As of May 28th, bags will no longer fly free on Southwest Airlines. Sean Richardson has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”
_____________________________________________
Crime in New Orleans during Carnival season saw a huge drop this year. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
____________________________________________
A U.S. District Court ruling delays the execution of death row inmate Jessie Hoffman. Colleen Crain has the story.
Cut 3 (37) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”
______________________________________________________
Bags will no longer fly free on Southwest Airlines. Starting May 28th, the airline will start charging money for the first and second checked bags. A-List loyalty members, branded credit card holders, and business fare travelers are exempt. UNO Business Professor Mark Rosa says inflation causes businesses to make these tough decisions.
Cut 4 (08) “…never went before.”
Southwest Airlines previously resisted baggage fees, citing their appeal to customers, but shifting consumer behavior and new leadership influenced the decision. While Southwest has trademarked its “Bags fly free” slogan, Rosa says even though competitors are trying to capitalize on Southwest’s new policy, he doesn’t believe it will affect Southwest much.
Cut 5 (07) “…while we’re waiting”
Because of inflation, Rosa says this is the new normal for pricing, and if you’re looking for lower prices it comes with a high cost…
Cut 6 (10) “…that resets prices.”
______________________________________________________
Small businesses are less optimistic now than they were a month ago. Leah Long is the Louisiana state director of the National Federation of Independent Business.
Cut 7 (08) “…doing business here.”
Long says the biggest factor in the drop in optimism among small business owners is the uncertainty of a 20-percent small business tax deduction that’s set to expire.
Cut 8 (07) “…massive tax hike.”
Long says the potential 20-percent tax hike isn’t the only issue that’s driving up the uncertainty and, in effect, driving down the optimism.
Cut 9 (09) “…on insurance rates.”
______________________________________________________
New Orleans saw a huge decrease in crime this Carnival season. Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick credits the cooperation between local, state and federal resources, in light of Mardi Gras being designated a SEAR-1 event by the Department of Homeland Security. Kirkpatrick says during the 12-days of Carnival, NOPD made 388 arrests – a huge drop from last year.
Cut 10 (06) “…in crime incidents”
Kirkpatrick says this year, there were 493 crimes reported, compared to 951 last year. She says both violent crime and property crime saw huge decreases this year.
Cut 11 (07) “…crimes against property.”
Kirkpatrick says NOPD officers were on the lookout for people illegally carrying firearms.
Cut 12 (08) “…the parade route.”
18 firearms were confiscated during Carnival season.
______________________________________________________
Jessie Hoffman will not be executed next Tuesday. Federal Judge Shelly Dick ruled in favor of the death row inmate in his quest for the state not to use nitrogen hypoxia to execute him for kidnapping, raping and killing a woman in 1996. Loyola University New Orleans law professor Dane Ciolino says Hoffman gave compelling testimony that was likely the deciding factor in Judge Dick’s ruling.
Cut 13 (09) “…the Eighth Amendment.”
Ciolino says if Hoffman is executed, which he is not challenging, it likely now won’t happen for quite some time.
Cut 14 (10) “…hypoxia at all.”
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says in a statement that the state disagrees with Judge Dick’s decision and will immediately appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ciolino says with the execution now off, the appeals process is no longer up against the calendar.
Cut 15 (10) “…even perhaps months.”
______________________________________________________
The Saints have officially announced the three-year contract extension for defensive end Chase Young. Young signed with New Orleans last offseason and appeared in all 17 games, and recorded five and a half sacks and had a career-high 21 quarterback hits. Young’s first four seasons were in Washington and Luke Johnson with the Advocate believes it was a wise decision to bring Young back on a long-term deal…
Cut 16 (17) “…potential there.”
A new league year officially starts later today, and the Saints are expected to announce a trade with New England that results in the Patriots sending New Orleans defensive tackle Davon Godchaux in exchange for a seventh round draft pick in 2026. Johnson says the Saints needed a nose tackle to play in defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s three-four scheme…
The Saints have restructured the contract of veteran safety and fan favorite Tyrann Mathieu. New Orleans has also signed former Dutchtown High School star and two-time Super Bowl champion Justin Reid to a three-year, 31.5-million-dollar contract. Johnson says the Saints also need another cornerback, with Paulson Adebo leaving for New York on a free agent contract…