11:30 Newscast, March 29th, 2016

The Public Service Commission approves the sale of the Pineville-based utility company CLECO to Macquarie Infrastructure for $4.9 billion. The deal passed with a 4-1 vote by the PSC. CLECO spokesperson Robbyn Cooper says this sale will have great benefits for ratepayers…:
CUT 9 (12) “two years”
PSC Chairman Clyde Holloway voted against the sale saying he doesn’t believe it’s in the best interest of customers.

At the Capitol Monday, a bill that would limit the amount of money the state can spend on art for public buildings received overwhelming approval from the full House and now heads to the Senate. The measure would cap a program that requires 1 percent of the total amount of a construction project go towards art inside or on the ground near the site.

A 60-year-old man from northeast Texas was tragically killed after he was accidentally run over by a dragster driven by his own brother at the Thunder Road Raceway in Gillam. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Cindy Chadwick says the two were part of a racing crew that was conducting test runs at the park…:
CUT 6 (08) “of his injuries”
She says the deceased is identified as Steven Smith, and the man behind the wheel of the vehicle was his brother 55-year-old Stuart Smith. No charges have been filed.

Drilling activity has hit an all-time low in Louisiana. That’s according to Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association. Briggs says 25 rigs are running in the Gulf of Mexico and only five are in operation on land in south Louisiana…:
Cut 13 (06) “that low”
Briggs says it’s a depressing time right now, but the industry will come back.