With the state looking at about a 13-billion dollar transportation backlog, Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is looking at funding solutions. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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Speculation continues over whether Sean Payton will go or stay the head coach of the Saints in 2016. Jeff Palermo has more….
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Analysts believe we’ll continue to see affordable gas prices in Louisiana during 2016. Emelie Gunn has more…
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Governor-elect John Bel Edwards advisory panel on transportation recommends tax increases to provide an additional 75-million dollars a year in transportation funding. A higher gasoline tax, a sales tax on auto repairs and tolls are some of the suggestions. Incoming Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says more dialogue is needed before a decision on where the additional dollars will come from…
Wilson is unsure when or if Edwards will ask lawmakers to raise taxes to provide more transportation dollars. He says in the meantime, they’ll look to stop the practice of using gasoline tax money to help pay for state police
Wilson says the backlog of highway projects is nearly 13-billion dollars. He says the new administration is also looking to develop light rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans and in north Louisiana…
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The National Weather Service is lowering the projected crest of the Mississippi River from the Louisiana-Arkansas line to about Vicksburg, Mississippi. Marty Pope, with the N-W-S in Pearl, Mississippi, says they’re now expecting a foot and a half drop in the river crest.
Pope says a drop in these crest projections is good news, especially in Vidalia, where there is a convention center, many hotels and a hospital along the riverfront. He says hopefully these river estimates will hold up.
Pope says they are not changing crest projections for Red River Landing and areas to the south like Baton Rouge and New Orleans. He explains why….
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There’s a million dollar unclaimed Powerball prize in Louisiana, and time is running out for the winner to come forward. Kimberly Chopin with the Louisiana Lottery says the prize was won on August 5th from a ticket that was sold in Terrebonne Parish and is set to expire February 1st. She says this doesn’t happen often…:
Chopin says the winning ticket was purchased at Pointe-Aux-Chenes Supermarket on Highway 665 in Montegut. She says in all draw style games, including Powerball, winners have 180 days from the date of the drawing in which to claim their prize…:
cut 11 (10) “scratch off games”
Chopin says players should know that there are several ways you can win prizes on a Powerball game, and in this case the ticket matched 5 numbers which is good for $1 million dollars. She says anytime you buy a Powerball ticket, you should treat it like cash and sign the back right away…:
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Analysts predict we’ll continue to see affordable gas prices in 2016. Don Redman, with the American Automobile Association, says we could see prices dropping even more before springtime.
Redman says right now we’re looking at a statewide average of $1.77 for a gallon of regular gasoline compared to $2.06 at this time last year. But he says be cautious, because tension in the Middle East could create an increase in prices.
Redman says we’ll see the highest prices of the calendar year during March through May because of the switch to summer grade gasoline.
Cut 15 (08) “not dramatically”
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Speculation continues to grow over whether Sean Payton will be the head coach of the Saints in 2016. Several teams are reportedly interested in talking with Payton, who is still under contract with the Saints. Quarterback Drew Brees wants Payton back…
Cut 16 (13) “strong relationship”
Payton is under contract with the Saints, while Brees has just one year left on his deal. Brees says he’d be willing to talk about a contract extension.
The Saints PR staff says that Payton will speak with reporters on Wednesday. Brees hopes the uncertainty surrounding who will be the head coach next year will be resolved soon.