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 12th 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.