Governor Edwards will kick off this year’s regular legislative session at 6 PM this evening on the field at Southern University’s Mumford Stadium. Traditionally he’d open things up to a packed house at the state Capitol but due to COVID restrictions on indoor gatherings put in place by Governor Edwards the event will have to be done outdoors.

Edwards is expected to lay out his legislative agenda, including support for closing the state’s gender pay gap and rejecting any new tax cuts. He also plans to support any proposals to raise the minimum wage.

Cut 12 (13) “…into law.”

Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says his priorities for the year will be tackling sales tax collection reform and restarting the state’s economy. The Speaker is, so far, feeling good about the odds of bipartisan agreement on both fronts…

Cut 15 (10)“…really good.”

There are a number of controversial culture war topics on the docket including trans issues, marijuana legalization, prison labor, and teaching about systemic racism, but ultimately political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says…

Cut 4 (11)“…happens”

Instead, the dominant issue will be how to spend the 3.2 billion dollars in federal aid allocated to us by the American Rescue Act.

Cut 6 (05) “…riches”

Also on deck, LSU scandal-inspired legislation. A bill is filed that would result in automatic termination of any post-secondary employee who fails to properly report incidents of “power-based violence” to the campus Title Nine coordinator. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman wrote it…

Cut 7 (11)  “…terminated.”

This fiscal session is set to run all the way into June.

A minimum of 13 percent of all new COVID cases in Louisiana are now believed to be the more deadly and contagious UK variant, and that number is multiplying rapidly every week. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says that could put us at risk of a new wave, but the good news is our 13.4 percent of UK variant cases is much better than the rest of the county. The nationwide average is 27.2 percent, Florida is at 34.5 percent, Texas is at 25.2 percent.

Cut 8 (10) “…reduced.”

Senator John Kenney calls on all Louisiana residents to get vaccinated.

Cut 5  (15)  “…works.”

A constitutional amendment is filed that would end the “slavery exception” in the state constitution that allows inmates to be forced to work for just pennies an hour. Executive Director of Decarcerate Louisiana Curtis Davis, who spent 25 years at Angola, says the 13^th Amendment didn’t end slavery it codified it with a loophole allowing prison slave labor. He says if you refuse to work guards can use force against you.

Cut 13 (07)“…in those guns.”

House Democrats release their Come Back Stronger Louisiana agenda for the upcoming legislative session. House Democratic Caucus Chair Representative Sam Jenkins says K-12 and higher education teachers and staff are up for a pay raise that will bring them closer to the southern regional average.

Cut 10 (10) “…promise to our teachers.” 

The session starts Monday.

Late evening and overnight storms wreaked havoc across much of Louisiana last night resulting in at least two deaths. In St. Landry Parish a tornado killed one man and injured seven others while up in Caddo Parish a 48-year-old Shreveport man was killed when a tree fell on his mobile home.

House Democrats release their Come Back Stronger Louisiana agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Don Molino has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Don Molino.” 

The share of new UK variant COVID cases as a portion of overall COVID cases appears to be multiplying rapidly in Louisiana. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says The CDC estimates a minimum of 13 percent of Louisiana COVID cases are the newer more deadly and contagious variety…

Cut 7 (06) “…go up.”

Kanter also warns the CDC variant tracking data has a several-week lag time and that the number is likely much higher right now.

Prison reform advocates pursue changes to the way prison labor is handled, targeting a provision of the state constitution called the “slavery exception” that relates to the nearly unpaid forced labor of Louisiana inmates. Executive Director of Decarcerate Louisiana Curtis Davis, who spent 25 years at Angola, is working to change that. He says prisoners are paid pennies for their work.

Cut 12 (09)   “…of soap.” 

COVID numbers continue to stay low in Louisiana despite spikes in other parts of the country driven by new viral variants. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says percent positivity this week was only 2.3 percent, the lowest since the pandemic began, and only 301 people are in Louisiana hospitals with COVID symptoms…

Cut 6 (09) “..encouraging.”

He warns that our rate of UK variant cases is multiplying in size by about 3-4x a week. Currently estimated at least 13.4 percent.

House Democrats release their Come Back Stronger Louisiana agenda for the upcoming legislative session. House Democratic Caucus Chair Representative Sam Jenkins says assisting those who’ve lost employment as a result of the pandemic is the priority.

Cut 9 (07) “…of work.”

 There’s a clause in the state constitution that allows prisoners to be treated like slaves, but legislation has been filed to change that.  Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (29) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

The nationwide share of Johnson and Johnson vaccine is set to drop by 86 percent next week and appears likely to stay that way through the end of the month due to a quality control problem at a US-based plant manufacturing vaccine. Previous shipments of JnJ had come directly from a Netherlands vaccine plant.  

House Democrats release their Come Back Stronger Louisiana agenda for the upcoming legislative session. House Democratic Caucus Chair Representative Sam Jenkins says assisting those who’ve lost employment in the pandemic is a priority.

Cut 9 (08) “…of work.”

Prison reform advocates back an amendment ending the “slavery exception” that allows inmates to be forced to perform labor for just pennies an hour.  Executive Director of Decarcerate Louisiana Curtis Davis, who spent 25 years at Angola, after being wrongly accused of second-degree murder, says if you refuse to work guards can use force against you.

Cut 13 (07)“…those guns”

If passed a constitutional amendment could be added to the fall 2022 ballot.

The session begins on Monday.

The number of new UK variant cases in Louisiana is rising. Now up to 13.4 percent of all new COVID cases reported in the state are believed to be that more deadly and contagious variant. But our percent of variant cases is much better than the rest of the county. The nationwide average is 27.2 percent, Florida is at 34.5 percent, Texas is at 25.2 percent. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says these numbers do lag a few weeks behind but gives us a good idea of where we are…

Cut 8 (11) “…reduced”

With UK variant cases rising Senator John Kennedy asks all residents to go get a vaccine. He says he’s not much of a singer but he is proudly vaccinated, because the vaccine works…

Cut 4 (11) “..star” 

The 16th ranked Louisiana Tech baseball team has won three straight weekend series as they begin a four-game set tonight at Rice. The Bulldogs have won 12 of their last 14.  A big part of their success has been on offense. Coach Lane Burroughs says they are doing a good job of getting clutch hits, especially when trailing.

Cut 16 (13) “off the bench”

LSU looks to snap a six-game losing streak in the SEC when they visit Kentucky for three games starting tonight in Lexington. Landon Marceaux is tonight’s starting pitcher for the Tigers and A-L Labas gets the ball tomorrow. Coach Paul Mainieri is holding off on naming a starter for Sunday’s series finale…

Cut 19 (19) “three guys”

the ULM baseball team begins a three-game series tonight against Georgia Southern. The Warhawks are looking to snap a five-game losing streak in Sun Belt play.

Also, the Ragin Cajuns baseball team will begin a three-game series tonight when they host Rice.  First pitch between the Cajuns and Red Wolves is scheduled for 6 p.m.

After losing Trendon Watford and Javonte Smart, LSU basketball will also lose forward Darius Days, as he announced he will forego his remaining eligibility and enter the NBA draft.  Days averaged 11.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game this past season.

After a recent loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the New Orleans Pelicans will return home tonight as they host the Philadelphia 76er’s at 7 p.m.

And in college football…Southeastern Louisiana hosts Nicholls with F-C-S playoff implications on the line.  Also, Northwestern will be on the road to take on Incarnate Word tomorrow at 7 p.m. and McNeese will travel to Sam Houston to take on the Bearkats at 4 p.m. tomorrow.

House Democrats release their Come Back Stronger Louisiana agenda for the upcoming legislative session. House Democratic Caucus Chair Representative Sam Jenkins says they want to see federal funds from COVID relief awarded to frontline workers in the form of hazard pay.

Cut 11 (07) “…open.”

Prison reform advocates want to change the state constitution’s “slavery exception” that allows for practically unpaid forced labor of inmates. Executive Director of Decarcerate Louisiana Curtis Davis, who spent 25 years at Angola, says prisoners are paid pennies for their work.

Cut 12 (10)   “…of soap.” 

If passed a constitutional amendment could be added to the fall 2022 ballot. The session begins on Monday.

The state’s COVID test percent positivity rate was only 2.3 percent this week, the lowest since the pandemic began. Despite this good news State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter is concerned the more deadly and contagious UK variant could cause us problems.

Cut 7 (06) “…go up”

The CDC estimates a minimum of 13 percent of Louisiana COVID cases is UK variant.

And with UK variant cases rising Senator John Kennedy asks all residents to go get a vaccine. He says he’s not much of a singer, but he is proudly vaccinated because the vaccine works…

Cut 4 (11) “..star” 

The state launched a COVID Vaccine Hotline to answer questions and book appointments for vaccines at 1-855-453-0774.

House Democrats release their Come Back Stronger Louisiana agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Don Molino has more

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Don Molino.” 

Volunteers are searching the Mississippi River for missing LSU freshman Kori Gauthier whose car was found abandoned and then involved in a crash on the Mississippi River bridge early Wednesday morning.  A dive team and the Cajun Navy are assisting police in the search for19-year old Gauthier.

Prison reform advocates pursue changes to the way prison labor is handled, targeting a provision of the state constitution called the “slavery exception” that relates to the nearly unpaid forced labor of Louisiana inmates. Executive Director of Decarcerate Louisiana Curtis Davis, who spent 25 years at Angola, is working to change that.He says as a society, we also don’t understand the mental trauma that forced servitude has on prisoners.

Cut 14 (10) “…punishment” 

If passed a constitutional amendment could be added to the fall 2022 ballot.

COVID numbers continue to stay low in Louisiana despite spikes in other parts of the country driven by new variants. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says percent positivity this week was only 2.3 percent, the lowest since the pandemic began.

Cut 6 (09) “..encouraging”