Some of the 376 steel mill workers left without a job after this week’s closure of Bayou Steel in LaPlace now have legal representation. Kevin Barnhart has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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The latest finance reports are in for the governor’s race. UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross broke down the numbers with Matt Doyle…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”
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An attorney representing some of the steel mill workers laid off by Bayou Steel in LaPlace this week is questioning whether the company complied with federal law when notifying workers of the layoffs. Attorney Brent Barriere says employees were blindsided by the mass layoff.
Cut 3 (13) “…60 days of pay.”
Barriere says he’s also working to have the bankruptcy case moved from Delaware to New Orleans.
Cut 4 (12) “…receiving a paycheck.”
The company owed more than $20 million to creditors upon filing bankruptcy. Barriere says there has been no indication by ownership or management that the company intends to fulfill its financial obligations to employees.
Cut 5 (07) “…and the like.”
The closure led to 376 being left without a job. St. John Parish is expected to lose about $1 million annually in tax revenue because of the closure.
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The latest finance reports are in and Governor Edwards has 3.1 million on hand, followed by Eddie Rispone at 2.7 million, and Ralph Abraham at 318,000.
Edwards continues to lap his opponents in fundraising, outraising Rispone and Abraham in the last period by a combined 574,000 dollars. UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross…
Cut 6 (09) “…through”
Independent polls show Edwards close to avoiding a run-off.
Rispone spent a remarkable 3.5 million dollars during the last period from September 3rd to the 22nd on an ad blitz that independent polls show have put him in second place. Cross says the self-funding businessman has little choice.
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Abraham’s fundraising woes continue, and the Congressman has had to loan his campaign 300,000 dollars to stay afloat. Cross says Abraham just has to get into a run-off to end his financing issues.
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The Abraham campaign raised 194,000 dollars during the last period.
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A Memorandum of Understanding signed at Fibrebond’s headquarters in Minden this morning will result in road improvements in the area to keep the Webster Parish manufacturer in northwest Louisiana. Fibrebond CEO Graham Walker says they have been fighting to stay
Cut 9 (11) “northwest Louisiana”
Because of deficient roads and bridges, Fibrebond is forced to travel many extra miles to ship their products out west. The state transportation department has agreed to replace eight bridges in the region and construct a heavy-haul route from Minden to Texas. Walker credits Governor Edwards for finding solutions
Cut 10 (11) “…other opportunities.”
Fibrebond builds structures that protect data centers in the telecommunications industry. The M-O-U will also result in the state spending 250-thousand dollars to upgrade high-demand technical college training programs. Edwards says these improvements will benefit local communities and major employers
Cut 11 (08) “to come”
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The Attorney General’s office announces 21 people have been arrested in Louisiana as part of a National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The director of Medicaid Fraud in the A-G’s office, Jody LeJeune, says numerous federal and state agencies work together to fight health care fraud
Cut 12 (09) “…for everyone”
The ages of those arrested range from 20-year-old Athena Mitchell of Shreveport to 57-year-old Shelia Dixon. LeJeune says the majority of those arrested are suspected of billing for services that were not provided or billing for services at a higher level that was actually provided…
Cut 13 (08) “…population”
LeJeune says if you suspect Medicaid fraud, call 1-888-799-6885 or provide a tip on the A-G Jeff Landry-dot-com…
Cut 14 (10) “…hotline”