After years of testing, tropical storm predictions will have a different spin from weather experts. Teiko Foxx has more…
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A recent governor’s poll has Jeff Landry and Shawn Wilson running neck and neck. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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National Hurricane Center officials are extending forecasts for the upcoming hurricane season – instead of the traditional five-day forecast, they will give a seven-day forecast. The recent modifications come after years of testing long-range predictions. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s a great step forward for the Emergency Management Community.
The 2022 hurricane season for Louisiana on average was a bit quieter, even though it produced 14 named storms. Keim says hurricane season officially begins June 1st and this extension will be extremely beneficial.
Forecasters have become more confident in the accuracy of extended weather predictions. Keim says that even though there has been a demand for longer-range forecasts – they will not be error-free.
Cut 5 (09) “…these hurricanes.”
The changes will begin on May 15.
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Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission are seeking federal funding to study the feasibility of a new passenger rail service across North Louisiana. The corridor along Interstate 20 would serve cities between Meridan, Mississippi, and Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Southern Rail Commission Chairman, Knox Ross says this has been an ongoing project.
Cut 6 (07) “…distant service.”
Canadian Pacific has agreed on the study with Amtrak but the co-owner of Norfolk Southern Railway would also have to approve. Ross says the application is the first step in determining the practicability of this concept.
Cut 7 (09) “…train operation.”
Amtrak will seek funding from last year’s congressional infrastructure law for the study. Ross says last year the cities of Monroe, Ruston, Shreveport, and Vicksburg, Mississippi began the process of applying for federal-state partnership grants for this purpose.
If the study finds service is warranted, Amtrak would then seek federal money to pay for startup costs.
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A recent poll for governor has Attorney General Jeff Landry leading with 29 percent followed by Shawn Wilson with 28 percent. JMC Analytics Veteran pollster John Couvillon says with Wilson as the only major Democrat in the race…
Cut 9 (08) “…first in October.”
And with Wilson running neck and neck with Landry, Couvillon says the question is how much traction can the remaining four Republican candidates make before the primary.
Cut 10 (09) “…in the run-off.”
The poll, conducted March 6-8, included Congressman Garret Graves, who was third with 12 percent. And with Graves out of the race, Couvillon believes his support would most likely be distributed geographically among the other Republican candidates. For example, in Baton Rouge, it would likely go to Stephen Waguespack because of name recognition.
Cut 11 (10) “…after Garret Graves.”
And with Louisiana a majority red state, Couvillon says even if Wilson is the leader in October, he’ll have to court moderates and soft Republicans to claim victory in an expected November runoff.
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The latest national survey of small business owners shows inflation and labor shortages continues to prevent full economic recovery from the COVID pandemic. N-F-I-B state director Dawn McVea says inflation has driven up prices and there’s a lack of qualified job applicants…
Cut 12 (09) “…unrelenting inflation”.
McVea says 47-percent of owners reported job openings that were hard to fill, remaining historically very high…
McVea says the workforce issue needs to be resolved soon so the economy can grow again. She says they need the help of the federal and state government, because small business owners are doing what they can to cope with the labor shortage…