The first long range forecast for the upcoming hurricane season is encouraging. Colleen Crain has the story…
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”
____________________________________________
Fuel prices continue to climb, with no end in sight. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
____________________________________________
The Colorado State University hurricane forecast team is predicting a somewhat below-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2026. Average season is 14 named storms, C-S-U is predicting 13. Researcher Chandler Jenkins says a robust El Nino is the primary factor for their prediction of 13 named storms…
Jenkins says the CSU team anticipates a moderate to strong Nino from August to October, which is the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season…
Cut 4 (08) “…in the Atlantic.”
Jenkins says six of the 13 named storms they are predicting are expected to be hurricanes and they anticipate two major hurricanes…
Cut 5 (06) “…forecast activity.”
____________________________________________
With fuel prices having a direct impact on the overall economy, analysts say we could be in for a very rough summer unless the war in Iran comes to an end very soon. According to Gas Buddy-dot-com, the current statewide average for regular unleaded gasoline is $3.78 a gallon, with diesel averaging $5.32 a gallon. Petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says we likely have not seen the worst of it.
Cut 6 (09) “…prices go higher.”
Oil prices did start to come down yesterday in light of the two-week ceasefire. DeHaan says because of that, gas stations have not started to buy cheaper gasoline yet to ease the pain at the pump.
The summer travel season is rapidly approaching; and DeHaan says if fuel prices continue to increase, that will have a devastating effect on summer travel, both by car and by airplane.
___________________________________________
The House Labor Committee voted against a bill today to increase the state’s minimum wage to $12 an hour starting on January 1st. Business groups say a higher minimum wage will result in fewer jobs and higher costs that will be passed on to the consumer. Cofounder of Ten-thousand Women Melissa Flourney pointed out to the committee that 30 states have a higher minimum wage than $7.25…
Cut 9 (10) “…leaving Arkansas.”
The measure failed on a seven to five vote. Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso voted against the measure, and he would rather see investments in workforce training…
Glorioso says increasing the minimum wage will not reduce poverty in Louisiana. He says if the state really wants to help out low-wage earners, provide them training to get a higher paying job…
The debate over raising the minimum wage is an annual one at the state capitol. Several other previous proposals failed to make it out of committee. Lafayette Representative Themi Chassion wants to see more action than just talking…