Governor Edwards is celebrating the big news that Louisiana was second in the nation for income growth in the second quarter of the year. Jeff Palermo has more.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
__________________________________
The personal finance website WalletHub has analyzed twenty-two key metrics for all fifty states and DC to rank the overall best states for teachers. Kevin Barnhart tells us where Louisiana ranks…
Cut 2 (32) ”I’m Kevin Barnhart”
__________________________________
A North Louisiana House member is hanging up the cleats after nearly a decade of service. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”
_________________________________________
Governor John Bel Edwards says the state’s surging income levels are a substantial part of the expected 300 million dollar surplus for the last budget year. A report showed Louisiana paced most of the nation in income growth at 5.9 percent in the 2nd quarter, good for second in country. Edwards says income gains are propelling the unexpected revenue.
Cut 4 (08) “…fiscal year.”
The Revenue Estimating Committee will not have official numbers on the surplus until next month.
The growth in income was pushed by continuing gains in construction and the oil industry, but also on the back of yet another quarter of healthcare growth. Edwards says that’s due to the Medicaid expansion that’s more than paying for itself in revenue returns.
Cut 5 (10) “…with insurance.”
Edwards says the expansion cost the state 43 million dollars, but pulled down significantly more than that in federal matching dollars.
Edwards says this didn’t come out of nowhere. He says the state’s economy has been on the rise for most of the year, backed by solid GDP numbers to open the year, and…
Cut 6 (06) “six percent.”
The national average was 4.2 percent, and Texas led the nation at 6 percent income growth.
____________________________________________
The personal finance website WalletHub has released its report on 2018’s Best and Worst States for Teachers. The website analyzed 22 key metrics, including income growth potential and teacher safety. Louisiana ranks 48 out of 51 spots. Louisiana Federation of Teachers spokesperson Les Landon says many of the concerning metrics area echoed by educators.
Cut 7 (09) “…right now salaries.”
Landon says teachers are very upset about the evaluation system the state has right now, saying it’s not fair and in many cases inaccurate. He adds it’s something to be worked on in the next legislative session.
Cut 8 (10) “…teachers would recognize.”
Landon says there are many things about Louisiana that make it a great place to live and work.
Cut 9 (06) “…in public education.”
______________________________
Ruston Republican Representative Rob Shadoin is calling it quits after seven years in the Louisiana House. Shadoin is leaving the Capitol to join the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in a legal capacity. He says after nearly a decade of service, the frequent special sessions were becoming too much for his private practice to bear.
Cut 10 (10) “the time.“
Shadoin represented the north Louisiana district that was comprised of Lincoln and Union Parishes.
The Ruston Republican says he’s going to miss serving in the House, a place he has always affectionately described as a place where the people’s will is heard.
Cut 11 (10) “…people’s seat”
Shadoin will be out of the seat by October 8th, which he says will give those interested in the March special election ample time to consider their options.
Cut 12 (10) “…the year”
____________________________
Investigators with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality arrested a Lake Charles man on knowingly disposing of gasoline into a stormwater retention pond, which is a felony. 54 year old Dean Domingue and accomplice 51 year old David Mouton dumped 200 gallons of a gasoline and water mixture behind an Albertson’s grocery store. Mouton remains at large. DEQ spokesperson Jeff Nolan says after the first incident, it caused a real scare for those living in the area.
Cut 13 (07) “…chose to evacuate.”
Nolan says anytime a pollutant into a body of water, it’s a major concern.
Cut 14 (07) “…that’s a concern.”
Nolan says the cost of cleanup was around 49-thousand dollars and that the Albertson’s did a voluntary clean up.
Cut 15 (08) “…do with this.”
___________________________________________
The Tigers take on Ole Miss Saturday after getting scorched by La Tech quarterback J’Mar Smith in an unexpectedly close game where the Bulldogs threw for 330 yards on LSU’s defense. The Purple and Gold secondary has looked vulnerable at times, something cornerback Greedy Williams says the secondary is trying to correct.
Cut 16 (15) “.. upcoming week .
The game kicks off at 8:15.
Williams complimented Bulldog QB J’mar Smith’s play, but says the Tigers gave Smith too many opportunities to shine…
Cut 17 (14) “can do”
The Tigers are the 10th ranked team in the SEC against the pass this year.
And it’ll take more than just an average performance this week to slow down the Rebel’ high flying passing offense that averages 348 yards a game, and one of the best connections in the country between QB Jordan Ta’amu and receiver A.J. Brown. Williams says with Ta’amu, they’ll have to stop him in the air, and on the ground.
Last year the Tigers went into Oxford and smashed Ole Miss 40 to 24.
_____________________________________________________
ULM heads to Georgia State for the start of a three-game road trip. The Warhawks opened Sun Belt play with a 35-27 loss to Troy last week. Coach Matt Viator’s team fell behind 35-7 at halftime and he’s still trying to figure out why his team didn’t perform well in the first half…
Cut 19 (19) “ happen again”
The loss dropped ULM’s record to 2-2.Georgia State is 1-3. Viator says the Panthers leading rusher is their quarterback Dan Ellington and they also have a dangerous receiver and return man in Penny Hart…
Cut 20 (20) “ last year”