of 18.4 in 2021, down from 18.7 in 2020 and 18.8 in 2019. Superintendent of Education Doctor Cade Brumley says students have faced extraordinary challenges over the last two years.

TV and film workers are threatening to strike unless an agreement is reached with major studios. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Former State Police trooper Jacob Brown pleaded not guilty in federal court in Monroe yesterday for the civil rights charge he faces for the videotaped beating of a black motorist during a 2019 arrest. The body camera footage shows Brown hitting Aaron Bowman of Monroe with a flashlight 18 times. The incident occurred around the same time another black motorist, Ronald Greene died after a beating he received from State Troopers. Bowman’s attorney is Donecia Banks-Miley…
cut 14 (11) “…this matter”

Two years from today, the 2023 gubernatorial primary will take place. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says a couple of members of the state’s Congressional delegation might run…
cut 9 (09) “….we’ll be discussing”

Ex-state trooper Jacob Brown remains free on bond after pleading not guilty to a federal charge that he beat a 46-year-old black man following a 2019 traffic stop in north Louisiana. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

State Police say a Trooper has been arrested for striking and killing a pedestrian when he was allegedly driving drunk in Jasper County, Texas. 45-year-old Patrick Bell of Merryville was off-duty at the time of the crash and he’s been on workers’ compensation leave since 2017.

Two years from today, Louisiana voters will head to the polls to elect a new governor as John Bel Edwards is term-limited and can not run again. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there’s a lot of speculation current statewide elected officials Jeff Landry and Billy Nungesser will run…
cut 8 (12) “….thinking about it”
Pinsonat says Baton Rouge Representative Ted James is another Democrat who may run.

A new video game developer, called Possibility Space, announces plans it will build a development studio in the New Orleans area that will build large-scale video games for a global audience. Chris Stelly with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development says Possibility Space is the latest addition to Louisiana’s growing interactive entertainment cluster. Stelly credits a well-educated workforce in this field…
cut 11 (11) “….in the workforce”
Possibility Space will create 75 new permanent jobs with an average salary of 100-thousand dollars.