Looking ahead: Energy sector representatives will gather at LSU next week to discuss the current state of Louisiana’s energy-related industries in light of challenges arising from low energy prices and the current market surplus. The Center for Energy Studies and the LSU Economics & Policy Research Group will present “Energy Summit 2016: Managing Through Energy Challenges,” an all-day summit taking place at LSU on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Energy, Coast & Environment Building on LSU’s campus. Discussions will include: ExxonMobil’s energy outlook, an overview of the national political implications of recent energy challenges and the concerns and new opportunities for the petrochemical industry. The annual energy conference attracts representatives from major petrochemical and refining companies; state agencies; state legislators’ offices; regional investor-owned, municipal, and cooperative utilities; environmental groups; and university faculty. The event is open to the public, but registration is required.
Delinquent: The operator of north Louisiana hospitals for the poor and uninsured has missed its first payment to the state under a new agreement signed earlier this month,The Shreveport Times reports. Cody Wells, spokesman for Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, confirmed this morning that BRF—which runs safety net hospitals in Shreveport and Monroe—hasn’t paid the agreed upon $6.9 million that was due Monday nor has it put $5.3 million into an escrow account held by Dardenne’s office for further arbitration over disputed debts between BRF and LSU. The money is supposed to cover services rendered by LSU Health faculty and residents and is supposed to be a reimbursement for shared services that occurred in June, says Lisa Babin, an LSU Health Shreveport spokeswoman. BRF is required to pay an additional $37 million in services provided by LSU’s doctors since the organization took over the hospitals during former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s move to privatize state-run hospitals. Read the full story.
At a loss: New York-based Assurant Inc., an insurer of mobile phones and homes, says the flooding in Louisiana is partly to blame for the slump in the company’s third quarter profits. Bloomberg reports that Assurant posted the second-biggest decline in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, with net operating income between $54 million and $66 million compared to $104 million in last year’s third quarter. Assurant says catastrophes, including flooding in Louisiana, hurt its property unit. Results were worse than expected at the Solutions division, which backs phones and also issues extended-service contracts and credit insurance. Read the full story.
