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 02(31)      “…Thorington.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries are offering a $2500 reward for information on the shooting of two American bald eagles in Rapides Parish on Kincaid Lake. They were shot with a small caliber gun; probably at .22.

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. Greene died in LSP custody. Bowman was badly hurt. Leaked body cam footage shows them both taking a beating by troopers. Attorney Lee Merritt represents the Greene family, and says LSP needs dismantling…:

CUT 13(12)      “…action from him.”

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 to be housing…:

CUT 09(12)      “…deal with.”

There has been movement on getting travel trailers to the hardest-hit areas.

Big economic development news for Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards announced today that industrial gases supplier Air Products will invest $4.5-Buillion to build a clean energy facility in Ascension Parish. The plant – once online in 2026 – will produce something called Blue Hydrogen. The governor says this is a big step in moving to clean energy…:

CUT 06  (10)        “…our carbon footprint.”

The plant will also be able to trap CO2 emissions and bury them underground.

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 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. Bowman was badly injured.

Seeing a lot of empty store shelves? Louisiana is having its share of trouble with the supply chain, due to a trucker shortage. Renee Amar is CEO of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association…:

CUT 03(08)      “…on the road.”

She says it’s not just too few drivers; it’s also an explosion of online purchasing and the deliveries that come with them.

A Shreveport woman who was involved in a deadly hit & run in 2015 has now been found guilty of obstruction of justice. 32-year-old Emily Renee Fields was found guilty after jurors saw evidence she had had repairs done to her car in order to cover up the October 2015 hit & run, which took the life of a pedestrian. She faces up to five years in prison at sentencing.

The FDA has approved the use of a half-dose of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine as a booster shot. Expect more CDC recommendations on this next week.

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

CUT 01(35)      “…Brannen”

A Louisiana State Trooper has been arrested by Texas authorities, after striking and killing a pedestrian about a month ago. Investigators say 45-year-old Patrick Bell was driving through Jasper County, when he drifted off the road and hit the man. A toxicology screen reveled Bell was impaired at that time.

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 many families in the small town of just 1000 people are eager to rebuild, but residents are struggling to get an adjuster to come to their damaged home…:

CUT 11(10)      “…They’re not here.”

Economic development news: industrial gas supplier Air Products says it will build a $4.5 billion clean energy facility in Ascension Parish to produce blue hydrogen. The plant will also be able to capture carbon dioxide emissions and store them underground. Air Products president Seifi Ghasemi (Say-fee Gah-sim-ee) says their vision is to make Louisiana a leading player in energy transition and a hub for clean energy production…:

CUT 08(12)      “…kind of products.”

The facility is expected to be built and online by 2026

Shipping delays have been an ongoing issue for businesses due to the pandemic but with the holiday season just over two months away, economist Dr. Loren Scott says it might be wise to get started on Christmas shopping now…:

CUT 07(12)      “…the smartest thing”

He says last-minute shoppers may end up being the empty-handed Grinch this year.

A new coronavirus variant has been detected in Louisiana. LSU-Shreveport doctor of genomics Krista Queen says the B 1.630 variant has been found in samples from Baton Rouge, which have mutations they’re observing…:

CUT 12(11)      “…low percentage.”

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 03(12)      “…field out.”

A former Louisiana State Police trooper accused of violating a man’s civil rights during a May 2019 arrest pleaded Not Guilty today, during his arraignment in federal court. Jacob Brown is charged with deprivation of rights under color of law. He’s accused of beating Aaron Bowman with a flashlight; causing a broken jaw, three broken ribs, a broken wrist and a gash to his head. Brown also faces criminal charges for the incident.

Citing the ill effects of COVID on education, BESE has voted to set aside its letter grade school performance evaluations this year. The U.S. Department of Education must approve BESE’s plan.

A new COVID virus variant has been detected in the state. Dr. Krista Queen Director- Viral Genomics and Surveillance at LSU Health Shreveport says they discovered the so-called B 1.630 variant in samples from the Baton Rouge area. She says this is a first for Louisiana, and less than 100 total cases have been detected across the USA…:

CUT 14(10)      “…watch closely”

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 COLA in four decades…:

CUT 09(10)      “prescription drug costs”

It’s hard to think about the holidays when it still feels like summer, but one economist suggests getting in the holiday mode quick unless you want to hear “Bah! Humbug!” this year. Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Thorington.”

Ascension Parish D.A. Ricky Babin says he’s likely to ask for the death penalty for accused cop-killer Matthew Mire. Mire is alleged to have shot and killed State Police Trooper Adam Gaubert and a Gonzales woman, and wounding three others during a violent spree early last Saturday morning. Mire will face charges in Ascension, Livingston and East Baton Rouge Parishes.

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

CUT 02(31)      “…Brannen.”

Louisiana’s Board of Elementary & Secondary Education has voted to put aside the letter grading system for public school performance. The reason? The coronavirus pandemic and its effect on education. Performance scores normally released in November will not be this year. The federal Education Department must approve of the move, something of which state officials are fairly certain.

There’s yet another variant of the COVID virus in Louisiana; the so-called B 1.630 variant found in samples taken in Baton Rouge. Dr. Krista Queen, with LSU Health in Shreveport, says less than 100 cases have been detected nationwide…:

CUT 13(12)      “…very best tool.”

She says it’s too early yet to tell if vaccines will need tweaking to cover the new variant.

Cooler and drier weather will enter the Bayou State this weekend – just in time for what remains of the sugarcane harvest, which has begun with some pretty wet conditions. LSU AgCenter sugar specialist Ken Gravois says the cool front comes at a good time as there’s still a good chance for producers to make money off this crop…:

CUT 05(09)      “…cane mature.”

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

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington”

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre says the mom of an infant girl killed last month has been arrested for her death. 21-year-old Kageionna (kay-gee-ON-uh) Butler is charged with Principal to 2^nd Degree murder. Little Zabria Guidry’s dad, Jake Guidry has already been charged. Webre says Butler first said she knew nothing about the crime, but was in fact covering for her man.

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 a defendant has a constitutional right to a bond determination…:

CUT 12(12)      “…hold him without bond.”

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. Mire is currently behind bars and on suicide watch.

The state has a project budget surplus of nearly a billion bucks for the fiscal year that ended in June. After years of deficits, why? Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne…:

CUT 09(10)      “…result in surpluses.”

Hurricane Ida victims in Terrebonne Parish are glad to hear that travel trailers are finally beginning to come into areas where so many homes were rendered uninhabitable by the storm. One vocal proponent of the state-run trailer program is Houma state Representative Tanner Magee. He says some of his constituents had been living in tents, or under improvised shelters, and are in desperate need…:

CUT 06(10)      “…overjoyed.”

The state is arranging the trailers and will be reimbursed by FEMA.

State fiscal experts say Louisiana has about a billion dollar surplus for the fiscal year that ended in June. What to do with all that money? Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says some will need to replenish the Rainy Day Fund, but this is an opportunity to make some wise investments…:

CUT 11(07)      “…next year”

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 03(06)      “…concerned about”

Dismukes is Executive Director of LSU’s Center for Energy Studies.

The man accused of murdering Louisiana State Police Master Trooper Adam Gaubert has been released from medical care and is now under lock & key … AND suicide watch. 31-year-old Matthew Mire is being held without bond. He’s accused of murdering Gaubert and Pamela Adair, and wounding three others.

Caddo parish Sheriff Steve Prator says three teens face charges after a reported drug deal resulted in a shooting and a car crash. It’s reported the teens bought weed, but drove off without paying; leading to a car chase, gunshots and the crash. No one was seriously hurt.

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 01(33)      “…I’m Dave Brannen”

A Hammond woman was arrested over the weekend for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor. Tangipahoa parish deputies have charged 33-year-old Brandi Amond with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile and other charges. Her bond is set at $150-thousand dollars.

It’s been nearly a month & a half since Hurricane Ida made landfall, but travel trailers are finally arriving to serve as temporary housing for victims whose homes were devastated by the storm. You may remember the state started its own pilot program for the trailers, when FEMA’s response time frustrated so many. Houma state Representative Tanner Magee says there are two options for those in need of the temporary housing…:

CUT 08(11)      “…basic overview is.”

Governor John Bel Edwards’ first term in office saw plenty of budget deficits, but now the state reports a surplus of nearly a billion dollars for the fiscal year that ended June 30^th. Louisiana’s Commissioner of Administration Jay 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.”

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 02(43)      “…Thorington”

A 6-year-old Ascension Parish child is reported dead in a fire on a flatbed cargo trailer. Geismar Volunteer firemen says the boy and some friends were playing “fort” in and on the trailer when one of them began playing with a lighter; leading to the fire. Two other kids escaped unharmed.

A large of number of Louisianans are up-in-arms over large premium increases coming for their National Flood Insurance Program coverage; the so-called Risk Rating 2.0 Plan. For some living near water the hikes could be literally unaffordable. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the increases will damage the Louisiana economy, but MAY prompt private insurance carriers to compete with the FEMA-run NFIP. He says it cannot hurt to try shopping around for lower-cost flood coverage…:

CUT 14(12)      “…has had.”

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