House Appropriations advances Senate-approved legislation mandating children who turn five on or before September 30th attend Kindergarten. The vote was 19-1. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says under his bill if a parent doesn’t want to send their child to school, they can homeschool them but either way, they must be educated.

Cut 11 (10) “…nation”

19 states currently mandate Kindergarten attendance including Texas.

LSU Chief of Infectious Disease Dr. Julio Figueroa says we’re starting to see an uptick in transmissible diseases that saw a major decline in the last year as mitigation practices like masking and social distancing are relaxed…

Cut 6 (11) “…in May.”

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon touts the results of the Insurance Department’s complaint process, saying it resulted in 41 million dollars recovered related to 1,500 complaints filed against insurers for mishandling 2020 hurricane claims…

Cut 4 (09) “…instances” 

Insurers received 311,000 total claims related to last years’ hurricanes.

It’s been a wet May, which has made it difficult for cotton farmers. State Cotton Specialist Matt Foster says there have only been a few dry days to plant cotton and a couple of dry days have been followed by several days of rain, limiting the effectiveness of expensive seed treatments.

Cut 12 (10)    “…bigger problem” 

Foster expects to see more soybean acres and a lower cotton crop because of the wetter than normal May.

Legislation mandating children who turn five on or before September 30^th attend kindergarten passes out of House Appropriations 19-1. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says 54,000 students are already doing kindergarten every year, so it’s clear nearly all parents understand it is an important step.

Cut 10 (11) “…they need”

Opponents say this time would be better spent with the family and not in an educational setting.

Doctors and starting to see a gradual increase in the number of airborne transmissible illnesses like the flu and colds as more people drop their masks and ditch social distancing. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Infectious Diseases Dr. Julio Figueroa says hopefully the number will stay low now that people are used to pandemic era healthy habits..

Cut 8 (07) “…coming year.”

Cotton farmers are having a rough go of 2021 due to the overly wet May we’re experiencing and the cooler than normal nighttime temperatures we’ve endured this year. State Cotton Specialist Matt Foster says it’s getting bad enough that some farmers are thinking of starting their crop over again…

Cut 13 (11)“…replanting”

The Louisiana Insurance Department says it has recovered 41 million dollars related to 1,500 complaints filed against insurers for issues stemming from last year’s three hurricanes. Commissioner Jim Donelon says the complaint process saves residents the effort of having to take their insurer to court over claim delays and underpayments…

Cut 3 (10)  “…lives” 

 77 percent of complaints were related to homeowners policies.

The state health department reports there are 271 people in the hospital today suffering from COVID-19. That ties for the lowest numberCOVID hospitalizations since the state began to track the daily total on March 24, 2020. L-D-H also reported 13 more COVID deaths and 577 new cases since Friday.

As COVID cases continue to decrease, health officials are seeing a comeback of another virus. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The House Appropriations committee advances Senate-approved legislation mandating five years olds attend Kindergarten. The vote was 19-1 with Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews the lone dissenter. He says he’s been bombarded with calls from concerned constituents…
Cut 9 (10) “…that age”
The bill would impact an estimated 2,800 students a year at most, and cost about 11 million dollars extra a year if all of those students went to school instead of being homeschooled.

It’s been a wet May, but it should be mostly dry this week, which is good news for cotton farmers. State cotton specialist Matt Foster says many producers will have to re-plant because of the rain and cool nightly temperatures that extended into May. Foster says a delayed planting season means a later harvest into hurricane season…
cut 14 (06) “….that crop”
Foster expects to see more soybean acres and a lower cotton crop because of the wetter than normal May.

The Louisiana Insurance Department says it has recovered 41 million dollars related to 1,500 complaints filed against insurers for issues during last year’s hurricanes. Commissioner Jim Donelon says Insurers received 311,000 total claims related to the 2020 hurricanes and their data helps paint a national picture of who the problem insurers are.

Cut 5  (10)  “…valid”

COVID-19 mitigation practices like masking, social distancing, and frequent hand washing also decreased other transmissible illnesses like the flu. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Infectious Diseases Dr. Julio Figueroa says the pandemic put into play real-life examples of how proper mitigation efforts decrease transmission.

Cut 7 (10) “…as well.”

A former LSU Quarterback is staying in the SEC and also remaining a Tiger. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) …I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

The state marks a COVID milestone today, the lowest number of reported hospitalizations since the state began the count last year. Today there are 271 currently in the hospital in Louisiana with COVID. 29 of those patients are on ventilators. Ages 12 and up are now eligible to be vaccinated in the state and approximately 30-percent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated.

LSU Chief of Infectious Disease Dr. Julio Figueroa says we’re starting to see an uptick in transmissible diseases that saw a major decline in the last year as mitigation practices like masking and social distancing are relaxed…

Cut 6 (11) “…in May.”

Figueroa says the results aren’t exactly surprising but they are a good reminder that folks should maintain some of the healthy habits they built up during the pandemic.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon touts the results of the Insurance Department’s complaint process, saying it resulted in 41 million dollars recovered related to 1,500 complaints filed against insurers for mishandling 2020 hurricane claims…

Cut 4 (09) “…instances” 

Insurers received 311,000 total claims related to last years’ hurricanes.

State Police has released nine videos from the 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene, showing the 49-year-old unarmed black man being dragged out of his vehicle after a car chase in Union Parish, and repeatedly beaten and tazed before he died in police custody.  Superintendent Col. Lamar Davis says the videos are in the hands of state and federal criminal investigators

Cut 10 (09) “…investigation.”

The three troopers involved have been identified as Chris Hollingsworth, Dakota DeMoss and Kory York. Hollingsworth died from a car crash after learning he would be fired. Davis says he intends on firing DeMoss and York received a 50-hour suspension but remains on leave pending state and federal investigations.

41 million dollars was recovered by the Louisiana Department of Insurance related to 1,500 complaints filed against insurers for issues stemming from last year’s three hurricanes. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the complaint process saves residents the effort of having to take their insurer to court over claim delays and underpayments…

Cut 3, 10 seconds, lives

Of the 41 million recovered 38 million was related to Hurricane Laura.

Two cases of a COVID-19 variant that first was spotted in India have been discovered in Louisiana.  LSU Health Shreveport Virologist Dr. Jeremy Kamil (Camille) says the two cases were detected in Caddo Parish.

Cut 13 (06) “…out there.”

There’s concern this strain is more transmissible than what we currently have, but vaccines appear to be effective against it.

Today through Friday job seekers can attend virtual job fairs featuring over 100 employers hosted by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Erik Piccoli has more

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Erik Piccoli”

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is mourning the death of a deputy shot in the line of duty in January of 2016. Detective Stephen Arnold worked on a DEA Task Force and was shot multiple times while serving a warrant in New Orleans. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says Arnold was under intense medical care until he died. The suspect is serving 35 years in federal prison.

State Police has released all of the video evidence they have from their encounter with Ronald Greene in 2019, a Black man who died in police custody. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

A 32-year-old Delhi man is dead after his mid-sized SUV rear-ended a tractor-trailer, lodged underneath, and caught fire. State Police say Ian Petit was killed shortly after 6:30 Sunday night on Interstate 20 near Holly Ridge. Police said the driver of the tractor-trailer truck was not injured in the crash.

The Louisiana Department of Health has issued an alert for healthcare providers in the Alexandria area over a significant increase in the number of new syphilis cases. Region Six Medical Director Dr. David Holcombe says the number of early syphilis cases among women was up 62 percent from 2019 to 2020…

Cut 7 (11)  “…doubled.”

The Louisiana health department has confirmed the state’s first two cases of the India COVID-19 variant. LSU Health Shreveport Virologist Dr. Jeremy Kamil says the two cases were detected in Caddo Parish and the current COVID-19 vaccines are effective against this variant strain…

Cut 14 (12) “…changing a little bit.”

State Police has released nine videos from the 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene, a 49-year-old unarmed black man who died in police custody. The videos show the troopers dragged Greene out of his vehicle, repeatedly punched him, and used a stun gun multiple times following a high-speed chase that ended in Union Parish. Superintendent Col. Lamar Davis says the videos are in the hands of state and federal criminal investigators
Cut 10 (09) “…investigation.”
Louisiana House Democratic Caucus Chairman Sam Jenkins says the public needs to hear the status of the federal investigation and if a legitimate state-level investigation is being conducted.

The Caddo Parish sheriff’s office says an experimental aircraft crashed into Cross Lake yesterday afternoon in Shreveport killing the sole occupant, Fred Phillips. Investigators say small plane took off from Shreveport Regional Airport and lasted in the air for about nine minutes.

The state health department reports two cases of the India COVID variant have been detected in Louisiana…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Every day this week, the Louisiana Workforce Commission will hold a virtual job fair. Today from one to four PM, employers in the manufacturing industry will have a chance to meet with job seekers. L-W-C spokesperson Marina Clay…
cut 6 (08) “….a virtual platform”
For more information go to la-works-dot-easy-virtual-fair-dot-com.

The public can view all of the video State Police has in its possession that shows the 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene, who died while in custody after he was punched and tased by Troopers. State Police Superintendent Colonel Lamar Davis hopes releasing the footage will show L-S-P is committed to transparency…
cut 12 (12) “…wounds”
Greene led law enforcement on a high-speed chase through northeast Louisiana.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission is hosting a virtual job fair every day this week as part of “Workforce Week.” LWC spokesperson Marina Clay says more than 100 employers in the state’s top industries will offer thousands of immediate job openings.
Cut 4 (10)”…to work”
For more information go to la-works-dot-easy-virtual-fair-dot-com.

LSU-Health Shreveport has identified the state’s first two cases of a COVID-19 variant that spread quickly in India. It’s the third different COVID variant found in Louisiana. Virologist Doctor Jeremy Kamil (Camille) says the best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated…
cut 15 (12) “…recover from it”
To find the nearest vaccine site visit COVID-vaccine-dot-la-dot-gov.

State health officials are concerned about a rising number of syphilis cases in the Alexandria area. The number of early syphilis cases has quadruped in the region from 43 in 2017 to 178 in 2020. Region Six Medical Director Doctor David Holcombe says the bacterial infection can spread quickly…
cut 8 (10) “….community”
When left undiagnosed, syphilis can lead to blindness, deafness, and long term neurological dysfunction.

State Police has released all of the videos from the 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene, a black man who died while in police custody. The video shows State Troopers dragging Greene out of his vehicle after a high-speed chase in northeast Louisiana. Once Greene was out of the vehicle, the troopers at the scene punched him and used a stun gun on him multiple times. L-S-P Superintendent, Colonel Lamar Davis, says new policies will ensure that something like this does not happen again…
cut 11 (12) “…and service”
The three troopers involved have been identified as Chris Hollingsworth, Dakota DeMoss, and Kory York. Hollingsworth died from a car crash after learning he would be fired. Davis says he intends on firing DeMoss and York received a 50-hour suspension but remains on leave pending state and federal investigations that could produce criminal charges.

Today through Friday job seekers can attend virtual job fairs featuring over 100 employers hosted by the Louisiana Workforce Commission…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Erik Piccoli”

The Louisiana Health Department is reporting an increase in the number of new syphilis cases in central Louisiana. Region Six Medical Director Doctor David Holcombe says medical providers need to be on the lookout…
cut 9 (11) “…do this”