It could be a record breaking year for offshore oil producers in Louisiana.  Kelley Ray has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

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Construction on a new power plant near Lake Charles is underway. Matt Doyle on what this means for customers…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Former ULM quarterback Doug Pederson has taken his Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl.  Jeff Palermo spoke with a Bossier City resident who knows Pederson well…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A nationwide non-profit to help veteran’s in their post military transition to the workplace is coming to New Orleans.  NextOp represents veterans by placing them in jobs in industries and companies throughout the region.  Louisiana Regional Manager Ben Armstrong says the Crescent City has a high amount of veterans looking for work who needed assistance…

Cut 4  (09) “we’re here.” 

Armstrong says the challenge for veterans is not in obtaining work, but getting the type of jobs they need to support their families.  He says they’re not unemployed, just “under employed”…

Cut 5  (07)  “meaningful careers.”

Following their launch on February 1^st, they are looking at expanding statewide.  Armstrong says getting in touch with veterans in Louisiana is their top priority…

Cut 6 (10)  “in Shreveport.”

They are seeking volunteers to help assist veterans.  More information can be found at next-op-vets-dot-org.

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The U.S. is pumping out over ten-million barrels of oil per day, topping a nearly 50-year record.  And forecasts show production could climb to eleven-million barrels a day by the end of 2019.  President of the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, Chris John, says markets such as China are hungry for more fuel and Louisiana’s 170 offshore operators are showing they can keep up with demand…

Cut 7 (10)  “more oil.”

Crude oil topped $60.00 a barrel for the first time in over two years.  John says the cost of oil could top $70.00 per barrel before long.  He says Louisiana operators and oil producers in West Texas are willing to ramp up production since they can finance ramped up operations easier…

Cut 8 (11) “production year.”

John says domestic oil companies are in a great position in the global scene.  He cites Venezuela as an example, normally accounting for 20 percent of the world’s supply…

Cut 9 (06)  “to produce.”

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Entergy Louisiana has broken ground on a new 872-million dollar plant near Lake Charles. The natural gas fired plant is expected to be operational in June of 2020. Entergy spokesperson Michael Burns says the highly-efficient plant will lower energy costs for Entergy customers…

Cut 10 (11) “thirty years.”

Burns says the state-of-the-art plant is expected to run much cleaner than previous plants. He says greenhouse gas production in particular should be significantly lower…

Governor John Bel Edwards presented what he called his worst-case-scenario budget today, showcasing the impact from a billion dollar loss in state funding and what it would have on state government, The loss is a result of expiring sales taxes. Louisiana requires the governor submit a balanced budget that takes into account projected funding levels. Edwards proposed the budget, but says he doesn’t want it passed…

Cut 4  (09) “looks like” .

The governor is proposing an 80-percent cut in TOPS funding, unless legislators can agree on a long-term tax reform plan in a February special session.  Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt believes more cuts can be made to go along with any kind of tax reform plan…

Cut 6 (10)  “our expenses.”

A Business Development Advisors study shows military related spending in Louisiana accounts for $7.7 billion in economic output and 77-thousand military related jobs.  That includes the seven military bases and the Louisiana National Guard.  Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says there is a forgotten group that helps to add to the economy, 27-thousand military retirees…

Cut 11 (09) “our economy”

The federal government is open for business once again.  The House approved the temporary budget that now goes to President Trump for his signature.    4^th Congressional District Representative Mike Johnson said in a statement, “Senate Democrats finally came to their senses and stopped using vulnerable children and military personnel as bargaining chips.”  Johnson added the shutdown was quote” completely unnecessary.”  Congress has until Feb 8^th to approve a formal budget…

Calling it his worst-case-scenario budget, Governor John Bel Edwards released his financial plan today. The GOP has indicated that they would approach the one-billion-dollar fiscal cliff by reducing spending, while the governor is seeking a revenue neutral tax reform plan. Edwards challenged legislative leaders to publicly present their plan…

Cut 5  (12)  “to cut”

The governor claims he has cut 600 million dollars in state general funds since he took office two years ago. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says the governor’s budget is off since he’s not factoring in federal tax reform money…

Cut 7 (08)  “of revenue”

Edmonds says the state could have an additional 200 to 400 million dollars as a result.

Gas prices are up and so is the economy.  Louisiana drivers are paying an average of 2.36 a gallon, up 15 cents from a month ago.  Triple A fuel analyst Don Redman says demand has slipped some with the unusual winter weather, but the robust economy is keeping prices elevated…

Cut 9 (10) “grow significantly.”

Redman says the high prices in a traditionally slow month for gas consumption could lead to higher prices throughout 2018.

There could be a delay in the crawfish season thanks to last week’s cold weather.  Most of the crawfish survived and Dr. Greg Lutz with the LSU Ag-Center says  they are hoping for is a long stretch of sunny, mild days so that the water in the ponds warms up…:

Cut 16  (04)  “pretty quickly”

Lutz says there should be enough time for crawfish to be available during Mardi Gras, just not as much as usual.

Governor John Bel Edwards proposed a budget today that calls for deep cuts in state funding for corrections, healthcare, and higher education including an 80 percent cut to TOPS. Matt Doyle was there…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise returned to the Capitol following surgery related to a shooting which injured him last summer shattering bone and striking internal organs.  He says he feels great following the January 10^th procedure which was quote “very successful, but it took a long recovery.

Gas prices are on the rise at a time of the year when prices traditionally go down.  Louisiana drivers are paying 2.36 a gallon for regular gasoline, while a month ago, prices were at 2.21 a gallon.  Triple A fuel analyst Don Redman says another reason for the high prices is domestic oil output is surpassing OPEC producing nations…

Cut 10 (05) “at home.”

Prices could continue going up as oil is now past 60 dollars a barrel.

A Business Development Advisors study shows 77-thousand military jobs in Louisiana account for 7-point-7-billion-dollars in economic output.  Several military installations have been trimmed or closed completely across the U.S.  Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says it’s important that communication with Congress remains open to keep the state’s installations operating…

Cut 13 (10) “strong”

Governor John Bel Edwards presented a proposed spending plan to lawmakers today that reduces state funding for TOPS by 80-percent and slashes another 656-million dollars from the state health department’s budget. Edwards says the cuts are necessary, because the state is set lose about a billion dollars of revenue in July….
cut 3 (12) “….TOPS”
Edwards is considering a February special session so lawmakers can pass a tax reform plan to address the fiscal cliff. But Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says before raising taxes, the state should consider lowering state expenditures…
cut 6 (10) “…our expenses”
It’s unclear if a February special session will happen.

A study finds the military has an economic impact in Louisiana totalling over seven billion dollars. The Trump Administration has made it know they want to build up the nation’s military. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says that would be huge for Louisiana….
cut 12 (13) “…we can”
Pierson says there’s 77-thousand military related jobs in the state.

LSU crawfish researcher Doctor Greg Lutz is hopeful last year’s deep freeze in south Louisiana will not have a huge impact on this year’s mudbug harvest…..
cut 15 (11) “…not right now”
Lutz says to help improve the crawfish supply for the days leading up to Mardi Gras a long stretch of sunny, mild days is needed to warm up the ponds.

Governor John Bel Edwards proposed a budget today that calls for deep cuts in state funding including an 80 percent reducing to TOPS…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office is trying to identify a man whose pajama-clad body was found on a road next to a bicycle, about 3:45 a.m. They say the man was wearing red pajama pants, a camouflage shirt and brown work boots. Anyone with information about the man is urged to contact the Caddo Sheriff’s Office.

The crawfish season might be slightly delayed because of last week’s cold. Dr. Greg Lutz with the LSU Ag Center says mudbugs can’t move in frigid water, so the best thing for the harvest will be a long stretch of sunny, mild days so that the ponds warm up…:
Cut 16 (04) “pretty quickly”
He says crawfish will be around for Mardi Gras, but supply may be lower than normal affecting availability and price.

A recent study shows military related spending in Louisiana accounts for $7.7 billion in economic output, and 77-thousand jobs. That includes the seven military bases and the Louisiana National Guard. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says there is a forgotten group that helps to add to the economy, 27-thousand military retirees…:
Cut 11 (09) “our economy”
Total military spending in Louisiana was 1.52 billion in 2016, the highest since 2012.

Governor John Bel Edwards presented his “dooms-day” budget to lawmakers this morning, which reflected what one-billion-dollars in cuts would look like. It includes an 80% reduction in TOPS funding, if lawmakers can’t agree on a long-term tax reform plan. Republican Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt believes the administration can do better than these recommendations…:
Cut 6 (10) “our expenses”
Edwards challenged legislative leaders to publicly present a plan of their own…:
Cut 5 (12) “to cut”
The governor proposed a tax reform plan to cover 994-million dollars of the budget gap.

Crawfish season in Louisiana may be slightly delayed this year thanks to last week’s arctic blast, but the good news is that they did survive. Dr. Greg Lutz with the LSU Ag-Center says when it gets extremely cold, crawfish just sit there and can’t move even if they wanted to…:
CUT 12 (12) “walking into the traps”
Lutz says crawfish will be available for Mardi Gras, just not as plentiful and probably a little more expensive than normal.

Gas prices have seen a big jump throughout the nation and the state over the past few weeks. The current average in Louisiana is $2.36 a gallon, which is up 6 cents from the prior week.