LRN AM Newscall May 11

The deadline to file and pay 2025 Louisiana state income tax is this Friday, May 15. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Debate continues this week on drawing a new Congressional map. Joe Gallinaro has the story…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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A proposal that seeks to make it much more difficult to move to a four-day school week runs into resistance on the House floor. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The deadline to file your 2025 Louisiana state income tax is Friday May 15. Louisiana Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson says the best way to file and pay your taxes is online.

Cut 4 (10) “…access point.”

Taxpayers can also submit returns using commercially available tax prep software or by printing copies of forms available on the Tax Forms page at revenue-dot-Louisiana-dot-gov.

If you need an extension on filing your returns, you do not have to request one. State law provides an automatic six month extension for individuals who need extra time, but Henderson says that’s not an excuse to not pay your taxes on time.

Cut 5 (11) “…this friday.”

Henderson also reminds residents who may have changed addresses in the past year to update any contact information or changes on the Department of Revenue website.

Cut 6 (06) “…due a refunnd.”

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The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee is expected to vote on Wednesday on a new Congressional map. Friday’s public hearing on the map proposals showed the racial tension. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris has proposed maps that either reduce by one or eliminate both Black-majority Congressional districts. He says the Supreme Court ruled race should not be the primary factor in drawing political lines…

Cut 7 (11) “…these maps.”

Morris was questioned by New Orleans Senator Gary Carter who pointed out that Morris is the behind several pieces of legislation that removes Black people from political office…

Cut 8 (12) “…Louisiana.”

Morris pushed back that racism is behind his legislation that reduces the number of Black Congressional districts or the law that abolished the job of Criminal Court Clerk in Orleans Parish after Calvin Duncan was elected to the position. Carter asked Morris what is behind is intentions…

Cut 9 (09)  “…you actions.”

Eventually Carter got very upset and emotional as he continued to question Morris…

Cut 10 (17) “…your work.”

Senate Governmental Affairs Chairman Caleb Kleinpehter briefly stopped the meeting to let emotions subside.

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If the Louisiana Legislature approves a Congressional map with one Black majority Congressional District, it will likely put Louisiana’s two Black U-S members in the same district. But Cleo Fields told Jim Engster, the host of Talk Louisiana on WRKF that he would not run against Troy Carter…

Cut 11 (11) “…I don’t.”

Despite the Supreme Court ruling that the state’s current Congressional map an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, Fields believes the map can be drawn so that two of the state’s six Congressional districts are represented by African Americans…

Cut 12 (11) “…to do it.”

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An effort to slow down the trend of public-school districts moving to a four-day week stalled on the House floor. Pollock Representative Gabe Firment explained to a supporter of the bill, Mandeville Representative Kim Carver, that many rural school districts went to a four-day a week schedule to attract and retain school teachers. Firment says it also helps with teacher morale…

Cut 13 (13) “..to them.”

The bill is by Senator Beth Mizell. Her legislation would allow a school system to move from a five-day school week to a four-day school week, if they were an “A” graded school system.

During the debate Firment was one of the more vocal opponents of the legislation…

Cut 14 (12) “…keep teachers.”

As the debate went on, amendments kept getting to the legislation to exempt more school systems from the bill and charter schools. Eventually Reserve Representative Sylvia Taylor says the issue needs to be studied before a law is passed…

Cut 15 (10) “…more study.”

The bill was returned to the calendar and it’s unknown if it has enough support to pass. Fifteen school systems have kids attend classes four days a week and 12 school districts have gone to a four day a week since 2020.

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Saints held a rookie minicamp over the weekend over the weekend headlined by Arizona State wide receiver and eight overall pick Jordyn Tyson. Tyson missed a third of the games over his college career due to MCL, collarbone and hamstring injuries, so head coach Kellen Moore is excited to get a better look at the newest black and gold playmaker.

Cut 16 (19) “…process for him.”

New Orleans also drafted LSU wide receiver Barion Brown in the sixth round of last month’s draft. Brown was an exceptional receiver and return man for Kentucky and LSU and Moore says they’re planning to use his speed as many ways as they can. Brown says he’s willing to do whatever to help his new team.

Cut 17 (12)  “…aspects of it.”

North Dakota State wideout Bryce Lance was selected in the fourth round to form a trio of explosive weapons for second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. With All-pro Chris Olave and a few veterans returning from injury, Moore expects big things from the Saints receiver room.

Cut 18 (18)  “…group for us.”

10:30 AM LRN Newscast

Public discussion is underway on drawing up a new Congressional District map. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (38) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

In College baseball scores across the state last night, LSU took an 11-8 loss to Georgia. Louisiana Tech beat Liberty 9-3, and UL-Lafayette took down App State 5-4 in extra innings. ULM fell to Marshall 7-4, and McNeese walked off Northwestern State in the tenth to earn a 5-4 win.

The funeral of the eight children killed in the Shreveport mass shooting last month will be held at 11 a.m. today at Grove Baptist Church. Services will be livestreamed by KLSA and KTBS. Two men connected with the shooting were indicted by a federal grand jury including the owner of the Bossier City home the shooter fled to, Michael Mayence. ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson says Mayence is an Iraq War veteran and former Louisiana National Guard member who knew gunman Shamar Elkins for years… 

Cut 11 (11) “…he took.” 

The other man indicted was Charles Ford, the believed owner of the gun used by Elkins. Funeral costs are being covered by Precious Memories Funeral Home and Sharon Landry’s Love One Louisiana Foundation, and a memorial account has also been set up at Regions Bank on Mansfield Road. Donations can be made under the names Pugh, Elkins or Snow

9:30 AM LRN Newscast

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee held a lengthy and sometimes contentious meeting on Friday over proposed Congressional maps to replace the current one struck down by the U-S Supreme Court for being a racial gerrymander. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis urged the panel to approve another Congressional map that has two majority Black Districts, one in the Baton Rouge area and the other in New Orleans…

Cut 12 (09) “…preferred candidates.”

The funeral remembering the eight children shot in the domestic shooting in Shreveport last month is being held at Summer Grove Baptist Church today. Two more individuals connected to the shooting were indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday. U-S Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, Zachary Keller, says one of the men indicted is Charles Ford. It’s believed the gun Shamar Elkins used on April 19th belonged to Ford…

Cut 9 (06)  “…shooting”

The rain will continue to pour throughout Mother’s Day weekend as a weak front has stalled near the coast and is interacting with a very moist air mass. LSU Health climatologist Barry Keim says multiple inches of rain could make its way across the state…

Cut 3 (11) “…welcome the rain.”

While Keim says severe storms aren’t too much of a concern high winds, hail and tornadoes are possible. 

A WalletHub study ranking states by their friendliness to working moms place Louisiana dead last. Louisiana ranked 50th in professional opportunities and child care and 40th in work-life balance. Analyst Chip Lupo says the gender pay gap is one thing that really stands out in this study.

Cut 7 (09) “…extremely difficult”

The boot also ranked 43rd in female unemployment rate. 

8:30 AM LRN Newscast

It’s already been a soaking start to Mother’s Day weekend in the Bayou State, and LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim doesn’t expect it to get much better. He says there is a chance for high winds, hail and we can’t rule out the possibility of a tornado.  While southeast Louisiana wades through the weekend, the rest of the state will be dodging rain drops…

Cut 5 (10) “…through the weekend.”

Two people connected with last month’s mass shooting in Shreveport, where a gunman killed eight children, have been indicted by a federal grand jury. Michael Mayence was one of the men indicted. Gunman Shamar Elkins drove to Mayence’s home in Bossier City after killing eight children—including seven of his own. U-S Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana Zachary Keller says Mayence was also in possession of guns while being subject to a domestic violence injunction…

Cut 10 (07) “…prohibited person.”

WalletHub is out with its rankings of the best and worst states for working mothers. Andrew Greenstein reports to find Louisiana on the list, look to the very bottom.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The LSU baseball team dropped the first of three games at 6th-ranked Georgia this weekend in an 11-8 loss last night. Tigers reliever Devin Sheerin picked up the loss and falls to 3-and-2 on the season after allowing four runs on four hits in 2.1 innings with one walk and three strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Marcos Paz will get the start on the bump in game two at 6:00 tonight.

7:30 AM LRN Sportscast

LSU fell to 6th-ranked Georgia 11-8 in game one of the weekend series against the Bulldogs. The Tigers led 7-3 after the top of the fourth behind homers from Omar Serna Jr., John Pearson and Cade Arrambide to go along with a two RBI single for Steven Milam and a sac fly from Derek Curiel. Georgia would go on to tie the game and then take the lead on a 3-run shot in the bottom of the seventh as the Tigers drop to 29-and-22 on the season and 9-and-16 in SEC play. Jay Johnson’s squad will hope to bounce back in game two of the series tonight at 6:00.

UL-Lafayette edged out App State for a 5-4 win behind a two-out RBI single from freshman Colt Brown in the top of the tenth. Starter Cody Brasch and a trio of Cajun relievers held the Mountaineers offense, ranked at the top of the Sun Belt in batting average, runs and hits, to just four runs on five hits as UL improves to 28-19 and 15-10 in the conference. The Cajuns will look to clinch the series in game two at 2:00 this afternoon.

The Diamond ‘Dogs took game one of their final road Conference USA series at Liberty with a 9-3 victory over the Flames last night. Starting right-hander Declan Dahl allowed four hits and struck out three through four innings, and freshman closer Thomas Allen slammed the door on the flames to earn his fourth save giving up just one hit in three shutout innings. Graduate reliever Luke Nichols picked up his second win on the year as the Bulldogs improve to 30-21 overall and 16-9 in the conference. Game two of the series in Lynchburg is set for 2 p.m. this afternoon.

McNeese clinched a three-game Southland Conference series win over Northwestern State last night with a 5-4 walk-off sac fly from graduate outfielder Isaiah Keller in the tenth inning. It is the second back-to-back extra inning walk-off win over the Demons and fifth straight game between the two programs decided by one run. Game three in Lake Charles is set for 2 p.m.

ULM suffered a 7-4 loss at Marshall in game one of their weekend series last night, and Grambling dropped a series opener at Arkansas-Pine Bluff 14-1 in seven innings.

6:30 AM LRN Newscast

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee spent a while on Friday debating proposed Congressional maps to replace the one the U-S Supreme Court ruled an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Four past and present Black Louisiana Congressman testified in support of a map with two majority minority districts. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter says it’s simple math, one third of the state is black, therefore Blacks should represent one-third of Louisiana’s House delegation…

Cut 13 (13) “…very basic.”

But the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee is also considering map proposals with just one majority minority district or zero. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris is the author of these proposals and was questioned on how he can support a map where districts are set up so a Republican can represent every district…

Cut 14 (11) “…six conservative districts .”

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When it comes to being a state that’s friendly to working moms, Louisiana has its work cut out for it. A new study by WalletHub ranks Louisiana dead last for working mothers. Analyst Chip Lupo says the study ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions

Cut 6 (14) “…female unemployment rate.”

We’ll see multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms this Mother’s Day weekend as a weak front has stalled near the coast and it’s interacting with a very moist air mass. But LSU Health climatologist Barry Keim says the threat of severe weather is low…

Cut 4 (12) “…the state.”

9:30 PM LRN Newscast

Public discussion is underway on drawing up a new Congressional District map. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (38) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

We’re getting word of an explosion at a refinery in Chalmette. The explosion at Chalmette Refining happened just before one this afternoon. While it shook several nearby businesses, there are no reports of any injuries. This happened less than a year after the explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland.
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It’s shaping up to be a stormy Mother’s Day weekend. This, as a weak front has stalled near the coast, and that front is interacting with a very moist air mass. LSU Health climatologist Barry Keim says there’s a chance for high winds and hail, and we can’t rule out the possibility of a tornado. He says while excessive rainfall is possible in southeast Louisiana, the rest of the state will be dodging rain drops.

Cut 5 (10) “…through the weekend.”

A new WalletHub study shows Louisiana is unfortunately the worst state for working moms. The study ranked the 50 states and the District of Columbia on professional opportunities, child care and work-life balance. Analyst Chip Lupo says in order for Louisiana to dig out of the basement in these rankings, it’s going to need to create a business climate that’s better for work overall, using Florida as an example.

Cut 8 (06) “…your engine.”

8:30 PM LRN Newscast

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee spent a while on Friday debating proposed Congressional maps to replace the one the U-S Supreme Court ruled an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Four past and present Black Louisiana Congressman testified in support of a map with two majority minority districts. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter says it’s simple math, one third of the state is black, therefore Blacks should represent one-third of Louisiana’s House delegation…

Cut 13 (13) “…very basic.”

But the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee is also considering map proposals with just one majority minority district or zero. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris is the author of these proposals and was questioned on how he can support a map where districts are set up so a Republican can represent every district…

Cut 14 (11) “…six conservative districts .”

——————–

When it comes to being a state that’s friendly to working moms, Louisiana has its work cut out for it. A new study by WalletHub ranks Louisiana dead last for working mothers. Analyst Chip Lupo says the study ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions

Cut 6 (14) “…female unemployment rate.”

We’ll see multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms this Mother’s Day weekend as a weak front has stalled near the coast and it’s interacting with a very moist air mass. But LSU Health climatologist Barry Keim says the threat of severe weather is low…

Cut 4 (12) “…the state.”

7:30 PM LRN Newscast

Two people connected with last month’s mass shooting in Shreveport where a gunman killed eight children have been indicted by a federal grand jury. U-S Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, Zachary Keller, says one of men indicted is Charles Ford. It’s believed the gun Shamar Elkins used on April 19th belonged to Ford…

Cut 9 (06)  “…shooting”

We’ll see multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms this Mother’s Day weekend as a weak front has stalled near the coast and it’s interacting with a very moist air mass. LSU Health climatologist Barry Keim says multiple inches of rain are possible…

Cut 3 (11) “…welcome the rain.”

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WalletHub is out with its rankings of the best and worst states for working mothers. Andrew Greenstein reports to find Louisiana on the list, look to the very bottom.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee held a lengthy and sometimes contentious meeting on TODAY over proposed Congressional maps to replace the current one struck down by the U-S Supreme Court. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis thinks New Orleans and Baton Rouge should each have a majority black district.

Cut 12 (09) “…preferred candidates.”

6:30 LRN PM Newscast

Public discussion is underway on drawing up a new Congressional District map. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (38) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

We’re getting word of an explosion at a refinery in Chalmette. The explosion at Chalmette Refining happened just before one this afternoon. While it shook several nearby businesses, there are no reports of any injuries. This happened less than a year after the explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland.
——————

It’s shaping up to be a stormy Mother’s Day weekend. This, as a weak front has stalled near the coast, and that front is interacting with a very moist air mass. LSU Health climatologist Barry Keim says there’s a chance for high winds and hail, and we can’t rule out the possibility of a tornado. He says while excessive rainfall is possible in southeast Louisiana, the rest of the state will be dodging rain drops.

Cut 5 (10) “…through the weekend.”

A new WalletHub study shows Louisiana is unfortunately the worst state for working moms. The study ranked the 50 states and the District of Columbia on professional opportunities, child care and work-life balance. Analyst Chip Lupo says in order for Louisiana to dig out of the basement in these rankings, it’s going to need to create a business climate that’s better for work overall, using Florida as an example.

Cut 8 (06) “…your engine.”