The state Weights and Measures Division finds an uptick in skimming devices at gas pumps in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more…
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Another bout of severe weather is headed towards Louisiana. Emelie Gunn has more…
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According to the Violence Policy Center, Louisiana has the 10th highest rate of black homicide victimization in the country. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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Louisiana is seeing an uptick in skimming devices at gas pumps. That’s according to Ag Commissioner Mike Strain, who heads the Weights and Measures division. Strain says his inspectors are finding one or two skimmers a week, and more consumers are alerting his office to help track down the devices.
Strain says the devices were found in Avoyelles, Calcasieu, Jefferson, Lafayette, Orleans, Rapides, St. Landry, St. Tammany, and Washington Parishes. He says before you pay at a gas pump, look for signs of forced entry on credit card readers, like broken security tape, and if you find one of these devices, alert the store clerk immediately.
Strain advises people to check their bank statements online weekly, or even daily, and contact your bank if you notice any unauthorized purchases. He says there are other steps motorists can take to protect their information at the gas pump.
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Another round of severe weather is approaching the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the risk of tornadoes, hail and damaging winds will move from the northeastern part of this state this afternoon, down into southeast Louisiana on Thursday.
Keim says we are very likely to see severe weather in all parts of the state. But he says the biggest risk is in the northern parishes of Louisiana for today.
Keim says the chance for severe weather persists into Thursday night ending in New Orleans. He says we’re in the time of year when the risk for real severe weather is there because the upper atmosphere is cold as the surface is heating up.
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Louisiana has the 10th highest black homicide victimization rate in the nation, according to the Violence Policy Center. VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarmann says these findings demonstrate that black Louisiana residents are disproportionately impacted by homicide. He says their latest state data goes back to 2014 and there were 332 black homicide victims, resulting in a rate of about 22 per 100,000.
Sugarmann says Louisiana has ranked near or at the top in all 11 years the VPC has conducted this study. The report finds 87 percent of black victims in Louisiana were killed with a firearm, compared to 83 percent nationwide. He says they see similar findings ever year.
About 84 percent of the victims were male, and the average age for the victims was 31. The report also finds that 80 percent were killed by someone they knew. Sugarmann hopes these results will dispel some of the rumors that blacks are always killed during criminal activity.
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Mining and lodging jobs in Louisiana, which includes the oil and gas sector, saw over the month gains for the first time since October 2014. That’s according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission who says employment in this employment sector rose by 200 from January to February. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says the primary reason for this is the slowdown of job loss in the Houma and Lafayette areas.
Scott says any job gains that have occurred in the oil and gas sector have taken place in northwest Louisiana. He says the Haynesville Shale rig count has doubled.
The report finds employment in the private sector rose by 57-hundred over the year, its first increase since August 2015. Scott says big industrial gains in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles are helping to drive up overall job gains.
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The LSU football team is now more than halfway done with Spring Football and Quarterback Danny Etling says he’s feeling a lot more comfortable in the Tigers new offense. Etling says he’s been working closely with new offensive coordinator Matt Canada….
Etling believes he’s already seen an improvement in his game with Canada teaching him how to become a better passer
Starting running back Derrius Guice has been limited in spring practice by an ankle injury, but that’s allowed back-up Darrell Williams to get more reps with the first team. Coach Ed Orgeron says Williams is having one fo the most improved springs of anyone on the team. The former John Ehret star says he’s ready for a big senior season…
Williams also likes what he sees from LSU’s new offense…