Vaccine providers in Louisiana are prepping to schedule appointments for children ages six months and older who are now eligible for the COVID vaccines after the FDA gave emergency use authorization last week. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says he can’t understate the importance of having children vaccinated against COVID.
Cut 3 (12) “…age of five.”
Kanter says 175 providers in the state have ordered COVID vaccine doses for children.

Due to gas prices impacting summer travel, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says they’ve made a few marketing tweaks for tourism and so far, they appear to be working. He says they’ve scraped their One Tank Get Around Louisiana campaign and changed it to a half-tank of gas.
Cut 7 (07) “…tank of gas.”
And they’ve also been running promotions a bit closer to home in neighboring states.

You may be double-checking your calendar, but today is the first official day of summer. David Grubb has more on the rising temperatures that await…
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m David Grubb.”

LSU deputy athletic director Stephanie Rempe is reportedly set to become the new athletic director at Nevada. Rempe plays a critical role in LSU’s athletic department. According to her bio she oversees every facet of the daily operations. She came to LSU when Scott Woodward was hired as LSU’s athletic director in 2019.

Governor Edwards vetoes bills creating Education Savings Accounts that are aimed to help kids behind in reading and other learning challenges…
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The governor has also vetoed a bill that the author says would have made it harder for a person convicted of killing a police officer to earn good behavior. The legislation is in response to the 2016 death of Sterlington Police Sergeant David Elahi who was struck by a vehicle working a traffic accident. The governor says the bill would unfairly treat a person of crime of negligence, the same as a person convicted of an intentional crime.

Gas prices have alter summer vacations for some. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says they are still pushing for visitors from surrounding states to visit Louisiana, but COVID requirements have been lifted for international travelers into the US, there’s a chance they can see a growth in international tourism…
cut 9 (12) “…..soon as possible”
Nungesser says despite the record high gas prices, state parks are on track for another record-breaking year.

Another scorcher today and triple digit readings are possible by the end of the week. State Climatologist Barry Keim….
cut 5 (12) “….be smart about it”

Starting today, Louisiana residents can schedule an appointment for their child under the age of five to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The Louisiana Department of Health says 175 providers have ordered 25-thousand vaccine doses, but what will the demand be. The state ranks fourth to last for total vaccination rate at 54-percent.

As folks are watching their wallet and their gas tank this summer, state department of tourism is adjusting its promotional campaigns. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

It’s the first day of summer and temperatures will feel like it as temps will get into the mid to upper 90s with heat indices well above 100-degrees…
cut 6 (13) “….even dangerous”
Rain chances below 20-percent for north Louisiana, but above 30-percent for south Louisiana today.

The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation is looking for a graphic designer who can produce the logo that will be used for the 2025 Super Bowl Host Committee. Executive director Jay Cicero says the chosen designer will work hand in hand with the Host Committee to create a logo that is uniquely New Orleans…
cut 14 (11) “….a lengthy process”
Go to the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation website for more information.

Governor John Bel Edwards has vetoed bills known as Education Savings Accounts, where certain students could receive state funding in order to attend a private school. But Edwards is concerned the legislation really doesn’t work, they do not provide an educational savings for parents. But Daniel Erspamer with the Pelican Institute disagrees…
cut 11 (14) “…all over the country

Due to gas prices impacting summer travel, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says they’ve made a few marketing tweaks for tourism and so far, they appear to be working. He says they’ve scraped their One Tank Get Around Louisiana campaign and changed it to a half-tank of gas.
Cut 7 (07) “…tank of gas.”
And they’ve also been running promotions a bit closer to home in neighboring states.

Though the temperatures may have indicated otherwise, today is the first official day of summer. State climatologist Barry Keim says get used to the sweltering temperatures because they aren’t going anywhere.
Cut 4 (10) “…this past week.”
Keim says this month could be an all-timer when it comes to daily and monthly temperature readings.

The 2025 New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee has released a Request for Qualifications, or RFQ, for local graphic designers and firms to help create the logo and visual brand identity for Super Bowl 59. Here’s Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation CEO Jay Cicero…
Cut 13 (12) “…for this RFQ.”
For more information visit g-n-o-sports-dot-com.

Governor John Bel Edwards has vetoed bills to create so-called Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). The bills would allow students who have special educational needs or are behind on reading skills to receive 54-hundred dollars in annual state aid to attend a private school or another education option. Daniel Erspamer (ER-spay-mer), with the Pelican Institute for Public Policy calls the vetoes a disappointment…:
Cut 10 (13) “…be serving them.”
In his statement on the vetoes, Edwards says the bills do not establish any accounts for parental savings. And the governor says the bills take state funding away from public schools, despite the authors’ good intentions.

The governor also vetoed a bill that would create the crime of discrimination based on vaccination status. The bill attempted to prevent any effort to keep the unvaccinated out of govenrment offices or schools.

Highs today will be in mid to upper 90s on this first official day of summer…
cut 1 (35) “…I’m David Grubb”

The statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $4.51. These record high gas prices have altered summer vacation plans for some. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the Staycation promotion t hat worked so well during the pandemic…
cut 8 (07) “….with that”

The special legislative session to pass a court-ordered congressional map with two Black majority districts failed to pass and now lawmakers await feedback from the judicial system. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says despite his efforts with a map that had two Black districts, in the end, the legislature simply had no desire to pass a new map.

Cut 3 (10) “…districts.”

Chair of Senate Governmental Affairs, Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says the legislature did make a concerted effort, but in the end, she says the votes weren’t there.

Cut 4  (10) “…to support.”

Judge Shelly Dick set a court date of June 29^th for attorneys to present congressional maps for her consideration while the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals has a July 8^th court date set.

After recent incidents at the Bridge City Center for Youth and the Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe, Governor John Bel Edwards has directed the Louisiana State Police and The Department of Corrections to provide personnel to those facilities to help with staffing shortages. Office of Juvenile Justice spokesperson Nicolette Gordon says the staff shortages extend to service providers needed on-hand to help in the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders and that both are required for these facilities to fulfill their roles…:

Cut 8 (08) “…things in order.” 

OJJ was provided with $5 million for enhancements during the 2022 Regular Legislative Session that can be accessed immediately.

State Police say two teenage girls died Sunday in Ascension Parish, when the car they were in went off the roadway, struck a tree then crashed into a pond. Both girls were just 16. Troopers say they are unaware if seats played a role in the incident. The crash remains under investigation.

Despite a court order to submit a congressional map with two minority districts the legislature failed to deliver. Brooke Thorington has more…:

Cut 01  (42)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

The statewide average price of regular gas is now at $4.51; down a penny from last week…but still about 28-cents higher than one month ago. Gas cost $2.72 one year ago today.

A member of the House committee that handled redistricting proposals says the map lawmakers passed back in February does not comply with the Voting Rights Act. New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis told the Baton Rouge Press Club that because one-sixth of the state’s population is Black, two of its six congressional districts should be majority-minority; not one…:

CUT 14(08)      “…lies a problem.”

State Police say two teens were struck by traffic and killed Sunday night, as they dealt with a broken-down vehicle on Interstate 10. Trooper Derek Senegal says Kyle Vidrine, of Lake Arthur, and Brannon Adams, of Jennings, were standing on the frontage road when they were hit by a Jeep; the driver blinded by oncoming headlights. He says that driver submitted a routine blood tox sample, but…:

CUT 12(05)      “…Jeep Wrangler.”

He says the crash seems to be just a tragic accident.

Speaking today at the Baton Rouge Press Club New Orleans Representative and Vice-Chair of House Governmental Affairs Royce Duplessis says the current congressional map – passed in the February Redistricting Session – does not meet certain standards required by the Voting Rights Act, because it doesn’t reflect the state’s one-third black population….:

CUT 13(08)      “…voter dilution.”

He says of the six congressional districts the state’s one-third Black residents should be represented by two of those districts, not one.

A bill that would have assured one could not be discriminated against because one did not have COVID shot has been vetoed by the Governor. Mr. Edwards says he nixed the bill because it’s (quote) “unnecessary and perpetuates a false narrative” and that it undermines public confidence in the vaccines.

State Police say two young men – ages 17 and 18 – were killed Sunday night, as they dealt with car trouble along Interstate 10 near Jennings. Trooper Derek Senegal says the boys’ car ran out of gas & they called for help. He says they walked a few feet over to the I-10 frontage road, where they were hit by a Jeep Wrangler. Senegal says the driver of that Jeep says he couldn’t see them in glare from oncoming headlights…:

CUT 11(09)      “…headlights put out.”

After recent incidents at the Bridge City Center for Youth and the Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe, Governor John Bel Edwards has directed the Louisiana State Police and the Department of Corrections to provide personnel to those facilities to help with staffing shortages. Office of Juvenile Justice spokesperson Nicolette Gordon says they welcome the help, and that safety both inside and out remains a priority…:

CUT 09(11)      “…have been seeing.”

Despite a court order to map a congressional map with two minority districts the legislature failed to deliver. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (42) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Safety concerns at state juvenile facilities force Governor Edwards to utilize State Police and Correctional Officers for support. David Grubb has more.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m David Grubb.”  

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The special legislative session to pass a court-ordered congressional map with two Black majority districts failed to pass and now lawmakers await feedback from the judicial system. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says despite his efforts with a map that had two Black districts, in the end, the legislature simply had no desire to pass a new map.

Cut 3 (09) “…districts.”

Chair of Senate Governmental Affairs, Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says the legislature did make a concerted effort, but in the end, she says the votes weren’t there.

Cut 4  (10) “…to support.”

Hewitt presented a map for consideration in the special session, but it only contained one Black majority district. Fields says Republicans weren’t willing to pass any map except the one that passed in the original redistricting session.

Cut 5  (11) “…sending to the committee.”

Even though the session adjourned on the fourth legislative day Hewitt says Judge Shelly Dick’s order that only allowed them six days to pass a new map wasn’t realistic.

Cut 6  (09) “…to do so.” 

Judge Dick set a court date of June 29^th for attorneys to present congressional maps for her consideration while the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals has a July 8^th court date set. Attorney General Jeff Landry is petitioning the State Supreme Court to rule on the matter.

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After recent incidents at the Bridge City Center for Youth and the Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe, Governor John Bel Edwards has directed the Louisiana State Police and The Department of Corrections to provide personnel to those facilities to help with staffing shortages. Office of Juvenile Justice Spokesperson Nicolette Gordon says they welcome the governor’s assistance…

Cut 7 (11) “…of the shift.” 

Gordon says the staffing shortage hasn’t been limited to guards but extends to service providers needed on-hand to help with the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders and that both are required for these facilities to fulfill their roles.

Cut 8 (08) “…things in order.” 

OJJ was provided with $5 million for enhancements during the 2022 Regular Legislative Session that can be accessed immediately. Gordon says the public can be assured there has not been any significant increase in incidents at the four state-operated secure care facilities and safety both inside and out remains a priority.

Cut 9 (11) “…have been seeing.”

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State Police say two young men – ages 17 and 18 – were killed Sunday night, as they dealt with car trouble along Interstate 10 near Jennings. Trooper Derek Senegal says the boys’ car ran out of gas & they called for help. He says they walked a few feet over to the I-10 frontage road…:

Cut 10 (07) ” …another vehicle.” 

Trooper Senegal says the driver of the Jeep Wrangler that struck them stopped and called for help. He told officers he could not see the boys in the glare from oncoming headlights…:

Cut 11 (09)  “…headlights put out.” 

The victims are identified as 18-year-old Kyle Vidrine, of Lake Arthur, and 17-year-old Brannon Adams, of Jennings. Senegal says it is standard practice to obtain blood toxicology samples in such cases, however….:

Cut 12 (05) “…the Jeep Wrangler.”  

The crash remains under investigation.

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New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis and Vice-Chair of House Governmental Affairs says the current congressional map does not meet certain standards required by the Voting Rights Act because it doesn’t reflect the state’s one-third black population.

Cut 13 (08) “…voter dilution.”

Duplessis says while the most recent Census didn’t show much growth in the state’s overall population, he says of the six congressional districts the state’s one-third Black residents should be represented by two of those districts, not one.

Cut 14 (08)  “…lies a problem.” 

Duplessis made the remarks at the Baton Rouge Press Club meeting this afternoon.

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Cut 15 (12) “…unnecessary.” 

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 Cut  16 (08)  “…their businesses“

Safety concerns at state juvenile facilities force Governor Edwards to utilize State Police and Correctional Officers for support. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 02(37)      “…David Grubb.”

Gas or gambling? Which would you choose? State Gaming Control officials say winnings at Louisiana casino were down almost 10-percent for May 2022. One easy explanation is runaway inflation and the high cost of gasoline forcing potential gamblers to stay home.

State Police say two young men – ages 17 and 18 – were killed Sunday night, as they dealt with car trouble along Interstate 10 near Jennings. Trooper Derek Senegal says the boys’ car ran out of gas & they called for help. He says, as they were receiving aid from a relative, they walked a few feet over to the I-10 frontage road…:

CUT 10(07)      “…another vehicle.”

Senegal says the driver of the Jeep stopped and called for help. He told officers he could not see the boys in the glare from oncoming headlights. The crash is under investigation.

State Police have named their new second-in-command, after the retirement of Lt. Colonel Doug Cain. Cain was embroiled in the 2019 death of Ronald Greene while in LSP custody. Today, it was announced that Lt. Colonel Chavez Cammon will take over Cain’s role immediately. Cammon has been openly critical of State Police’s handling of the Greene investigation; comparing it to “torture and murder.”