Senate Finance Chairman Bodi White says a big mistake was made as lawmakers rushed to approve a budget on the final day of the session. That mistake resulted in a 100-million dollar cut to the Louisiana Department of Health at a time when the state is enjoying huge surpluses. White says if he had to do it again, he would not have brought the budget bill up for a vote in the waning minutes of the session…
cut 11 (04) “….special session”
Now White is calling on the governor to use his line item authority and remove the cut from the budget so funding could be restored to L-D-H.

According to credit-card-dot-com, Louisiana has the third highest credit card debt burden with an average credit card balance of 54-hundred dollars. Senior Industry Analyst Ted Rossman says six out of every ten people with credit card debt have been in debt for at least a year, up 50-percent from the previous year…
cut 15 (13) “….sooner than that”
Rossman says his top tip is to sign up for a zero-percent balance transfer card.

State Treasurer John Schroder is calling on state agencies to accept electronic payment options like PayPal and Venmo.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

In his first start of the season, LSU left-hander Nate Ackenahusen threw six shutout innings as the Tigers blanked Tennessee five to nothing to stay alive in the College World Series. Coach Jay Johnson on why he went with Ack…
cut 28 (05) “…I liked”
LSU faces Wake Forest tonight. Need a win to keep their season alive.

During a Tuesday meeting of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, senators expressed their frustration over approving a state budget that contained a 100-million dollar cut to the Louisiana Department of Health. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is alarmed to see LDH is proposing to reduce funding to Our Lady of Angels Hospital in Bogalusa…
cut 13 (11) “…happen”
Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to get his line item veto pen out next week which will lead to restoring the funding.

State Treasurer John Schroder is calling on the Louisiana Cash Management Review Board to develop a plan for all state agencies to accept electronic payment options like PayPal and Venmo. Schroder says the state needs to get on board with this technology.
Cut 4 (11) “…for government.’”
Schroder says the plan will be presented to the full board within 60 days.

A new CreditCards.com report shows Louisiana has the third highest credit card debt in the country relative to income. Teiko Foxx has more…
cut 3 (33) “….I’m Teiko Foxx

The Governor signs into law a bill requiring all high school kids to take and pass a financial literacy course. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (31)  “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.”  

In Gonzales, a Donaldsonville man was fatally shot while police say he broke a window of his ex-girlfriend’s apartment Saturday. 35-year-old Joshua Jones was shot multiple times as he tried to enter the apartment and later died from his injuries.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed a bill that creates the Office of the State Child Ombudsman, which will oversee how state agencies are treating children in the state’s care. The legislation comes after multiple toddlers died from overdoses despite warnings. Also, problems at juvenile detention centers. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the bill received unanimous support and Louisiana joins 38 other states that have such an office…

Cut 10 (03)  “…much better.”
Barrow says the office will also assist parents or individuals who are facing accusations of child abuse or endangerment.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has been in Australia for over a week promoting the Bayou State as a tourist spot to Aussies…

Cut 5 (13)  “…this far.”
Nungesser is set to return on Saturday.

Governor Edwards has signed legislation to create an office to advocate on behalf of children under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services and the Office of Juvenile Justice. Bill author Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the Office of State Child Ombudsman will be an independent office serving under the Legislative Auditor’s Office.

Cut 9 (07) “…intended it to be.”

The office is expected to go into effect in the fall.

And the governor has also signed into law a bill requiring all Louisiana high school juniors and seniors pass a financial literacy course. The bill was authored by Tangipahoa Parish Rep. Nicholas Muscarello, who says it’s a good step forward for kids, who are Louisiana’s future…:

Cut 6 (09)  “…in financial literacy.” 

Passage is a requirement for TOPS recipients

Louisiana Department of Health officials provided lawmakers with information on what a 100-million dollar cut in funding will mean for the agency. L-D-H Secretary Stephen Russo told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee when he left the capitol on the final day of the session, he believed the agency was in good financial shape.

Cut 12 (08) “…honest with you” 

He says the cut goes deeper than 100 million because of matching federal funds.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser has been in the land down under for a little over a week to promote international travel to the Bayou State. Nungesser says the mission is to build relationships to get Aussies to see what we have to offer.

Cut 3 (13) “…we have.”

Nungesser will return on Saturday.

In the 2024-25 school year, Louisiana high school juniors and seniors will be required to pass a financial literacy course.  Students who do not pass the course will not be able to graduate and will be ineligible for TOPS college tuition grants. Tangipahoa Parish Rep. Nicholas Muscarello explains why…:

Cut 8 (08)  “…financial literacy.” 

Governor Edwards has signed a bill to create an office to advocate on behalf of children under the care of the DCFS and the Office of Juvenile Justice. In addition to protecting children, bill author Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the Office of State Child Ombudsman will help parents’ facing accusations of child abuse navigate the system.

Cut 11 (11)  “…falsely accused.”

In Farmerville, an oil tank explosion has killed one person and injured four others. The Union Parish explosion happened just off Johnson Road and Highway 15. Several agencies have responded to the scene and the incident is under investigation.

It’s been a week full of recruiting Aussies to visit the Sportsman’s Paradise for Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. Teiko Foxx has the story.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx” 

Louisiana Health Secretary Stephen Russo told the Senate Health and Welfare committee today he thought it was joke when he was told the state health agency received a 100-million dollar cut. The reduction in state funding came in the final hours of the legislative session as lawmakers finalized a budget deal. Russo says the cut could be deeper when you take into account matching federal dollars…
cut 13 (10) “come from”
Assistant Secretary of Behavioral Health Karen Stubb says that means thousands of Medicaid recipients would lose outpatient treatment for mental health and substance abuse, which could be detrimental…
cut 14 (12) “….yes sir”
It’s expected Governor Edwards will restore the funding through the use of his line item veto authority.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed a bill that creates the Office of the State Child Ombudsman, which will oversee how state agencies are treating children in the state’s care. The legislation comes after multiple toddlers died from overdoses despite warnings. Also problems at juvenile detention centers. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the bill received unanimous support and Louisiana joins 38 other states that have such an office…
cut 10 (03) “…..much better”
Barrow says the office will also assist parents or individuals who are facing accusations of child abuse or endangerment.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has been in Australia for over a week promoting the Bayou State as tourist spot to Aussies…
cut 5 (13) “….this far”
Nungesser is set to return on Saturday.

The Governor signs into law a bill requiring all high school kids to take and pass a financial literacy course. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (31)  “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.”  

In Gonzales, a Donaldsonville man was fatally shot while police say he broke a window of his ex-girlfriend’s apartment Saturday. 35-year-old Joshua Jones was shot multiple times as he tried to enter the apartment and later died from his injuries.

Louisiana Department of Health officials provided lawmakers with information on what a 100-million dollar cut in funding will mean for the agency. L-D-H Secretary Stephen Russo told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee when he left the capitol on the final day of the session, he believed the agency was in good financial shape.

Cut 12 (08) “…honest with you” 

He says the cut goes deeper than 100 million because of matching federal funds.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is in Australia promoting travel to the Bayou State.  In 2019 more than 38,000 Australians generated over $62 million in state taxes. Nungesser says this opens a door to promote the state internationally.

Cut 4 (13)  “…of money.” 

Governor Edwards has signed legislation to create an office to advocate on behalf of children under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services and the Office of Juvenile Justice. Bill author Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the Office of State Child Ombudsman will be an independent office serving under the Legislative Auditor’s Office.

Cut 9 (07) “…intended it to be.”

The office is expected to go into effect in the fall.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser has been in the land down under for a little over a week to promote international travel to the Bayou State. Nungesser says the mission is to build relationships to get Aussies to see what we have to offer.

Cut 3 (13) “…we have.”

Nungesser will return on Saturday.

New legislation will require all Louisiana high school juniors and seniors to take and pass a financial literacy course. Bill author Tangipahoa Parish Rep. Nicholas Muscarello, says our state ranks dead last for financial literacy he hopes this will get young people educated on financial skills they’ll need as adults…

Cut 7 (10)  “…what that entails.” 

The law goes into effect for the 2024-25 school year.

It’s win or go home for the LSU Tigers as they face elimination at the College World Series after losing to Wake Forest three to two last night. LSU needs to beat Tennessee tonight to keep its season alive. First baseman Tre Morgan says they’ll be ready…

Cut 16 (16) “…together.”
First pitch is at 6 PM.

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder is receiving criticism for his handling of the budget bills approved with just minutes to spare before the legislative session had to adjourn at 6 PM on June 8th. Schexnayder is blaming some fellow Republicans who resisted raising the spending cap. He says a failed vote on a procedural move to consider raising the cap, delayed budget negotiations by three days….
cut 12 (07) “….dissect it”
A Senate committee is holding a hearing this morning that’s discussing the 100-million dollar cut to the Louisiana Department of Health.

Governor Edwards has signed into law a bill that will require all Louisiana high school juniors and seniors take and pass a financial literacy course. The bill was authored by Tangipahoa Parish Rep. Nicholas Muscarello, who says it’s a good step forward for kids, who are Louisiana’s future…:
Cut 6 (09) “…in financial litaracy.”
Louisiana will now become the 22nd state to institute such a financial literacy program for students.

Just under 55,000 SWEPCO customers in Louisiana are still without power after Thursday’s severe weather.
Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The LSU baseball team is a loss away from seeing its season come to an end after losing a hard fought game to Wake Forest three to two last night. The Tigers had a chance to take the lead in the eighth inning, but Tre Morgan was thrown out at the plate and the momentum turned. Coach Jay Johnson…
cut 15 (09) “…go tomorrow’
LSU faces Tennessee tonight at 6 PM in an elimination game.

At this hour, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee is holding a meeting to discuss the 100-million dollar cut in state funding to the Louisiana Department of Health. Before leaving for an economic development trip to Europe, Governor John Bel Edwards threatened to use his line item veto power to restore the funding…
cut 9 (12) do that”

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder has taken criticism for the handling of the budget in the final days of the session. The 100-million dollar budget cut to L-D-H surprised many lawmakers. But Schexnayder rejects the idea legislative leaders kept others in the dark…
cut 11 (11) “…is crazy”

The Governor signs into law a bill requiring all high school kids to take and pass a financial literacy course. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The LSU baseball team is on the brink of elimination from the College World Series after a hard fought three to two loss to Wake Forest last night. The Tigers failed to get a clutch hit in the eighth inning, while the Demon Deacons drove home the go ahead run in the eighth. The Tigers take on Tennessee tonight in an elimination game at 6 PM.