The Louisiana Motor Transport Association strongly opposes the state Department of Transportation’s proposal to use tolls to fund a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. The project now has a price tag of over two billion dollars and LMTA Director Renee Amar says the bridge does not have to be that expensive…
The State Department reportedly receives 400,000 passport applications a week and says the delays are a result of the pandemic and renewed interest in international travel. US Senator Bill Cassidy says several families and individuals have been forced to forgo their travel because their passports did not arrive in time and the results are costly.
Cassidy urges those with passport issues to call his office in Baton Rouge at 225-929-7711.
Governor John Bel Edwards spoke before the U-S Senate Budget Committee and used his appearance to push for the passage of the RISEE Act. The governor says the legislation would result in the state receiving more federal dollars for energy production that takes place in federal waters off of Louisiana’s coast. He says currently the state is not receiving a fair share.
Edwards also testified about the importance of climate change infrastructure and how levees constructed after Katrina have prevented catastrophic damage.
In Pineville, the announcement of a $2-billion facility to be constructed at the former International Paper Mill site is welcome news. SunGas Renewals will build a facility that will produce green methanol for marine fuel and create 100 local jobs. Construction will create more than one thousand jobs and is expected to be completed in 2027.