According to the Public Affairs Research Council, the average Louisiana public school teacher makes 52-thousand dollars, which is 12-thousand dollars below the national average. In the upcoming school year, teachers will receive an additional two-thousand dollar salary increase. PAR President Steven Procopio says the million dollar question is how much do we have to pay to get and keep quality teachers….
cut 14 (09) “…teacher pay”

Speaking of school, a new school year is about a month away and state health officials are encouraging parents to make sure their children are up to date on their immunizations. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter is concerned immunization rates for children are falling…
cut 8 (11) “…concerning here”

Time is running out for homeowners who suffered damage from hurricanes in 2020 and 21 to complete a survey to find out if they are eligible for rebuilding grant dollars. Teiko Foxx reports an outreach session takes place today in Lake Charles at the Allen P. August Center from 3:30 to 6:30 pm. …
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

No winner in last night’s Powerball drawing, so the jackpot for tomorrow night’s drawing climbs to 725-million dollars.

Two former State Troopers are no longer facing criminal charges for their roles in the alleged coverup of Ronald Greene’s in-custody police death. Judge Thomas Rogers says the actions of John Peters and Dakota Demoss did not result in obstruction of justice. Three people remained charged for their roles in Greene’s roadside death in Union Parish in 2019.

With qualifying for the fall elections just 4 weeks away, could we see some declared candidates for Governor decide NOT to run?

Cut 2 (28)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The clock is ticking for homeowners who suffered damage from hurricanes in 2021 and 2022 to complete the survey to find out if they qualify for rebuilding grant dollars. Restore Louisiana hosts an outreach session today in Lake Charles at the Allen P. August Center from 3:30 to 6:30. State Office of Community Development Director Pat Forbes….

Cut 6 (12)  “…Lake Charles.”

Since its launch in February 2022, the program has offered more than $208 million in grant awards to over 2,590 homeowners affected by 2020-21 disaster events. Homeowners who are unable to attend the event can complete the survey at restore.la.gov.

The start of a new school year is quickly approaching and health officials are reminding parents to make sure their children are up to date on their immunizations. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says childhood vaccination rates have dropped from 97 to 94 percent.

Cut 7 (11) “…that we are.”

Kanter says a 95% immunization rate equates to herd immunity.

Two former state troopers John Peters and Dakota DeMoss are no longer facing obstruction of justice charges in the roadside beating death of motorist Ronald Greene. A judge in north Louisiana has determined Peters did not obstruct justice for his role into the investigation of Greene’s state police custody death and DeMoss also should not face criminal charges for turning his body camera audio off.

State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter is concerned child vaccination rates have dropped from 97 to 94 percent. Kanter says in order to avoid a measles outbreak, a 95-percent vaccination rate is required and there are some children who can’t receive these vaccines because of allergies, their age or they are immune compromised…
cut 9 (11) “….threshold”
For more information visit immunizations-dot-la-dot-gov.

According to research by the Public Affairs Research Council, the average public school teacher salary in Louisiana is just over $52,000, well below the national average. Brooke Thorington has more with PAR president Steven Procopio.
Cut 3 (32) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Four weeks from today, qualifying will begin for the governor’s race. There are five major Republicans in the race and ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says he would not be surprised to see one of them drop out…
cut 12 (10) “….to reconsider”

Four weeks from today, qualifying begins for the governor’s race. Is there time for another major Democrat to get in the race? Currently, Shawn Wilson is the main candidate for the Dems and ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley expects it to stay that way…
cut 11 (07) “…chance of an upset”
That’s what happened eight years ago when Governor John Bel Edwards upset Republican David Vitter.

The deadline to complete the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance program survey is August 1st. Office of Community and Development Director Pat Forbes says homeowners who suffered hurricane or severe weather damage in 2020 and 2021 should complete the survey, because it could result in grant dollars to pay for repairs…
cut 5 (12) “…application started”
Go to restore-dot-la-dot-gov to fill out the survey.

The Public Affairs Research Council says the average Louisiana teacher salary is 52-thousand dollars a year. PAR President Steven Procopio says a classroom teacher in Red River Parish receives nearly 68-thousand dollars on average, while in East Feliciana it’s only 35-thousand dollars…
cut 15 (12) “…are making”

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter is reminding parents to be sure their children are up to date on their immunizations before school begins. Childhood vaccination rates, in Louisiana, typically exceed the national average, but Kanter says those numbers have been trending downwards the last few years, from 97 percent to 94 percent.
Cut 7 (11) “…that we are.”
Kanter says a 95% immunization rate equates to herd immunity.

According to research from the Public Affairs Research Council, the average public school teacher salary in Louisiana is $52,472, more than $12,000 below the national average. PAR President Steven Procopio says teacher salaries in Louisiana are also below the southern regional average.
Cut 13 (08) “…than ours.”
Since 2019, public school teachers have received 33-hundred dollars in salary hikes and for the upcoming school year, teachers will receive an additional two-thousand dollars.

Speaking of school, a new school year is about a month away and state health officials are encouraging parents to make sure their children are up to date on their immunizations. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter is concerned immunization rates for children are falling…
cut 8 (11) “…concerning here”

As an August 1 deadline approaches, Restore Louisiana holds an outreach event in Lake Charles today to help homeowners who suffered damage from hurricanes in 2020 and 2021 apply for federal rebuilding grant dollars. The event is at the Allen P. August Center from 3:30 to 6:30 pm. State Office of Community Development Director Pat Forbes says many hurricane victims have not completed a survey to see if they are eligible
Cut 4 (12) “…their homes.”
Homeowners may be eligible for up to $250 thousand in assistance and homes will be built to meet fortified standards. For more information go to restore-dot-la-dot-gov.

Cities across the state and country have been plagued recently with the fad of drag racing and stunt gatherings. Spectators have been hurt as a result. Baton Rouge police cracked down on street racers over the weekend… impounding more than two dozen muscle cars and issuing about 30 citations. Getting their vehicles back is going to put a dent in the street racers’ wallets says BRPD’s Sgt. L’Jean McKneely…:

Cut  14 (11)  “be tolerated….”

St. Tammany Parish Deputies have arrested 25-year-old Malik Morris of Memphis for allegedly burglarizing five restaurants in the Covington area. Spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says after a brief pursuit, the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.

Cut 6 (11)  “…a neighborhood” 

Morris was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center.

The tax break for parents who send their children to private schools will increase to $6,000 from the current $5,000. The current deduction costs the state about $22-millon annually and will increase to $24.2 million next year. Pineville Senator Jay Luneau questioned bill author Laurie Schlegel on how the increase will impact the state budget.

Cut 10 (10)  “…taxpayers.”

Governor Edwards has signed the legislation.

The Major League Baseball draft began with two LSU players from the National Championship team, pitcher Paul Skeens was the first by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and center fielder Dylan Crews was the second pick by Washington Nationals. Crews says as a kid he followed the Nats ever since the former number one overall pick was Bryce Harper…

Cut 5 (11)  “…as him.”

A Memphis, Tennessee man is under arrest in St. Tammany Parish; accused of multiple restaurant burglaries in the Covington area. St. Tammany Sheriff’s spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says officers tried to pull 25-year-old Malik Morris over, but he bailed out and was nabbed after a foot chase. She says Morris may also be linked to other burglaries in the parish…:

CUT 08  (12)        “…those agencies.”

Morris is behind bars.

The Governor signs into law a bill giving parents who pay private school tuition a larger state tax break; increasing from $5k per kid, per year…to $6-thousand. The bill was authored by Metairie Representative Laurie Schegel…:

CUT 09  (09)        “…their taxes.”

That increase takes effect for the 2024 tax year.

A street racing sting by multiple Baton Rouge law enforcement agencies resulted in 26 vehicles impounded and a total of 30 citations over the weekend. BRPD’s Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says they did some detective work, learned where the street drivers were getting together next and took action…:

CUT 12(13)      “…in play.”

He says more such stings and possible arrests are coming.

Paul Skenes is the first LSU player to be selected number one in the Major League Baseball draft since Ben McDonald in 1989. The Pittsburgh Pirates used their top overall pick on Skenes, who features a 100-mile per hour fastball and a wipe-out slider…:

CUT 03(11)      “…this position.”

Fellow Tiger Dylan Crews was the 2^nd pick. He goes to the Washington Nationals.

Louisiana’s bigger cities, and some not-so-big ones, have been plagued recently with highly illegal and very dangerous street racing & stunt gatherings. Some people have been hurt as cars do burnouts and make smoking “donuts” on the pavement; often blocking big intersections. Baton Rouge lawmen cracked down on the street racers over the weekend. Impounding over two dozen muscle cars and issuing about 30 citations. Getting those vehicles back is going to put a sting in the street racers’ wallets. BRPD’s Sgt. L’Jean McKneely…:

CUT 14  (11)        “…be tolerated.”

He says they will continue to bust the events up.

Shreveport Police say two people have been shot and wounded in a hostage situation at a home on Crooked Creek Drive this morning. An adult male and a teen (gender unknown) were taken to the hospital. The suspect reportedly set the home on fire. Police have been fired upon from inside. At last report the house was fully engulfed in flame. More as it develops.

A lightning strike last night led to a massive fire at an oil tank, located near I-49 in Cheneyville. Multiple fire crews battled the blaze all night. At last report the fire had burnt out. Residents evacuated last night from a half-mile radius were allowed to return home. No one is reported seriously hurt.

Legislation to increase the tax break for parents whose children attend private school has been signed by the governor. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

Baton Rouge lawmen cracked down on street racers over the weekend; towing 26 vehicles and issuing about 30 citations. Participants in high-power muscle cars will take over a parking lot – or worse, an intersection – to do donuts, burnouts and other dangerous stunts. People have been hurt. Baton Rouge Police spokesman L’Jean McKneely says there will be legal consequences for the impromptu stunt rallies…:

CUT 13  (12)        “…cost you.”

Deputies in St. Tammany Parish arrest a Tennessee man for allegedly burglarizing restaurants in the Covington area. Sheriff’s spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says the chase started Saturday afternoon, when officers tried to pull over 25-year-old Malik Morris, who was driving a box truck…:

CUT 07  (11)        “…medical assistance.”

Beginning next year, private school parents will get a boost in their state tax break for tuition; from $5-thousand per kid, per year to $6-thousand. The average cost per kid of private school is a little over $7-thousand. In the legislative session, DeRidder Senator Mike Reese said he likes the bill’s intent, but questions its cost…:

CUT 11  (11)        “…them there.”

The tax break was created 15 years ago. This s the first time it has been increased for inflation.

Paul Skenes is the first LSU player to be selected number one in the Major League Baseball draft since Ben McDonald in 1989. The Pittsburgh Pirates used their top overall pick on Skenes and his 100-mile-an-hour fastball. Skenes is surprised and humbled…:

CUT 04(09)      “…in Pittsburgh.”

Skenes and teammate Dylan Crews are the first high school or college teammates to be selected 1 and 2 in the MLB draft.

The West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested 26-year-old Lorenzo Green for the alleged murder of his girlfriend 25-year-old Radayish King of St. Francisville. King was found dead in her vehicle near the intersection of Highways 61 and 421 Sunday morning.

LSU makes history as for the first time two players from the same school are the first two picks in the Major League Baseball draft.  Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

A street racing sting by multiple law enforcement agencies in Baton Rouge resulted in 26 vehicles towed and a total of 30 citations over the weekend. BRPD Spokesperson L’Jean McKneely says they learned about a get-together the racers were planning…

Cut 12 (13) “…in play” 

The sting was conducted Friday night and early Saturday morning in response to an increased trend in street racing.

The tax break for parents who send their children to private schools will increase to $6,000 from the current $5,000. The current deduction costs the state about $22-millon annually and will increase to $24.2 million next year. Pineville Senator Jay Luneau questioned bill author Laurie Schlegel on how the increase will impact the state budget.

Cut 10 (10)  “…taxpayers.”

Governor Edwards has signed the legislation.