A bill to end lawsuits filed by coastal parishes against oil and gas companies alleging they owe millions for damaging the wetlands is dead for the session. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Gifford Briggs lobbied state lawmakers to vote for the bill because he says the lawsuits are preventing oil and gas companies from investing in Louisiana. He adds the lawsuits will only help the trial lawyers, not the parishes…
cut 10 (10) “…everybody else”
But St. Bernard President Guy McInnis says the oil and gas industry has to pay for the damage they’ve done to the coast…
cut 11 (05) “…wetland.
Supporters of the bill say they will bring the issue back to the legislature next year.

Debate is underway in the Louisiana House over a tort reform bill that supporters say will lower Louisiana’s sky-high auto insurance rates by at least 10-percent. But Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says nowhere in the bill does it say that insurance companies must reduce rates if this reform effort becomes law…
cut 14 (09) “…guarantee”
Garofalo says every insurance company has told them they’ll lower rates by at least 10-percent if this bill passes.

Louisiana colleges are making preparations for having students on campus in the fall. U-L System President Jim Henderson says masks will be prevalent on their nine campuses…
cut 8 (10) “….is available”
Henderson also expects the fall semester will be adjusted at many of their schools, so students are off campus by Thanksgiving.