Business leaders were eager to hear from the new Legislative leadership about lawsuit reform yesterday at the Louisiana Association of Business and industry’s annual meeting…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”
_________________________________________
A child missing since April 2012 gets national attention tonight. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
___________________________________________
Gulf Coast aquifer useage is up 578 percent from 1951 and the Legislative Auditor is calling for a plan to protect the future of one of Louisiana’s most valuable resources…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.
____________________________________________
Wild weather is in the forecast for the state today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a pesky stationary front has been parked across Louisiana for the past couple of days, keeping it cloudy and dreary with the occasional rain.
Cut 4 (08) “…across the state.”
Keim says the Storm Prediction Center puts much of Louisiana under a slight to marginal risk for severe weather.
Cut 5 (07) “…clearing on Thursday.”
With recent rains across the northern parishes, Keim says it’s a good idea to take the proper precautions ahead of potential flooding.
Cut 6 (05) “…top of it.”
_____________________________
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry hosted Legislative leaders yesterday for a panel all about the state’s legal climate and efforts to pass lawsuit reform aimed at lowering insurance rates.
The Senate stymied TORT reform efforts last year, but Senate President Page Cortez doesn’t expect that to be the case in the upcoming session.
Cut 7 (11) “…on it.”
The 2020 Regular Session begins March 9th.
Trial lawyer groups have historically been major funders in Louisiana politics and stand to lose work if proposed jury trial limits were to pass. Cortez says he’s not concerned their cash will derail the effort.
Cut 8 (06) “…wants.”
TORT reform is shaping up to be the key issue of the session, and Cortez says only one other issue will come close to it’s prominence.
Cut 9 (11) “…session.″
During his speech later in the day, Governor Edwards says he was open to working with the Legislature on TORT reform.
____________________
The story of Keiosha Felix, a 15-year-old who vanished in 2012, gets the national spotlight tonight on the show “In Pursuit with John Walsh,” which airs on Investigation Discovery. Show producer Michelle Sigona says authorities believe Keiosha may be in Duson, Baton Rouge, or Houston.
Cut 10 (13) “…someone knows something.”
Keiosha disappeared from her aunt’s home in Duson in April 2012. Sigona has hope the episode can lead to Keiosha’s whereabouts as the program has a history of successfully tracking down fugitives and missing children, including a recent capture.
Cut 11 (13) “…missing child side.”
Sigona says the show has a hotline that viewers can call or text in their tips and they can do so anonymously.
Cut 12 (09) “…you can offer.”
The hotline is based at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The show airs tonight at 9PM.
_____________________________________
The State Legislative Auditor is asking the Legislature to consider implementing a water management plan to keep the state’s aquifers from running dry, or falling prey to saltwater intrusion in the future.
Audit Manager Gina Brown says water is increasingly becoming a valuable resource in America, and it’s a resource Louisiana currently has plenty of…
Cut 13 (10) “…resources.”
Water depletion has increased 63 percent nationwide since 1951, and 579 percent since 59’ for the Gulf Coast region.
But strain on the state’s aquifers is growing, with 49 percent of current usage going to energy production, 25 percent to industry, and 12 percent heading to irrigation.
Cut 14 (07) “…aquifer”
So to save the state’s water for future generations, one of their recommendations is the adoption of a Texas-style creation of “water regions”.
Cut 15 (09) “plan.”
Texas’s recent effort to buy water from Toledo Bend for 50 years was rebuffed by the Sabine River Authority, due to public concern over a lack of information on how it would impact water levels.