The Public Service Commission is investigating rural electric co-ops after discovering what they say are excessive expenses that are driving up electric costs. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana finished the fiscal year that ended June 30th with a budget surplus of approximately 300-million dollars. Critics of the Edwards administration say the surplus shows the legislature didn’t need to renew millions in temporary sales taxes earlier this year. But Edwards says…

Cut 4 (07) “…a deficit.”

A Denham Springs woman has been charged with D-W-I after she drove into a Baton Rouge Police cruiser. B-R-P-D Sergeant Don Coppola says after doctors checked on Jones injuries, she was then sent to the East Baton Rouge jail for booking on charges of D-W-I, careless operation and vehicular negligent injuring…

Cut 14 (09) “…the charges”
Coppola says the police unit suffered severe damage as a result of the wreck.

After seeing losses in 2017, movie theatres are experiencing their best summer in two decades.  It’s quite the feat considering the popularity of Netflix.  North American ticket sales will close out the summer season with more than a 14% increase.  Entertainment columnist for the New Orleans Advocate Keith Spera says offerings at theatres include more than just soda, popcorn, and a flip down seat as now the multiplexes are offering a deeper menu, and seeing much more comfortable plush reclining seats.
Cut 12 (10)   “…very good job.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana finished the fiscal year that ended June 30th with a budget surplus of approximately 300-million dollars. Edwards says the state’s economy is performing better than what the Revenue Estimating Conference predicted…

Cut 3 (10) “…improve.” 

Critics of the Edwards administration say the surplus shows the legislature didn’t need to renew millions of dollars in temporary sales taxes.

The Public Service Commission launches an investigation into the spending habits of rural energy coops. Commissioner Foster Campbell singled out Claiborne Electric Co-op for paying their GM 195,000 a year.

Cut 6 (06) “…sickening.”

The GM says his pay is based on national averages for the positions.

A Denham Springs woman has been charged with a D-W-I after she drove into a Baton Rouge Police cruiser. B-R-P-D Sergeant Don Coppola says 39-year-old Tia Jones attempted to make a left turn into a parking lot on Government Street last night when the collision happened…

Cut 13 (06) “non life threatening”

Coppola says the police unit suffered severe damage as a result of the wreck.

After seeing losses in 2017, movie theatres are experiencing their best summer in two decades.  It’s quite the feat considering the popularity of at home video on demand services such as Netflix. .  Entertainment columnist for the New Orleans Advocate Keith Spera says  the strong showing of support for historically popular franchises is a major contributing factor to the boom.

Cut 11 (09)“…a lot of fun”

North American ticket sales will close out the summer season with more than a 14% increase

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana finished the fiscal year that ended June 30th with a budget surplus of approximately 300-million dollars.Edwards says they can now use some of this money to fund long-awaited highway projects.

cut 5 (10)  “…state of Louisiana” 

The state constitution limits how state surplus dollars can be spent, but construction is one of the areas it can be spent in.

After seeing losses in 2017, movie theatres are experiencing their best summer in two decades. Entertainment columnist for the New Orleans Advocate Keith Spera says the weather might play a factor.

Cut 10 (08) “…and watch movies.”

North American summer ticket sales summer season increased more than a 14%.

The Public Service Commission launches an investigation into the spending habits of rural energy coops. Commissioner Foster Campbell highlighted what he says were completely unnecessary educational and lobbying trips to places like Las Vegas and Washington DC, where he says costs for expensive meals and hotels would end up back on customer bills. He says the co-op’s justifications don’t hold up.

Cut 8 (10) “…see them.”

But Claiborne Co-op General Manager Mark Brown says those accusations are not correct, and the trips are needed, as they give co-op leaders the opportunity to learn about new advancements in the electric industry. He says they take those new lessons home to provide better service to coop customers.

cut 9 (08) “…travel expenses”

Campbell criticized the salary being paid to brown, which he says is 195,000 dollars a year.

The Public Service Commission launches an investigation into the spending habits of rural energy coops after discovering what they say is excessive pay for board members and managers. Commissioner Foster Campbell singled out Claiborne Electric Co-op for paying their GM 195,000 a year, but that GM, Mark Brown, says it’s on par with national averages.

Cut 7 (12) “…our employees”

Brown says they estimate the nine member board worked 4500 hours last year.

After seeing losses in 2017, movie theatres are experiencing their best summer in two decades. North American ticket sales will close out the summer season with more than a 14% increase.  Entertainment columnist for the New Orleans Advocate Keith Spera says thank franchises.

Cut 11 (09)“…a lot of fun”

Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s a good sign Louisiana ended up with a 300-million dollar surplus from the budget year that ended June 30th. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana finished the fiscal year that ended June 30th with a budget surplus of approximately 300-million dollars. Critics of the Edwards administration are questioning, even more, the need for the renewal of millions of dollars in temporary taxes now that the state has ended up with the surplus. But Edwards says…

Cut 4 (07) “…a deficit.”

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says he’s pushing to limit compensation for energy co-op companies after discovering what he says were excessive board member compensation and expenses in several parishes. Campbell singled out Claiborne Electric Coop, saying pay for what he says is a part-time job is off the charts.

Cut 6 (06) “…sickening.”

But Claiborne Coop General Manager Mark Brown says it’s a false accusation. He says the nine member board clocked about 4500 hours of work last year.

After seeing losses in 2017, movie theatres are experiencing their best summer in two decades.  It’s quite the feat considering the popularity of at home video on demand services such as Netflix.  North American ticket sales will close out the summer season with more than a 14% increase.  Entertainment columnist for the New Orleans Advocate Keith Spera says the weather might play a factor.

Cut 10 (08) “…and watch movies.”
Spera adds the amount of blockbusters this summer also is a factor.

A new survey from OfficeTeam says 56 percent of U.S. workers’ typical lunch break lasts 30 minutes or less. Recruiting Manager at Robert Half Finance and Accounting Carrie Lewis says employers need to get staff out of the office…

Cut 14 (05) “…rejuvenated”

The survey shows that 29 percent of employees don’t stop working on their breaks.

Senator John Kennedy is holding off on whether he’ll vote yes to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme until he hears from a California professor who alleges the judge sexually assaulted her decades ago…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Prosecutors have added criminal charges of possession of child pornography against former LSU wide receiver Drake Davis, who was arrested Sunday for a second time this past month, after an ex-girlfriend accused him of domestic battery.  East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore says the new charges were added after investigators found two videos on Davis’s cell phone that were determined to be child pornography.  Davis has submitted his resignation from LSU and is no longer enrolled at the university.

The attorney for Blane Salamoni is responding to the recent document brought up by the legal team of the family of Alton Sterling.  Yesterday, an email from a year before the Sterling shooting, was unearthed that called the former Baton Rouge police officer “nuts” during an altercation with another officer.  Attorney John McLindon says in order for the Sterling family to win the civil case, they have to prove liability, which he doesn’t see happening.

Cut 8 (06) “…what was legal.”

The case is set to go to trial in April 2020.
A vote to denounce the drag queen story time event at Lafayette’s main branch of the public library did not pass at last night Lafayette Parish-City Council meeting.  UL-Lafayette students dressed up as women are set to read stories to children on October 6th about accepting LGBTQ individuals. There were passionate arguments from both sides last night, including a speaker against the normalization of drag.

Cut 12 (11)   “going down” 

The Lafayette Parish City Council did not vote to denounce Drag Queen Story time at the Public Library. Don Molino has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Don Molino”  

Prosecutors have added criminal charges of possession of child pornography against former LSU wide receiver Drake Davis, who was arrested Sunday for a second time this past month, after an ex-girlfriend accused him of domestic battery.  East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore says the new charges were added after investigators found two videos on Davis’s cell phone that were determined to be child pornography.  Davis has submitted his resignation from LSU and is no longer enrolled at the university.

US Senator John Kennedy wants to hear from Christine Ford before deciding on whether to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Ford alleges Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a high school party in the 1980s. Kennedy, sits on the Senate Judiciary committee and says a hearing is scheduled for Monday so the California professor can tell her story…

Cut 3 (10) “…too though.” 
Ford’s attorneys are requesting an FBI investigation before she shows up before the Senate.

The attorney for Blane Salamoni is responding to the recent document brought up by the legal team of the family of Alton Sterling.  Yesterday, an email from a year before the Sterling shooting, was unearthed that called the former Baton Rouge police officer “nuts” during an altercation with another officer.  Attorney John McLindon McLindon says he expects the email was recently brought to light as part of a strategy ahead of civil case.
Cut 7 (12) “…this is really nothing.”

US Senator John Kennedy wants to hear from Christine Ford before deciding on whether to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Ford alleges Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a high school party in the 1980s. Kennedy sits on the Senate Judiciary committee and says he personally asked Kavanaugh if the allegations are true and the judge said they are not and he’s ready to testify again.

Cut 4 (09) “…defend himself.”
The attorney for Blane Salamoni is responding to the recent document brought up by the legal team of the family of Alton Sterling.  Yesterday, an email from a year before the Sterling shooting, was unearthed that called the former Baton Rouge police officer “nuts” during an altercation with another officer.  Attorney John McLindon says the email will likely not make it into court during the civil case.

Cut 6 (08) “…hear about this.”

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says it appears the state’s auto insurance market is stabilizing as there’s only been a two-percent average increase in rates this year. In 2017, auto insurance rates rose on average nearly nine percent. Donelon on why we are not seeing sharp increases in premiums this year…

cut 9 (12) “…accounted for”

Here’s a look at your commodities…

Senator John Kennedy is holding off on whether he’ll vote yes to confirm  Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme until he hears from a California professor who alleges the judge sexually assaulted her decades ago…

Cut 1 (33) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Lafayette Parish City Council did not vote to denounce the Drag Queen Story Time event at the Lafayette Public Library after 3 members for in favor of the resolution, and three abstained. The story time event features drag queens who will be reading stories about accepting LGBTQ classmates to children for an hour, and will be followed by a miniature drag show.

A study from Accountemps shows workers who listen to music at work tend to be more productive, and happier while clocked in. The survey backs up older results indicating increased productivity at warehouses that play music. Recruiting manager with Robert Half Carrie Lewis says not all workplaces should be rockin out.

Cut 12

Pop, Rock and Country rounded out the top three suggestions

Louisiana has the second highest rate of male on female murder in the United States according to a report from the Violence Policy Center. Legislative Director Kristen Rand says the state needs to do a better job of expanding resources to women in domestic abuse situations.

Cut 15,

Black women were most at risk of being murdered by a man.

US Senator John Kennedy wants to hear from Christine Ford before deciding on whether to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Ford alleges Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at high school party in the 1980s. Kennedy, sits on the Senate Judiciary committee and says a hearing is scheduled for Monday so the California professor can tell her story…

Cut 3 (10) “…too though.” 
Ford’s attorneys are requesting an FBI investigation before she shows up before the Senate.

ULM has broken ground on a new Osteopathic Medicine building. A 100 thousand square foot facility is being built on the campus that is currently scheduled to begin classes in fall of 2020. ULM President Nick Bruno says that could help address the reported 19 percent shortfall in the number of physicians needed by 2024.

Cut 5 (09) “…in all areas.”

A study from Accountemps shows workers who listen to music at work tend to be more productive, and happier while clocked in. The survey backs up older results indicating increased productivity at warehouses that play music. Recruiting manager with Robert Half Carrie Lewis says it’s something employers should begin looking into.

Cut 10 (11)   “…distractions.“

Louisiana has the second highest rate of male on female murder in the United States according to a report from the Violence Policy Center. It’s a continuing trend as the state has found itself in the top five since 2016. The national rate has gone up 11 percent in the last four years, with 93 percent of all murders of women by men being done by someone the victim knew beforehand. Legislative Director Kristen Rand says that number should dispel the myth that women at most at risk of being killed by strangers…

Cut 14 (10) “…by strangers.”