The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association hosts their annual summit today in Lake Charles with a new hope for the future of the industry. Michelle Southern has more…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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A report shows only 49-percent of obese people say they are trying to lose weight, down from 55-percent. Emelie Gunn has more…
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more and more babies are born with syphilis. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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There’s a renewed sense of optimism for the oil industry, according to the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, who host their annual summit today in Lake Charles. LOGA Vice President Gifford Briggs says higher oil prices aren’t the only thing contributing to their uplifted spirits.
Cut 4 (12) “rolling back regulations”
LOGA says 2017 is a critical year for the oil and gas industry. Briggs says that’s because the industry is starting to rebound after a two year recession. He says with the new president and the prices rebounding, this is the time for people to start making investments and bring people back to work.
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Briggs says Exxon’s commitment to make a $20 billion investment in the Gulf and the plans for the Bayou Bridge Pipeline are promising signs for the industry as a whole. He says people have been asking to replace our old infrastructure for a long time.
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The rate of babies born with syphilis is rising in Louisiana, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC found the rate of congenital syphilis rose by 6-percent nationwide between 2014 and 2015. Director of the Bureau of Infectious Diseases for the Office of Public Health, Dr. DeAnn Gruber, says the problem is even worse in Louisiana than the rest of the country.
According to the CDC, 83 out of every 100-thousand babies born has congenital syphilis. Gruber says her office is doing everything they can to reduce these rates. She says in 2014 the legislature passed a law that requires women to get tested for diseases throughout their pregnancies, not just in the first trimester.
Gruber says babies born with syphilis can have complications and various types of disabilities. She says the Office of Public Health is doing interventions, provider outreach, and education to decrease the rate of congenital syphilis, and it looks like their methods are paying off.
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A recent study shows fewer fat people are trying to lose weight. A report from Georgia Southern University found that overweight people who said they are trying to lose weight fell from 55-percent down to 49-percent. Executive Director of the Louisiana Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Rudy Macklin, says people are abandoning their weight loss efforts for a variety of reasons.
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Macklin says people may be getting discouraged because they aren’t seeing results right away. The study suggests being overweight could be becoming more acceptable. But Macklin doesn’t think that’s the case. He attributes the decline in people losing weight to busy schedules.
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The nationwide study found the obesity rate is highest for black women with 55-percent being obese. Macklin says here in Louisiana, income and family environment play a big role in many of these women’s lives, leaving little time for exercise and cooking healthy meals.
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Governor John Bel Edwards sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to cut the red tape so Louisiana can get started on coastal restoration projects. Executive Director of the Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority, Johnny Bradberry, says the projects are part of the coastal restoration masterplan.
Bradberry says the projects will be funded through BP’s restoration payments to the state over the next few years. He says the President is looking for projects that are ready to go and having funding methods in place. He says they’re hoping Mr. Trump can help fast track the federal approval process.
Bradberry says two of the projects are sediment diversion, others prevent saltwater intrusion into our marshes, and another introduces freshwater into the Maurepas Swamp. Bradberry says these projects are vital because they protect industries that operate along Louisiana’s coast.
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Louisiana Tech begins play in the Conference USA Tournament at 5:30 today as the one of the hottest teams in the league. They’ve won eight of their last nine. Bulldogs head coach Eric Konkol believes his young team can win this tournament and receive automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament…
Tech will play the winner of last night’s game between UAB and Charlotte. Konkol says for them to win this tournament, good play will have to start on the defensive end
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NFL teams can begin signing unrestricted free agents this afternoon and for the first time in several years, the Saints have some salary cap space to work with. Sideline reporter on the Saints Radio Network, Kristan Garic, doesn’t anticipate the Black and Gold making a huge splash, but they will look to bolster the offensive line…
Trades can also made once the new league year starts this afternoon. There’s been a lot of speculation about the Saints trading former first round pick and wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Garic says the Saints are asking a lot for Cooks…
The Saints also have to make a decision on defensive tackle Nick Fairly. The Mobile native performed well under a one-year deal last season, but Garic says the Saints might not get that same production if Fairly signs a contract for multiple years…