Senator Bill Cassidy ended up being the deciding vote to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Secretary of Health to the full Senate. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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Happy Birthday Cleco, the utility company is celebrating 90 years of powering Louisiana’s homes, businesses, and communities. Sean Richardson has more.
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Senator Bill Cassidy ended up being the deciding vote in the Senate Finance Committee to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Health Secretary to the full Senate. The vote was 14 to 13, along party lines. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says Cassidy likely cast his vote to save his political future.
Cut 3 (15) “…his own party.”
Cassidy is up for re-election next year and is already facing one serious challenger from his own party, State Treasurer and former Congressman John Fleming.
Stockley says there’s no doubt that Cassidy, who’s a medical doctor by trade, wrestled with this decision. He says the Senator said in a statement he had intense conversations with the White House…
Cut 4 (13) “…efforts to vaccinate.”
Shortly after casting what was effectively the tie-breaking vote to advance Kennedy’s nomination, Cassidy took to the Senate floor to explain his vote. Cassidy said not only did he have intense conversations with the White House, he also met with Kennedy multiple times over the weekend and this morning.
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Cassidy said the big question he asked himself prior to his vote to approve Kennedy was whether he can collaborate to help public health agencies regain the trust of the American people.
Cut 6 (16) “…not cause autism.”
Cassidy said Kennedy assured him that they will be in regular contact, including seeking his input on hiring decisions.
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The Southern Shrimp Alliance says only three restaurants in New Orleans out of 24 tested were found to be serving imported shrimp instead, despite advertising Gulf or authentic shrimp. S-S-A board member Cheri Blanchard says this year Louisiana strengthened its seafood labeling laws and the legislation appears to be working….
Cut 7 (09) “…my state represented better.”
Similar testing was conducted at Texas, Mississippi and Florida restaurants and it was found most of the restaurants were not serving Gulf of Mexico shrimp, despite advertising on their menu that said otherwise.
Blanchard praised Louisiana’s progress but urged stronger enforcement to protect the domestic shrimp industry.
Cut 8 (06) “…with their health.”
The Louisiana Legislature passed legislation this year that impose significant penalties for restaurants that fail to inform customers when they are eating foreign imports vs. local wild-caught Gulf Shrimp. Blanchard urges patrons to support those restaurants that are serving quality products.
Cut 9 (12) “…both on the same page.”
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This year Cleco celebrates 90 years of powering Louisiana’s homes, businesses, and communities. Founded in 1935 as Louisiana Ice & Electric Company, Spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says it transitioned to Central Louisiana Electric Company a decade later and now provides power to nearly 300 thousand customers across 24 parishes.
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Cleco employs over 1,200 people, supports workforce development through education initiatives, and strengthens economic growth through partnerships. Cahill says Cleco’s focus is beyond being an energy leader.
Cut 11 (06) “…corperate citizen.”
Cahill emphasized Cleco is the only electric utility provider that has met Louisiana’s reliability standards for 26 years
Cut 12 (06) “…99-percent of the time.”
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The Kansas City Chiefs are in the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years, but this is the first time that former LSU star and Baton Rouge product Clyde Edwards-Helaire is not with them during this championship run. Edwards-Helaire was released by K-C in December. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes says Clyde is missed
Cut 13 (10) “…family as well.”
Edwards-Helaire did not play in a game for the Chiefs in 2024 after starting the season on the non-football illness list. Edwards-Helaire has battled PTSD since his involvement in a 2018 self-defense shooting in which an 18-year-old was shot dead after trying to rob him and another LSU football player during the sale of a PlayStation.
The Chiefs drafted Edwards-Helaire in the first round of the 2020 draft and the former Catholic High star’s best season was his rookie year when K-C won its Super Bowl this decade. Mahomes says Edwards-Helaire still feels like a part of the team…
Cut 14 (12) “…close with him.”
Edwards-Helaire finished the season with the Saints, appearing in the final two games of the year.
Edwards-Helaire played in 48 games for the Chiefs, starting in 32 of them, rushing for 1,845 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also had 765 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.