A group of 33 mayors from across the country asks President Joe Biden to back sending Americans recurring survival checks through the end of the pandemic. Brooke Thorington has the story…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”
_______________________________
The Biden Administration has begun rolling back many of the Trump Administration’s oil and gas policies. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”
____________________________
A Crawfish Specialist projects a healthy crawfish season ahead of us. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”
__________________________
The City of Bogalusa received welcome news this week with an over $50-million dollar expansion was announced for International Paper. After a trend of paper mills closing over the years in the Washington Parish city, Mayor of Bogalusa Wendy Perrette says it’s welcome news.
Cut 4 (11) “…to stay.”
International Paper is one of the largest employers in Bogalusa with 492 direct jobs. The modernization investment the company is making will enhance the mill’s efficiency in the papermaking process. Perrette says she was worried the mill was looking to close when they reduced operations temporarily.
Cut 5 (11) “…effectively.”
Perrette says the company has been very community involved and a great asset to the town of just over 11-thousand. She’s relieved they are investing in their future, the company, and with the city.
Cut 6 (10) “…to stay.”
The average salary at International Paper is $86,000 plus benefits.
________________________
Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins joins 33 other mayors in calling on President Biden to support sending Americans recurring checks through the end of the pandemic.
Perkins says the US economy already didn’t work for half of all Americans and the pandemic has just exacerbated that, and this is a way to help folks out while stimulating the economy.
Cut 7 (09) “..spend it.”
The group, which purchased a full-page ad in the Washington Post touting the idea, does not back a specific dollar amount for the checks. Perkins says there are several bills in Congress right now that have his interest.
When asked how these checks would be financed Perkins responded…
Cut 8 (09) “…itself.”
Part of the Biden Administration’s 1.9 trillion dollar COVID relief proposal includes one round of 1,400 dollar stimulus checks, but no calls for further checks after that.
Perkins left the door open to potentially leaving these recurring checks to continue even after the pandemic ends. He says adopting these checks now will give us valuable data…
Cut 9 (12) “…or not”
.________________________________________________
The Biden Administration announces a 60-day pause in the issuing of new oil and gas leases on federal land and revoked the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.
Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute Dr. Eric Smith says Louisiana doesn’t do much drilling on land, but this move makes one thing clear.
Cut 10 (09) “…Administration.”
Smith says it’s part of the back and forth on energy policy that has happened over the last decade-plus as the White House changed hands politically.
The Keystone does not run through Louisiana but Smith says we do utilize the sour crude carried by the pipeline.
Cut 11 (11) “….stream”
Smith says if the Biden Administration follows through on promises to begin significantly reducing the US’s carbon emission the state economy could be in for some big changes.
Cut 12 (13) “…CO2.”
_____________________________
Crawfish harvests have been slow to start the year with pond temperatures still pretty cool but the season looks set to pick up steam shortly.
LSU Ag Center Crawfish Specialist Mark Shirley says while it’s been slow going so far he projects we will have a strong peak crawfish season this year.
Cut 13 (11) “….far away”
On the sales side, the pandemic is still likely to keep prices low. Shirley says while the proliferation of drive-thrus really helped last year restaurant sales will likely remain down.
Cut 14 (09) “…restaurant.”
Despite demand that will likely be lower than a non-pandemic season Shirley projects we will still have a sizeable harvest.
Cut 15 (07)“…more.”
___________________________________________-
Saints Coach Sean Payton says the relationship is good between him and defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen. It looked like Nielsen was set to become LSU’s next defensive coordinator, when Payton offered Nielsen a promotion and a three-year contract. Payton is fired up his new assistant head coach is staying
Cut 16 (24) “…returnimg.”
Payton says they are evaluating their roster and looking ahead to the 2021 season. But with several players set to become free agents and reports that New Orleans could be 109-million dollars over the salary cap, how will they put another playoff contender on the field next season? Payton is confident they’ll figure out a way…
Cut 17 (29) “…for the Saints”
If Drew Brees retires as many expect, the Saints will also have to find a new starting quarterback. Payton is confident in what he has with Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston…
Cut 18 (29) “…and personal”
________________________________________________
ULM looks to snap a four-game losing streak tonight when they host Texas State. The Bobcats have won three in a row and they lead the Sun Belt Western Division with a 3-and-1 conference mark. Warhawks Coach Keith Richard says Texas State plays great team basketball…
Cut 19 (19) “…figure scorers.”
Koreem Ozier leads ULM in scoring at 13-points a game. Richard says the junior from Wisconsin has stepped up his game in conference play…
cut 20 (16) “…it going”