Tomorrow is deadline day for lawmakers to submit ballots requesting the July 20th veto override session be canceled. Matt Doyle has more.
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State Superintendant of Education Cade Brumley says the goal for the upcoming school year is for class to be a lot closer to the pre-pandemic experience. Eric Piccoli has more…
Cut 2 (30) …I’m Eric Piccoli”.
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Tomorrow is the deadline for lawmakers to turn in ballots to cancel the upcoming veto override session.
LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says it appears likely that less than half of both the House and Senate will turn in ballots, meaning the override session will begin July 20th.
Alford says the Senate is showing the most hesitance at the moment towards holding a veto override session. Once those ballots are submitted Alford also says residents will know which lawmakers voted to not hold a session.
Alford says we’ve started to see some powerful out-of-state interest groups get involved in the lobbying process in favor of a session, particularly the NRA and the National Association for Gun Rights.
Both of those groups are in favor of overriding the Governor’s veto of Constitutional Carry legislation that would eliminate the need for those over the age of 21 to get a concealed carry permit to carry a concealed firearm.
Alford says right now there only seems to be clear support for overriding one of the Governor’s 28 vetoes once lawmakers head into session.
Governor Edwards vetoed legislation barring transgender athletes from participating in K-12 and college girls’ and women’s sports.
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Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says at this point the expectation is that the upcoming K-12 school year will look, in many ways, normal.
While the State Health Department and CDC recommend unvaccinated students and teachers mask up while at school Brumley says that decision will ultimately be left to the individual districts.
Children 12 and older are eligible to receive a COVID vaccine but Brumley says they will not be requiring students take the shot before returning to school in the fall.
Brumley says there’s really only one hard statewide K-12 COVID mandate that will be in place.
Brumley says they will also recommend districts maintain three feet of separation between students in the classroom.
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Statewide COVID case numbers and hospitalizations are spiking due to the more virulent Delta variant with students set to return to class in less than three weeks. Senator and Physician Bill Cassidy says there’s reason to be worried about the spread of Delta, but it shouldn’t result in continued virtual learning.
Cassidy says the CDC recommends students return to the classroom and says we should follow their guidelines.
COVID outbreaks among school systems in Louisiana were sporadic in the 20-21 school year with mitigation efforts in place. Cassidy says only students with preexisting health conditions should seek an alternative learning environment.
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The city of Ruston is offering $10,000 to LA Tech and Grambling University graduates if they choose to return to the community. Mayor Ronny Walker hopes the aptly named “Welcome to Ruston” initiative will attract 25 graduates this year and 50 next year…
Cut 12 (12) “…got 25 applications.”
Anybody can apply but the requirements specify that applicants must work from home to receive the $10K over a period of four years.
Walker hopes the program and the city of Ruston itself will attract both the young and old…
The selection process will be determined by a committee of five people from across the community and each year those chosen for the award will have to verify that they are still working remotely in Ruston.
Walker says immediate graduates are not excluded from the initiative…