Extra! Extra! Hear all about it! The West Carroll Gazette has been saved. Joe Gallinaro has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”
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The Public Service Commission says it will conduct an audit of Delta Utilities billing and costs after hearing complaints about high gas bills from Baton Rouge and New Orleans customers. Jeff Palermo has the story.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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An Alabama man could spend the rest of his life behind bars after being arrested for indecent conduct with a Lafourche Parish teenage girl. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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West Carroll Chamber of Commerce has purchased the West Carroll Gazette from Louisiana State Newspapers, which means the newspaper will continue publishing on a weekly basis. Adam Holland owns KWCL Radio and is on the board directors for the chamber; he says the community did not want to lose its local paper.
Cut 4 (09) “..can’t be replaced.”
A couple of weeks ago, Louisiana State Newspapers announced it would no longer publish the West Carroll Gazette, and Holland says that caused an uproar within the parish. The paper has been in existence for 116 years, and Holland is pleased to announce it will continue to be a part of West Carroll for many more years.
Cut 5 (11) “…of this community.”
Holland says many people in Oak Grove and throughout West Carroll Parish are elated with the news.
Cut 6 (07) “…thing’s been saved.”
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Many Delta Utilities customers in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas are upset over their high gas bills. Rahsha Williams is the head of a community center in Baton Rouge, and she told the Public Service Commission that Delta Utilities natural gas bills are a real problem.
Cut 7 (10) “…their grocery budget.”
On July 1st, Delta Utilities acquired Entergy’s natural gas utilities in East Baton Rouge Parish and New Orleans. It’s caused confusion, because these customers are now getting separate electric and gas bills. Williams says energy bills are already high, and now seniors on fixed incomes are trying to figure out how to pay their gas bills.
Cut 8 (10) “…public health impact.”
Delta Utilities spokeswoman Sarah Porteus says gas bills are high because demand is higher in the winter months, and the cost of natural gas increased 150-percent from September to February.
Cut 9 (08) “…their March bill.”
Porteus says customers who are unable to pay their bill can contact Delta Utilities to work out a payment plan, and she also encourages customers to utilize levelized billing.
Cut 10 (06) “…amount every month.”
The Louisiana Public Service Commission will perform an audit of Delta’s billing and costs this summer.
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The worst-kept secret in Lafayette was let out of the bag this week; and today, it’s expected to become official – Dr. Ramesh Kolluru will lose the “interim” tag and will officially be named the next president of U-L Lafayette. Kolluru had been serving as interim president since the retirement of Dr. Joseph Savoie and had been widely expected to land the job permanently since day one. UL System President and CEO Rick Gallot (“gallow”) says making Kolluru the seventh president of U-L Lafayette is the right move.
Cut 11 (10) “…fiber and DNA.”
Kolluru was named as the sole finalist for the job earlier this week, beating out 11 other candidates. Gallot says the choice among the Presidential Search Committee was obvious.
Cut 12 (11) “…that he’s garnered.”
Gallot says Kolluru has been very effective during his time as interim president, so it only makes sense to give him the job permanently.
Cut 13 (08) “…change and evolve.”
The search committee will present Dr. Kolluru to the Board of Supervisors during a special meeting in Baton Rouge today, at which time the board is expected to make the appointment official.
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An Alabama man is potentially facing the rest of his life in prison after being arrested for indecent conduct with a Lafourche Parish teenage girl on an online gaming platform. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says 24-year-old Landen Westfall contacted the girl while playing Roblox.
Cut 14 (12) “…and harming herself.”
Matherne says Westfall also got the girl to send him nude photos of herself. Westfall is facing two counts of criminal assistance to suicide, 261 counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and 15 counts of child pornography. Matherne says given all the counts Westfall is facing, he may never be a free man again.
Cut 15 (11) “…for 15 counts.”
Matherne says incidents like this underscore the importance of parents always monitoring their kids’ online activities – including Roblox, which is specifically marketed towards children.
Cut 16 (12) “…all of them.”
Westfall is booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex, and bail is set at 750-thousand dollars.
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The second-ranked LSU baseball team looks to bounce back tonight against Dartmouth after suffering its first loss of the season to McNeese on Tuesday. Coach Jay Johnson gave an injury update on senior outfielder Chris Stanfield.
Cut 17 (17) “…to the table.”
Johnson also said sophomore catcher Cade Arrambide, who exited Tuesday’s game with a foot injury, is fine and will play this weekend.
Even without Stanfield, LSU is lighting up the scoreboard, as the Tigers are averaging 11.4 runs a game. Johnson says multiple players have done a good job stepping up and producing in his absence.
Cut 18 (15) “…great player here.”
Senior first baseman Zach Yorke has become an early fan-favorite through nine games. Yorke is tied for the most home runs on the team with four, and Johnson says he has not even reached his full potential yet.
Cut 19 (20) “…really, really well.”