After receiving several letters and complaints from numerous business groups and owners to end the federally enhanced unemployment benefits before they expire in September, Governor John Bel Edwards says he asked for a study on the issue, but he does know that Louisiana is heavily dependent on tourism.

Cut 10 (09) “…not jobs”

The extra $300 weekly benefit is set to expire on Labor Day.

The Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone” is expected to cover an area of 4,761 square miles this summer ranging from Louisiana to Texas. That’s according to LSU scientist Dr. Nancy Rabalais who says the low oxygen area in the gulf, where it’s hard for living resources to survive, is about 500 square miles less than previous years but still a disappointing number.

Cut 3 (7) “…might come through”

An effort to extend the state’s 180-million-dollar film tax credit program into 2028 was rejected by the House and appears unlikely to pass by the end of the session next week. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.” 

Louisiana Tech announces the Ruston Regional has sold out of its entire inventory of all-session tickets available to the general public. It’s the first time the Bulldogs are hosting a regional in baseball. LA Tech is squaring off against Rider and North Carolina State and Alabama are also playing in the regional.

Business groups are calling on an early end of enhanced unemployment benefits but Governor Edwards says he wants to make an informed decision as to not end benefits too early.

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Brooke Thorington”  

The author of legislation that would extend the state’s 180 million dollar film tax credit out to 2028 says there will be a second vote on the bill in the House on Monday. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt’s proposal was shot down in the House Thursday but 23 representatives were missing for the vote and she is confident they can find the support needed on a second try.

Two men were struck and killed while changing a tire on the shoulder of I-10 westbound in St. James Parish on Thursday afternoon. State Trooper Taylor Scrantz says 33-year-old Jermaine Irvine of St. Francisville’s vehicle veered off the roadway as 33-year-old Daniel Thomas was assisting 50-year-old James Breaux of Donaldsonville with a flat tire. Scrantz urges motorists to be aware of disabled vehicles on the side of the road…

Cut 14 (9) “…on the roadway”

The Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone” is expected to cover an area over 4,700 square miles this summer from Louisiana to Texas. That’s according to LSU scientist Dr. Nancy Rabalais who says the area is about 500 square miles less than previous years but the reduction is still much less than was expected.

Cut 3 (7) “…might come through”

The House rejected an attempt to extend the state’s 180-million-dollar film tax credit out to 2028 from its current sunset date of 2025. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris notes the credit is worth about half of the .45 percent sales tax extension that was approved by lawmakers in 2018.

Cut 7 (11) “…state” 

The final vote was 45 in favor with 37 against with 23 members absent.

After receiving several letters and complaints from numerous business groups and owners to end the federally enhanced unemployment benefits before they expire in September, Governor John Bel Edwards says he wants to make an informed decision before reacting.

Cut 9 (11) “…or not.”

Two men were struck and killed while changing a tire on the shoulder of I-10 westbound in St. James Parish on Thursday afternoon. State Trooper Taylor Scrantz says 33-year-old Jermaine Irvine of St. Francisville’s vehicle veered off the roadway as 33-year-old Daniel Thomas was assisting 50-year-old James Breaux of Donaldsonville with a flat tire… Scrantz says Breaux and Thomas were pronounced dead at the scene and toxicology samples have been taken from all three parties…

Cut 13 (6) “…be filed as well”

A flash flood watch is in effect this weekend across south Louisiana.  The National Weather Service says there’s the potential for two to five inches of rain with localized higher amounts. Assistant Professor of Research at LSU Dr. Vinny Brown says that rain will fall on already saturated soil…

Cut 16 (09) “…soil saturation.” 

A move to extend the film tax credit out to 2028 was rejected by the House and appears likely to be dead for the session. Opponents, hoping to see the program sunset in 2025, lambasted the bill on the House floor calling the 180 million dollars handed out yearly misplaced priorities, but supporters like Columbia Representative Neil Riser tout numbers from the Lt. Governor showing the credit has a 1.3 billion dollar annual tourism impact.

Cut 8 (10) “…came there.” 

Business lobbyists are blaming the state’s labor crunch on the Governor’s decision to continue accepting federally enhanced unemployment benefits. In response Edwards says he’s tasked an economist with studying the issue, but notes the over 8 billion in federal benefits have really helped out local economies…

Cut 11 (11) “…meeting.”

Two men were struck and killed while changing a tire on the shoulder of I-10 westbound in St. James Parish on Thursday afternoon. State Trooper Taylor Scrantz says 33-year-old Jermaine Irvine of St. Francisville’s vehicle veered off the roadway as 33-year-old Daniel Thomas was assisting 50-year-old James Breaux of Donaldsonville with a flat tire…

Cut 12 (6) “…killing em both”

Scrantz says Breaux and Thomas were pronounced dead at the scene and toxicology samples have been taken from all three parties.

A flash flood watch is in effect this weekend across south Louisiana.  Assistant Professor of Research at LSU Dr. Vinny Brown says we just can’t shake this rainy pattern

Cut 15 (11) “…southern Louisiana.” 

An effort to extend the state’s 180-million-dollar film tax credit program into 2028 was rejected by the House and appears unlikely to pass by the end of the session next week. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.” 

Louisiana Tech announces the Ruston Regional has sold out of its entire inventory of all-session tickets available to the general public. It’s the first time the Bulldogs are hosting a regional in baseball. LA Tech will host Rider tonight at 6 PM. North Carolina State and Alabama are also playing in the NCAA Regional.

The Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone” is expected to cover an area of almost 5,000 square miles this summer ranging from Louisiana to Texas. That’s according to LSU scientist Dr. Nancy Rabalais. The low oxygen conditions began 50 years ago due to agricultural practices in the Midwest. Rabalais says the dead zone also has an economic side effect.

Cut 5  (11) “…low oxygen increases”

After receiving several letters and complaints from numerous business groups and owners to end the federally enhanced unemployment benefits before they expire in September, Governor John Bel Edwards says he asked for a study on the issue, but he does know that Louisiana is heavily dependent on tourism.

Cut 10 (09) “…not jobs”

The extra $300 weekly benefit is set to expire on Labor Day.

After receiving several letters and complaints from numerous business groups and owners to end the federally enhanced unemployment benefits before they expire in September, Governor John Bel Edwards says he wants to make an informed decision before reacting.

Cut 9 (11) “…or not.”

Economist Jim Richardson served on the Revenue Estimating Conference for the state for three decades.

The Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone” is expected to cover an area over 4,700 square miles this summer from Louisiana to Texas. That’s according to LSU scientist Dr. Nancy Rabalais who says the area is about 500 square miles less than previous years but still a disappointing number.

Cut 3 (7) “…might come through”

The House rejected an attempt to extend the state’s 180 million dollar film tax credit out to 2028 from its current sunset date of 2025. The bill began as an effort to incentivize companies to do more productions outside of New Orleans but evenly grew into a generalized extension of the program. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson hammered the bill, saying we can only afford a meager 800 dollar teacher pay raise for 60 million dollars while giving Hollywood 180 million a year. He adds…

Cut 6, 12 seconds, system

supporters of the tax credit argue it has a billion-dollar plus yearly impact on state tourism.

Those who’ve been vaccinated will be able to visit Louisiana’s 21 state parks and 18 historic sites for free through July 31st.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

Two Louisiana men are facing contest fraud after the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries investigated tips the men caught bass fish before the tournament started. Hunter Moss of Mooringsport and Phillip Purcell of Oil City admitted to retrieving three bass and kept them alive in a basket off a dock in Caddo Parish. Contest fraud brings a $3,000 fine and one year in jail.

With just shy of a week left in the legislative session there are still a few loose ends to tie up. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says lawmakers still have some major gaming-related bills to finish.

Cut 5 (09)”…betting.”

The Slidell casino vote recently escaped a Senate committee it had been stuck in for weeks and is headed to the Senate floor.

A Baton Rouge nurse is on a mission to vaccinate two thousand people by July 4th. Carla Brown’s husband died from the virus last year after she unknowingly brought COVID into her home. Brown says so far, she’s vaccinated nearly one-thousand people…

Cut 14 (11) “…not available.”

Only 32-percent of Louisianans are fully vaccinated, one of the lowest percentages in the country

With less than a week left in the legislative session and while the budget is completed, there’s still a few things left to debate before 6 PM on June 10^th.  Lawmakers need to pass the taxation portion of legislation that allows the use and sale of the raw form of medical marijuana, but it’s been amended to include an infrastructure-related tax proposal.

Cut 6 (09)”…passing.”

A Bill to make kindergarten mandatory at age 5 passed in the house on a 59-31 vote. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes says it’s time to make an investment in the future of children in the state.

Cut 12 (12) “…sense.”

The amended bill now returns to the Senate. If passed would go into effect fall of 2022.

A Baton Rouge nurse began a door-to-door campaign earlier this year to educate and vaccinate people for COVID. Carla Brown lost her husband to COVID after she exposed him to the virus, a man who survived a gunshot wound to the head as a child and cancer twice, only to succumb to the virus.

Cut 13 (13) “…in vain.”

Brown has vaccinated just shy of a thousand residents. Her goal is to reach two thousand by the 4^th of July.

Governor Edwards announces that vaccinated individuals can now gain free entry into all Louisiana State Parks and historic sites through July 31^st. Edwards says it doesn’t matter when you got your shot, if you have proof, you get in free.

Cut 7 (11)  “…state parks.”

If you are vaccinated against COVID-19, the state is offering free admission at any of its 21 state parks through July 31st as a perk for those who rolled up their sleeves and got the shot. Edwards says there’s also the shot for a shot campaign. He says if you show your vaccination card you can get a free drink at participating establishments…
cut 9 (10) “…future”
Only 32 percent of Louisianans are fully vaccinated.

Baton Rouge hospice nurse Carla Brown has set the goal of vaccinating two thousand people by July 4th. Brown has already administered the vaccine to nearly one-thousand people in honor of her husband who died alone last year from COVID-19…
cut 15 (08) “….one lives”
Brown says she unknowingly brought COVID home into her household because of the work she does as a nurse.

A bill to make kindergarten mandatory beginning at age five passed in the House on a 59-31 vote. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes presented the bill to the lower chamber and says he’s tired of Louisiana consistently being ranked towards the bottom of the list in education.
Cut 10 (08) “…our kids.”
Opponents say parents should decide if their child attends kindergarten at five, because some children might not be ready at that age.

Next Thursday the 2021 legislative session will come to a close. There are still a few hot topics left to debate. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the budget has been sent to the governor, but the tax reform bills are still not through the legislative process…
cut 4 (08) “….weekend
Final legislative passage occurred for the legislation that would centralize the state’s sales tax collections. It still needs voter approval in October.