For the past five months, unemployment figures have gone up. The Louisiana Workforce Commission attributes the rise in unemployment to a decline of hospitality jobs in August.

However, agency Director Ava (DUE-ZZ-WW-AH) Dejoie says there are encouraging signs for the state’s employment trends.

Cut 4 (07) “…over the year.”

Dejoie (DUE-ZZ-WW-AH) says Baton Rouge and New Orleans metro areas saw the largest job gainst.

Forty million dollars is the price tag total for 21 announced by the Louisiana Department of Transportation.

The most expensive DOTD project announced by far, was just shy of 15 million dollars for improvements to the 1-10 roadway in St. Tammany parish.

Meanwhile the least expensive project on the list is for pavement marking replacement in both Jefferson Davis parish and Calcasieu parish which is just over 107 hundred thousand dollars.

DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson noted some of the money spent will elevate and level Interstate 10 on-ramps that are prone to flooding in Slidell which he said are part of a critical hurricane evacuation route.

The east coast continues to recover from the battering it took from Hurricane Florence. Louisiana first responders traveled to South Carolina to help.

State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says there was considerable damage.

Cut 6 (10) “…the subsequent water rescues.”

Although some first responders have returned to Louisiana, many continue to help recovery efforts.

Saturday is National Hunting and Fishing day, a celebration of all things outdoors.

As the Sportsmen’s Paradise, Louisiana has an interest in promoting the day, with events in four cities across the state.

Senator Francis Thompson says it’s important to remember just how much outdoors activities put into state’s tax base.
Cut 9 (11) “…and local taxes”

National Hunting and Fishing day events will be held in Haughton, Woodworth, and West Monroe and Baton Rouge.