Legislative Economist Greg Albrecht says the state has an optimistic revenue outlook for the coming fiscal year despite “horrible” economic fundamentals in Louisiana. Matt Doyle has more.
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A return to some normalcy seems to be right around the corner, but only if people get vaccinated. Matt Doyle has more.
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The gasoline tax is off the table now, but the Government Reform in Transportation act still wants to secure transportation infrastructure. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The state revenue forecast is looking rosy despite the slow recovery of jobs lost to the pandemic thanks to a huge influx of federal support.
Earlier this year Legislative Economist Greg Albrecht says the job and economic activity metrics didn’t paint a pretty picture, but due to the passage of the American Rescue Act…
The state appears to be in line for more than three billion dollars in federal aid.
Albrecht says the total pandemic job loss picture has come into view. At our lowest point last April we had lost 284,000 jobs for a total unemployment rate of 13 percent. As of January, it sits at 7.6 percent.
The retail sector has returned 92 percent of its lost jobs while hospitality has only returned about half.
Albrecht says the state is still way off of its pre-pandemic expectations and some industries, like mining, continue to see job losses.
Manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, real estate, government, and finance are all sectors that have seen continued job losses past the April 20th overall low point.
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UL Lafayette receives the largest private investment in history. LHC Group– a home health care company, commits a $20-million over the next ten years to the university’s nursing program. UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie…
LHC Group’s CEO Keith Myers says the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions produces well-educated and highly skilled health care professionals and their investment is a win-win for both the university and the company.
LHC Group’s co-founder Ginger Myers says it’s vital to have the infrastructure and educational opportunities in place to address the growing need for healthcare providers as our population ages.
Approximately $9 million will go towards the funding of a new health systems building on the campus estimated at $65 million to complete
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State officials say the key to enjoying safe and normal crawfish boils and barbecues in the next few months is for you and everyone you know to get vaccinated.
Governor Edwards says for the first time in a year friends and family members will be able to safely gather together maskless, but only if everyone involved is fully vaccinated.
Full vaccination is considered to be two weeks after you complete your vaccine series, which means either your second Pfizer or Moderna shot, or only Johnson and Johnson shot.
State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says starting Monday everyone 16 and older is eligible to get the vaccine, so if you make an appointment then you could be good to go by early summer.
If everyone at a gathering is fully vaccinated individuals from one household who are not fully vaccinated are allowed to attend.
Kanter says another benefit to being fully vaccinated is…
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Republican State Representative Jack McFarland’s effort to raise the state’s gasoline tax ends before the session even begins. McFarland spent months raising awareness of why a gas tax was needed to fund transportation infrastructure, but now with billions in stimulus funds coming to the state, it’s a tough sale.
McFarland’s GRIT Act, Government Reform In Transportation involved a gas tax that would go towards federal matching dollars to fund $15-billion for the backlog of road and bridge projects and the $13 billion estimate to improve traffic flow. McFarland says without matching dollars the state loses out on additional federal funds.
But McFarland still believes in the need to restructure how transportation trust fund dollars are classified, so they can only be used for transportation infrastructure. McFarland says plans to revise GRIT Act for now without a gas tax.
Louisiana expects to receive more than $3 billion from the federal package, and local government agencies are slated to get $1.8 billion. Those dollars could be steered to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects
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Junior right-hander Landon Marceaux is the Tigers new Friday night starter as LSU opens a three-game series tonight at ninth-ranked Tennessee. Marceaux has been the team’s Saturday starter while Jaden Hill has been on the mound every Friday night. Coach Paul Mainieri says he made the move because Marceaux has been the team’s best pitcher all year.
Cut 16 (13) “…Friday night starter.”
Marceaux has not allowed an earned run in 31.1 consecutive innings. Hill will be moved to Saturday. While Mainieri says each game is equally important, part of the decision to change the rotation was wanting to get off to a good start this weekend.
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21st ranked Louisiana Tech begins Conference USA play tonight with a four-game series at Southern Miss. Each team is playing well, the Bulldogs have won six in a row, while the Golden Eagles have won nine of their last ten. Tech Coach Lance Burroughs it’s a great way to start conference play…
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LSU Quarterback Max Johnson says he and the other quarterbacks battling to be the starter in 2021 are coming together and practicing well as they conclude the second week of spring practice. When camp opened, Johnson took the first snaps with the first-team and knows the competition will continue into preseason camp
Johnson says new offensive coordinator Jake Peetz has great ideas on how he wants LSU’s offense to look…