TRANSCRIPT
You’re listening to Red River Radio News.
Good morning, I’m Jeff Ferrell.
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INTRO:
Early voting begins today in Texas. And the races for governor and U.S. Senate are only part of what voters will decide.
Depending on where you live, your ballot could also include races for judges, state lawmakers and local officials.
Ken Martin chairs the Democratic National Committee. He says a robust slate of elections on a ballot can boost voter turnout. And it can also help bring out voters for specific parties:
SOT:
“The best thing you can do is to have activity in every county and to have local candidates running and driving turnout. And so it’s, you know, it’s in everyone’s self-interest to actually take a whole ballot approach like the DNC is, right? A school board race helps you, you in a governor’s race, right? And a governor’s race helps you in your school board race.”
TAG:
The League of Women Voters provides nonpartisan candidate information at: Vote-4-1-1 dot org.
Early voting runs through Friday, October 30th in Texas. Early voting also begins today in Arkansas and runs through Monday, November 2nd. In Louisiana, early voting begins tomorrow and runs through next Tuesday, October 27th.
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INTRO:
Louisiana is looking to nuclear power to help meet growing demand for electricity. Louisiana Public radio reporter Sara Henegan has more:
SOT:
“Louisiana regulators are weighing whether utility customers should help pay for the state’s push to develop nuclear energy. The proposed Louisiana Advanced Nuclear Exploration program would allow utilities to charge customers about 20 cents a month — raising an estimated four million dollars a year. Commissioner Eric Skrmetta is proposing an alternative that would instead let utilities spend up to two million dollars on nuclear development, with those costs potentially recovered through future electricity rates. The program would explore advanced technologies, including small modular reactors and microreactors. The Public Service Commission is expected to vote next Thursday.”
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INTRO:
In Arkansas - Medicaid benefits have been cut for many legal immigrants, including refugees and victims of human trafficking.
The cuts, which became effective October 1st, come from new restrictions from the Trump Administration’s “one Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed into law last year.
The executive director of the resettlement agency Canopy Northwest Arkansas, Joanna Krause, says the cuts are expected to impact hundreds of people:
SOT:
“Refugees and immigrants pay taxes; their businesses create job opportunities for others. It’s a tremendous investment locally and in our state. So to take away this public benefit, which can be, you know, a lifeline, it can cause significant hardship.”
TAG:
Krause spoke to Arkansas Public Radio station KUAF.
She says the federal agency in charge of issuing ‘green cards’ for refugees and asylum seekers has also stalled processing applications:
SOT:
“So here at Canopy we have some families who have submitted a timely green card application as long ago as two years and it has not been processed They’re still waiting for, on this administrative processing that would have enabled them to access these public benefits that some families really, really need.”
TAG:
Nearly 1 million legal immigrants are estimated to lose eligibility for federal subsidies for insurance by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
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The National Weather Service in Shreveport is calling for:
- Sunny and mild conditions both today and tomorrow… with the high both days expected to reach 77 degrees to kick off our work week.
- That sun sticks around and by Wednesday we’ll see a warm-up, with a high near 82, then 83 Thursday and Friday, in what looks to be a dry week ahead.
- Dry air will continue to remain in place on Monday and will combine with dry fuels and drought conditions to promote an environment prone to wildfire ignitions.
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