The Louisiana Prep Classic kicks off in the Superdome today. Andre Champagne has a preview of the first two matchups of the day.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”
____________________________________________
LSU’s Gulf Coast Energy Outlook predicts the oil and gas sector will continue, thanks to technological improvements and low natural gas prices. Jeff Palermo has more.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
____________________________________________
Professional football arrives in Monroe this summer. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
_________________________________________________
The LHSAA Prep Classic in the Superdome starts today. Game one of the day features a Division Four non-select matchup between the undefeated Haynesville Golden Tornado and Mangham Dragons. Spencer Verrett with the LHSAA Network says Haynesville may be undefeated, but Mangham is battle-tested.
Cut 4 (09) “…Haynesville team again.”
The second game of the day is a Division Four select matchup between the Riverside Rebels and the Ascension Catholic Bulldogs. Verrett says the Rebels have an advantage at the line of scrimmage.
Cut 5 (12) “…defensive line operate.”
The final game of the day features a Division Three select matchup between the Dunham Tigers and Calvary Baptist Cavaliers. Verrett says the Cavs could have trouble with Dunham’s pass-heavy offense led by highly recruited quarterback Elijah Haven.
_________________________________________________
LSU’s Gulf Coast Energy Outlook predicts oil and gas production will continue to expand, and the state will continue to see investment in petrochemicals, LNG projects and energy-intensive manufacturing. Greg Upton, the interim director of the Energy Institute, says with advancements in technology, the oil and gas economy can expand without the need for an increase in drilling activity.
Upton says natural gas prices continue to remain low, which continues to drive investment in refined products.
Cut 8 (11) “…investment that’s happening.”
Hyundai Motor Group is investing nearly six-billion dollars into the construction of its first North American steel plant in Ascension Parish, creating more than 13-hundred jobs.
Upton says with the construction of a massive data center in Richland Parish and the Hyundai plant in Ascension, meeting the electricity demand will be a major story to watch.
Cut 9 (10) “…the electric grid?”
Upton says policy swings, both federal and state, will play a large role in investment decisions. This past decade has featured three different federal energy strategies.
_____________________________________________
LSU’s hiring of Lane Kiffin as its new head football coach is poised to yield a big economic impact for both the school and the City of Baton Rouge. Ever since LSU poached Kiffin from Ole Miss, the team has had more than 15-thousand new season ticket requests, as well as a large uptick in corporate partner and donor interest. LSU economics professor Dek Terrell says the real impact will come later.
Cut 10 (09) “…of that nature.”
Terrell says even a slight increase in economic impact will translate to a huge dollar amount.
Terrell says while the hiring of Lane Kiffin will be an economic shot in the arm, there is no substitute for contending for a national title.
Cut 12 (10) “…over 60-percent.”
____________________________________________________________
A new professional football team is coming to Monroe this summer. No, no NFL team is moving there; not even a UFL team. Rather, the city is getting a team in The Arena League. League owner Jeff Holmes says the league is adding the team for its third season.
Cut 13 (10) “…including Monroe, Louisiana.”
Holmes, who also owns the Iowa Woo, says The Arena League plays a unique brand of indoor football, including seven players on the field per side. And despite the name of the sport, there is no kicking.
Cut 14 (07) “…receive the ball.”
The new Monroe team will play its games at the Monroe Civic Center, and Holmes says the games will feature some exciting entertainment to go along with the exciting football action.
Cut 15 (08) “…of that nature.”
The league is holding a name the team contest for Monroe’s newest professional sports franchise.