Crude oil prices have hit a seven-year high of 80-bucks a barrel and that’s not a good thing in a number of ways for Louisiana.  Dave Brannen reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

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Long-awaited travel trailers for those who’ve been displaced by Ida are beginning to roll in the state. Brooke Thorington has more from one of the biggest proponents for getting the program up and running.

Cut 2 (32)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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With crude oil prices at their highest level in seven years, gas prices aren’t the only things fuel-related being impacted by the 80-dollar a barrel price.  LSU Professor David Dismukes says winter heating bills in Louisiana are expected to be impacted negatively.

Cut 3 (06) “….be concerned about.”

Dismukes, who is Executive Director of LSU’s Center for Energy Studies, says the rising price of crude is happening at the same time as natural gas prices head higher, and thus the cost of power generation in the state.

Dismukes says while the state is not that reliant on heating oil to keep homes and businesses warm during the winter, the price of crude still impacts the costs of other fuel options.

Cut 4 (10) “…prices are skyrocketing.”

While you might think that rising oil prices might be a positive thing for Louisiana’s oil and gas industry, Dismukes says that’s not necessarily the case given the Biden administration’s negative thoughts on fossil fuels.

Cut 5 (08) “…wells right now.”

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Almost a month and a half after Ida made landfall in southeast Louisiana travel trailers are finally beginning to roll into the state to help those who have been displaced by the storm. Houma Representative Tanner Magee has been extremely vocal about the delay and says he’s relieved for those people who’ve so desperately needed shelter.

Cut 6 (10) “…overjoyed.” 

Magee says more than five thousand requests for the trailers have been submitted to the state so far. The state is acting as the middleman in acquiring the trailers and will be reimbursed by FEMA. Magee says in the first sourcing request for trailers the state acquired roughly 700.

Cut 7 (12) “…up steam.”  

The state being involved in acquiring trailers is a pilot program for distribution and Magee says it’s an effort to reduce time and red tape for those in need of shelter. Magee says if a site is not able to support a trailer, then recipients have the option of a trailer park.

Cut 8 (11) “…basic overview is.”

To register for housing visit IdaShelteringLA.com

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After dealing with years of budget deficits during Governor Edwards’ first term in office, the state is reporting a billion-dollar surplus for the fiscal year that ended June 30th. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the state’s economy outperformed economists projections

Cut 9 (10) “…surplus” 

Dardenne says some of the money will go into the Rainy Day Fund and towards other constitutional dedications. He says state lawmakers will have the ability to spend 450-million dollars of it on one-time projects…

Cut 10 (13)  “…in the state” 

Dardenne says when lawmakers gather for the 2022 session in March they’ll also have federal coronavirus relief dollars to spend. He says it’s an opportunity for the state to make some wise investments…

Cut  11 (07)  “…next year”  

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Matthew Mire the man accused of killing a state trooper, an Ascension Parish woman, and wounding three others Saturday in a multi-parish shoot spree was denied bond today. Legal Analyst Franz Borghardt says he’s not surprised. Borghardt says he says a defendant has a constitutional right to a bond determination…

Cut 12 (12) “….without bond ”  

Mire appeared in court via Zoom this afternoon and it was also revealed in court that the suspect is on lockdown and under suicide watch at the East Baton Rouge Prison. Borghardt says this is normally a precaution to protect a suspect and Mire could be on watch for a number of reasons.

Cut 13 (12) “…or others”

Because the string of shootings took place in three separate parishes Borghardt says prosecutors will most likely work together due to the seriousness of the crimes and he expects Mire will be assigned counsel that is prepared to handle a capital case.

Cut 14 (12) “…prosecute him” 

31-year old Mire faces several charges including first-degree murder of a police officer, attempted first murder of a police officer, and aggravated flight from an officer.

The statewide average price of regular gasoline in Louisiana is pennies away from hitting the three-dollar mark.  Dave Brannen reports it’s been seven years since that happened.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

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Days after the fatal shooting of Master Trooper Adam Gaubert in Ascension Parish questions remain as to why it took 15 hours to find his body. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (43)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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Gas prices across Louisiana are up about seven cents a gallon compared to last week, and Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst with Gas Buddy, says the ballooning prices can be blamed on the upswing in oil prices.

Cut 3 (09) “….a half-percent.”

The average price of regular has now climbed to about two-97 a gallon.

DeHaan says there was a chance that oil prices could have been rolled back, but OPEC put a halt to that with a blockage on additional crude production.

Cut 4 (08) “…of oil jumping.”

DeHaan says in the very near future drivers in Louisiana could be shelling out an average price of three-dollars a gallon for regular.

Cut 5 (09) “…and over with.”

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The widow of former Governor Edwin Edwards spoke publicly today about her decision to have his body exhumed and cremated last month. The Cajun Prince died on July 12^th and was buried days later. Trina Edwards says she was not allowed to bury him at the original plot he purchased, and she was forced to make a quick decision about his burial and soon regretted it.

Cut 6 (13) “…what I did.” 

Trina Edwards made the comments on Jim Engster’s Talk Louisiana radio show Monday.

In the process of having his body moved she faced criticism that she was having him cremated to destroy evidence. Edwards says however she’s comfortable with her choice to bring his remains home for now.

Cut 7 (11) “…allowed to do that.”  

As for the final resting place for the Silver Fox, Edwards hints that perhaps she’d like to have him placed next to another Louisiana governor and political legend Huey Long at the state capitol.

Cut 8 (07) “…about that.”

But in the meantime, his ashes will remain at the home they shared in Gonzales. Edwards says soon as she brought him home, she had an overwhelming sense of relief.

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Two days after the fatal shooting of Master Trooper Adam Gaubert in Ascension Parish, State Police is not sure why it took 15 hours before he was found dead in his patrol vehicle. Colonel Lamar Davis says they believe 31-year-old Matthew Mire killed Gaubert early Saturday morning, but he was found dead that afternoon…

Cut 9 (13) “….just that” 

Davis says Gaubert was killed during Mire’s shooting rampage that left a total of five people shot in two parishes, two of them dead.  Davis says in an incident like this, it’s standard procedure to limit radio traffic, and officers checking in with dispatch is not a priority.

Cut 10 (08)  “…is communicated.” 

Davis says Gaubert was in his vehicle entering an unrelated crash report in Ascension Parish and his last entry into the computer system was at 2:21 am. Surveillance footage shows Mire in the area around 2:30 am and the suspect turned off the vehicle’s lights.  Davis says it was another trooper that eventually found Gaubert 15 hours later but they also received a call about the officer.

Cut  11 (11)  “…unresponsive.”  

Flags are being flown at half-staff today in memory of Trooper Gaubert.

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Many Louisianans with National Flood Insurance Program coverage are alarmed at potentially huge premium hikes under FEMA’s new Risk Rating 2.0 plan. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says this COULD stimulate competition from private insurers. Donelon says the rate in increases will be devastating to homeowners and the Louisiana economy at large…:

Cut 12 (12) “.federally backed mortgage ”  

For those living in flood-prone areas, the increases in coverage could be literally unaffordable. Donelon says this leads to the possibility that private insurers could step up to compete with the FEMA-run National Flood Insurance Program…:

Cut 13 (12) “..government is proposing”

Donelon says it cannot hurt for disgruntled property owners to try shopping around for lower-cost flood insurance

Cut 14 (12) “..has had” 

New NFIP rates take effect right away for new flood coverage, and in April 2022 for existing policies.