Here’s the pitch: Gov. John Bel Edwards is traveling to Washington, D.C. today to pitch Louisiana’s case for additional federal flood relief aid, The Associated Press reports. The governor will be in the capital today and Friday. Spokesman Richard Carbo says it’s the first of several trips Edwards will make to Washington in the next few weeks to discuss flood assistance with Obama administration officials and congressional leaders. Edwards is asking for $2 billion in federal disaster block grant money from Congress. The governor says Louisiana had at least $8.7 billion in damage from the catastrophic flooding. The figure is expected to rise. Read the full story.
Delayed: The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is delaying a drawdown on False River because of recent flooding in the area. As The Associated Press reports, project engineers say they expect no adverse effects from flooding, but they recommend delaying the drawdown as a precaution. The move was originally set to begin Tuesday, but is now scheduled a week later, barring significant rainfall. The lake will be lowered 1.5 inches per day to a maximum of 6 feet below pool stage. The slow drop is recommended to allow proper drainage of the shoreline. The lake will remain open to fishing and other recreational activities during the drawdown. The drawdown is scheduled to close Jan. 15, and the lake will be allowed to refill. Read the full story.
Changes ahead: Jack Fusco, Cheniere Energy’s new CEO, says he is focused on streamlining the company now that it’s regularly sending tankers of U.S. shale aboard, Bloomberg reports. Fusco, who joined Cheniere in May, says the company is due for a transition that will move it away from the complex structure of a project developer. Fusco also is seeking to improve communication across departments and establish clear career paths and compensation targets for employees. Fusco adds that Cheniere is focused on making every future plant, known as a train, better, cheaper and fast. Cheniere has plans to build at least seven trains that will liquefy gas at its Sabine Pass export terminal in Louisiana and in Corpus Christi, Texas. Read the full story.
