48.9 million Americans will travel for the 4th of July holiday according to AAA. Matt Doyle has more on the record-breaking numbers…
__________________________
St. Bernard Parish President Brian McInnis pleads for federal aid for the struggling seafood industry. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
______________________________________________
Uber goes statewide today. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
____________
A record 48.9 million Americans are expected to make a trip for the 4thof July, a 4.1 percent increase over last year.
AAA Analyst Don Redman says locally in the Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas region, 4.7 million people will travel…
Nationally, 4 million travelers will take to the skies, a 5.5 percent increase over last year, with airfare costs up 10 percent over last year.
Redman says most of that travel increase can be traced back to an improved economy, but some of it is likely to do with more friendly prices at the pump…
The average price for a gallon of regular in Louisiana sits at $2.35.
Record numbers of travelers means congestion for some of the state’s troubled spots for heavy traffic. Redman says be prepared for a longer commute home today…
AAA estimates the average traffic delay to increase by nine percent today.
________________________________
St. Bernard Parish President Brian McInnis calls on the feds to provide immediate relief in the form of disaster aid to help the struggling seafood industry. Freshwater pouring from the Mississippi River into the area due to the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway is having devastating effects on the region’s largest economic driver.
Cut 7 (11) “…gulf seafood harvesting.”
The spillway was opened in an effort to reduce the burden on levees in the New Orleans area. As part of his plea, McInnis says Congress must require the 30 other states that drain into the Mississippi to do their part to manage the flow of water.
Cut 8 (07) “…supplies the world.”
McInnis says the plea for relief has the full support of the parish council, state and federal representatives. The parish is the home of two refineries and says if a similar shutdown happened, more immediate attention would be received.
The parish has organized a trip to DC to state their case next week.
__________________________________
Over the last several years, the popularity of rideshares services such as Uber and Lyft has grown, but it hasn’t been a transportation option in all areas of Louisiana. But Uber South spokesperson Trevor Theunissen says Uber services begin in statewide today ahead of the 4th of July holiday.
Cut 10 (10) “…and rural areas.”
Theunissen says Uber has been available in large metro areas of the state for several years, but faced hurdles with parish-by-parish approval of regulations.
Cut 11 (09) “…regulations that applied.”
Theunissen says an aggressive campaign is kicking off to recruit drivers who want to make a little extra money.
Cut 12 (11) “…throughout the state.”
_________________
A stretch of highway in Cajun Country running from I-10/I-49 South to Raceland was named Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Highway at an unveiling ceremony last night featuring both the current and former Governors.
Franklin Representative Sam Jones was there and says it’s a fantastic way to honor one of the great Cajuns in state history.
Blanco served from 2004-2008, and has “made peace” with her battle against cancer that’s left her wheelchair bound.
Blanco was Governor during the Hurricane Katrina disaster and tumultuous two years afterwards. Jones says it’s taken a while for the state to fully see the fruits of her recovery work, but…
Jones highlighted her work getting the Super Dome back in action for the Saints 2007 season.
Jones served in the Blano Administration during Katrina, and says he remembers seeing her national media slamming the Governor just days after the storm landed. When he tried to warn her about those attacks…
Blanco would not seek a second term, and drop out before the 2007 Governor’s primary vote.
______________________________________
After suffering catastrophic damage from an EF-3 tornado in April, Louisiana Tech has made the decision to demolish the baseball, softball, and soccer stadiums this summer. Athletic Director Tommy McClelland says after extensive surveys, they came to the conclusion that trying to salvage those sites just wouldn’t be safe.
The tornado caused hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of damage and took the lives of two people.
McClelland says they’re working on cutting a deal for fall baseball and softball practice at nearby high schools, including potentially altering class schedules to accommodate, but the games themselves could be played all over…
Soccer reports to practice August 1st, but McClelland says they’ve worked out a deal with a local rec complex to host most practices and games.
With the old facilities condemned, McClelland says they’ve begun plans to construct new facilities, and they’ve hired an architect familiar with stadium construction to build something fans will be proud of.