Chevron North America has informed the Louisiana Workforce Commission about possible layoffs at five office locations in Covington and Lafayette. A total of 385 employees could be affected, 340 at the office locations and 45 offshore workers. Eric Smith, Associate Director at the Tulane Energy Institute, says the low oil prices initially impacted independent oil producers, but now major companies are feeling the affects…:
CUT 6 (10) “some cutbacks”
Chevron says the cuts will begin April 4th.

The 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office says no criminal charges will be filed in connection with the incident that resulted in the death of Victor White III while in the custody of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office on March 3rd, 2014. They say an examination of all evidence from state police and the FBI determined there was no prosecutable violation.

New Orleans attorney Caroline Fayard becomes the first Democrat to enter this year’s US Senate race in Louisiana. Senator David Vitter is leaving the position at the end of his term. A campaign release describes Fayard as a “pro-life, pro-business Democrat.” She believes there are too many career politicians in Congress and voters are upset with the level of service they’re getting from their government…:
CUT 4 (07) “American families”

A New Orleans judge this morning refused to block the city of New Orleans from removing statues of Confederate leaders. The preservationists say they plan to appeal.

The Republican Party of Louisiana has launched their “Red to the Roots” campaign. Eric Gill has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

As many as 385 Chevron employees in Covington and Lafayette could be without a job soon as the energy corporation announces possible layoffs in five office locations. Chevron says they are forced to cut costs amid a major downturn in oil prices and to prioritize projects in the Gulf of Mexico.
They say the job cuts will start April 4th and should be complete by June 7th.

Discussions have started about forming another high school athletic association. It’s in response to a vote by member principals of the LHSAA who decided to expand the championship split to basketball, baseball and softball. Former commissioner of administration, Paul Rainwater, organized a meeting with several high school principals and A-D’s to discuss what it would take to form a new organization…:
CUT 9 (06) “with a budget”
He plans to have a constitution and structure ready to present to interested schools in May.

You can be sure there are plenty of fans in Louisiana who will be cheering on New Orleans native Peyton Manning and the Broncos in the Super Bowl Sunday. Isidore Newman High School football coach Nelson Stewart played with Manning for the Greenies from 1991-1993. He’s not surprised the 39-year-old is playing for his fourth Super Bowl, even though it was a difficult season:
Cut 16 (08) “challenge”
The big game between the Broncos and the Panthers kicks off at 5:30 Sunday.

New Orleans attorney Caroline Fayard is the first Democrat to enter Louisiana’s US Senate race. Fayard has never held political office, but did run for Lt. Governor in 2010. Fayard says she’s running for the Senate because she doesn’t want the rest of the country to take Louisiana for granted and that starts in Washington, D.C….

cut 3 (10) “to the table”

A release from her campaign describes Fayard as a “pro-life, pro-business Democrat.”

The Republican Party of Louisiana’s “Red to the Roots” campaign is an effort to identify, engage, and register new conservative voters across Louisiana. Executive Director Jason Dore says although the number of Republicans registering to vote is increasing, they’re not comfortable with some recent trends in voter registration…

cut 7 (07) “for granted”

He says it’s important to the Republican Party to have as many conservative voters registered in the state as possible.

In figures released Thursday, over 214,000 Louisiana residents signed up for health care coverage this year under the Affordable Care Act. That’s an increase of about 28,000 from last year. The open enrollment period ended Sunday. Nationwide, approximately 12.7 million people signed up or renewed their health insurance this year through the federal insurance marketplace.

Of course, Mardi Gras festivities are huge in New Orleans, but southwest Louisiana has some great celebrations of their own. Meghan Hartman with the Lake Charles Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau says every year the festivities get bigger and bigger in the region. She says, this Mardi Gras, the Society of American Travel Writers is coming in for a convention and to join in the celebrations…

cut 12 (07) “festivities”

She says they’re proud of the fact their parades are family friendly and people travel from all over to attend.

Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to issue the call for a special legislative session today. Republican legislators have expressed interest in making cuts that go beyond what Governor Edwards has suggested to close the state’s budget deficit. But LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says many lawmakers also realize that higher taxes are inevitable…

cut 6 (11) “spending reforms”

A three-and-a-half week special session is expected to start on February 14th.

The first Democrat has entered Louisiana’s US Senate race. New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard has announced her plans to run for Senator David Vitter’s soon-to-be vacant seat. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Fayard will need a little help from the Republican candidates in the race…

cut 15 (08) “becoming governor”

Pinsonat says we’ll have wait to see if other Democrats jump in the race.

Southwest Louisiana kicks off Mardi Gras this week with a variety of parades and events. Emelie Gunn has more…

cut 3 (26) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Many football fans in Louisiana will be cheering on New Orleans native Peyton Manning and the Broncos in the Super Bowl Sunday. Newman High School football coach Nelson Stewart, who played with Manning for the Greenies, says their entire school is getting together for a massive pep rally at 10 where they’ll be cheering and passing out orange and blue beads…

cut 18 (05) “even more”

The Super Bowl kicks off at 5:30 Sunday.

New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard is the first Democrat to get in Louisiana’s US Senate race…

cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The state Fire Marshal’s Office says a six-year-old girl is dead after a mobile home fire in Rapides Parish. They say 6-year-old Jocelyn Ruiz was unable to escape the fire in her Deville home. A 12-year-old sister, who suffered second and third degree burns, was transported to an area hospital. The child’s mother, 35-year-old Patricia Ruiz, and another 8-year-old sister were not seriously hurt. It has been determined that a space heater near a sofa played a factor in the fire.

New Orleans is not the only place to celebrate Mardi Gras in the state. Southwest Louisiana has some great celebrations of their own. Meghan Hartman with the Lake Charles Southwest Convention and Visitors Bureau says people travel from all over to attend Mardi Gras celebrations there.

cut 11 (09) “entry fees”

This weekend in Lake Charles there’s a Cajun gumbo cook-off, a community zydeco dance, The Krewe of Barkus Parade, and a children’s parade.

The Republican Party of Louisiana’s “Red to the Roots” campaign is an effort to identify, engage, and register new conservative voters across Louisiana. Executive Director Jason Dore says it’s important to the party to have as many conservative voters registered in the state as possible…

cut 9 (10) “talking to”

He says the campaign will put permanent boots on the ground in Louisiana with a primary focus of registering conservative voters.

Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to call for a special legislative session very soon, possibly today. Jeremy Alford, with la-politics-dot-com, says Republicans in the legislature are pushing the governor to include in the call, opportunities where significant budget cuts can be made…

cut 5 (09) “as well”

Republican legislators have expressed interest in making cuts that go beyond what Governor Edwards has suggested.

The Republican Party of Louisiana has launched their “Red to the Roots” campaign to register new conservative voters across the state. Executive Director Jason Dore believes this effort will not only help the GOP in this year’s presidential and US Senate elections, but in future elections as well…

cut 8 (10) “for then”

He says the party will spend $2 million on the campaign.

The first Democrat has thrown her hat in the upcoming US Senate race and it’s New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Fayard’s chances of winning would be increased if she’s the only major democrat in the race…

cut 14 (07) “for her”

Fayard unsuccessfully ran for Lt. Governor in 2010.

Everyone knows Mardi Gras festivities are huge in New Orleans, but southwest Louisiana has some great celebrations of their own. Meghan Hartman with the Lake Charles Southwest Convention and Visitors Bureau says Lake Charles has the second biggest Mardi Gras in the state. She says they’re proud of the fact their parades are family friendly…

cut 10 (10) “there’s parades”

Hartman says every year the festivities get bigger and bigger in southwest Louisiana.

We are expecting Governor John Bel Edwards will issue the call for a special legislative session very soon, possibly today. Jeremy Alford, with la-politics-dot-com, says the call outlines which tax measures the governor will ask legislators to vote on, to help close a 750-million dollar budget deficit for this fiscal year

cut 4 (10) “income tax brackets”

A three-and-a-half week special session is expected to start on February 14th.

Several republicans are running in Louisiana’s US Senate race and now we have our first Democrat. New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard, who unsuccessfully ran for Lt. Governor in 2010, has announced she’s looking to replace outgoing Senator David Vitter. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says we’ll wait to see if other Democrats get in…

cut 13 (07) “just her”

It’s been rumored Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell will also run for US Senate.

The Republican Party of Louisiana has launched their “Red to the Roots” campaign. The initiative is an effort to identify, engage, and register new conservative voters across Louisiana. Executive Director Jason Dore says although the number of Republicans registering to vote is increasing, they’re not comfortable with some recent trends in voter registration…

cut 7 (07) “for granted”

As of February 1st, there are 1.3 million registered Democratic voters in the state, 828,000 Republicans, and 756,000 Independent/Other Party voters.