Louisiana’s crawfish industry is suffering because of the lack of foreign workers due to the federal government’s cap on allotted visas. Joe Gallinaro has the story.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”
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A New Orleans-area representative wants to make it a lot easier to cancel automatic-renewal trial subscriptions. Colleen Crain reports.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”
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Julia Letlow secures another high-profile endorsement. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the state’s crawfish industry is dealing with a significant labor shortage. Strain told state lawmakers that crawfish processing plants do not have enough workers to peel and package crawfish, because the federal government has put a cap on foreign guest workers.
Cut 4 (09) “…no that’s unacceptable.”
Several crawfish processing plants have shut their doors as a result.
These packaging facilities rely on workers through the federal H-2B program, which allows immigrants to receive guest worker visas for seasonal jobs, and they return home at the end of the season. These are jobs that most Americans are not interested in doing.
Strain says he’s sent letters and called the White House and several other federal agencies, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, asking for the cap be lifted for the crawfish industry.
Cut 5 (07) “…these laborers in.”
The businesses applied for the visas in November as they have done in the past; but their applications were denied, and they were told re-apply in January. Strain says that the whole process has gotten out of hand.
Cut 6 (06) “…this is unacceptable.”
The cap on working visas does not impact live and boiled crawfish, but it’s unclear what will happen with the crawfish that’s supposed to be peeled and shipped to other areas of the country.
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PVC producer Shintech Louisiana is expanding its Iberville Parish operations with a 3.4-billion-dollar investment. The expansion is expected to create 163 direct new jobs with an average salary over 117-thousand dollars. It’s expected to add 800 new job opportunities to the Capital Region, and Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle says the benefits go far beyond that.
Cut 7 (06) “…facility in itself.”
The expansion will introduce advanced, lower-emissions manufacturing technology, which Shintech says will strengthen Louisiana’s role in global PVC production. Daigle says Shintech is a world player, and this latest investment brings its investment in Iberville Parish since 2000 to around 12-billion dollars.
Cut 8 (10) “…the global market.”
Shintech received an incentives package from the state through the FastStart, Industrial Tax Exemption and Quality Jobs programs. Daigle says the collaboration will benefit the entire area.
Cut 9 (12) “…the Plaquemine area.”
The first phase of construction is expected to be completed by 2030.
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A New Orleans-area representative wants to make it a law requiring companies to make it easy to cancel automatic subscription renewals. Gretna Republican Representative Vincent Cox’s bill is dubbed the “Click To Cancel Act.”
Cut 10 (11) “…out of it.”
That’s because oftentimes, the language letting customers know that the subscription automatically renews after the free trial period is either in very small print, or in the case of a radio ad, the voice is sped up and the level is dropped several decibels. Furthermore, customers would often need to go on a scavenger hunt to find the information on how to cancel. Cox’s bill would put an end to all that.
Cut 11 (10) “…to exit it.”
Among other things, Cox’s bill would outlaw small print and sped-up and lowered audio detailing the automatic renewal terms.
Cut 12 (12) “…signed up in.”
The bill is co-authored by New Orleans Democratic Senator Royce Duplessis.
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Governor Landry has weighed in on the U.S. Senate race, aligning with President Trump and giving his endorsement to Julia Letlow. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says he’s not surprised at all.
Cut 13 (12) “…supporting Julia Letlow.”
Cross says while Landry’s endorsement likely will not prevent a runoff, it will likely be effective in defending Letlow against incumbent Bill Cassidy.
Cut 14 (11) “…as a liberal.”
Of course, the third factor in this race is John Fleming, who took to social media to blast Landry’s endorsement. In that same post, Fleming said before Ralph Abraham announced his departure from the CDC, he offered him his position in an effort to get him to end his campaign, which he declined. Cross says this is further proof that Abraham presents a major roadblock in Letlow’s path to the U.S. Senate.
Cut 15 (10) “…smoother for Letlow.”
One week after resigning from the CDC to tend to what he called urgent family obligations, Abraham was announced as Letlow’s campaign manager.
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The LSU women’s basketball team will enter the SEC Tournament as a projected number-two seed in the NCAA Tournament. ESPN bracketologist Charlie Crème says the Tigers could elevate to a number-one seed with an impressive showing in Greenville this week.
Cut 16 (18) “…be the Tigers.”
Three of the four number-one seeds are essentially locked up by UConn, UCLA and South Carolina. If the Tigers can capture the fourth and final top seed, Crème believes it will allow for a more favorable path to a national championship.
Cut 17 (15) “…a better matchup.”
Even if LSU doesn’t secure a number-one seed in the NCAA Tournament, Crème believes the Tigers can still win a national championship. He says the Tigers will need to excel in multiple areas during their postseason run.
Cut 18 (12) “…shine really approaches.”