A nationwide survey of small business owners finds that inflation continues to be a serious problem. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Today, carbon dioxide levels in the Earth’s atmosphere are the highest they’ve been in about 800 thousand years. An expert from LSU’s AgCenter says there’s something you can do that’s actually very easy. Marsanne Golsby has more.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Marsanne Golsby.”  

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Nearly a third of small business owners nationwide say inflation is their single most important problem in operating their business. That’s a slight decrease from a previous survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Businesses. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says inflation remains a serious challenge for small businesses

Cut 3 (09) “…reduced some.” 

A consumer Price Index Report released this week showed annual price inflation hit eight-point-three percent in August, which was slightly down from July. McVea says the survey also shows small business owners have a dismal outlook when it comes to better business conditions over the next six months…

Cut 4 (08) “..the election” 

McVea says spending and plans to spend by small business owners remain historically weak and uncertainty remains high. She hopes 2022 can still end on a high note…

Cut 5 (10) “… the year.” 

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Tropical Depression Number Seven formed in the Atlantic this morning. New Orleans National Weather Service Meteorologist Danielle Manning says it’s about 800 miles west of the Lesser Antilles. She says it’s expected to remain on a westward track and reach Haiti by Monday.

Cut 6 (09)  “…out to sea.” 

As far as Louisiana or even the Gulf of Mexico, Manning says right now it’s not a huge concern, but we should keep a watchful eye on Number Seven…

Cut 7 (06) “…more clear.”

Compared to the last two hurricane seasons things are unusually calm for the Bayou State storm-wise. Manning says the Saharan Dust along with dry air over the Caribbean has made it more difficult to predict the season months in advance. Manning says it’s not time by any means to let your guard down.

Cut 8 (10)  “…time of year.”

Manning says it’s never too early to review your hurricane plans and have things prepared just in case.

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LSU AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk Ballard is urging us to plant more trees to absorb greenhouse gasses.  A single tree can pull 48 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere in one year. She says people in Louisiana tend to cut trees out of fear of hurricane damage.

Cut 9 (07)  “…quickly”

Fast-growing trees that resist strong winds include Nutall oaks, river birch, and sycamores.

She says trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and store it as carbon molecules in the plants’ wood, roots, and leaves.

Cut 10 (09) “…they grow.” 

Ballard says forested areas can be up to ten degrees cooler than cities because trees act as natural air conditioners.

Cut 11 (09)  “…the summertime.”

Ballard says trees that are even 60 feet away can help cool our homes.

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Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, College World Series Champion baseball coach Paul Mainieri and LSU’s all-time leading receiver Wendell Davis are going into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Chairman Doug Ireland says former LSU pitcher Paul Byrd and W-N-B-A all-star Alana Beard are also part of the class…

Cut 12 (11) “.. represent Louisiana”  

Mainieri led the LSU Tigers to a national championship in 2009. Ireland says during 15 seasons at LSU, Mainieri won 641 games…

Cut 13 (12) “…the class” 

Ireland says Beard led Southwood High School in Shreveport to four consecutive state championships, the Duke Blue Devils to two Final Four apperances and she helped the Los Angeles Sparks win a WNBA title

Cut 14 (12)  “…for years” 

The 2023 class will be enshrined on July 29th in Natchitoches.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office issues new guidelines for complying with the state’s new carbon monoxide detector law. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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 Louisiana is bring back an African American Heritage Trail.  Whitney Thomas has more…

Cut 2 (30) “….I’m Whitney Thomas” 

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The House Ways & Means Committee held its first meeting looking at how the state can eliminate income taxes, but still pay for government services. Kevin Gallagher has the story…:

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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The State Fire Marshal’s Office issues guidance on complying with Louisiana’s new law requiring carbon monoxide detectors in all new homes and rentals. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the law, passed in the 2022 legislature, takes effect January 1^st…:

Cut 4 (10)  “…carbon monoxide alarm inside.”

The law requires that all homes sold or leased and all rental properties must have at least one C.O. monitor, as well as a smoke detector, placed within 10 feet of sleeping areas. She says this is particularly important for homes using natural gas for heating, cooking or hot water, but also for those with whole home generators…:

Cut 5 (07) “…to be in place.”

The law doesn’t take effect until January, but Rodrigue says now is the time to get the detectors installed…so there will be time to work out any potential issues….:

 Cut  6 (07)  “…if it’s not working.” 

Carbon monoxide detectors can be bought at most any home hardware store, and one can even get single units that operate as both smoke AND C.O. detectors at a reasonable cost.

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Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of Tourism announced the relaunch of the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail. A luncheon took place at the Whitney plantation in St. James Parish to discuss further plans.

Governor Nungesser says the trail created years ago left out some of Louisiana’s significant history…

Cut 7 (11) “…in Louisiana.”

The African American Heritage Trail includes sites that showcase innovative African Americans’ contribution to our nation’s history, and Louisiana’s everyday life, culture, and art. The Civil rights trail focuses on events that predated the Civil Rights movement.

Nungesser says the relaunch came with consolidating the staff.

Cut 8 (11)  “…new promotion.”

The  African American Heritage trail was first launched in February 2008, including 26 sites from New Orleans to north Louisiana. Now there are over 38 sites open to the public. The Heritage trail will highlight the arrival of ships carrying the enslaved, and continue through the civil rights period.

Nungesser says this will have long-term benefits.

Cut 9 (11)  “…for tourist.”

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Ochsner Health President and CEO Warner Thomas is leaving to lead a health care system in California. Thomas became Ochsner’s CEO in 2012 and during that time Ochsner Health tripled in size from 13-thousand to 36-thousand employees and that includes 23-hundred physicians in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama

Cut 10 (07) “…everyday.”

Thomas and his successor, Pete November, worked together to develop the Ochsner LSU Health System of North Louisiana–adding more than 300 physicians there and investing more than $200 million.

Thomas says the biggest challenge his team has faced was the early days of the COVID pandemic. He praises the heroism of Ochsner’s front-line medical staff.

Cut  11 (11)  “..health care entity” 

The Ochsner Health Board unanimously voted to appoint Pete November as Thomas’s success. November is Ochsner Health’s current Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He’ll assume his role on November first and Thomas predicts a smooth transition…

Cut 12 (08) “..flourish.” 

Thomas is joining Sutter Health, based in Sacramento, California.

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The House Ways and Means Committee has begun the process of looking at eliminating the state’s income tax as a way to bring more jobs to Louisiana. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson says the state’s current tax structure continues to hold Louisiana back and it’s time for real tax reform…

Cut 13 (08) “…bring that forward”

Nelson reminds members that other states in our region of the country are doing much better than Louisiana, in terms of revenue, jobs & business growth and their tax structures…:

Cut 14 (09)  “…no income tax.”

Nelson asks fellow lawmakers to find a way to make fundamental tax reforms, including ridding the state in the income tax. Way & Means Committee Chairman (and Lafayette Representative) Stewart Bishop says there’s a lot of work ahead…:

Cut 15 (11)  “…a very big task.”

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ULM is nearly a 50-point underdog heading into this Saturday’s game against second ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Warhawks Coach Terry Bowden says it’s not easy to come up with a game plan to slow down Crimson Tide quarterback and last season’s Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young…

Cut 16 (16)  “..run it” 

Bowden is asking his players to play the best that they can play. He says last week saw a bunch of upsets in college football and would love to see the Warhawks pull off a stunner at Alabama…

Cut 17 (18) “…in Notre Dame” 

ULM 1-and-1 on the season after beating Nicholls 35-to-7 last Saturday. Warhawks coach Terry Bowden says he’s been pleased with his quarterback Chandler Rogers, who threw for 253 yards and two TDs…

Cut  18 (20)“…we got him”

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LSU continues to prepare for Mississippi State’s air-raid offense which means a lot of passing. Bulldogs Quarterback Will Rogers leads the SEC in passing yards and has thrown a league-high nine touchdowns. Tigers Coach Brian Kelly says State runs a half-dozen concepts very well, so you can’t get too cute on defense…

Cut 19 (17) “..get exposed”

Kelly doesn’t plan on making any changes to the starting line-up of his offensive line. Against Southern, the Tigers started Will Campbell, Charles Turner, Miles Frazier, Garret Dellinger and Anthony Bradford…

Cut 20 (23) “ …hoping for”