Former Governor John Bel Edwards and his wife were among those evacuated after that explosion at Smitty’s Supplies is Roseland yesterday. A family associate reported the governor and his wife are safe and monitoring the situation. All residents within a mile of the plant were ordered to relocate yesterday just after one. Smitty’s is a lubricant manufacturing facility with more than 400 employees. Officials have said there were no injuries reported. The cause of the blast is still under investigation.
It’s been a week since the Department of Insurance announced that 20 auto insurance companies, including many big-name companies, have filed for rate decreases. Whether that’s spurred by tort reform legislation, a decrease in crashes, or both, Governor Landry says to take advantage, you need to do your part.
Cut 3 (05) “…giving rate decreases.”
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Former LSU basketball player, four-time NBA champion and hall of famer Shaquille O’Neal will invest in the proposed new arena on the LSU campus. O’Neal vouched for Oak View Group, the developer that is the sole finalist for the project. Oak View’s CEO stepped down last month after he was indicted on bid-rigging allegations connected to a project in Austin.
So far a final deal with LSU to develop the project has not yet been finalized. O’Neal did not say how much he was planning to invest in the new facility.
The Saints wrap up their preseason at noon today against the Broncos in the Superdome. The biggest storyline is still the battle to become the starting quarterback. At this point, it’s down to second-year man Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough. Mike Hoss, the Saints’ play-by-play announcer on WWL radio, says at this point, the race is neck-and-neck.