After two years, Cleco’s owners have found a buyer. Andre Champagne reports.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”
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Congressman Clay Higgins is urging the three major Republican U.S. Senate candidates to hold a statewide televised debate. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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A recent Gallup poll finds that more young men are saying religion is very important in their lives. Jeff Palermo has the story.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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For two years, the Canadian-based owners of Cleco Power have been trying to sell the utility. Now, it has a deal in place to do just that. Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets has reached a deal to sell the company to Stonepeak Energy and Bernhard Capital Partners. Jennifer Cahill with Cleco says the company’s leadership team fully supports the deal.
Cut 4 (09) “…serve throughout Louisiana.”
Cahill says Cleco will be in good hands with its new owners.
Cut 5 (08) “…presence in Louisiana.”
Cleco is headquartered in Pineville and is the city’s biggest employer. Pineville Representative Mike Johnson says those people can rest easy, knowing that the new owners will honor the resolution that the legislature adopted last year strongly requesting that the company’s headquarters remain in the city.
Johnson says furthermore, Cleco’s customers should notice no difference in not only the reliability of their electric service, but also their electric rates – and the Public Service Commission will hold the new owners to that.
The Public Service Commission will have the final say on the sale, and there’s no word on when it will be finalized.
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Congressman Clay Higgins is urging the major Republican U.S. Senate candidates to hold a statewide televised debate. Higgins is calling for a one-hour debate with solid questions posed by a moderator. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Higgins wants voters to hear from the candidates and not from their PACs.
Cut 8 (11) “…kinds of groups.”
Cross says even though Higgins has not issued an endorsement in the race, there does seem to be one in particular that he’s not supporting.
Cut 9 (12) “…and MAGA generally.”
Last week, the three Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate held a televised debate in Baton Rouge. Cross says that likely had no bearing on Higgins’ call for the Republican candidates to follow suit.
The primary election is now just 18 days away. Early voting starts Saturday.
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A new poll finds that the number of young men in the U.S. who say religion is a very important component of their lives is increasing. Gallup says its survey shows 42-percent of men between the ages of 18 and 29 say religion is very important to them. That’s up from 28-percent in 2022-23. Dr. Justin Langford at Louisiana Christian University in Pineville has a theory on why that might be.
Cut 11 (08) “…than ever before.”
Dr. Langford says many young men are also likely turning to religion because they may feel that the social media community they belong to is not genuine.
Cut 12 (08) “…that really matters.”
Gallup says for the first time in 25 years, young men have surpassed young women on this measure of religiosity. Langford says it’s good to see more young men going to church, but it’s also important they live a life that reflects their faith.
Cut 13 (11) “…these moral principals.”
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A downtown Baton Rouge hotel will soon be converted into a year-round sports hospitality destination. The Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center will get a 40-million-dollar makeover and will reopen as a Sports Illustrated Resort. Geoff Richards, the chief operating officer of vacation ownership at Travel And Leisure Company, says the goal is to make Baton Rouge a year-round sports tourism destination.
Cut 14 (13) “…and vacation ownership.”
Richards says when his company was scouting cities to establish Sports Illustrated Resorts, Baton Rouge was a logical choice.
Cut 15 (12) “…see throughout Louisiana.”
Richards notes that one man behind this venture happens to be an LSU institution – Shaquille O’Neal.
Cut 16 (11) “…particularly at LSU.”
The Hilton will operate normally for the remainder of the year. The renovation will begin next year, with the resort opening by the end of the year.
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UL-Lafayette picked up a pivotal series win over Arkansas State this weekend, taking two of three games from the Red Wolves. The Cajuns now sit 11th in the Sun Belt standings, just one game outside the top 10 that qualifies for the conference tournament. Head coach Matt Deggs said his team needs to keep winning league games to secure a postseason spot.
The Cajuns begin a five-game homestand this week against Southern tonight at six p-m. The Jaguars have won ten straight.
Former UL-Lafayette catcher Jonathan Lucroy will become just the third player in program history to have his jersey retired Saturday. Lucroy, who played for the Cajuns from 2005–07, finished his career with a .356 batting average and still holds program records in doubles, RBIs, and total bases. Head coach Matt Deggs says Lucroy will be remembered as one of the greatest to ever wear the vermilion and white.
Cut 18 (17) “…person for sure.”
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LSU junior linebacker Davhon (DAY-von) Keys led the team with 92 tackles last season after stepping in for the injured Whit Weeks. Keys says the opportunity to play significant snaps showed him what he needs to improve heading into next year.
Cut 19 (15) “…those throwing windows.”
The Tigers wrapped up spring football practice Saturday. Keys says the team is focused on putting in the work to avoid repeating last year’s results.
Cut 20 (14) “…hard every day.”