Louisiana
Landry sends mixed messages with ‘carbon neutral’ comments, trial lawyer ties – Louisiana Illuminator
Gov.-elect Jeff Landry’s pick for Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality secretary last week was something of a head-scratcher. It’s not so surprising he picked a former Trump administration employee for the job, but Aurelia Skipwith Giacometto’s background as leader of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has many questioning why she would be considered a good fit.
Perhaps even more befuddling was Landry’s take when asked about his views on Gov. John Bel Edwards’ Climate Action Plan, specifically its carbon neutral goals. The current governor wants Louisiana to reach net-zero carbon emission status by 2050, stair-stepping from a 26% to 28% reduction in the next two years and 40% to 50% by 2030, all based on 2005 CO2 pollution levels.
“Trying to be carbon neutral at this time is extremely destructive on the economy and on the backs of working people,” Landry said. “Our petrochemical industry — our oil and gas industry — has lifted more people out of poverty globally than any other industry on the planet.”
The governor-elect’s statement seems to ignore the 30 or so carbon capture projects planned for Louisiana, many of them with the petrochemical industry’s support — philosophically, financially or both.
Landry’s climate plan criticism likely has more to do with his friendliness toward fossil fuel interests, although carbon sequestration itself has ample skeptics. Environmentalists have noted emissions from sources needed to power some methods of carbon capture more than offset the benefits. Plus, neighbors of storage projects proposed for Louisiana and elsewhere fear their impact on groundwater, ecosystems and the environment.
It will be interesting to see if Landry lines up with carbon capture opponents if the fossil fuel industry continues to support the technology. The next governor just might be signaling carbon neutrality won’t be a priority for his administration, meaning industry interests can punt on capture and sequestration for the foreseeable future.
“We want to be able to balance our environment and our industries and the jobs they create,” Landry said. “Worrying about one over the other is counterproductive to growing Louisiana.”
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An optimist would look at Landry’s comments and say he plans to seek balance between industrial growth and limiting pollution, but is there such a thing as water or air that’s “clean enough?”
Scales at the Department of Environmental Quality have long been tipped in favor of industry, to the point that critics see the agency as little more than as a reflexive rubber stamp in the permit process. Giacometto’s pending appointment and Landry’s mixed messages have done nothing to sway that impression.
Another wait-and-see scenario for Landry involves the big-time campaign contributions he received from trial lawyers, a group often at odds with Big Oil in Louisiana. State records show they gave close to $1 million to Landry and his political action committees heading into the October primary. That includes money from attorneys leading individual parish lawsuits against exploration companies seeking billions to repair damage they’ve caused along the state’s coast.
Landry also accepted major donations from oil and gas companies and Republican mega-donors linked to the industry. Besides, it’s easy to conclude trial lawyers, historically a profession linked to Democratic causes, simply want to stay in the next governor’s good graces now that he and the legislature put the GOP in full control of state government.
Anne Rolfes has long called for greater accountability from oil and gas companies as director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, an activist group that seeks to curb the petrochemical sector’s unbridled growth. She told the Illuminator she’s less concerned with Landry’s views on climate change than his grasp of the connection it has to other problems Louisiana faces.
“Given all of the disasters in the state — from wildfires and droughts to flooding and skyrocketing homeowners insurance — curbing emissions that warm our planet would be prudent,” Rolfes said. “The measure of Jeff Landry’s administration will be how he handles these multiple disasters. I don’t care if he acknowledges that they are caused by climate change or not. The bottom line is: Will his administration take the existential threats seriously and start to halt emissions and industrial expansion? For the future of our state, I hope so.”
Louisiana
Try your hand at micro gardening this summer. And bid farewell to Miss Louisiana 2023 Makenzie Scroggs
Take on a new hobby this summer with micro-gardening, a great way to grow a cost-effective and adaptable garden in a small space. Check out a few helpful tips to growing vegetables in small spaces. For those that enjoy nature and hunting, find out where you can hunt alligators in northwest and south Louisiana.
Whether you decide to celebrate Dad with a hunting trip or his favorite restaurant, here are ways to celebrate Father’s Day. And Miss Louisiana 2023 says goodbye to the crown.
Explore Outdoors: Gardening and hunting
Although a garden may feel like an impossible task due to limited outdoor space, the power of containers and small space strategies can help, according to an LSU AG Center news release.
This type of gardening is known as micro gardening — a way to maximize limited spaces. By optimizing small areas through sustainable practices, it’s possible to grow food and flowers on balconies, kitchen counters, patios, porches, small yards and even rooftops. Enjoy fresh produce and beautiful flowers regardless of their lot size with these helpful tips.
Read more about micro-gardening Grow a cost-effective and adaptable garden in a small space
Where can you hunt alligators in south Louisiana?
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will begin the alligator lottery harvest Aug. 28 and will last until Nov. 2. According to the LDWF, 22 LDWF Wildlife Management Areas, 28 public lakes and one U.S. Army Corp of Engineers lake will be on this list of properties to conduct the lottery.
Learn about fees, locations, and more Where can you hunt alligators in south Louisiana? LDWF releases list of locations
Best Father’s Day
Is your dad fashionable? Artistic? Sporty? Or a Foodie? This Father’s Day, plan the perfect day to appreciate the father figure in your life, even a the last minute. With so many great places in Lafayette, Father’s Day weekend can be celebrated right in the area with some of these local inspired gifts, outings, and eateries for Dad.
Ways to celebrate Father’s Day Whether dad is a foodie, artistic, or sporty, here are ways to celebrate Father’s Day
Crowning the new Queen
Before the new Miss Louisiana was crowned Saturday night, outgoing Miss Louisiana 2023 Makenzie Scroggs reflected on her reign. Scroggs was crowned the 60th Miss Louisiana on June 18, 2023.
Following her crowning, she told The Times she planned to use her title as a tool to show that women can do anything they put their minds to. In the past year, Scroggs has traveled 25,000 miles across the state and has visited more than 25 schools talking about her program and confidence-building workshops.
Read more about Scroggs journey Miss Louisiana Makenzie Scroggs reflects as she gets ready to say goodbye to the crown
Miss Louisiana will be named in a competition offering scholarships and in-kind prizes that concludes tonight.
After months of preparation, 32 women across Louisiana will compete in the final round at 8 p.m. at the Monroe Civic Center to see who will hold the coveted title over the next year.
The preliminary round of the competition resulted in over $10,000 in scholarships awarded and included competitions of health & fitness, evening wear, on-stage conversation and talent.
A spokesperson for the Miss Louisiana Organization said the women competing will be awarded nearly $1 million in scholarships and in-kind prizes for women who have achieved particular merit in their field by the end of the final round.
So far, the following women have received awards in the preliminary rounds:
- Miss University of Louisiana at Monroe, Gabrelle McLeod. McLeod was awarded a $250 newcomer health & fitness award and a $500 overall preliminary health & fitness award.
- Miss Ouachita Parish, Leah Thompson, received a $500 newcomer talent award.
- Miss Belle of the D’Arbonne, Anna Katherine Thompson, won an overall talent award with a scholarship of $1,000.
Multiple women have received a “Women-in” scholarship of $1,000 for their accomplishments in their fields:
- Miss Dixie Stockshow, Katherine McCullars
- Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival, Olivia Grace George
- Miss New Orleans, Megan Magri
- Miss Belle of the D’Arbonne, Anna-Katherine Thompson
Four women in STEAM fields also received $500 scholarships for their contributions:
The next time you dine at your favorite Waffle House in Louisiana, it will cost you more to get those world-famous hashbrowns “scattered, smothered, and covered.”
Waffle House CEO Joe Rogers III recently said that the company is planning to raise menu prices soon.
Rogers told employees in a video message last month that plans are laid out to offset the cost of increased wages by raising menu prices at restaurants. He said the move was necessary to “pay for this journey.”
Of course, most would consider Waffle House a pretty inexpensive place to dine. (Last time I went there, it cost about $20 for me and my bride to eat.)
“Make no mistake, whatever that edge is that we currently have with menu pricing, that is going to shrink a little bit in a few years,” Rogers said. “But our bet is the prevailing talent and attitudes we have behind the counter will be our biggest competitive differentiator of the future.”
Waffle House will be strategic in its price increases. Rogers said that restaurants in major cities — like Dallas and Atlanta — will have more “room” to raise prices than restaurants in “suburban or rural” areas.
“Our menu prices in a rural town are relative to competitors’ menu prices in that rural town. So we may not have as much room to increase prices as we have in a large city.”
The bigger increases in larger cities are designed to offset the higher costs of living for employees working at those locations.
GioandJC via YouTube
Regarding the exact price increases, Waffle House representatives weren’t ready to disclose that or provide additional details.
With rising prices, customers will have rising expectations, Rogers said.
“This means that our levels of hospitality and service, the cleanliness of our units, and the preparation and portion size of our food, among other things, all need to elevate to a new level if we are going to be successful,” he said.
This latest news piggybacks somewhat off of Waffle House’s announcement in May that it plans to raise workers’ wages via a system designed to begin increasing base pay, provide tenure-based bonus pay, and offer “premiums” for certain shifts.
The first wage increases went into effect in June, according to Rogers’ video message.
Waffle House is based in Norcross, Georgia, and currently operates over 1,900 locations in 25 states, mostly in the South and Midwest.
Louisiana currently has 102 Waffle House restaurants, which is the fourth-most in the country behind Texas, Tennessee, and Alabama.
Most Expensive Home for Rent in Destin, Florida During Summer 2024
This amazing beachfront vacation home in Destin features 7 bedrooms, 7+ bathrooms, and about 10,000 square feet of living area. But, it’ll set you back about $35K for one week!
Gallery Credit: VRBO
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