Longtime L-A-B-I official Jim Patterson is now the interim President of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Jeff Palermo talked with Jim Patterson about L-A-B-I’s priorities in the upcoming legislative session

 Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

52-year-old Charles Germany of Livingston Parish plead guilty to leaving threatening voicemails for Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy. A warrant was issued for his arrest on a charge of interstate transmission of a threat. Germany allegedly threatened to kill Murphy. If convicted, Germany could get up to five years in prison.

Federal regulators approved Canadian Pacific’s acquisition of Kansas City Southern, a major step towards reconstructing the passenger rail service between Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Baton Rouge Area Foundation Vice President John Spain says the future of the project is looking promising.

Cut 8 (07) “…the obstacles.”

The passenger line would include stops in Baton Rouge, Gonzales, LaPlace, Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport, and Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans.

Entergy filed a request with the Public Service Commission for approval to add an additional three gigawatts of solar power to increase its renewable energy. Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May says this would be a great move for the state’s economy and for companies who would like to invest but want renewable energy.

Cut 13 (10) “…important for them.” 

The proposed additional solar power facilities would – if approved – be built in Iberville and Ouachita parishes, and would bring hundreds of jobs during construction.

Entergy Louisiana has filed a request with the Public Service Commission to use 3,225 megawatts of solar power for its energy grid. The utility provider currently uses 280 megawatts of renewable resources. Entergy Louisiana President Phillip May says companies looking to expand want to to do business in states where the energy provider is using renewable power…
cut 14 (11) “….made in Louisiana”
The P-S-C will consider Entergy’s request at a future meeting.

Federal regulators have approved Canadian Pacific’s acquisition of Kansas City Southern, a huge step towards reestablishing passenger rail service linking Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Baton Rouge Area Foundation Vice President John Spain says the deal specifically says it would allow Amtrak to add passenger service on the K-C-S owned line…
Cut 7 (04) “…April”
Another obstacle is funding. 108-million dollars is needed to replace the bridge across the Bonne Carre Spillway.

The Republican Party now has a super majority in the Louisiana House as Delhi Representative Francis Thompson has joined the G-O-P. The change comes after almost 50 years in the legislature as a Democrat….
cut 5 (09) “….Republican Party”
Thompson has recently voted against the governor on transgender sports ban bill and redistricting.

The LSU Lady Tigers are heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2014 after beating the Michigan Wolverines 66-42 last night in the P-MAC. Second-year coach Kim Mulkey says it’s an important accomplishment…
cut 17 (13) “…this program”
LSU will play Utah on Friday in the regional semifinals.

Entergy files for state regulatory permission to vastly expand its solar energy capabilities. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

State lawmakers have approved 42-million dollars in grant money that will go to eight different insurance companies who will use the funds to begin writing property insurance policies in coastal Louisiana. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is hopeful 90-thousand policyholders who currently have Citizens Insurance, can find a private insurer starting next month.

Longtime L-A-B-I official Jim Patterson is the interim president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, taking over for gubernatorial candidate Stephen Waguespack. With the legislative session coming up, Patterson says L-A-B-I will be involved in the property insurance crisis and they would like to see the legislature address the high taxes on insurance premiums…
Cut 10 (10) “…fiscal session.”

The longest-serving member in the Louisiana Legislature has switched parties. Delhi Representative Francis Thompson was a lifelong Democrat,
Cut 4 (12) “…elected me.”
Thompson says a majority of the voters in his House District 19 are Republican and the 81-year-old says he’s running for re-election this fall.

81-year-old Delhi Representative Francis Thompson who has represented northeast Louisiana in the state legislature for almost 50 years has switched parties. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Frosty start to the morning as most of the state is under a freeze warning. Temperatures are in the upper 20s for northeast and central Louisiana at this hour. It will warm up to the upper 50s this afternoon and the next threat for severe weather is Friday.

Entergy says it has made the largest renewable power expansion request in state history as the company has filed a request with the Public Service Commission to add an additional three gigawatts of solar power to its generation portfolio. This is on top of the nearly 225 megawatts of solar power the company requested earlier this month. Entergy Louisiana president Phillip May says they are serious about protecting the state’s environment and they want to protect customers…
cut 15 (11) “…renewable portfolio”

The interim president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Jim Patterson, says they will once again oppose any effort in the legislative session to raise the minimum wage above $7.25 an hour. Patterson says such a move will drive up inflation even more…
cut 12 (12) “….goods and services”
Governor Edwards says $7.25 an hour is not a meaningful wage.

81-year-old Delhi Representative Francis Thompson who has represented northeast Louisiana in the state legislature for almost 50 years has switched parties. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Jefferson Parish owners of Neuty, the 22-pound nutria, have come to an agreement with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that will allow them to keep the pet under certain conditions. The couple has applied for a permit and LDWF will allow the couple to keep the nutria under strict guidelines. The owners were issued a citation for housing a wild animal which is illegal in Louisiana. The matter is ongoing and the details of the permit are being finalized.

Calls to Louisiana 2-1-1 seeking food assistance have tripled since February after the announcement that SNAP benefits are returning to pre-pandemic amounts this month. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Terri Ricks says the reduction comes at a difficult time.

Cut 3 (03) “…time high.” 

The Pandemic SNAP benefits totaled more than $70 million monthly in Louisiana.

Brandon Trosclair, the owner of 13 Ralph’s Markets in Louisiana, has joined the race for Secretary of State this fall. Replacing the state’s Dominion voting machines is a top priority of Trosclair’s. The company’s voting systems – used here in Louisiana – drew criticism after the 2020 Presidential election for security flaws and possible vote tampering. Trosclair says he’d end the deal with Dominion…:

Cut 11 (12)  “…implement that statewide.”

No allegations made against Dominion machines have been substantiated with proof.

Entergy, Louisiana’s largest electricity provider, is laying the regulatory groundwork to expand its solar energy. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

An agreement is being finalized by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that will allow a Jefferson parish couple to keep their 22-pound pet nutria. LDWF agents visited the owners Thursday to seize the animal after news surfaced of their ownership. The matter is ongoing.

Louisiana 2-1-1 center has received three times the amount of calls from families seeking food assistance after SNAP benefits returned to pre-pandemic amounts this month. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Terri Ricks says DCFS cannot replace the loss of those extra benefits.

Cut 5 (08) “…not there.”

More than 471,000 households in Louisiana receive food stamps.

State Rep. Francis Thompson – who has represented the Democratic party for nearly 50 years-  announced he will be switching parties and joining House Republicans — which would give the GOP the majority votes if all members vote along party lines. 81-year-old Thompson says he has been thinking about making the switch for some time.

Cut 4 (12)  “…elected me.”

Thompson is the longest longest-serving member of the state’s legislature. 

There is a new man leading the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Jeff Palermo talked with Jim Patterson about L-A-B-I’s priorities in the upcoming legislative session

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has agreed to allow the owners of Neuty, the 22-pound nutria to keep the pet under special conditions. The Jefferson Parish couple has applied for a permit and LDWF says they are working out an agreement. The owners were issued a citation for housing a wild animal which is illegal in Louisiana. The matter is ongoing.

Delhi Representative Francis Thompson, a lifelong Democrat and the longest-serving member of the Louisiana legislature, has joined the Republican Party. The 81-year-old says he’d been contemplating switching parties for years.

Cut 4 (12)  “…elected me.”

Thompson voted with Republicans to overturn Governor Edwards’ veto of a congressional map.

Longtime L-A-B-I official Jim Patterson is the interim president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, taking over, for now, gubernatorial candidate Stephen Waguespack. With the legislative session coming up, Patterson says L-A-B-I will be involved in the property insurance crisis and they would like to see the legislature address the high taxes on insurance premiums…

Cut 10 (10)  “…fiscal session.”

LABI will also discuss eliminating the state’s income tax and phasing out the state’s inventory tax.

81-year-old Delhi Representative Francis Thompson who has represented northeast Louisiana in the state legislature for almost 50 years has switched parties. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Jefferson Parish owners of Neuty, the 22-pound nutria, have come to an agreement with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that will allow them to keep the pet under certain conditions. The couple has applied for a permit and LDWF will allow the couple to keep the nutria under strict guidelines. The owners were issued a citation for housing a wild animal which is illegal in Louisiana. The matter is ongoing and the details of the permit are being finalized.

Calls to Louisiana 2-1-1 seeking food assistance have tripled since February after the announcement that SNAP benefits are returning to pre-pandemic amounts this month. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Terri Ricks says the reduction comes at a difficult time.

Cut 3 (03) “…time high.” 

The Pandemic SNAP benefits totaled more than $70 million monthly in Louisiana.

Brandon Trosclair, the owner of 13 Ralph’s Markets in Louisiana, has joined the race for Secretary of State this fall. Replacing the state’s Dominion voting machines is a top priority of Trosclair’s. The company’s voting systems – used here in Louisiana – drew criticism after the 2020 Presidential election for security flaws and possible vote tampering. Trosclair says he’d end the deal with Dominion…:

Cut 11 (12)  “…implement that statewide.”

No allegations made against Dominion machines have been substantiated with proof.

Calls to Louisiana 2-1-1 seeking food assistance have tripled after the announcement that SNAP benefits are returning to pre-pandemic amounts this month. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Terri Ricks says more than 471,000 households in Louisiana receive food stamps and DCFS cannot replace the loss of those extra benefits.

Cut 5 (08) “…not there.”

Ascension Parish businessman Brandon Trosclair officially announces his candidacy for Secretary of State this fall. Trosclair is a conservative Republican, who owns the 13-store chain of Ralph’s Markets here in Louisiana. He says the state’s elections system has been “tarnished by years of mismanagement and controversy”…:

Cut 9 (09) “…a broken system.”

Trosclair will challenge Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin’s bid for re-election. Also in the race, is District 4 Public Service Commissioner Mike Francis.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents are on the hunt to seize Neuty, a Jefferson Parish couple’s 22-pound pet nutria. The couple has treated him as a pet since 2020. Department spokesperson, Ed Pratt says the agency appreciates the owner’s affection for Neuty but the rodent can no longer live with them.

Cut 8 (07)  “…is safe.” 

The state plans to place Neuty at the Baron Rouge Zoo.

And for a third straight week the average price for crawfish have dropped, that’s according to Crawfish App co-founder Laney King. The average price for a pound of live mudbugs is $2.74.  And while demand for crawfish goes up with a holiday, this St. Patrick’s Day weekend you’ll get lucky with prices this year 22-percent less than last year. The Crawfish App compiles data for more than 16-hundred vendors in Louisiana.

Police in Baton Rouge arrest a 17-year-old for allegedly shooting and killing an 11-year-old boy. BRPD Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says the suspect approached a car the boy was sitting in with others, and held them at gunpoint…:

Cut 12  (12)      “…his injuries.”

The victim is identified as Matthew Fortenberry. The suspect was treated for his wounds and booked into jail.

Ascension Parish businessman Brandon Trosclair announces he’ll run for Secretary of State this fall. Trosclair owns a large chain of grocery stores. He says, if elected, he’d get rid of the state’s Dominion voting machines…:

CUT 11(12)      “…statewide.”

The increase in EBT card (or food stamp) benefits from the pandemic has ended and many are struggling to make up what they’re losing. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Thorington.”

Here’s some lucky St. Patrick’s Day news: crawfish prices are now down 22-percent from where they were this time last year. The Crawfish App says live mudbugs can be found for as little as $1.50-a-pound. If you want them already boiled, the price is going to be around $5 a pound. Enjoy!!