No peeping: Louisiana lawmakers want to bar trespassers and peeping Toms from using drones to gain access to homes and schools under two measures sent to the governor’s desk. The Associated Press reports that the House voted unanimously today to give final passage to proposals from Reps. Marcus Hunter, a Monroe Democrat, and Stephen Dwight, a Lake Charles Republican. Hunter’s measure would add the use of unmanned aircraft to video voyeurism crimes. Dwight’s bill would specifically limit drone use near schools, school property or correctional facilities.The bills make exceptions for police, situations where the landowner grants permission and for pre-agreed recordings like sporting events.
Down some: First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending May 28 decreased from the previous week’s total. The Associated Press reports the state labor department figures released today show that initial claims fell to 3,138 from the previous week’s total of 3,165. For the comparable week a year earlier, there were 3,299. The four-week moving average, which is a less volatile measure of claims, increased to 3,024 from the previous week’s total of 2,881. Continued unemployment claims claimed for the week ending May 28 decreased to 23,365 compared to 23,394 in the previous week. The four-week moving average for such claims increased to 23,045 from the previous week’s average of 22,917.
Something positive: Nationally, the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. rose by four this week to 408, The Associated Press reports. It was the first gain in months and halted a slide that pushed the count to record-low levels amid collapsed energy prices. A year ago, 868 rigs were active. Meanwhile, the number of active oil and gas rigs in Louisiana fell by one this week, bringing the state’s rig count back down to 47. According to Baker Hughes, a Houston-based oil services company, there are 20 active rigs offshore in south Louisiana; seven on land in south Louisiana; four inland on water in south Louisiana; and 16 in north Louisiana.
