LRN PM Newscall January 19

Prices at the pump are creeping back up. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Actor Alec Baldwin will be charged in New Mexico for the shooting death of a film crew member in 2021. Jeff Palermo talks with a Louisiana legal expert…:

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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You might have noticed you’re paying more at the pump, and according to Triple-A the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana is up to $3.06. Triple-A fuel analyst  Don Redman says that’s up 30 cents from a month ago and despite low demand and a healthy supply…

Cut 3 (07) “…$80 a barrel.” 

Redman traditionally gas prices in January are among the lowest due to a decrease in demand. Just a month ago oil prices hovered around $70 a barrel and it looked as if gas prices were going to stabilize into Spring. He says however all of that reversed upon reports of an improving economy.

Cut 4 (11)  “…higher prices.” 

With the uptick in oil prices credited to economic improvements, Redman says as for the outlook on gas prices, OPEC’s output will play a large factor.

Cut 5 (10) “…the summer.”

Redman says prices are very similar to where we were a year ago and 2022 was a record-breaking year for high gas prices.

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Actor Alec Baldwin will be charged in the shooting death of a cinematographer while making a western movie in 2021. The charge will be involuntary manslaughter. Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney Franz Borghardt says a conviction will require proving Baldwin was grossly negligent in the shooting, which won’t be easy for prosecutors…:

Cut 6 (07)  “…likely to be loaded.” 

Baldwin insists he did not pull the trigger. He and weapons specialist Hannah Gutierrez Reed are charged in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust.” Borghardt feels the Santa Fe, New Mexico district attorney has a tall task ahead, considering what is already known…:

Cut 7 (07)  “…Mr. Baldwin.” 

A civil lawsuit filed against the film producers, by the victim’s husband and son, has been settled. Baldwin was not named in that suit. Borghardt says Baldwin will almost certainly have top-notch legal representation for a case that can often be hard to prove…:

Cut 8 (09)  “.represent Mr. Baldwin.” 

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Governor John bel Edwards will present a budget for next fiscal year to lawmakers in a few weeks, and the state has $728-million in a surplus money from the last fiscal year to spend. Governor Edwards says much of that money will go towards ongoing infrastructure projects that have gone up in price…

Cut 9 (09) “…inflation” 

Edwards will present his budget proposal to state lawmakers on February 17th. The governor says inflation is driving up the costs of ongoing infrastructure projects so some of the surplus dollars will go towards completing those projects

Cut 10 (08) “…left” 

Edwards is entering the final year in office and is trying to get as many infrastructure projects done. He says there will be hundreds of millions of dollars in surplus money and even recurring dollars spent on improving roads and ports…

Cut 11 (12)  “…some degree”

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State Treasurer John Schroder and Lake Charles Attorney Hunter Lundy released their gubernatorial announcement ads today. Lundy is running as an independent and at the moment he’s the only non-Republican in the race…

Cut 12 (10) “…I’ll do.”

Lundy describes himself as a Christian, a lawyer and a small businessman. He says he’ll operate state government in the best interests of the public, not the special interests….

Cut 13 (09) “right then” 

Schroder served in the Louisiana House of Representatives for over ten years and he was elected State Treasurer in 2017. The businessman from Covington wants to make Louisiana a great state…

Cut 14 (08)   “…fat cats last.”

Schroder says education, improving the economy and reducing crime are his major priorities…

Cut 15 (16) “… our community”