House Speaker Clay Schexnayder’s proposal to centralize Louisiana’s sales tax collection system gets positive reviews from a House committee. The new sales tax collection proposal will need two-thirds support in both the House and Senate and Schexnayder says a constitutional amendment to streamline Louisiana’s sales tax system could appear before the voters in the fall.

Cut 7 (07) “…always important.”

Governor John Bel Edwards tells the legislature whatever bill they pass to increase the minimum wage he’ll sign it into law. The 7.25 an hour minimum wage hasn’t seen a hike since 2008 and Edwards says there’s tons of polling to suggest that raising it in Louisiana is a very popular idea.

Cut 11 (11) “.life.”

The state health department is following a directive from the CDC and FDA in by stopping the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Tulane School of Medicine Professor Doctor Lisa Morici says it’s very rare to have a blood clot from the vaccine and the clot could be a result of something else for example smoking and not the vaccine, so it’s important the six cases be thoroughly investigated.

Cut 5  (12)  “…going forward.”

The City of New Orleans will be the backdrop for the first movie production to leave the state of Georgia amid protest of the state’s new voting laws. Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s spokesperson, Beau Tidwell, says the Will Smith feature, Emancipation, is moving to Louisiana.

Cut 12 (12)   “…recently.” 

A top priority of the 2021 session, a centralized sales tax collection system, receives significant support from the House Ways and Means Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

A body has been recovered from the Mississippi River in Reserve, Louisiana, according to St. John the Baptist sheriff’s deputies. Authorities have not released any more information except that the body appears as if it’s been in the river for some time. Over the weekend dive teams searched near the Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge for missing LSU freshman Kori Gauthier

With Congressional efforts to raise the federal minimum wage dead in the water Governor Edwards is looking to the Legislature to increase the state’s 7.25 an hour minimum this session. Edwards says many essential workers don’t make a living wage, and after everything they’ve done for the state since the start of the pandemic, they deserve a raise.

Cut 10 (09) “..needs.” 

The minimum wage hasn’t been raised in the state since 2008.

The state department of health is following guidance from the CDC and FDA halting the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine and investigating a possible connection between blood clots in six women and the one-dose vaccine. Tulane School of Medicine Professor Doctor Lisa Morici says this is only with the J& J vaccine this shouldn’t discourage you from being vaccinated.

Cut 4 (10) “…Pfizer vaccines.” 

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With Congressional efforts to raise the federal minimum wage dead in the water Governor Edwards is looking to the Legislature to increase the state’s 7.25 an hour minimum this session. In past years Edwards would put his weight behind a single bill but this time he says he’ll take any raise he can get, even if it’s below his preferred number.

Cut 9, 7 seconds, sign it

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder’s proposal to centralize Louisiana’s sales tax collection system gets positive reviews from a House committee. Schexnayder proposes using a single board to collect local and sales taxes, which would make it easier on small businesses and assure the right amount of taxes is collected…

Cut 6 (10) “.. our job.”

Lawmakers have until June 10^th to address the nearly 900 bills and resolutions filed.

The state health department, following guidance from the CDC and FDA, is stopping the use of the Johnson and Johnson one-dose vaccine while they review data. Brooke Thorington explains

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The state department of health is following guidance from the CDC and FDA and halting the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine. Both the CDC and FDA are investigating a possible connection between blood clots and the one-dose vaccine. Tulane School of Medicine Professor Doctor Lisa Morici says six women were diagnosed with blood clots six to thirteen days after their injection.

Cut 3 (10)  “…age of 50.” 

A Brown Pelican that was rehabbed after being found covered in oil in 2010 on Queen Bess Island and released into the wild in Georgia has found it’s way back home. LDWF Biologist Casey Wright says this is not the first pelican rehabbed from the oil spill that found its way home.

Cut 9 (09) “…for Texas.”

The Legislative session kicked off yesterday and lawmakers have the next two months to consider about 900 bills and resolutions, including one controversial culture war topic that could result in New Orleans losing the Final Four in 2022. Houma Representative Beryl Amadee’s bill bars transgender athletes from participating in girl’s or women’s sports at public schools. Political Analyst Clancy DuBos says it has a good chance of passing.

Cut 13 (08) “…in Louisiana.”

Governor Edwards wrapped up the first day with a speech on the field at Mumford Stadium on Southern’s campus. Edwards challenged lawmakers not to allow the state to return to the pre-pandemic normal, but to something better…

Cut 10 (13) “..difficult.”

The Louisiana Department of Health following the guidance of the CDC and FDA is halting the use of the Johnson and Johnson one dose COVID vaccine. The CDC and FDA are investigating a possible connection of blood clots and the vaccine. Six women reportedly had blood clots six to thirteen days after the injection and a reduction in platelet count.

Louisiana has seen literacy rates amongst elementary and middle-grade students decline for several years in a row now. Matt Doyle spoke with Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley about how to fix this…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The session will run for the next two months and there are a lot of different items on the agenda, including legislation that would bar transgender individuals from participating in girls’ or women’s sports. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says the NCAA is threatening to pull events like the Final Four, which New Orleans is set to host next year, if this bill passes…

Cut 15 (07)“…transgendered student”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says a rehabbed brown pelican that was found covered in oil near Queen Bess Island in 2010, and then released in Georgia, has found its way back to the Bayou State. LDWF Biologist Casey Wright says the pelican known as 33Z remains tagged on his right leg and while it’s not known exactly when he returned from Georgia,Wright says it’s not a complete shock that’s he found his way back.

Cut 8 (07) “…banding.”

Tax reform is expected to be a big topic at the legislative session which got underway last week. In his address to lawmakers to open the session, Governor Edwards called on revenue-neutral tax reforms. He says since 2016 they’ve made great strides stabilizing the budget and can’t go back to running deficits…
cut 11 (08) “….positive”
Republican legislative leaders are looking at lower income tax rates in exchange for a reduction in tax break programs.

There’s a bill in the legislative session that would bar transgender athletes from participating in girls or women’s sports at public schools. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says there’s a chance the legislation will pass,,,
cut 13 (08) “…in Louisiana’
The NCAA has threatened to remove events from states that pass this legislation. New Orleans is set to host the men’s Final Four next year.

The Louisiana Department of Education is launching a new campaign to boost the state’s shockingly poor levels of literacy among young students. Right now only half of the third-graders are reading on or above their grade level. Superintendent Cade Brumley says that number has been declining for several years.
Cut 4 (09)“…successful”
The state is launching a new series of training programs for teachers and administrative staff in elementary and middle grades to boost literacy rates.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says a rehabbed brown pelican that was found covered in oil near Queen Bess Island in 2010 following the BP spill, and then released in Georgia, has found its way back to the Bayou State. LDWF Biologist Casey Wright says this is the first pelican released from the Coast Guard Station in Brunswick to return home.
Cut 7 (12) “…I saw it.”
Wright says brown pelicans are hard-wired genetically to return to their birth colony to breed, even when they move long distances.