A Louisiana-based company known for its food delivery service is expanding their business model and they are hoping that transition happens “as soon as possible.” Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Forecasters continue to watch an area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the northern Gulf of Mexico. LRN meteorologist John Weatherbee has an update on the system…

Cut 2 (26) “….Danielle.” 

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UL-Monroe will soon begin research and testing of legal medical cannabis and hemp grown in Louisiana. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Louisiana-based Waitr is transitioning to their new name ASAP. Spokesperson Dean Turcol says it’s reflective of their new business model – same day delivery of any type of goods, not just food, and you ‘ll receive it “as soon as possible.”

Cut 4 (09)  “…products.”

Waitr customers will begin to see subtle changes with the addition of the ASAP tagline. Turcol says their customers are used to the best-in-class food delivery service and now they’re expanding delivery to include a broader range of services.

Cut 5 (09) “…like that.”

The company signed partnerships with two software logistics delivery providers last week, Elite Extra and Burq that will expand delivery services. But in the meantime, Turcol says this is just the beginning of their reimagination of the company…

Cut 6 (08)  “…transition.”

Waitr was founded in 2013 and is currently based in Lafayette.

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Louisiana has emerged as a nationwide leader in encouraging private investment in electric vehicle charging stations as a result of legislation approved in the regular session. That’s according to a group called Charge Ahead Partnership. Executive Director Jay Smith says the measure allows grocery stores and even gas stations to invest in a electric vehicle charging network…

Cut 7 (09) “….the driver.”

West Baton Rouge Senator Rick Ward wrote the law and it urges the Louisiana Public Service Commission to create a competitive market for electric vehicle charging, so it’s not just utility companies involved in the development of E-V charging stations…

Cut 8 (09)  “…E-V charging business.”

Smith says Louisiana is the only state to pass this type of law to allow private investment in an E-V charging network. He says the Bayou State will receive 73-million dollars in federal money for electric vehicle infrastructure, but it’s not enough…

Cut 9 (09)  “…on the road”

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Construction of $110 million lumber production facility in Bossier Parish is now underway. LED Secretary Don Pierson says the Canadian Teal Jones Group chose the Plain Dealing site in December. He says it’s investment that ripples through the economy because you have to harvest timber…

Cut 10 (10) “…like this.”

The project is expected to create 125 new director jobs with an annual average salary of $47 thousand plus benefits. Pierson says these new high-technology lumber mills can actually look at the log…

Cut  11 (09)  “…or whatever.” 

And Pierson says when timber can be cut more efficiently that should eventually translate to a price decrease for lumber. He says it’s a win-win for Louisiana.

Cut 12 (10) “…our economy.” 

Pierson says they are hopeful the plant will be up and running withing the next 20 months.

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The U.L.-Monroe College of Pharmacy will begin testing and researching hemp and cannabis for quality, purity and further health applications. West Monroe state Representative Mike Echols says he worked to amend current medical marijuana law to allow ULM to get involved…:

Cut 13 (12) “…research in that space.”

Medical marijuana grown by facilities affiliated with the LSU and Southern University Ag Centers must continually be tested for consistency, potency and safety. He says increased demand for medical cannabis means more product grown…and adding ULM as an additional tester makes sense. Echols says this should not lead to any more growing operations though…:

Cut 14 (07)  “…places in the state.”

KNOE TV in Monroe reports the research could mean additional jobs at ULM, plus over a million dollars in revenue. Echols says that sum would be just from testing existing product…:

Cut 15 (09)  “…unlimited potential.”

ULM is currently seeking funding, through state and federal grants, to buy what they need to get it going.

To provide access to abortion services in the southeast a California physician proposes the idea of a floating clinic in the Gulf of Mexico to skirt state bans. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Since reaching a record high in mid-June, gasoline prices have fallen over 30-cents in the last month. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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To help reduce travel costs for women seeking abortion services in the southeast a California OB/GYN is proposing a floating clinic in the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Meg Autry who’s also a professor at University of California San Francisco says there’s been an assault in the US on bodily autonomy and access to care.

Cut 3 (06) “…communities.”

Autry says she’s been germinating on the idea for some time and the reversal of Roe v Wade has only increased interest in getting the clinic afloat. It would operate in federal waters, out of reach from state laws that ban abortions. She says women living in poverty in the southeast will be impacted the most by the ban.

Cut 4  (07) “…individuals.”

While they are still working on details as to when and where the vessel will launch, Autry says she’s received positive feedback and fundraising efforts have increased significantly since her idea was announced.

Cut 5  (06) “…amazing.”

For more information or to donate visit PRROWESS.org. That stands for Protective Reproductive Rights of Women Endangered by State Statutes.

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The deadline for lawmakers to vote on having – or NOT having – a special veto override session is midnight tonight. As of now it seems unlikely to happen. Houma Representative and House Speaker Pro Tem Tanner Magee says getting the “yes” votes to convene isn’t as large a task as mustering the  supermajority votes needed in both chambers for a successful override…:

Cut 6 (13) ” …one republican short.” 

There would also be some key GOP votes missing in the Senate, Magee says. A veto session happens automatically, unless a simple majority of members in both chambers vote “no” by mail-in ballot. Magee says convening a session just requires members to vote “yes” or not vote at all…:

Cut 7 (14) “…I’m trying to say.” 

Special Legislative sessions cost taxpayers roughly $500-thousand-a-day, to pay Capitol staff and lawmakers their per diem. Magee says having a veto session that fails risks incurring the wrath of constituents…like they did last year, when that very thing happened…:

Cut 8 (09) “…you look at it.”

Magee says it’s probable that too few votes will mean no veto session, but any bills killed this year can always be reintroduced next year. An official tally of House & Senates votes is expected Tuesday.

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State Police is investigating two separate car crashes that killed five people on Sunday on the Northshore. A head-on crash killed two people in Lacombe yesterday morning and three people died in a single-vehicle crash in Franklinton. L-S-P Sergeant Dustin Dwight says speed and impairment were factors in both wrecks…

Cut 9 (09) “..we investigate.”

Dwight says in the single-vehicle crash that killed three people ranging from ages 22 to 35, the vehicle came up on a three way intersection on L-A 16 and failed to stop…

Cut 10 (12) “…two passengers.” 

Juan and Ramon Munoz of Covington were pronounced dead and so was 22-year-old Martin Vega from Folsom.

A couple of hours before the crash in Folsom, two people died in a head-on crash in Lacombe. Dwight says a vehicle driven by 33-year-old Shaunna Bickham tried to pass another vehicle on U-S 190 in St. Tammany Parish…

Cut 11 (09)  “..unrestrained” 

The driver of the other vehicle was buckled up and sustained serious questions.

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You are starting to see gas prices below four-dollars a gallon again. Gas-buddy-com’s Patrick De Haan says the statewide average has fallen 33-cents in the last month to $4.19 a gallon that is the fourth lowest statewide average in the country…..

Cut 12 (11) “…$3.92.”  

De Haan says after setting record high prices in mid-June, we are now seeing one of the steepest declines in gas prices ever…

Cut 13 (10) “…in 2008.”

De Haan says a drop in oil prices in response to a potential recession has resulted in lower prices at the pump…

Cut 14 (11)  “..as well.” 

De Haan says he expects the prices at the pump to continue to fall for another week or two, but that could change if there’s a run of good economic news which could result in a higher demand for gasoline.

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