A bill to name a proposed new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge after President Trump has received approval from the House Transportation Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
____________________________________________
The U.S. Geological Survey sent a team to northwest Louisiana to install new equipment to assist in detecting earthquakes. This, in the wake of a series of tremors triggered by last week’s magnitude 4.9 in Red River Parish. Joe Gallinaro reports.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”
____________________________________________
The Department of Insurance released the benchmarks for hurricane premium discounts for those with fortified roofs. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
______________________________________________
A proposed Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge could be named after President Trump. The House Transportation has approved legislation by Monroe Representative Michael Echols to name the new bridge the “President Donald J. Trump Expressway.” Echols says naming the bridge after the President could result in securing the needed three-billion dollars in federal funding for construction.
Cut 4 (12) “…of that reality.”
The bill passed on a 12-to-2 vote.
Echols is also in the running to replace Republican Julia Letlow in Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District.
Shreveport Democrat Joy Walters voted against the legislation. Walters suggested that naming the bridge after the current President should be an idea coming from Louisiana’s congressional delegation. She also asked Echols if he was trying to score political points for his Congressional campaign.
Cut 5 (10) “…get his attention.”
State transportation officials are looking to build a bridge south of the current I-10 bridge, connecting LA Highway 1 in Iberville Parish to LA Highway 30 in Ascension Parish to reduce congestion in the capital city. Denham Springs Republican Representative Kellee Dickerson says the alternative to foregoing federal funding for the bridge would draw the ire of drivers everywhere.
Cut 6 (06) “…a chalk board.”
Tolls will be used to pay for a portion of the new I-10 Lake Charles bridge. Echols’ measure heads to the House floor for more consideration.
____________________________________________________
After a series of earthquakes in northwest Louisiana triggered by Thursday’s magnitude 4.9 in Red River Parish, the U.S. Geological Survey spent time this week installing new equipment to assist in detecting earthquakes. Among those on the team was Cynthia Ebinger (uh-BING-er) with the Tulane University School of Science and Engineering, who says this is standard operating procedure.
Cut 7 (12) “…the ground accelerations.”
Ebinger says the data collected from those instruments will be very beneficial.
Cut 8 (10) “…to be done.”
Ebinger says she’s done prior studies using the equipment to examine the connection between earthquakes and wastewater injection, which is prevalent in states like Texas and Oklahoma where earthquake activity is increasing.
Cut 9 (14) “…few near Coushatta.”
________________________________________________________
The Department of Insurance releases its benchmarks for hurricane-only premium discounts for fortified roofs. Commissioner Tim Temple says there are a total of nine tiers, and they’re based on two factors.
Cut 10 (09) “…silver or gold.”
The silver and gold designations refer to higher levels of mitigation. The discounts on hurricane coverage range from 16-percent for those in north Louisiana with a base-level fortified roof to 49-percent for those in south Louisiana with a gold-level fortified roof. Temple says insurance companies looking to deviate from those discount percentages will need to justify their reasons.
Cut 11 (10) “…to pay claims.”
Temple says he hopes these discounts will be the overriding factor in convincing people – especially those along the coast – considering a fortified roof to make the move.
Cut 12 (09) “…in south Louisiana.”
The discounts take effect January 1st.
___________________________________________________________
The LSU men’s basketball team opens SEC Tournament play today against ninth-seeded Kentucky at 11:30 a.m. Today’s game could be the last for Matt McMahon as LSU’s head coach, as he holds a 17-and-54 record in SEC play over four seasons in Baton Rouge. However, Tiger Rag editor Glenn Guilbeau believes McMahon is likely to return next year due to LSU’s current financial situation.
Cut 13 (08) “…overextended right now.”
Guilbeau says it may be too late to fire McMahon now and believes a better time would be next year, when LSU is in a stronger financial position.
Cut 14 (14) “…gets real expensive.”
If LSU ends up firing McMahon, Guilbeau says a reunion with Will Wade in Baton Rouge could be possible, given the support Wade has from the current administration.
Cut 15 (13) “…love at LSU.”
_____________________________________________________________
The Saints’ several new free agency signings will become official at three p.m. today when the new NFL league year officially begins. New Orleans’ most notable addition is former Jaguars running back and Jennings native Travis Etienne. WWL Saints sideline reporter Jeff Nowak says Etienne is a great pickup.
Cut 16 (15) “…his four seasons.”
The Saints addressed a key positional need by signing offensive guard David Edwards. Edwards, who spent the past three seasons with Buffalo and won a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2022, is expected to start at left guard. According to Nowak, his addition gives the offensive line the potential to be something special next season.
Cut 17 (14) “…looking offensive line.”
New Orleans also reinforced its tight-end room by signing Noah Fant. Nowak says Fant is a versatile player who can be used in multiple ways in Kellen Moore’s offense.
Cut 18 (17) “…on the field.”
Nowak says Etienne’s signing raises questions about what Alvin Kamara’s future in New Orleans might look like.
Cut 19 (14) “…next few months.”