One of Louisiana’s statewide elected officials takes aim at TikTok. Whitney Thomas reports
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”
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Governor John Bel Edwards end of the year report indicates the state is in good shape financially and more people are working than ever before.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The Public Service Commission has delayed a vote on another six-dollar storm recovery surcharge being put on customers’ bills as they look to see if Entergy can pay some of the costs from the 2020 and 2021 storms. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
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Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is banning TikTok on all Department of State-issued devices, and is calling on Governor John Bel Edwards to do the same on a statewide level. Deputy Secretary for Outreach services, Joel Watson says TikTok poses a risk to your personal identification.
Cut 4 (13) “…Communist party.”
Arodin believes that banning TikTok statewide would protect their data and reaffirm the commitment to privacy for constitutes. Watson says Louisiana isn’t the only state facing immediate banning.
Cut 5 (09) “…Same thing here.”
Watson says this decision is important because it allows them to be an example for important cyber security matters
Cut 6 (13) “.here today”
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At his end-of-the-year press conference, Governor John Bel Edwards highlighted the state’s finances which have drastically improved from when he took office seven years ago, and because of that, the state is able to increase funding to programs versus cutting them.
Cut 7 (11) “…few things.”
Edwards says when he took office the state had a $2-billon deficit and with surplus amounts, in his two terms it’s now $2 billion to the good.
Last week the Revenue Estimating Conference says the state has an extra $925 million for the current budget year and for the next fiscal year estimated $608 million.
In addition to finances, Edwards says the state’s unemployment rate remains at historic lows at 2.9 percent.
Cut 8 (06) “…two years ago.”
In December 2020, the unemployment rate was 6.9 percent. Employment wise the governor says the state is in much better shape than it was two years ago.
Cut 9 (12) “… two-million-forty-two-thousand.”
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Are you ready for some very cold weather? State climatologist Barry Keim says a significant cold front will move through Louisiana on Thursday
Cut 10 (11) “…our region.”
Morning lows on Friday will be in teens for much of the state and many locations will remain freezing temps for over 30 hours. Keim says now is the time to prepare for these rare conditions.
Cut 11 (11) “…as you can.”
Keim says people can also expect wind chills making it feel 10 to 15 degrees colder than actual temperatures.
Cut 12 (07) “… brace yourself.”
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The Louisiana Public Service Commission has delayed a vote on Entergy’s request for customers to pay an additional six-dollars a month for the next 15 years to pay for the costs associated with recovery from five named storms in 2020 and 2021. PSC Member Foster Campbell believes Entergy’s shareholders should split those costs with customers…
Cut 13 (10) “…hell with that.”
Campbell says the P-S-C decided to delay a vote after New Orleans lawyer Pat Patrick told commissioners state law does not require customers to pay 100-percent of storm recovery costs. He’s glad the commission is taking another look at this issue…
Cut 14 (08) “…paying them”
Last February, the PSC approved an average storm recovery cost surcharge of about ten-dollars per month for 15 years. So now they are back seeking an additional six-dollars. Campbell says the P-S-C should its best to see how much of these costs should be shared by the utility company…
Cut 15 (08) “…absolutely yes”