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BATON ROUGE — Lawmakers in the Louisiana House voted Monday to prohibit banks from being able to refuse to do business with companies involved in gun and ammunition manufacturing and sales.
The proposal by Republican Rep. Blake Miguez, of Erath, comes after Citigroup and Bank of America enacted firearm restriction policies for corporate customers in response to a deadly high school shooting in Florida.
Miguez said such policies violate the Second Amendment rights of lawful gun and ammunition dealers and could limit their ability to maintain their businesses. He said banks should "stick to the banking business and not the social policymaking business."
The House voted 66-27 for the measure, sending it to the Senate for debate.
Opponents said the legislation restricts the First Amendment rights of companies and inappropriately meddles in private business operations.
"It's called capitalism. If you don't like what the bank's telling you, you go down the street and find another bank," said Rep. Sam Jones, a Franklin Democrat.
Under the bill, Louisiana's attorney general would be able to investigate possible violations.
NEW YORK (AP) — Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is financing a bid by Occidental Petroleum for Anadarko, potentially upending Chevron’s $33 billion offer for the energy company.
Anadarko and Chevron signed a merger agreement earlier this month, but Anadarko Petroleum said Monday that it is now considering an offer from Occidental worth about $57 billion in cash and stock, including debt and book value of non-controlling interest. Chevron’s offer would be worth about $50 billion by the same metric.
When Chevron announced its bid for Anadarko on April 12, it came as a surprise to Vicki Hollub, the CEO of Occidental. She had been pursuing Anadarko for two years and was in what she considered to be friendly negotiations, although she was aware Anadarko was being targeted by another company.
“We are thrilled to have Berkshire Hathaway’s financial support of this exciting opportunity,” Hollub said Tuesday in a prepared statement. “We look forward to engaging with Anadarko’s board of directors to deliver this superior transaction to our respective shareholders.”
Anadarko revealed Monday that it was reconsidering Occidental’s bid, setting up the rare possibility of a bidding war in the oil patch. Chevron maintained Tuesday that its signed agreement with Anadarko is still superior.
The competing bids between Chevron and Occidental are an unusual turn of events for the oil and gas industry. “Even if we look back at two decades of history, this is virtually unprecedented,” said Pavel Molchanov, senior vice president and equity research analyst at Raymond James & Associates.
The entry of Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway could give Chevron pause and that was the perception on Wall Street early Tuesday.
Shares of Chevron rose 3 percent with many investors believing it would not be laying out billions of dollars for Anadarko.
Berkshire said Tuesday it will invest $10 billion in Occidental. Berkshire will receive 100,000 preferred shares plus a warrant to purchase up to 80 million shares of Occidental common stock at an exercise price of $62.50 each. The preferred stock will accrue dividends at 8% per year. Occidental shares traded at around $58, down 2 percent, Tuesday morning.
The investment is contingent on Occidental entering into and completing its proposed acquisition of Anadarko.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., based in Omaha, Nebraska, owns a range of businesses including insurance, railroads, utilities, jewelry stores as well as major investments in American Express, IBM and Wells Fargo & Co.
Viva White Solar, a native of Chillicothe, Texas and a resident of Amelia for 64 years, at the age of 90 after a 12-year long and hard journey with Alzheimer’s disease, went home to meet her Lord and Savior on Monday, April 29, 2019. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother that was loved by everyone that knew her.
Those she leaves to cherish her memory are her daughters, Glenda (Reed) Gros of Patterson, Faye (Rickey) Arceneaux of Bayou L’Ourse, and Annette (Gary) Blanco of Patterson, and her son, James (Mary) Solar of Millport, Alabama; eight grandchildren, Beth Hayes, James Solar, Michele Amedee, Melissa Cooley, Eric Gros, Garrett Blanco, Amanda Liner and Duane “Spanky” Blanco; 12 great-grandchildren, Holden and Ashley Hayes, Blade and Hannah Solar, Brennen Cooley, Peyton and Luke Amedee, Angie Gros, Lainey, Mason and Bennett Blanco, and Addison Liner. She is also survived by her nieces, nephews, her great-nieces and great-nephews, as well as other extended family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence “C.J.” Solar; her parents, Horace and Fannie White; and four sisters, Eula Rodgers, Reba Watson, Ethel Stoughton, and infant Sarah White.
The family requests that a time of visitation and remembrance be observed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 from 9 a.m. until time of services at 1 p.m. at Pharr Chapel United Methodist Church of Morgan City. Following services, Viva will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery. Reverend Ann Sutton will officiate the services.
PRAYER
National Day of Prayer celebrated in the Tri-City area May 2. Times and places: 8:30-9 a.m., Patterson City Hall; 12:05-12:50 p.m., Southwest Reef Lighthouse (under U.S. 90 bridge if it rains), Berwick; and 12:10-12:35 p.m., Morgan City City Hall, 512 First St. (Morgan City Municipal Auditorium if it rains). Public invited.
CAMP MEETINGS
Hosted by Women of Light of Living in the Light Ministries, 2106 La. 182, Bayou Vista. Close-out meeting 10 a.m. Saturday, May 4. Guest speaker Pastor Izetta Ledet, Champion Life Ministries, Jeanerette. Casual attire. Public invited.
FEEDING PROGRAM
For needy and senior citizens is at noon, Saturday, May 11, at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church, 113 Federal Ave., Morgan City. For info call 985-384-6800.
FAMILY DAY
The Children’s Water Safety Awareness Annual Family Day and Car Show is 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 11 at the Hercules Pavilion on Houma Airbase. Features live music, food and sign-ups for free swimming and CPR lessons. For info call Joey Vining, 985-860-6625, Jodie Vining, 986-226-2665, or Ken Marcel, 985-637-7746.
July 15, 1958 - April 28, 2019
Rachel Borne Prince, a native and lifelong resident of Franklin, passed away at the age of 60 in the evening hours of Sunday, April 28, 2019, at Iberia Medical Center in New Iberia.
Those she leaves to cherish her memory include her husband of 30 years, Kirt Prince; her nephew, Chad Borne and his four children; her niece, Tiffany Borne Larosa and her husband Sal and their five children; her sister-in-law, Tracy Prince Lawrence and her two children, W. Ryan Lawrence and his daughter Aubrey, and Rebecca Lawrence Pye and her husband Jason; as well as a host of extended family members.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Sidney Paul Borne and Lena Theriot Borne; her brother, Clyde Borne and his wife Erin Gaudet Borne; and her brother, Shelton Borne.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 2, 2019, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Baldwin during a 2 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial, with a gathering of family and friends beginning at 1 p.m. Following the Mass, inurnment will follow in the Franklin Cemetery. Father Cedric Sonnier will be the Celebrant for the Mass, with Father Oneil Landry and Father Billy Ruskoski concelebrating.
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, La. 70538, (337) 828-5426.
The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
Monday, April 29
2:15 p.m. 700 block of Everett Street; Alarm.
2:32 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Telephone harassment.
2:43 p.m. 2100 block of Cedar Street; Criminal damage to property.
2:52 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Crash.
2:57 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Arrest.
3:06 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Warrant.
4:09 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Complaint.
4:30 p.m. Fig and Sixth streets; Traffic incident.
5:37 p.m. La. 70; Reckless driving.
5:59 p.m. Shannon Street; Complaint.
6:23 p.m. Garber and Orange streets; Frequent patrol.
6:30 p.m. 600 block of Willow Street; Accident.
7:58 p.m. 500 block of Garber Street; Phone harassment.
8:06 p.m. 1000 block of Ninth Street; Removal of subject.
8:40 p.m. 300 block of Third Street; 911 hang up.
8:41 p.m. 300 block of South Railroad Avenue; Juvenile problems.
9:41 p.m. 800 block of Walnut Drive; Officer stand by.
10:16 p.m. 1200 block of David Drive; 911 hang up.
Tuesday, April 30
3:35 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Medical.
4:55 a.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Alarm.
Three consecutive months of increasing jobs and two straight months of a dropping unemployment rate may be signs the St. Mary Parish economy is headed in the right direction.
The parish added about 300 jobs from December 2018 to March and the jobless rate decreased by 1.2 percentage points from January to March.
Business at shipyards has been picking up significantly in recent months, and the deep-water energy sector is also improving, said Frank Fink, parish economic development director.
“I believe it’s going to be a slow recovery, and in 2020, it’s going to be much stronger,” Fink said.
St. Mary Parish’s unemployment rate decreased to 5.1% in March from 5.7% in February, according to the latest not seasonally adjusted statistics from the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
The number of employed residents rose by 152 people during March, going from 18,668 in February to 18,820. The parish workforce, the sum of employed residents and those looking for work, rose slightly from 19,799 people to 19,825 people.
February’s unemployment rate was 5.7% compared to 6.3% in January. Also in January, 18,529 people were employed compared to 18,518 employed residents in December 2018 when the jobless rate was 5.7%.
The seven surrounding oilfield parishes of Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Martin, Iberia, Assumption, Vermilion and Lafayette all had increases in their number of employed residents and decreases in their unemployment rates.
January’s 6.3% jobless rate had broken a six-month streak of month-to-month declining jobless rates. From June to December, the rate had dropped 2.4 percentage points.
The number of employed residents in St. Mary Parish is also higher than it was at this time in 2018. In March 2018, St. Mary had a jobless rate of 6.7%, 18,780 employed residents and workforce of 20,134 people, the statistics showed.
A 15.8% increase in the requests of lists to rent property, mainly residences, in St. Mary Parish from the first quarter of 2018 to 2019’s first quarter is a significant sign, too, Fink said. The St. Mary Chamber of Commerce distributes those lists.
“It really shows activity of contractors coming and people doing things,” he said.
The most recently released sales tax collection report comparing March to March 2018 didn’t appear as promising as the job numbers. In March, St. Mary Parish sales and use tax collections were less than the same month of the prior year for the second consecutive month. Collections totaled $2.59 million in March, down 3.2$ from the $2.67 million collected in March 2018. Excluding collections made due to financial audits, collections dropped 1.1%.
February sales tax collections were down 10.5% from February 2018. But excluding audits, collections decreased just 1.2%.
However, January saw a healthy spike in collections with a 15.7% jump from January 2018. Excluding collections from audits, collections increased 4.9%.
After blasting No. 13 seeded North Vermillion 17-0 in just five innings Friday, the Berwick Panthers baseball team entered Saturday knowing they were one win shy of a return trip to the quarterfinal round of the Class 3A playoffs.
The defending state champions and No. 4 seeded Panthers did not disappoint.
Berwick used a five-run fifth inning to stretch an early lead into an insurmountable one in a 7-0 shutout victory against North Vermillion (20-16).
With this weekend’s series victory, Berwick (28-7) has won 11 consecutive games and 13 of its last 14.
In Saturday’s finale, Berwick sent a combined nine batters to the plate in the fifth against North Vermillion starter Hayden Durke and reliever John Touchet. Berwick managed just two hits but showed an excellent eye for discipline at the plate.
Already leading 2-0 thanks to an RBI single from Hunter Landry in the third and a runner scoring from third base on a wild pitch, Berwick added to its lead when Barrett Hover singled sharply to center to score Ethan Nguyen and extend the lead to 3-0.
Mitchell Sanford followed by reaching on an error to load the bases with nobody out.
Landry and Zeph Hoffpauir then drew back-to-back walks to put the Panthers ahead 5-0, and Durke, who was unable to record an out in the fifth, was replaced by Touchet.
Chad LaGrange and Brett Williams followed with RBI groundouts against Touchet to bump the Panthers’ lead to 7-0.
With Hoffpauir on the mound, it was more than enough run support for Berwick. The right-hander tossed 6.2 scoreless innings, one out shy of a complete game shutout. He allowed just one hit all afternoon, walked seven, hit two batters and struck out 10.
Hoffpauir left to a rousing standing ovation from the Berwick faithful after Panthers Coach Brandon Bravata made his only pitching change with one out left in the game. It came after a fatigued Hoffpauir had issued his third walk of the inning to load the bases.
“There’s no better character on our team than Zeph Hoffpauir,” Bravata said. “I told him that ovation was not just because you had a great pitching performance but because of the kind of person you are. People know that, and they respect that, and they’re pulling for you and are proud of you. That was something that kind of choked me up a little. It’s a kid that deserves it. He’s the hardest worker I’ve ever had.”
For Hoffpauir, everything started to come together toward the middle of the game.
“I had to start trusting my stuff, making sure it was on, get a good feel for it and let it ride,” Hoffpauir said. “During district play, I pitched against them and got a good feel for how their lineup goes and how each person swings. I had a good idea going into the game of what I had to do.”
Rustin Ratcliff came on in relief and got Durke to fly out to end the game.
Berwick will advance to host No. 5 Iota in the Class 3A quarterfinals this weekend. Game 1 is set for 6 p.m. Friday, with game two scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday. If a third game is necessary, it will be played at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Iota advanced after winning its series against No. 12 Jennings two games to one.
If they play anything like they did in this series, they’ll be hard to stop.
“We knew (Friday) was kind of a fluke,” Bravata said of the 17-0 score. “Our kids knew (Saturday) was going to be a battle. They believed everything we talked about as far as respecting the opponent. They knew they were facing a collegiate arm, a kid that had (committed to) ULL. We were patient enough and did a good job getting deeper into counts. Instead of trying to make things happen, we let things come to us.”
Indeed, the game featured just three hits total for Berwick. But the Panthers were opportunistic in other areas, drawing eight walks against North Vermillion pitching, reaching base twice on hit by pitches and getting men on by way of two fielding errors.
North Vermillion Coach Jeremy Trahan said he was proud of the way his team competed despite the score. Take away the one bad inning in the fifth and the Patriots would have been in a close game until the last out, he said.
“Really, that one inning killed us,” Trahan said. “We just had some close calls that didn’t go our way, and I think (Durke) got a little taxed in that inning. They’ve got some really great hitters who did a good job. It’s a quality opponent with good hitters. They battled their tails off.”
Trahan paid Berwick the ultimate compliment, saying the Panthers were a team the Patriots wanted to avoid from the moment tournament seeding was announced.
“We really didn’t want to match up with them from the start,” he said. “We knew how talented they are. Their two starters threw real well over the weekend. We had an up-and-down season throughout the year. We had some guys play a lot better than they expected and some who played worse. Sometimes in life you’re going to hit adversity, and you’ve got to keep fighting through it. I think we did that throughout the whole season.”
In Saturday’s loss, Durke suffered the loss as he threw four innings and surrendered seven runs — five earned — on just two hits with seven walks, one hit batter and six strikeouts.
Eli Dubois had North Vermilion’s lone hit as he finished 1-for-2.
Landry led Berwick’s offense with a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs and a run.
Other top Berwick offensive contributors were Hover, 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run; and Hoffpauir, LaGrange and Williams, each an RBI.
Berwick 17,
North Vermilion 0 (Game 1)
Berwick scored in every at-bat Friday in game one en route to a 17-0 run-rule victory in five innings.
Berwick scored two runs in the first, four in the second, five in the third and six in the fourth.
Berwick outhit North Vermilion 11-2.
While the Berwick offense was hot, ace Seth Canty turned in a solid day on the mound, tossing a two-hitter. Canty earned the win as he surrendered two hits, one walk, hit one batter and fanned seven in five innings.
Offensively, Seth Giroir and Williams led Berwick’s offense. Giroir was 3-for-4 with a double and three runs, while Williams was 2-for-3 with a triple, five RBIs, a stolen base and a run.
Other top Berwick offensive contributors were LaGrange, 2-for-2 with a double, three RBIs and three runs; Landry, 2-for-4, two RBIs and three runs; Sanford, 1-for-4, two RBIs and a run; and Zeph Delatte and Hover, each an RBI.
Garrett Becker and Parker Romero each finished 1-for-2 to lead North Vermilion.
Ethan Bennett, the first of five North Vermilion pitchers, suffered the loss. In two innings, he surrendered six runs (five earned) on six hits with one walk, one hit batter and one strikeout.
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Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874
Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255