The head of the state Department of Corrections tells the Senate Finance Committee staffing prisons is their top challenge. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

The Italian owners of Swiss-based Kopter Group are pulling out of a deal made a few years back to manufacture helicopters in Lafayette. Kopter says it will make them instead at its plant in Pennsylvania. Louisiana Economic Development is looking for another tenant for the former Bell helicopter facility in Lafayette.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy says it’s time to get U.S. oil & gas production rolling again, and he’s about to propose new energy policy to do that. The Baton Rouge senator says this is the best way to send Russia a message; by competing with them for energy exports. He says that will also benefit Louisiana in terms of revenues and jobs…:

CUT 13(05)      “…LNG export terminals.”

Tomorrow Cassidy will propose new policies to help cut red tape with permitting of domestic & foreign exports and explorations, and more.

Along with gasoline, DIESEL fuel is rapidly rising; now at a statewide average of $4.56-a-gallon. Louisiana Motor Transport Association executive director Renee Amar says that translates to about a dollar-per-mile for truckers, so get ready to pay more for goods due to the rising cost of getting them to you…:

CUT 05(11)      “…charge today.”