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…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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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.

Cut 5  (11)  “those investments”

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.

Cut 6 (09) “for Louisiana”

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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.

Cut 7 (06)  “other states”

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.

Cut 8 (12) “that’s needed”

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.

Cut 9 (09)  “number decrease”

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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.

Cut 10 (10) “physically active”

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.

Cut 11 (11) “things like that”

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.

Cut 12 (10) “one job”

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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.

Cut 13 (07) “to do these”

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.

Cut 14 (10) “these projects”

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.

Cut 15 (11) “three years”

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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…

Cut 16 (17) “offense”

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

Cut 17 (15)  “awful lot”

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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…

Cut 18 (20) “possibility”

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…

Cut 19 (14)   “gets done”

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…

Cut 20 (19)   “open market”

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves a proposal that does not increase funding for public schools. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A federal judge once again blocks a state law that would prohibit women under 21-years-old from exotic dancing. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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No charges are expected in the fatal shooting that occurred when a 40-year-old man attempted to break into a Baton Rouge home this morning. Authorities say Anthony Gordon was shot and killed by the homeowner during a confrontation, after forcing his way into the house at around 1:30 a.m. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore says the homeowner had every right to defend his home.

Cut 3 (10) “something wrong”

Gordon was pronounced dead at the scene. Moore says an investigation into the shooting is underway…

cut 4  (05) “justified shooting”

Baton Rouge police say Gordon was armed with a gun when he tried to gain entry into the home. Moore says Louisiana law allows homeowners to use lethal force to defend themselves…

Cut 5  (07)  “every case”

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State funding for public schools is at a standstill, as the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves a proposal that does not increase state funding per student. Executive Director of the Louisiana School Boards Association, Scott Richard, says the outlook for K-12 schools is pretty bleak.

Cut 6 (09) “funding formula”

Richard says like anything else, the cost of operating a school is going up every year, but funding has not increased. He says federal funding is also in a decline, which leaves local school districts to pick up the lion’s share of the costs.

CUT 7 (10)  “serious concern”

BESE says continued state budget problems makes it difficult to ask and receive an increase in state funding. Richard says educating our children should be more of a priority for lawmakers.

Cut 8 (10) “year after year”

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It looks like the coaching days of Johnny Jones are coming to an end. Jones has been the head basketball coach at LSU since 2012, where he won more games in his first four years than any other basketball coach in the school’s history. But the team failed to make the NCAA Tournament last year and this season, they only won two SEC games. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham…

Cut 9 (07)  “basketball”

Worsham says the biggest problem with Jones was his inability to get more out of last year’s team with talented players, like Ben Simmons.

Cut 10 (11) “program’s reputation”

Worsham says LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva has money to spend and should be willing  to invest in a good basketball coach….

cut 11 (08) “head coaches”

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A federal judge in New Orleans has once again blocked a state law that makes the minimum age to be an exotic dancer 21-years-old. Three strippers filed suit after the state legislature passed the legislation last year and their attorney is Harry Rosenberg….

cut 12 (07) “vague”

The women were 18, 19, and 20 when the suit was originally filed. Rosenberg says Judge Carl Barbier’s ruling ensures the law will not go into effect until this case goes to trial at a later date.

Cut 13 (09) “from dancing” 

Rosenberg says their argument to the court was that the law prohibited women aged 18 to 20 from expressing their right to free speech through dance. He says the basis for the court’s ruling granting the injunction stemmed from the extremely broad nature of the law.

cut 14 (11) “broad”

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