Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts in the death of George Floyd. Cell phone video showed Chauvin’s knee pressing on Floyd’s neck for nine and half minutes during an arrest. Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus Ted James said on Talk Louisiana on WRKF he was expecting an acquittal….

Cut 8 (10) “..held accountable”

Social media claims that the COVID vaccine is responsible for a more than 300-percent increase in miscarriages is causing concerns. LSU Health New Orleans OB/GYN Doctor Asha Heard says there has been no evidence at this time to suggest the claims of an increase are true and miscarriages early in pregnancy are far more common than you would think.

Cut 12 (06) “…recognized pregnancies.”

Heard says speak with your personal physician and not social media for your medical concerns.

A Bossier City Senator proposes dedicating the expiring .45 percent of the state’s sales tax solely to roads and bridges. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Divers have recovered a sixth body that was a crewmember on the capsized Seacor Power lift boat in the Gulf of Mexico. The Lafourche Parish Coroner’s office identifies the person as 31-year-old Quinon Pitre of St. Mary Parish. Seven crew members remain missing.

U-S Senator Bill Cassidy believes justice was done when former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts Tuesday. Cell phone video showed Chauvin’s knee pressing on George Floyd’s neck for nine and half minutes during an arrest. Cassidy says he spoke to local law enforcement who tell him what Chauvin did is not taught in police training.

Cut 7 (05) “..take over”

The Louisiana Senate will soon have the opportunity to decide whether .45-percent of the state’s 4.45-percent sales tax should strictly be used on Louisiana roads. Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock says with billions in federal infrastructure aid potentially headed to the state, the state needs to start putting some money aside.
Cut 5 (08)“… for federal funds.”
Peacock’s proposal has already cleared a Senate committee.

Social media claims that the COVID vaccine is responsible for a more than 300-percent increase in miscarriages is raising eyebrows. LSU Health New Orleans OB/GYN Doctor Asha Heard says recent studies by the CDC and the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology say otherwise.

Cut 11 (05) “…the two.”

Heard says as with any medical concern speak with your personal physician.

A bill requiring young children to attend kindergarten will be heard in the Senate education committee today. Stand for Children Governmental Affairs Director Brigitte Nieland fully support Senator Cleo Fields’ legislation because she says kindergarten provides vital foundational skills.
Cut 14 (09) “…student’s lifetime.”
But Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills says parents should decide if their children attend kindergarten, not the Louisiana Legislature.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s thankful the criminal justice system dispensed justice against ex-Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin who was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. U-S Senator Bill Cassidy says justice was done…
cut 6 (11) “….never taught”
Cell phone video showed Chauvin’s knee pressing on Floyd’s neck for nine and half minutes during an arrest. During that time Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe.

A bill heading to the state senate would take a portion of the state’s sales tax and use it to improve Louisiana’s roads. The bill’s author, Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock says it’s a concept that Texas does…
cut 4 (100 “….sales tax”
Peacock’s proposal would generate about 800-million dollars over the next three years.

There are claims on social media that the COVID vaccine is causing an increase in miscarriages. Brooke Thorington talks with an OB/GYN about the allegations
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Divers have recovered a sixth body that was a crewmember on the capsized Seacor Power lift boat in the Gulf of Mexico. The Lafourche Parish Coroner’s office identifies the person as 31-year-old Quinon Pitre of St. Mary Parish. Seven crew members remain missing.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Derbes resigns accusing AG Jeff Landry of retaliating against him for reporting alleged sexual misconduct by former top aide Pat Magee. Derbes’ Attorney Jill Craft says after reporting alleged harassment and sexism towards other workers, Landry retaliated by opening an investigation into Derbes…
Cut 7 (13) “…unheard of.”
Magee has resigned after a second person came forward accusing him of sexual harassment. Landry says an investigation found Magee made inappropriate comments, but his behavior did not rise to the level that he should be fired, if it had, one of the alleged victims’ would’ve filed suit…
cut 9 (10) “….the case”

The Senate Education Committee is scheduled to debate a bill this morning that would make it mandatory for young children to attend kindergarten. Stand for Children Governmental Affairs Director Brigitte Nieland calls this common-sense legislation considering how poorly Louisiana does in national education rankings…
cut 16 (05) “….debate really”
The Louisiana Family Forum says attending kindergarten should be a parent’s decision not the legislature.

The state sales tax is 4.45-percent, but .45-percent of that tax is set to expire in 2025. Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock is proposing to use the temporary portion of the sales tax to be spent on highway construction projects….
cut 6 (09) “…three years’
He says currently that money just goes into the general fund to be spent on almost anything, so it’s time to ween lawmakers

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Derbes resigns and files an EEOC discrimination complaint against AG Jeff Landry alleging retaliation for his reporting of former top aide Pat Magee’s alleged workplace sexual misconduct…
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

LSU interim president Tom Galligan says he’s no longer interested in becoming the permanent president. Galligan says he plans to return as Dean of LSU’s law school and spend more time with family.

A bill requiring young children to attend kindergarten will be heard in the Senate education committee today. Stand for Children Governmental Affairs Director Brigitte Nieland fully support Senator Cleo Fields’ legislation because she says kindergarten provides vital foundational skills.
Cut 14 (09) “…student’s lifetime.”
But Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills says parents should decide if their children attend kindergarten, not the Louisiana Legislature.

The Louisiana Senate will soon have the opportunity to decide whether .45-percent of the state’s 4.45-percent sales tax should strictly be used on Louisiana roads. Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock says with billions in federal infrastructure aid potentially headed Louisiana’s way the state needs to start putting some money aside.
Cut 5 (08)“… for federal funds.”
Peacock’s proposal has already cleared a Senate committee.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Derbes resigned claiming he faced retaliation for reporting sexual harassment within the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office. Attorney Jill Craft represents Derbes and says Debres first reported the harassment to his supervisors in 2019 involving A-G Jeff Landry’s former top aide Patrick Magee. Craft says Derbes also spoke with other administrators and submitted the allegations in an email…
cut 8 (09) “….problem”
Magee headed the office’s criminal division and has since resigned. ring a press conference at the A-G’s office, H-R director Sandra Schober discredited Derbes allegations…
cut 10 (09) “…form a narrative”

A Bossier City Senator proposes using the expiring .45 percent of the state’s sales tax solely on roads and bridges. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Today in Senate Education, lawmakers will discuss a bill that will make kindergarten mandatory. Stand for Children Governmental Affairs Director Brigitte Nieland says if this bill passes, kindergarten enrollment will increase…
cut 15 (11) “….takes effect”

Louisiana is receiving 216-million dollars in federal coronavirus stimulus dollars that can be used on highway projects like widening I-20 in Ouachita Parish and extending I-49 south in Lafayette. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says eleven million dollars must also be spent on installing electric vehicle charging stations statewide…
cut 8 (11) “…of that”

Legislation allowing a statewide amendment vote, on expanding the size of the State Supreme Court to nine from the current seven is headed to the Senate floor. Bill author and Covington Senator Patrick McMath says it also calls for a redistricting of the State Supreme Court to be conducted after every census.

Cut 10 (08) “.problem” 

Students at UL and LSU system schools will not have to be vaccinated to attend classes in the fall. UL System President Jim Henderson says it’s mostly due to an ethical concern with mandating vaccine use for non-fully licensed vaccines. That being said he says you should still get one.

Cut 13 (08)“….campuses”

LSU Interim president Thomas Galligan removes himself from consideration to be named permanently to the post. As for his predecessor, Galligan says they will have a big job considering the school’s Title IX issues. He says however improvements to reporting sexual misconduct at the university are significantly underway.

Cut 5  (07)  “…commitment.”

Galligan will remain interim until the board names his replacement.

UL and LSU system students won’t have to be vaccinated to attend on-campus classes in fall, joining a strong majority of other American universities that have adopted the policy. UL System President Jim Henderson says vaccines are safe and effective, but he has concerns about mandating students take a vaccine that is still under FDA emergency use authorization.

Cut 12 (07)   “..vaccine” 

Full biological licensing for vaccines may not be available until 2022.

Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. The incident occurred last during May where Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for about nine and a half minutes. The murder triggered explosive worldwide anti-racism protests and put the Black Lives Matter movement front and center throughout the summer of 2020.

The Edwards administration announces it’s using 216 million dollars in federal coronavirus stimulus money on road and infrastructure projects. The federal money replaces the lost gas tax revenue the state experienced in 2020 when fewer people traveled due to the pandemic. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says 50-million dollars will go towards extending I-49 from Lafayette to New Orleans…

Cut 7 (12) “..to construction”

LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan withdraws his name from being named permanent President. Galligan, who served as Dean of LSU’s Law School, was named to the post of interim President in January of 2020. Galligan says he feels teaching is what he does best, and the role of president limits his ability to instruct.

Cut 4 (05) “…classroom.” 

Galligan will remain interim until the board names his replacement.

The UL and LSU systems will not require students to be vaccinated to attend in-person classes for the upcoming fall semester. Despite that UL System President Jim Henderson says he’s confident that our current vaccination rates will facilitate a safe fall campus experience, barring a new vaccine immune variant.

Cut 14 (07) “..science” 

All Louisiana residents 16 and older are eligible to receive the vaccine at local pharmacies.

LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan withdraws his name from consideration to be named permanent president. Galligan says he came to the decision after spending time with his 14-month-old grandson…
cut 3 (10) “…do best”
Galligan was the dean of the LSU law school when he was named temporary leader of the LSU system in January of 2020.

The Edwards administration says it’s using 216 million dollars in federal coronavirus stimulus money on road and infrastructure projects. The money was approved by Congress in December and Governor John Bel Edwards says improving the state’s roads and bridges has been a priority of his administration.

Cut 6 (10) “..for awhile”

Legislation allowing a statewide amendment vote on expanding the size of the State Supreme Court to nine from the current seven is headed to the Senate floor. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau had some concerns that New Orleans Senator Jimmy Harris, a co-author, tried to put to rest…

Cut 11 (12) “..either way”

Legislation allowing a statewide amendment vote on expanding the size of the State Supreme Court to nine from the current seven is headed to the Senate floor. Along with expanding the size bill author and Covington Senator Patrick McMath says it also calls for a redistricting of the State Supreme Court to be conducted after every census.

Cut 10 (08) “.problem” 

If approved by voters the amendment would become effective in 2025.

Students at UL and LSU system schools will not have to be vaccinated to attend classes in fall. UL System President Jim Henderson says it’s mostly due to an ethical concern with mandating vaccine use for non-fully licensed vaccines. That being said he says you should still get one.

 Cut 13 (08)“….campuses”

LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan withdraws his name from being named permanently to the post. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

A Lafayette couple has been cited for allegedly possessing a live grey wolf. It’s illegal to possess a wolf in Louisiana and 47-year-old Andrew Hill and 49-year-old Jill Kramer are the alleged owners of the wolf, which has been sent to a K-9 training facility. LDWF began investigating after someone complained they saw a person walking a wolf in front of an elementary school in Lafayette.