Former LSU basketball and Ukraine native Roman Rubchenko (roob-CHENK-oh) gives an update on conditions in his country amid the Russian invasion. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Does crude oil prices over 100-dollars mean more money for the state’s coffers? Jeff Palermo has more…
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In the week since Talk Louisiana host, Jim Engster spoke with former LSU basketball player Roman Rubchenko (roob-CHENK-oh) and Ukraine native says he’s now back at his country home outside of the capital of, Kyiv, after traveling with other men to help women and children in their families evacuate safely.
As for media access, Rubchenko says he’s able to view media reports from all over about the invasion, and while the media in Russia is controlled by the government, he also points out that Ukrainian reports are not necessarily accurate with the number of civilian deaths.
And while Russia has more weapons and manpower compared to Ukraine Rubchenko says his home country has something much more valuable when it comes to winning a war.
Cut 5 (08) “…everything right?”
Rubcheno has previously stated if given the opportunity he would punch Vladimir Putin in the face but as the conflict lingers, now he wants the Russian dictator to go on trial for his war crimes so those in the former Soviet nation can learn of his true character.
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According to Triple-A, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $4.13. Gas prices have increased by 90-cents over the last month. Could they increase another 90-cents and eclipse five dollars a gallon? Professor Pierre Conner director of the Tulane Energy Institute says it’s a possibility…
Conner says a ten-dollar a barrel increase in the price of crude oil, results in a 25 cent increase at the pump. He says the futures market shows crude oil prices falling, but if demand remains strong and the supply can’t keep up then gas prices will continue to rise…
The high oil prices are producing large profits for energy companies. Conner expects oil companies will use the extra dollars to try and increase production…
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Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed the congressional redistricting map approved by the state legislature, saying it failed to include a district that would allow a second Black candidate the opportunity to serve as a member of Louisiana’s congressional delegation. Capitol bureau editor of The Advocate, Mark Ballard says the map offers little change to the status quo.
Republican legislative leaders now have to decide whether or not to pursue an override. 1991 was the last time the Legislature overrode a governor’s veto, so Ballard says the odds are long for the Republican-led legislature
Ballard says this is another example of partisan politics with elected officials attempting to solidify their power by taking care of their own voters while disregarding other constituent groups within their districts.
Cut 11 (09) “…base is protected.”
A veto override would require a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers.
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Crude oil prices over 100-dollars a barrel means more money for the state’s general fund as Louisiana benefits from higher than expected revenues from severance taxes and royalties. But State Treasurer John Schroder says any increase in revenue from oil and gas production could be offset in a loss of sales tax revenues…
According to the January forecast from the Revenue Estimating Conference, the state will collect $525.5 million in total mineral revenues for the 2023 fiscal year.
But Schroder says for those who live on a fixed income, they will cut back on other spending so where the state might see more oil and gas revenues, for example, sales tax collections will most likely go down.
And while Schroder says it’s a pretty safe bet that gas prices are not going to decrease anytime soon, he says because of that Louisianans will be changing their spending habits due to prices at the pump and elsewhere.