The Louisiana Motor Transport Association strongly opposes the state Department of Transportation’s proposal to use tolls to fund a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. The project now has a price tag of over two billion dollars and LMTA Director Renee Amar says the bridge does not have to be that expensive…
Cut 7 (07) “…much smaller”
Amar says there’s no doubt a new bridge is needed, but federal and state government should pay for it.

Governor John Bel Edwards spoke before the U-S Senate Budget Committee and used his appearance to push for the passage of the RISEE Act. The governor says the legislation would result in the state receiving more federal dollars for energy production that takes place in federal waters off of Louisiana’s coast. He says currently the state is not receiving a fair share.
Cut 11 (10) “…Port Fourchon.”
Edwards also testified about the importance of climate change infrastructure and how levees constructed after Katrina have prevented catastrophic damage.

Senator Bill Cassidy is urging Louisianans with passport issues to reach out to his office. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Big news for Rapides Parish today as Sun Gas Renewables announced it is looking at building a one-point eight billion dollar renewable low-carbon methanol production facility in Pineville. It would manufacture 400-thousand metric tons of green methanol per year for SunGas customers worldwide. The project would create over 100 new jobs.