Customers asked to conserve energy: Entergy says storm damage in Arkansas, combined with high-water threats from the Mississippi River and hot weather, are putting a strain on its four-state electricity system. So far, Entergy’s 2.7 million customers in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas are not in danger of power curtailments or blackouts occurring because of a system overload, says Philip Allison, a spokesman for the company’s Entergy New Orleans division. Entergy has started cutting back power to some industrial customers covered by contracts that allow the company to curtail their usage during periods of heavy demand. “The situations are being monitored; we’re asking customers to conserve, but there’s no danger right now” of curtailments or blackouts, Allison says.
Adds to uncertainty over tenure with Saints: Reggie Bush insists he was only joking when he stirred up fans with posts on his Twitter account about enjoying free time during the NFL lockout. Bush drew critical responses from a number of his nearly 1.7 million Twitter followers when he posted: “Everybody complaining about the lockout! Shoot I’m making the most of it! Vacation, rest, relaxing, appearances here and there! I’m good!” Bush then added in a second post moments later: “Right about now we would be slaving in 100 degree heat, practicing twice a day, while putting our bodies at risk for nothing.” The timing of the posts heightened criticism of Bush because the flashy running back has been absent from workouts organized by quarterback Drew Brees, which have drawn dozens of Saints players to Tulane’s football facilities. The Twitter exchange marks the second time Bush made waves with a post since the NFL draft. Shortly after the Saints made a first-round trade to draft Alabama running back and former Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, Bush tweeted: “It’s been fun New Orleans,” before later posting another message welcoming Ingram to the team. All of the posts have come at a time when Bush’s future with the Saints is unclear. Bush is heading into the final season of a contract worth about $11.8 million for 2011, and the Saints expect him to take a pay cut this season.
Former LSU star leaving the NFL: Nine-time Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca announced his retirement today. The 6-foot-5, 316-pound lineman spent his first decade in the NFL with Pittsburgh, then signed a five-year, $40 million deal — $21 million guaranteed — with the New York Jets in 2008. Despite making his ninth consecutive Pro Bowl in 2009, Faneca was released by the Jets. He signed a one-year contract with Arizona, reuniting with his Steelers offensive line coach, Russ Grimm. Faneca’s Pro Bowl string of nine consecutive selections came to an end last season, although he was chosen an NFC alternate. Faneca, 34, the Steelers’ first-round draft pick out of LSU in 1998, has played in 206 NFL games.
