LRN AM Newscall October 2

In the next two years, Louisiana could see more than 58-thousand new jobs, potentially surpassing the 2 million employment mark for the first time. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Now that Governor Landry has unveiled his tax reform plan, now the challenge begins. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Governor Jeff Landry is again expressing his desire to see a live Tiger in Tiger Stadium. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Louisiana could see more than 58-thousand new jobs in a two year period, potentially surpassing the 2 million employment mark for the first time. However, the upcoming presidential election will likely affect the economic outlook, according to Economist Loren Scott’s latest Louisiana Economic Forecast…

Cut 4 (10) “…areas of the state.”

Scott views the November election as “highly consequential” for Lake Charles’ economy, given the contrasting positions of the candidates on fossil fuels, which are critical to the state’s industries like chemical manufacturing and LNG exports. Any regulatory changes could significantly affect utility costs and economic growth.

Cut 5 (08) “…but have not.”

Scott says Shreveport and Monroe area is ripe for data centers, due to the area’s access to reliable electric power and open spaces…

Cut 6 (10) …600 new jobs.”

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Now that Governor Landry has unveiled his tax reform plan, what are its chances of passing in the legislature? Jeremy Alfred, the publisher of LaPolitics Weekly, says now Landry’s task is to gain enough support from the legislature.

Cut 7 (13) “…from Governor Jeff Landry.”

Park of Landry’s plan is to eliminate certain tax breaks and tax incentives as a way of making up for the revenue lost through cutting personal and business income taxes across the board. Alfred says that might be a hard sell.

Cut 8 (09) “…much larger businesses.”

Alfred says those business groups will have their lobbyists out in full force as the legislature considers changes to their tax breaks.

Cut 9 (11)  “…their own turf.”

Alfred says even though Landry is a conservative Republican and Republicans have a supermajority in the legislature, getting this tax reform plan passed is not a foregone conclusion.

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The Governor wants to see a live Tiger in Tiger Stadium. Governor Landry made his desire known again Tuesday to mixed reaction on LSU’s campus.

Cut 10 (08) “…(crowd cheering).”

Landry didn’t specifically ask for Mike VII to be brought into the stadium, saying only “a tiger.” In 2017, LSU agreed it would not take the new tiger, Mike VII, into the stadium on game days.

Landry has received push-back from animal rights groups and some veterinarians but he says Tigers in sanctuaries live much better lives that those in the wild.

Cut 11 (09) “…academically and athletically.”

Landry reminisced about Mike VI who died in 2016 after the tiger’s cancer returned…

Cut 12 (10) “…(clapping).”

LSU has said that responsible care for live exotic animals has evolved throughout the years.

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Starting January 1st, thanks to a new federal policy, phone calls to and from Louisiana jails and prisons will drop from 25 cents per minute to six cents per minute. Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell welcomes the change, saying sheriffs were taking advantage of the inmates and their families.

Cut 13 (13)  “…had somebody incarcerated.”

Campbell says until the FCC stepped in and established the maximum per-minute rate, sheriffs had no motivation to make any changes themselves.

Cut 14 (06) “…run the jail.”

Campbell says sheriffs were motivated by just one thing.

Cut 15 (10) “…G-R-E-E-D, greed.”

The upcoming change comes after Congress unanimously passed the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, named after the crusading grandmother of an inmate in Virginia. Along with setting rates, the act added intrastate calls to the FCC’s jurisdiction over interstate calls.

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Training camp is underway for the New Orleans Pelicans. This year’s Pelicans team lacks a true big man, but general manager Bryson Graham says they make up for it, with size at the wing and guard positions…

Cut 16 (22)   “…athleticism.”

Graham says 24-year-old Zion Williamson had a great offseason and is hungry to appear in his first postseason.

Cut 17 (20) “…driving him.”

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LSU may have a bye week this week, but you wouldn’t know it by watching practice yesterday. Coach Brian Kelly said the team was on the field in full pads.

Cut 18 (12)  “…to be done.”

Kelly says the players will have some off time on Friday – but until then, practices will be intense, even though their next game isn’t for another week and a half.

Cut 19 (15) “….of this week.”  

True freshman Caden Durham had a big game last week, scoring two touchdowns, including on the first offensive play from scrimmage. He nearly had another one on the team’s second offensive play, but he was stopped a yard short of the goal line. Kelly says Durham is making the most of his opportunity.

Cut 20 (19) “…given to him” 

The SEC has announced that next Saturday’s game against Ole Miss at Death Valley will kick off at 6:30.