TRANSCRIPT
You’re listening to Red River Radio News. Good morning, I’m Jeff Ferrell. ********
INTRO:
A crucial piece of information about the large Meta data center in Richland Parish was accidentally revealed by the CEO of utility company Entergy.
As Coastal reporter Michael McEwen shares, ratepayer advocates have fought in court for months to obtain the information:
SOT:
“4,500 Megawatts, or about four times the peak power demand of all of the city of New Orleans, is the closely guarded number Entergy and Meta have fought to keep private for months. The companies have told state utility regulators that revealing that information, which they argue justifies building ten new gas plants to power the facility, could expose them to business harms. Entergy CEO Phillip May was defending the new gas power plants ahead of a crucial – and expedited – Public Service Commission approval vote as early as November.”
<**** NEW STORY ****>
INTRO:
In Texas, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa has proposed a one-time $1,500 payment to every Texas household using money from the state’s rainy-day fund.
Hinojosa says the fund has grown far beyond historical levels while Texans are struggling with electricity bills, insurance cost and other expenses.
She added that the rebate would return some of that money directly to taxpayers and help rebuild trust in state government:
SOT:
“We've never had so much money in the rainy-day fund. It has historically been at 10 billion, but it has been hoarded by our current leadership, including Greg Abbott. They're trying to shrink the government by hoarding it and not spending it. So, I say, then just send it back to the people.”
TAG:
Hinojosa’s campaign estimates the proposal would cost $17 billion and would require legislative approval.
Governor Greg Abbott declined an invitation for an interview.
<**** NEW STORY ****>
INTRO:
Louisiana’s leadership roles in the U.S. House could be in jeopardy according to a conservative political scientist.
On “Talk Louisiana,” LSU Shreveport Political Scientist Jeff Sadow says Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise will most likely be demoted from their leadership roles if Democrats win the majority as he predicts:
SOT:
“It looks unlikely that Louisiana is gonna continue to have both the speakership and the majority leader in the House. It looks like the Democrats will take over there. I don't expect it to be by a large amount, but I think it's heading in that direction.”
TAG:
Sadow also predicts if the GOP keeps control of the Senate it will be only by a slight majority.
Early voting in Louisiana begins on October 20th for the November 3rd election.
<**** NEW STORY ****>
INTRO:
In Arkansas, Republicans are spending big on the midterm elections.
In the race for the U.S. Senate, incumbent Tom Cotton is outspending his Democratic opponent Hallie Shoffner 65-to-1. That’s according to AdImpact data.
That’s led to questions why the national Democratic party is not pouring money into her campaign.
But “Talk Business” host Roby Brock offered some insight into why Shoffner isn’t getting more help on the national level:
SOT:
“I know from some sources I have talked to in D.C. on the Democratic side in the Senate side there, they feel like if they spread themselves too thin they blow the opportunity to win the four seats that they need to take the majority.”
TAG:
The latest poll, sponsored by Cotton’s campaign now shows the incumbent with an 11-point lead.
<**** FORECAST ****>
The National Weather Service in Shreveport is calling for:
- Sunny skies and high near 92 on this Columbus day with wind gusts as high as 20 miles per hour.
- Tomorrow: a slight chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Still, mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Wednesday:the forecast calls for the same high, while the chance for rain and storms rises to 20%.
- Southerly winds will return with some increase in speed today (5-10 mph) under mostly sunny skies, which will ultimately maintain temperature maximums in the lower 90s across the Four State Region.
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