The Bayou State is no exception in the ongoing nationwide shortage of truck drivers as we hear in this report from Dave Brannen.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

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Industrial gas supplier Air Products will build a $4.5 billion clean energy facility in Ascension Parish. Brooke Thorington has more on what this means for the state.

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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The truck driver shortage continues nationwide leaving some store shelves nearly bare, and goods not getting to where they are needed.  Our state is no exception, says Renee Amar, CEO of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association.

cut 3 (08) “….on the road”

While there seems to be no silver bullet to solving the driver shortage, Amar says the LMTA is offering scholarships through its foundation to offset some of the expense for drivers to obtain their CDL licenses.

Amar says the truck driver shortage and the significant growth in e-commerce since the beginning of the pandemic is causing major problems in the delivery of goods.

Cut 4 (11) “…seeing right now.”

Amar says you should consider buying Christmas gifts, including specific toys, sooner rather than later, but not just because of the truck driver shortage that could lead to empty shelves.

Cut 5 (09) “…of the toys.”

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The industrial gas supplier Air Products will build a $4.5 billion clean energy facility in Ascension Parish. The plant will produce blue hydrogen which uses natural gas to create an alternative fuel.  Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s a tremendous step in clean energy.

Cut 6 (10) “…footprint.” 

The plant will also be able to capture carbon dioxide emissions and store them underground.

Edwards says this will be the world’s largest permanent carbon dioxide capture project to date. In addition to creating an alternative fuel, the complex will also feature carbon capture at the production source and store it underground.

Cut 7 (12) “…manufacturing base.”  

Air Products is not new to Louisiana, the company already employs 330 and the new plant is expected to create 170 new jobs. Air Products president Seifi Ghasemi (Say-fee Gah-sim-ee) says they share the governor’s vision to make Louisiana a leading player in the energy transition and a hub for clean energy production.

Cut 8 (12) “…kinds of projects.”

The facility is expected to be up and running by 2026.

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It’s been nearly seven weeks since Hurricane Ida made landfall and the recovery remains slow in the coastal town of Dulac in Terrebonne Parish. Former state representative Joe Harrison says the biggest need remains housing

Cut 9 (12) “…deal with” 

There has been movement on getting travel trailers to the hard-hit areas. They serve as a temporary place to live for families who have destroyed homes. Sherry Verdin lives in Dulac and says they are waiting on FEMA for assistance…

Cut 10 (11)  “…from nothing” 

Just over one thousand people live in Dulac, which is 17 miles south of Houma. Harrison says many families are eager to rebuild, but many residents are struggling to get an adjuster to come to their damaged home…

Cut  11 (10)  “…not here”  

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The attorneys for Ronald Greene and Aaron Bowman say Governor Edwards has not done enough to end a pattern of excessive force by State Troopers. There’s body camera video showing Greene and Bowman on the receiving end of beatings by State Troopers during arrests in 2019 in north Louisiana. Attorney Lee Merritt represents the Greene family

Cut 12 (13) “….specific action.”  

Greene died in police custody after he was repeatedly punched by Troopers. The governor’s office says the head of State Police, Colonel Lamar Davis, is working each day to implement reforms. But Merritt says the agency should be dismantled

Cut 13 (12) “…from himl”

Attorney Donecia Banks-Miley represents Bowman, a black man who was hit in the head 18 times with a flashlight. Trooper Jacob Brown is facing state and federal charges in connection with the Bowman incident. Banks-Miles is calling for significant changes to the L-S-P…

Cut 14 (09) “…expedite the change,” 

Governor Edwards told KNOE-TV says some changes have been made, but more are needed.

It’s hard to think about the holidays when it still feels like summer, but one economist suggests getting in the holiday mode asap unless you want to hear Bah humbug this year. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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There will be more money in the pockets of Social Security recipients come next year.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Dave Brannen.”  

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There’s cautious optimism as the sugarcane harvest ramps up in south Louisiana. LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois says the harvest is getting off to a soggy start as many fields are muddy as a result of a wet 2021

cut 3 (12) “….fields out”

2020 was a stellar year for the industry as the American Sugar Cane League estimates 463-thousand acres of cane were harvested, with an average of 85-hundred pounds of sugar produced per acre. Gravois expects the tonnage will be off this year because of a damp growing season…

Cut 4 (10) “…on the tonnage.”

Cooler and drier weather will enter the Bayou State this weekend and Gravois says it comes at a good time as there’s still a good chance for producers to make money off this crop…

Cut 5 (09) “…cane mature.”

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Shipping delays have been an ongoing issue for businesses due to the pandemic but with the holiday season just over two months away Economist Loren Scott says if you’re a last-minute shopper you really could end up being the Grinch this year.

Cut 6 (09) “…until November.” 

While Scott says he doesn’t see shelves being completely empty for retailers, he does however anticipate a problem if you are looking for a specific gift. So, parents might want to have their kids fill out their wish list from Santa sooner than later.

Cut 7 (12) “…smartest thing.”  

In the past retailers have saved money by ordering “just in time inventory,” which meant goods were brought in when they were absolutely needed. But with shipping delays and a backlog at ports, Scott says many retailers might adjust their business model.

Cut 8 (06) “…in the past.”

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Social Security benefits will increase by 5.9 percent with the Cost-of-Living adjustment announced today by the agency. Troy Broussard with AARP in Louisiana says it marks the largest increase in four decades.

Cut 9 (10) “…prescription drug costs” 

The increase takes effect in January, with benefit payments to reflect a 5.9 percent hike in the current benefit being paid out to each recipient.

Broussard says the COLA increase in Social Security benefits is something that will be welcomed by those who solely rely on SSI payments and those who don’t.

Cut 10 (10)  “…here in Louisiana” 

Broussard praises Social Security for realizing the need for such a significant increase in monthly benefits.

Cut  11 (10)  “…to do it”  

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A new COVID variant has been detected in the state. Dr. Krista Queen, Director of Viral Genomics and Surveillance at LSU Health Shreveport says they discovered the B 1.630 variant in samples from the Baton Rouge area which has mutations they are observing.

Cut 12 (11) “….low percentage.”  

At this point, the B 1.630 variant has not been found in large enough quantities to be given Greek letter moniker and Queen says it’s still too early to tell if the vaccines might need to be tweaked for this particular variant.

Cut 13 (12) “…best tool”

Queen says this is not the first time this variant has been sequenced, but it is a first for Louisiana. She says less than 100 cases of the B 1.630 variant have been detected in the U-S so far.

Cut 14 (10) “…watch closely,” 

Queen says they sequence samples of the virus regularly from across the state.