TRANSCRIPT
You’re listening to Red River Radio News.
Good morning, I’m Jeff Ferrell.
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INTRO:
A group of Louisiana landowners is suing the Public Service Commission, alleging the commission improperly fast-tracked projects tied to Meta’s Richland Parish data center.
Louisiana Public Radio’s Adam Vos reports:
SOT:
“The group is suing the PSC over what the commission calls the “Lightning Directive” — a policy that fast-tracks utility approval processes. The suit claims the PSC violated the state constitution in the way the policy was approved. William Most, the attorney for the plaintiffs, says though the PSC can have looser rules than other state commissions, it still has an obligation to inform the public about agenda items — especially ones that could directly affect the public. “ I mean, if you wanna look up rules, you look at the rule book, and for some reason, the commission has decided not to include this in their rule book.” The groups say they hope the suit will delay a vote on seven gas plants intended to power Meta’s data centers – a vote scheduled for next month.”
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INTRO:
Now that the Midterm elections are behind us – save for a pair of U.S. House runoffs next month – attention is now shifting to next year’s gubernatorial election in Louisiana.
John Couvillon with JMC Analytics and Polling says Jeff Landry will likely run for re-election, but he cannot take Republican support for granted:
SOT:
“It’s not like everybody who voted for Donald Trump is irrevocably going to be voting Republican; we just saw that Tuesday night, where there were quite a few upsets and near-upsets across the Deep South.”
TAG:
Couvillon says several high-profile Democrats like Senate candidate Jamie Davis and Louisiana state Senator Jay Luneau will also likely throw their hats into the ring.
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INTRO:
In Texas, for the first time, a woman and a Black lawmaker could lead the state House.
Houston Democrat Senfronia Thompson says she has enough support to become speaker.
The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey reports:
SOT:
“Thompson says the speaker’s gavel belongs to the people of Texas. And she expects lawmakers to work on education; health care and the other priorities voters sent them to Austin to address. “And not to be bickering and fighting about little wee-wee things that really have no place within our legislative process.” Thompson says she’d also allow Republicans to chair House committees because the chamber needs expertise from both parties. House rules adopted last year reserved standing committee chairmanships for the majority party. Democrats won control of the chamber Tuesday. House members will elect their next speaker in January.”
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INTRO:
In Arkansas, federal Agriculture officials are rolling out changes to a program aimed at helping cotton farmers.
Changes to the Great American Cotton Plan include more crop insurance flexibility and expanding protections for farmers.
As Little Rock Public Radio reports, it’s all part of legislation known as the Working Families Tax Cut.
Richard Fordyce is the undersecretary for farm production and conservation with the USDA.
And Fordyce says one key component is offering more supplemental crop insurance coverage to cotton growers:
SOT:
“That’s a big thing for folks from a risk management standpoint. It really allows them to insure a higher percentage of what their guarantee is. And that is administered through the risk management agency, the agency that handles crop insurance.”
TAG:
Fordyce says more support will also be offered to cotton producers with a proven track record of success, regardless of the size of the operation.
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The National Weather Service in Shreveport is calling for:
- Sunny conditions today, with a high near 76.
- Tomorrow: veterans day, more sun, with the high inching up to 78 and breezy.
- Thursday: a gradual cooling begins with a high near 72
- Then 67 Friday and Saturday.
- By Sunday, a small chance for showers returns with a high near 68.
The National Weather Service is cautioning that increased wind speed and lower humidity levels will allow for the chance of increased wildfire activity on Thursday.
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