Drilling down to it: The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in Louisiana increased to 118 this week, up three from a week ago, according to a report form Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. Louisiana led the major oil- and gas-producing states for rig additions this week, followed by Wyoming with two. The number of rigs nationwide fell by18 this week to 1,935 from the previous week. From a year ago, Louisiana is down 56 rigs. You can access the complete report here.
Decision delayed: The state ethics board has deferred a decision on whether BESE member Kira Orange-Jones can keep her elected seat and her job as executive director of the New Orleans branch of Teach For America. Alainna Giacone, spokeswoman for the ethics board, says that Orange-Jones’ attorney asked for the postponement until the panel’s August meeting. The ethics board staff has suggested Orange-Jones shouldn’t be getting a paycheck from Teach For America while she sits on the state board of education.
National tragedy hits home: A Baton Rouge teenager was among the dozens wounded when a gunman opened fire in a crowded Colorado movie theater. A family friend of Bonnie Kate Pourciau tells WAFB-TV the 18-year-old was shot in the knee, and the teen’s parents were on the way to Colorado to be with her. Twelve people were reported killed in the shooting, which happened early Friday morning during a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie in suburban Aurora, Colo. Elizabeth Sumrall, a family friend of Pourciau’s who also lives in the Baton Rouge area, was also reportedly in the theater but not injured.
