If you’re working outside this week, you’ll want to take extra precautions given the hot conditions. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
___________________________________________________
It was a banner year for the State Treasury in its campaign to reunite unclaimed cash with its rightful owners. Jeff Palermo reports.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
___________________________________________________
In case you haven’t already noticed, it’s a scorcher outside, and it’s going to remain that way for the rest of the week. If you have to work outside, make sure you’re taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself. Evan Canzoneri, a safety service consultant with LWCC, says you should begin the day by drinking two glasses of water – and make sure it’s water.
Canzoneri says there are things you should avoid eating when working outside in brutally hot conditions.
Cut 4 (11) “…up digesting that.”
When working outside in these conditions, Canzoneri says dress accordingly.
________________________________________________
Hood Container announced a nearly 120-million-dollar modernization project at its historic St. Francisville paper mill. The project will center around upgrading the mill’s primary paper machine to increase production capacity by 80-thousand tons per year. West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard says Hood’s success is the community’s success.
The mill was first opened in the late 1950s, and since taking ownership in 2015, Hood Container has invested more than 160-million-dollars in the facility. Havard says the project will help retain 295 jobs in the parish.
Cut 7 (12) “…community partner.”
Upgrades will begin in late 2026, and phase two of the project will be completed during the mill’s annual outage in May of 2027. The state offered the company an incentive package including an 8-hundred-thousand-dollar tax credit to secure the project. Havard hopes this won’t be the last investment that comes to the area.
Cut 8 (13) “…open for business.”
________________________________________________
The Louisiana Department of Treasury paid out almost 70-million dollars in unclaimed property funds to both current and former residents in the 2025 fiscal year. That’s the second highest annual amount in the program’s history, just a tad less than the amount paid four years ago. State Treasurer John Fleming says it’s surprising how many people are owed money.
Cut 9 (08) “…1.2-billion dollars.”
Fleming says claiming money that’s owed to you is very easy.
Cut 10 (10) “…it right there.” (Website: LaCashClaim.org)
Fleming says many people who claimed money owed to them had no idea that they had that money that rightfully belonged to them. He says they found out about it through the department’s outreach efforts.
Cut 11 (09) “…were owed money.”
The unclaimed property is in the form of payroll checks, old bank accounts, utility deposits and interest payments. Money that continues to go unclaimed does not go into the state’s general fund; it is socked away until it’s claimed by the rightful owner.
________________________________________________
Coca-Cola announced today it will release a new version of its classic soda sweetened with U-S sugar, which could benefit Louisiana’s sugarcane industry. Louisiana ranks second in the country in sugar cane produced, nearly 14-million tons of sugarcane each year. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain is excited about the news…
President Trump said last week he spoke with Coca-Cola about using real cane sugar in Coke in the United States. Coke products sold in the U-K and Mexico already use cane sugar. U-S Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Junior says cane sugar is healthier than corn syrup. Strain says Coca-Cola’s decision to use cane syrup could have a big impact on Louisiana…
__________________________________________________________
Sun Belt Football Media Days kicked off in New Orleans today. ULM started 5-and-1 under first-year head coach Bryant Vincent last season before dropping their last six straight and failing to reach a bowl game. Vincent says phase one of rebuilding the Warhawks was establishing culture. Phase two was holding on to players despite the growing pains.
The Warhawks are led by quarterback Aidan Armenta. The redshirt sophomore followed Vincent from New Mexico to Monroe and took over the starting role midway through the season. Vincent says it’s a big deal to have a returning starting quarterback.
Armenta passed for nearly 13-hundred yards, 9 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight starts last season. ULM will start the season hosting St. Francis in a Thursday night game August 28.