In need: Louisiana’s flood recovery task force is recommending a small slice of the disaster relief aid approved by Congress be spent on financial assistance to small businesses and renters. As The Associated Press reports, the Restore Louisiana Task Force approved the proposals today, which would spend the remaining $32 million of the $438 million earmarked for Louisiana. The other $406 million already has been allocated to a homeowner repair program. Of the latest proposals, $12 million would pay for small business loans, grants and technical assistance. The other $20 million would cover assistance to renters impacted by the floods. The plans need federal approval before the dollars could be divvied up. State officials say the money allocated to Louisiana’s recovery isn’t nearly enough to cover the needs. They are seeking additional recovery grants from Congress.
On the ballot: Early voting for the Dec. 10 runoff election ends at 6 p.m. Saturday. The runoff election features several Metro Council races, the Baton Rouge mayoral race, the last remaining U.S. Senate race in the nation and several tax propositions. In a statement, Secretary of State Tom Schedler says turnout for December general elections is historically low, usually around 20% compared to almost 70% in November. Citizens who want to vote early may do so in person at their parish registrar of voters office or at other designated locations. Find a complete listing of early voting locations online.
Up and down: Louisiana’s rig count declined by four this week to 48, according to the recent tally by Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes. There were 52 active oil and gas rigs in Louisiana last week. Around this time last year, the state had 60 rigs. Nationally, the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas increased by four to 597, The Associated Press reports. A year ago, 737 rigs were active. Depressed energy prices have curtailed exploration, although the rig count has been rising in recent weeks. Baker Hughes says 477 rigs sought oil and 119 explored for natural gas this week. One was listed as miscellaneous. The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed out in May at 404.
