LRN PM Newscall April 28

The Senate votes down legislation requiring cable and internet providers to provide refunds to customers without service for over 24 hours during a declared disaster. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Efforts to raise the state’s minimum wage failed to get the support of the House Labor Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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The Louisiana Public Service Commission made headway this week in an effort to help close the digital divide in North Louisiana. Northeast Louisiana Power Cooperative will be the first utility co-op to supply internet service to their customers, PSC Chair Lambert Boissiere says it’s historic…

Cut 3 (09) “…internet existed.”

Boissiere says this will help individuals who lacked broadband and also businesses that need access to remain competitive in Northeast Louisiana.  He says federal infrastructure grants laid the groundwork for the private-public partnership.

Commissioner Foster Campbell says Northeast Louisiana Power Co-Op will supply broadband for members in seven northeast parishes.

Cut 4  (09) “…the poorest.”

According to the 2022 Louisiana Survey about three-fourths of homes in the state have broadband internet access.  LSU Public Policy Research Director Mike Henderson says of the remaining 25-percent who don’t, 40-percent say it’s not available and 60-percent say it’s too expensive.

Cut 5  (06) “…to them.”

And while the approval of the state’s first co-op to provide broadband access to rural northeast Louisiana is significant, Henderson says for areas of the state that have the service it’s a premium that many can’t afford.

Cut 6  (11) “…the cost.” 

The Louisiana Survey polled 508 adults from February 21st to March 14th.

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A bill to require automatic refunds to a customer if their cable or internet is out for more than 24 hours during a declared disaster is dead for the session. The Senate rejected the proposal on a 23-15 vote. Houma Senator Mike Fesi is concerned this proposal could actually result in higher cable and internet bills

Cut 7 (12) “…be a problem.” 

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields argued customers should never be forced to pay for a service they do not receive. But River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says just because your cable is out on your television, some providers offer other ways to watch…

Cut 8 (10) “…on your phone.” 

There’s a push to increase broadband internet in rural areas and Minden Senator Robert Mills expressed concern this measure could impact those efforts…

Cut 9 (06) “…with this”

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LSU cornerback Derek Stingley is a strong candidate to be taken in the top 10 of the NFL Draft, which starts tonight. Stingley has been on the NFL’s radar since he stepped onto the LSU campus in 2019. His coach at Dunham High School in Baton Rouge, Neil Weiner, says he’s been hearing from teams for years looking for inside info on the budding star.

Cut 10 (08) “…would reach out.”

Stingley has been considered a first-rounder since he dominated the SEC as a freshman for the 2019 national champions. Weiner said that he has always been ahead of his time, dating back to his earliest workouts in the summer before his first year at Dunham.

Cut 11 (12)  “…13-year-old.” 

By Stingley’s third year of high school, he was already one of the most sought-after athletes in the country and Weiner says he knew that Stingley had the ability to reach the NFL and become one of the best in the game. Tonight, Derek Stingley Jr. should take the first steps on that journey.

Cut 12 (10) “…state of Louisiana.”  

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Once again the House Labor Committee voted down proposals to increase the minimum wage. Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews says he’s concerned that increasing the minimum wage from the current $7.25 an hour will result in job losses…

Cut 13 (10) “…the workplace.”

Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle disagrees that a higher minimum wage will lead to fewer jobs…

Cut 14 (09)  “…jobs are there.”

Marcelle believes raising the minimum wage will lead to more people entering the workforce and she had a proposal to increase the minimum wage to 12-dollars an hour…

Cut 15 (12) “…at your job” 

As we’ve seen in years past, business groups lobbied against minimum wage hike proposals. Jim Patterson with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry on why the state should not raise the minimum wage…

Cut  16 (08)  “…their businesses“