PM Newscall, July 11th, 2017

The National Federation for Independent Business’ monthly Index on Small Business Optimism finds a decline in job openings and job creation for June. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A survey by Kars4Kids finds Louisiana motorists are the 4th rudest in the country. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Small business optimism dipped in June, according to the National Federation for Independent Business. State director Dawn Starns says they saw increased optimism at the beginning of the year entering the new administration, but that has since dwindled due to gridlock in Congress. She says there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the federal healthcare bill.

Cut 3 (10) “so hard”

That’s why job openings and job creation plans saw declines in the NFIB’s monthly Index of Small Business Optimism. Expectations for better business conditions and expected sales also dropped. Starns says businesses can’t plan for the future because of all the uncertainty on the federal level.

Cut 4  (10) “rest of the year”

On the positive side, the index found an uptick in inventory satisfaction among small businesses, as well as plans to increase inventory. Starns says that’s a promising sign.

Cut 5  (11)  “part of the year”

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A recent survey finds Louisiana drivers are the 4th rudest in the country. The survey by Kars4Kids is a driving awareness campaign that promotes courteous driving. Spokesperson Ari Finkelstein says they asked drivers around the country questions about different driving scenarios. He says Bayou State motorists are not too keen on waiting in lines…

Cut 6 (10) “that scenario”

Finkelstein says Louisianans also ranked 43 in the country when it comes to using turn signals. He says a lot of southern states performed poorly when it came to being courteous while driving.

Cut 7 (11)  “Georgia”

Louisiana did rank fairly well when it came to being considerate of other motorists when merging. Finkelstein hopes letting the public know about this bad rating will encourage them to realize they share the road with other humans, not just cars.

Cut 8 (09) “stressful roads”

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The girlfriend of the man who was shot and killed by an Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s deputy has hired a lawyer who disputes information released by State Police on the incident. Authorities say 27-year-old Dejuan Guillory was shot in a struggle with the deputy, and that the girlfriend, 21-year-old Dequince Brown, attacked the cop. But Brown’s lawyer, Joe Long, said his client was trying to keep the deputy from killing her boyfriend:

Cut 9 (11)  “three more times”

State Police say Guillory struck the deputy in the head, knocking him to the ground, which started the physical confrontation. Long claims Guillory was begging for his life because he has three kids, but the deputy was out to kill. He says the deputy was also acting unprofessionally which escalated the situation..:

Cut 10 (12) “shoot you”

State Police say they have the deputy’s dash cam which they are analyzing, and there is a lot of work to be done on this investigation. Brown has been charged with attempted first degree murder of a police officer for jumping on the deputy’s back and biting him. Long says the charge is outrageous…:

Cut 11 (10) “not attempted murder”

Long made the comments in an interview with PenPoint News Publisher Daniel Bangeul (Bain-Gal). Brown was released from the Evangeline Parish jail Tuesday after a judge set her bond at $75,000.

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Elio Motors in northwest Louisiana has been fined over half a million dollars by the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission who says the three-wheel car making company violated state law. Commission spokesman Keith Marcotte told KEEL in Shreveport that vehicle makers or sellers in Louisiana have to have a manufacturers and dealers license..:

Cut 12 (10) “either of those”

Elio has yet to produce a vehicle, but they have a pre-purchase program which the commission says is breaking laws against car companies selling directly to consumers. Attorneys for Elio said they view their system as taking reservations for vehicles…:

Cut 13 (09) “separate arrangement”

The $545,000 fine was handed down Monday. The production, which was supposed to take place in the former GM plant in Shreveport, has been delayed since 2013 due to lack of funding. Marcotte says he has no problem with Elio, but they need to follow the same rules as everyone else…:

Cut 14 (10)  “of a large nature