1230 PM LRN News

Legislation inspired by cases where children in special education classes were physically and mentally abused by teachers is headed to the Senate. The bill would allow cameras to be set up in special ed classrooms should parents make that request. Baton Rouge physician and mother of a nonverbal special needs daughter, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Christian says she will never forget the day when she sat in an Individualized Education Program for her daughter and learned of ongoing abuse.

Cut 4 (12) “… every day.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards says because he and his family are fully vaccinated they’ll be able to enjoy a safe, normal Mother’s Day celebration Sunday.

Cut 13, 12 seconds, vaccinated

Legislation that protects employees from being discriminated against due to their natural hairstyle is headed to the House for final passage after a tense debate in committee. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

1130 AM LRN News

A Senate-approved bill aimed at ending employer discrimination against Black natural hairstyles is headed to the House floor after a contentious debate in committee. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says his bill was inspired by the experiences of African Americans who were suspended from school or fired from jobs just for wearing their hair naturally…

Cut 6 (12) “…shouldn’t be”

Opponents argue employers should have the right to dictate what employees hair looks like.

A bill to allow cameras in special education classrooms, if requested by the parents, advances from Senate Education. Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil author the bill on behalf of the Louisiana Development Disabilities Council and concerned parents whose special needs children experienced mental and/or physical abuse in the classroom.

Cut 3 (03)  “…safeguard.” 

University of South Carolina Provost William Tate the fourth will take over as LSU System President in July. The 65-year-old will be the first Black president in SEC history. Tate says he’s ready to tackle the school’s Title Nine scandal and advance the program’s academic reputation…

Cut 12 (12) “…in the future.”

Tate was unanimously approved by the Board.

The House approved next fiscal year’s 36.4 billion dollar spending plan and found agreement on how to spend 800 million of the 1.6 billion in American Rescue Act funds Louisiana receives this year. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue highlighted the increased investment they were able to put into higher education.

Cut 13 (10) “…institutions.”

10:30 LRN Newscast May 7

LSU is the first school in the SEC to appoint a Black president. University of South Carolina Provost William Tate IV has been tapped by the LSU Board of Supervisors to lead the system.

Cut 10 (11) “…very special.”

Tate was unanimously approved by the board.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter met briefly with President Joe Biden yesterday during his visit to Louisiana to promote his jobs and infrastructure plan. Biden vowed that if his plan is passed a new I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River would be built. Hunter says that’s great if it comes to fruition, but this isn’t the first time they’ve heard that promise…
Cut 4 (12)“…bridge.”

Biden also visited the water and sewer system in New Orleans Thursday.

The House approved next fiscal year’s 36.4 billion dollar spending plan and found an agreement on how to spend 800 million of the 1.6 billion in American Rescue Act funds Louisiana receives this year. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says a majority of the funds will assist education and there were a number of smaller increases and new programs financed for next year’s budget, including a boost to foster family assistance.

Cut 14 (08) “… populations.”

The LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center has found that mothers who have pre-school-age children struggled during the pandemic with increased stress levels and a loss of sleep. Doctor Chelsea Kracht says in some cases this resulted in moms suffering from depression and absenteeism from work…

Cut 8 (09) “…usually do.” 
The study’s findings support the necessity of providing mothers with reliable, affordable childcare options.

9:30 LRN Newscast May 7

LSU has a new president and chancellor of its flagship school as William Tate the 4th was a unanimous pick by the LSU Board of Supervisors. He becomes LSU’s first Black president and the first African American university president in the SEC. Governor Edwards says Tate, who is a provost at the University of South Carolina, is the right person to lead LSU.

The Louisiana House has approved a 36-billion dollar budget for the next fiscal year and they also agreed on how the state should spend 925-million dollars in federal coronavirus aid…
cut 3 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

During the President’s visit to Lake Charles, Mayor Nic Hunter had a chance to meet with Mr. Joe Biden to discuss funding for a new I-10 bridge and hurricane relief dollars. Hunter says the long wait for federal aid has been unacceptable…
cut 5 (08) “…package”
The President also went to New Orleans and toured the Carrollton water plant. Officials with the Sewerage and Water Board say the facility desperately needs to be modernized.

An LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center study indicates the pandemic was responsible for almost doubling the loss of sleep for mothers of pre-school-aged children. Researcher Dr. Chelsea Kracht says they surveyed close to two thousand mothers who on average sleep less anyway, but the epidemic only worsened the situation.
Cut 7 (10) “…physical health.”

8:30 LRN Newscast May 7

The LSU Board of Supervisors has chosen William Tate the Fourth as the school system’s new president and chancellor of the flagship. He becomes the first black man to lead an SEC college. He’ll also be in charge of leading LSU out of a Title nine scandal that has reflected poorly on the university…
cut 11 (12) “….the case”
Tate will start his new job on July 2nd.

The LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center has found that mothers who have pre-school-age children struggled during the pandemic with increased stress levels and a loss of sleep. Doctor Chelsea Kracht says in some cases this resulted in moms suffering from depression and absenteeism from work…
cut 8 (09) “….usually do”
The study’s findings support the necessity of providing mothers with reliable, affordable childcare options

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter and President Joe Biden spoke Thursday during the President’s visit about the city’s most pressing needs. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Today Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Shreveport to make an economic development announcement. KSLA-TV is reporting the governor will provide details of a new Amazon distribution center that would be built in north Shreveport. The governor is set to speak at 2:30 PM.

7:30 LRN Newscast May 7

President Joe Biden was in Lake Charles and New Orleans yesterday as he pushes for his two-trillion dollar American Jobs Plan that seeks to rebuild roads, bridges, and water systems like the Carrollton Plant in New Orleans that has century-old turbines. In Lake Charles, officials say a new I-10 bridge is needed. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter on his meeting with the President…
cut 6 (08) “…an honor”

Meanwhile, the Louisiana House approved spending 300-million dollars in federal coronavirus aid on water infrastructure projects around the state…
cut 15 (11) “….sewer systems”
That’s House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue who also says another 90-million will be used to expand broadband.

The LSU Board of Supervisors has named William Tate the Fourth as the new LSU system president and chancellor. He becomes the first black person to lead LSU after spending the last 10 months as the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of South Carolina. Tate is expected to start his new job on July 2nd…
cut 12 (11) “….in the future”

Moms with preschool-age children saw their stress levels during the pandemic rise and twice as many of the mothers reported they lost sleep during the COVID-19 outbreak than before it. That’s according to a study conducted by LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Doctor Chelsea Kracht (Krok) says having fathers or other family members take on some of the childcare and housework would help moms balance the demands of their career and personal lives…
cut 9 (07) “….responsbility’

6:30 LRN Newscast May 7

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter met briefly with President Joe Biden yesterday during his visit to Louisiana to promote his jobs and infrastructure plan. Biden vowed that if his plan is passed a new I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River would be built. Hunter says that’s great, but this isn’t the first time they’ve heard that promise…
Cut 4 (12)“…bridge.”

The Louisiana House approved next fiscal year’s 36-billion dollar budget and agreed on how to spend 800 million dollars in federal American Rescue Act funds. Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue highlighted the increased investment in higher education.
Cut 13 (10) “…institutions.”
The proposed spending plans still need Senate approval.

LSU is the first school in the SEC to select a Black president. Brooke Thorington has more on the historic appointment of William Tate IV.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

AM LRN Newscall May 7

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter and President Joe Biden spoke Thursday during the President’s visit about the city’s most pressing needs. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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LSU is the first school in the SEC to select a Black president. Brooke Thorington has more on the historic appointment of William Tate IV.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

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The House found agreement on how to spend 804 million dollars of the 1.6 billion dollars in American Rescue Act funding we’re set to receive this year. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (28)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter met briefly with President Joe Biden Thursday during the President’s visit to Louisiana to promote his jobs and infrastructure plan.

Biden vowed that if his plan is passed a new I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River would be built. Hunter says that’s great if so, but this isn’t the first time they’ve heard that promise…

Cut 4 (12)“…bridge.”

Hunter says he also took time to implore the President to send additional hurricane aid to the area. He says the long wait for federal aid has been unacceptable…

Cut 5 (08)“…package.”

Hunter says he also spoke with President Biden about getting a group of American oil executives imprisoned in Venezuela known as the Citgo Six freed. Hunter says he personally knows Lake Charles native Tomeau Vadall, who’s been imprisoned in the country for the past three years on charges of corruption.

Hunter says the President was very attentive and responsive to his requests during the visit.

Cut 6 (08) “…honor.”

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An LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center study indicates the pandemic was responsible for almost doubling the loss of sleep for mothers of young children Researcher Dr. Chelsea Kracht says they surveyed close to two thousand mothers who on average sleep less anyway, but the epidemic only worsened the situation.

Cut 7 (10)  “…physical health.”

Kracht says a marked decrease in the amount of sleep one receives can increase depression and absenteeism from work. There is even a name for the malady.

Cut 8 (09) “…usually do.” 

She says a lack of sleep also leads to weight gain which can cause multiple health concerns.

Several factors surrounding pandemic anxiety were responsible for the decrease in sleep. Kracht says fear of contracting the virus, long-term career impacts due to cutting back hours to care for children, and having to oversee their children’s remote learning.

Kracht says to assist mothers of young children society needs to rethink safe and economical approaches to childcare.

Cut 9 (07) “…responsibility.”

Kracht says having fathers take on some of the responsibilities of housework will also assist mothers in balancing the demands of their careers and personal lives.

______________________________

LSU appoints the first-ever Black president in the school’s history and who’s also the first Black president in the Southeastern Conference. University of South Carolina Provost William Tate IV has been tapped by the LSU Board of Supervisors to lead the system.

Cut 10 (11) “…very special.”

Tate was unanimously approved by the board and board member Collis Temple Jr, who was LSU’s first Black basketball player, made the emotional official motion to select Tate.

When asked how he will lead the university that remains under the cloud of a Title IX scandal Tate says he believes it’s an opportunity to develop a trauma-based approach to assist victims of sexual misconduct.

Cut 11 (12) “….the case.”

Tate was also questioned about what he considers his biggest challenge as he takes the helm at LSU, Tate responded getting to know everyone as quickly as possible.

Cut 12 (12) “…in the future.”

Board Chairman Robert Dampf says the details of Tate’s contract are still being negotiated.

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The House approved next fiscal year’s 36.4 billion dollar spending plan and found agreement on how to spend 800 million of the 1.6 billion in American Rescue Act funds Louisiana receives this year.

House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue highlighted the increased investment they were able to put into higher education.

Cut 13 (10) “…institutions.”

Zeringue also notes they found the funds to double the Governor’s proposed 400 dollar teacher pay raise to 800 dollars.

There were a number of smaller increases and new programs financed for next year’s budget, including a boost to foster family assistance.

Cut 14 (08) “… populations.”

The total budget for next year sits at 42 billion dollars.

The ARA funds went into four categories: 400 million to replenish the unemployment trust fund, 10 million for logger’s relief, 90 million for broadband expansion, and 300 million for water infrastructure…

Cut 15 (11)“..serwer systems.”

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Cut 16 (00) “…N/A.”

 

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It’s the final home series of the season for the ULM Warhawks who host Texas-Arlington. The Warhawks will recognize their seniors who are wrapping up their collegiate careers. Head Coach Mike Federico

Cut 17 (23) “…conference standings.”

ULM is 7-and-11 in conference play and in last place in the Sun Belt West Division, while the Mavericks are 10-and-5 and in first place. Federico is looking forward to the opportunity to still move up the division standings

Cut  18 (15)”…this weekend.” 

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Louisiana Tech looks to extend its school-record 10-game winning streak on the road when they begin a four-game series against F-I-U. The Panthers are 8-and-16 in Conference USA play, but Bulldogs Coach Lane Burroughs knows they have plenty of talent….

Cut 19 (19) “…any weekend.” 

Burroughs is expecting a hard-fought series…

Cut 20 (12) “…your playing.” 

530 PM LRN News

A 36.4 billion spending plan for the next fiscal year was approved by the House with little opposition. It features increases in funding to a range of different programs, largely due to a massive influx of federal funds. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue highlighted the increased investment they were able to put into higher education.

Cut 13 (10) “…institutions.”

Zeringue also notes they’re giving K-12 teachers a 800 dollar pay raise.

Additionally 800 million dollars in American Rescue Act funding was dedicated into four categories: 400 million to replenish the unemployment trust fund, 10 million for logger’s relief, 90 million for broadband expansion, and 300 million for water infrastructure…

Cut 15 (12)“..system_.”

The Senate advances Senator Beth Mizell’s bill to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

President Joe Biden vowed to send additional federal assistance to hurricane-ravaged Lake Charles today after visiting the area. He says it’s the helping hand they need…

Cut 14 (10) “..I’ve observed” 

He also says if Congress passes his infrastructure bill he’ll build a new bridge on the Calcasieu River.

3:30 LRN Newscast May 6

President Biden was in Lake Charles touting his American Jobs Plans to rebuild infrastructure today. Congressman Steve Scalise says the President is promoting a budget-busting tax hike that will force middle-class jobs overseas. But Biden says his plan would result in over 16-million American jobs and is willing to meet with GOP lawmakers to find common ground.

Cut 13 (11)“…to compromise.”

 

The LA Wallet now offers the ability to store a copy of your COVID vaccine card. In addition to your driver’s license Governor Edwards says it’s optional and free of charge.

Cut 3 (04)  “…information” 

The LA Wallet app is free and available for download on the Apple App and Google Play stores.

Four women have filed EEOC complaints alleging they suffered sexual harassment and discrimination at LSU Health Shreveport. Their attorney Allison Jones says her clients wanted to address the situation privately, but the LSU Board of Supervisors held an executive session where politicians were invited, but the media and accusers were barred.

Cut 7 (07) “…situation.”

They are calling for Chancellor G.E. Ghali to be removed.

House Labor approves legislation prohibiting employers from retaliating against employees for sharing salary information with each other, and from asking about applicants’ previous wage history. Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Carpenter says in 2013 the Legislature passed legislation allowing state employees to share salary information and it narrowed the gender pay gap.

Cut 15 (09) “…percent.” 

Carpenter says 19 states have passed similar pay transparency laws.