LRN PM Newscall March 7

Nearly 12-hundred bills have been filed for the 2022 legislative session that begins next week. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Gas prices continue to rise, but just how high will they go? David Grubb has more.

Cut 2 (33)…I’m David Grubb.”  

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The 2022 legislative session begins a week from today and nearly 12-hundred bills have been filed. La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says there are a wide variety of topics for legislators to debate…

Cut 3 (11) “..college campuses”

Alford says lawmakers will also have to approve a budget and decide how to spend two billion dollars in surplus money, much of it coming from the federal government. He says there will also be a debate on social issues like critical race theory, transgender athletes, vaccines, and abortions…

Cut 4 (09) “..for sure”

Lawmakers were at the Capitol last month for a redistricting session. Alford says political maps will be discussed again as Black lawmakers continue to push for additional majority-minority districts…

Cut 5 (10) “..governor does”

The regular session must end on June 6th.

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The national average for a gallon of gas has surpassed $4 per gallon for the first time since 2008 as the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues. David Dismukes, executive director for the LSU Center for Energy Studies says that while prices may not go down soon, the costs can’t get much higher.

 Cut 6 (11) “…self-correcting.” 

According to AAA, the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline increased by another nickel $3.87. That’s a 50-cent increase in a week. Dismukes says the Russia-Ukraine conflict isn’t the only thing driving prices up.

Cut 7 (13) “…production targets.” 

Production is a problem here at home as well. Dismukes says the U-S is producing roughly 2 million fewer barrels of oil per day since prior to the start of the pandemic. He said oil and gas companies could start pumping, but the White House and Wall Street are making it difficult.

 Cut 8 (08) “…into the market.” 

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51-year old David Rester, Jr. of Vidalia, who’s wanted in connection with the March 3rd murder of Marl Wayne Smith in Washington Parish has been arrested in Mississippi after a multi-state, parish, and county crime spree. Washington Parish Chief Deputy Mike Haley says investigators traveled to Harrison County to interview him after he was arrested for a bank robbery in Waveland.

Cut 9 (12) “…Pearl River.”

Rester is also wanted in St. Tammany Parish for the February 27th physical and sexual assault of a convenience store clerk that took place during a robbery. Haley says prior to these most recent crimes, Rester did not have a criminal record.

Cut 10 (07)  “…that yet.”

Authorities finally arrested Rester after a highspeed chase of up to 120 miles per hour in Harrison County, Mississippi. Haley says they plan to seek the death penalty in Washington Parish and they are grateful he’s been apprehended.

Cut 11 (12)  “…an end.”  

Haley says numerous agencies are involved in the investigation and it took a combined effort to put Rester behind bars.

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As grocery prices continue to surge some consumers are looking at growing their own food and LSU Extension Agent Heather Kirk-Ballard says there’s now a plant shortage since the pandemic inspired many to take up gardening as they sheltered in place.

Cut 12 (09) “…right now.”  

Kirk-Ballard says while it takes time initially to set up your garden it can be feasible to grow your own food, but she also points out that access to pesticides and herbicides for your home garden could be a problem in the near future as they are expected to be scarce.

Cut 13 (07) “…plants here.”

Kirk-Ballard says the most successful gardeners are ones who maintain their vegetables not the ones that plant them in the ground and walk away. She says gardening is also good for your mental health.

Cut 14 (10)  “…piddle around.”  

For gardening tips visit LSUAGCenter.com for more information.

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LSU President William Tate says no one at the university knew of any prior sexual misconduct allegations against running backs coach Frank Wilson. Former LSU associate athletic director Sharon Lewis claims Wilson exposed himself to her several years ago. The allegations are part of a federal lawsuit against the school. Tate was asked about the allegation today…

Cut 15 (11) “…LSU officials.” 

According to a court filing made by Lewis’ attorney last week, Wilson exposed himself to Lewis in 2015 and she reported the incident to LSU athletic administrators Miriam Segar and Verge Ausberry.

Wilson was recently re-hired by LSU and Tate says he’s never talked to Wilson about the allegations because this is the first time his office has known about them,…

Cut  16 (10) “…last year.”