An announcement so big in Shreveport that Governor Landry was the one to make it. Colleen Crain reports.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”
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A state lawmaker has come up with a plan to get the federal government to help pay for a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge — and that is to name it after President Trump. Joe Gallinaro has the story.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”
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As the Louisiana Lottery celebrates one milestone, it celebrates a second milestone. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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Amazon has selected Louisiana to invest 12-billion dollars for a data center campus. The campus is being built in northwest Louisiana in Caddo and Bossier parishes. Governor Landry says it’s believed to be the biggest single investment by a company in the history of northwest Louisiana – as well as one of the most important.
Cut 4 (10) “…and digital infrastructure.”
Landry says these three data centers will create thousands of jobs.
Cut 5 (12) “…in northwest Louisiana.” (applause fades)
Among them are 540 on-site jobs that pay salaries that are 50-percent higher than the state average.
One of the most controversial aspects of data centers is all the electricity that’s required to power them and the effects that it may have on residents’ utility bills. Landry said Amazon is taking care of all of that.
Cut 6 (08) “…for these projects.”
Construction is expected to begin immediately.
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If another Mississippi River Bridge is built in the Baton Rouge area, one state lawmaker believes it should be named after President Trump. Monroe Republican Representative Michael Echols says if his legislation is approved, the proposed bridge that would be built south of the current Mississippi River Bridge would be named the “President Donald J. Trump Expressway.”
Cost is a big hurdle when it comes to building a bridge that would connect LA-Highway One in Iberville Parish to LA Highway 30. Echols says if Louisiana commits to naming the bridge after the President, there’s a better chance it will happen.
Cut 8 (12) “…this thing built.”
Echols says U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson loves the concept and sent it to the White House. A new bridge could cost as much as three-billion dollars. Echols says most of the funding will need to come from the federal government; so if naming the bridge after President Trump gets it done, why not do it?
Cut 9 (12) “…done for Louisiana.”
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Sophomore Kailin Chio is becoming the next great female athlete at LSU. The All-American from Nevada became the first gymnast this year to score two perfect 10s at the same meet, as she accomplished the feat last Friday against top-ranked Oklahoma. Chio had a perfect score on beam and vault, but she believes she’s had better vaults this season.
Cut 10 (13) “…the other ones.”
Chio has scored four perfect 10s through seven meets so far this season, moving her total to five in her career. Chio was the SEC Freshman of the Year last year; and she’s having a sensational sophomore season, as she’s won 22 event titles, which is one shy of the 23 she had last year. Head coach Jay Clark says Chio is performing at a high level.
LSU failed to beat Oklahoma last Friday; but it was the Tigers highest road score of the season, and they are still ranked second in the country. LSU is a national title contender again this year, but Clark says they can’t rely on Chio to keep scoring 10s.
Cut 12 (11) “…scores up there.”
Second-ranked LSU will host third-ranked Alabama Friday night and will also compete Sunday at the Raising Cane’s River Center against three other teams — Alabama, Arizona and North Carolina.
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As the Louisiana Lottery celebrates one milestone this year, it’s now celebrating a second milestone. In its 35th year, the Louisiana Lottery has eclipsed five-billion dollars in revenue transfers to Louisiana’s Minimum Foundation Program, which dedicates the money to K-through-12 education. Chrislyn Maher (“mayor”) with the Louisiana Lottery says the lottery has been very popular through the years.
Cut 13 (08) “…from ticket sales.”
As part of its deal with the state, the Louisiana Lottery is required by law to transfer about 35-percent of its revenue to the state’s Minimum Foundation Program. Maher says they came very close to the milestone in the last fiscal year.
Cut 14 (11) “…Minimum Foundation Program.”
Speaking of “billion,” Maher says those Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots that hit the “B” mark may have had something to do with crossing the five-billion-dollar transfer threshold to the Minimum Foundation Program.
Cut 15 (10) “…really big jackpots.”