A tragic Easter Sunday car crash in Rapides Parish takes the life of a 9-year-old child. State Police say an SUV driven by Marksville resident Angela Jacobs lost control and crashed on Highway 1. Master Trooper Casey Wallace says Jacobs was driving four kids – all wearing seat belts – and had just passed a vehicle…:

CUT 13(07)      “…embankment.”

One child was taken to a nearby hospital, but died from injuries in the crash.

A bill that would require adult websites to verify site visitors are 18 or older passes in a House Committee. The author is Metairie Democrat and licensed sex therapist Laurie Schlegel, who says it’s far too east for impressionable kids to find sexual content…:

CUT 03(11)      “…change course.”

The bill now goes to the House floor.

College tuition costs keep rising, but a Tulane University study shows there is help for lower-income students. Study co-author Emily Cook says awareness of that help and how to get it is the issue…:

CUT 11(10)      “…a concern there.”

Police in New Orleans are having a problem with pop-up car stunt shows, where car customizers and motorcyclists hurriedly take over a parking lot or even an intersection and do burnouts, donuts and other stunts. Neighbors complain of the noise, the smoke and the danger, but police never arrive in time to make arrests. One recent event stopped traffic right on Interstate 10 in Eastern New Orleans and was subject of an online video that’s gone viral.

A bill to require pornography sites to verify one’s age as a way to prevent minors from accessing their material passes in House Civil Law. Bill author, Metairie Representative, and licensed Sex Therapist Laurie Schlegel says it’s imperative, that we reduce access for minors…:

CUT 05(11)      “…government interest.”

House Bill 142 requires such websites to verify one’s age and only allow access for individuals 18 and older. It now heads to the House floor.

A single-vehicle crash in Rapides Parish Sunday claimed the life of a 9-year-old. Master Trooper Casey Wallace says it appears 30-year-old Angela Jacobs of Marksville lost control of her SUV along Highway 1, just a mile south of Highway 3170. He says one of the four juveniles in the SUV was transferred to a local hospital…:

CUT 12(06)      “…Easter Sunday.”

Everyone WAS seat belted. Wallace says impairment is not suspected but the crash remains under investigation.

Talking today to the Baton Rouge Press Club, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne explained the plan to set aside about a half-billion dollars to get started building a new I-10 Mississippi River Bridge near Baton Rouge, a new I-10 bridge in Lake Charles and other projects. That is an interlocking part of the spending plan for next fiscal year passed today by House Appropriations. Dardenne makes the case for why the money is needed right now…:’

CUT 08(11)      “…infrastructure act.”

Tuition at public universities has skyrocketed, but a new study by Tulane University and co-author Emily Cook, says that while high and upper-middle-income families are taking a hit, more financial aid is finding its way to low and middle-income students. Here’s Dr. Cook…:

CUT 09(10)      “…certain income groups.”

She says the problem is them getting the information on how to access the help.

A bill to reduce a minor’s access to pornography on the internet passes in House Civil Law. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

______________________________________

College tuition continues to rise, but a new study by Tulane University says some students have actually seen their costs go down. David Grubb has more.

Cut 2 (34)…I’m David Grubb.”  

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A bill to require pornography sites to verify one’s age as a way to prevent minors from accessing their material passes in House Civil Law. Bill author, Metairie Representative, and licensed Sex Therapist Laurie Schlegel says children’s exposure to pornography is a growing concern.

Cut 3 (11) “…change course.”

President of the Louisiana Family Forum Gene Mills spoke in support of the legislation to require commercial entities that publish material harmful to minors to place reasonable methods to verify the age of those attempting to access their site.

Cut 4  (11) “…child’s development.”

House Bill 142 requires such entities to verify one’s age and only allow access for individuals 18 and older. Schlegel, who understands the damage of pornography in her profession as a Sex Therapist says it’s imperative, that we reduce access for minors.

Cut 5  (11) “…government interest.”

The bill now heads to the House floor.

_________________________________________

The House Appropriations Committee approved a spending plan today for next fiscal year that contains 15-hundred dollar pay raises for teachers and 750-dollars for support staff. Chairman Jerome Zeringue of Houma says if this latest raise makes it through the legislative process, teachers would see their salary go up 33-hundred dollars over the last four years

Cut 6  (09) “…previous three.” 

The budget bill also calls for using 500-million dollars in federal pandemic aid to help replenish the state’s unemployment trust fund. Another 450-million dollar would be allocated to water systems.

The proposed budget for next year does not contain a 100-dollar increase in supplemental pay for local police and firefighters, despite a recommendation from Governor John Bel Edwards. Zeringue says Louisiana is the only state to provide a salary supplement for local police and firefighters…

Cut 7 (10) “…fire and police” 

There’s also a disagreement between the Edwards administration and House Republicans over funding for a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. The governor is proposing to put 500-million dollars towards the construction of a new I-10 bridge that could cost two-point-five billion dollars. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne makes the case why this money is needed now…

Cut 8 (11) “…infrastructure act.” 

_________________________________________

Tuition at public universities has skyrocketed, with an increase of about 200 percent since the 1980s. However, a new study released by Tulane University and co-authored by assistant economic professor Emily Cook, says that while high and upper-middle-income families are taking a hit, more financial aid is finding its way to low and middle-income students.

Cut 9 (10) “…certain income groups.”

Cook says there haven’t been any significant changes in state or federal aid guidelines, so the driver has been a shift in mindset by institutions as they work to attract more students to campus.

Cut 10 (12)  “…higher-income students.”

Unfortunately, there is still a gap where the funding isn’t always getting to the students it’s intended for. Cook says that there has to be greater awareness of what resources are available to families and what the real cost of education is for students seeking need-based aid.

Cut 11 (10)  “…a concern there.”  

_____________________________________________________

A single-vehicle crash in Rapides Parish Sunday afternoon claims the life of a nine-year-old passenger. Master Trooper Casey Wallace says it appears 30-year-old Angela Jacobs of Marksville lost control of her SUV along Highway 1, just a mile south of Highway 3170. He says one of the four juveniles in the SUV was transferred to a local hospital.

Cut 12 (06) “…Easter Sunday.” 

Wallace says Jacobs was returning home when the accident happened after passing another vehicle along the two-lane highway.

Cut 13 (07) “…embankment.”

Wallace says impairment is not suspected but the crash remains under investigation. He says the driver and all four juvenile passengers were wearing seatbelts.

Let’s start at the State Capitol, where the House Appropriations Committee passes the annual state budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1^st. The spending plan includes teacher pay raises of $1500 and $750 raises for support staff. Committee Chair Jerome Zeringue, of Houma, says if this raise makes it through, it would reflect an increase in teacher salaries of over $3000 over four years…:

CUT 06  (09)        “…previous three.”

The budget now moves to the House floor for much debate.

A bill to require adult websites to verify visitors’ age passes House Civil Law Committee. Speaking FOR it, Louisiana Family Forum’s Gene Mills says it’s not unreasonable to prevent children from viewing such materials…:

CUT (04)               “…child’s development.”

That bill also move to the House floor.

A freak Easter evening crash in New Orleans – technically a hit & run – leaves one man dead and four hurt. Police say the impact of two vehicles at an intersection sent one rolling over into a yard and over four pedestrians. The driver crawled out and ran away. He was quickly caught by police, but taken to a hospital for injuries, where he died. An investigation is sorting it all out.

Despite rising college tuition, a new Tulane study shows some students are seeing costs go down…:

CUT 02  (34)        “…David Grubb”

A bill to reduce a minor’s access to pornography on the internet passes in House Civil Law. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

—

In Shreveport, a 19-year-old man has been charged in connection to the shooting death of a 16-year-old female on Sunday afternoon. Officers responded to a call at 1:15 pm and found the young woman inside suffering from at least one gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Witnesses identified Treylin Dillard as the gunman and he was arrested and charged with one count of second-degree murder. He is being held without bond.

—

There’s a disagreement between the Edwards administration and House Republicans over funding for a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. The governor is proposing to put 500-million dollars towards the construction of a new I-10 bridge that could cost two-point-five billion dollars. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne makes the case why this money is needed now…

Cut 8 (11) “…infrastructure act.”

—

Tuition at public universities has increased roughly 200 percent since the 1980s. However, a new study released by Tulane University and co-authored by assistant economics professor Emily Cook, says that more financial aid is finding its way to low and middle-income students. There haven’t been any significant changes in state or federal aid guidelines, so the driver has been a shift in mindset by institutions as they work to attract more students to campus.

Cut 10 (12) “…higher-income students.”

—

A bill to require pornography sites to verify one’s age as a way to prevent minors from accessing their material passes in House Civil Law. Bill author, Metairie Representative, and licensed Sex Therapist Laurie Schlegel says children’s exposure to pornography is a growing concern.

Cut 3 (11) “…change course.”

The bill now heads to the House floor.

Tuition at public universities on average has increased about 200 percent since the 80s. But a new study from Tulane University and co-authored by assistant economic professor Emily Cook, says while high and upper-middle-income families are taking a hit, more financial aid is finding its way to low and middle-income students.

Cut 9 (10) “…certain income groups.”

The House Appropriations Committee approved a spending plan today for the next fiscal year that contains 15-hundred dollar pay raises for teachers, but Chairman Jerome Zeringue of Houma says the proposed budget does not contain a 100-dollar increase in supplemental pay for local police and firefighters, despite a recommendation from the governor. Zeringue says Louisiana is the only state to provide a salary supplement for local police and firefighters…

Cut 7 (10) “…fire and police” 

A bill to raise the compensation rate for school bus drivers will be heard in Senate Finance this afternoon. Bill author Covington Senator Patrick McMath says driver pay rates haven’t changed since the 80s and we owe it to them and the children they transport, so they can properly maintain their vehicles.

Cut 13 (08) “…do that.”

McMath says drivers are leaving as a result.

The House Appropriations Committee approved a spending plan today for next fiscal year that contains 15-hundred dollar pay raises for teachers and 750-dollars for support staff. Chairman Jerome Zeringue of Houma says if this latest raise makes it through the legislative process, teachers would see their salary go up 33-hundred dollars over the last four years…
cut 6 (09) “…previous three”
The budget bill also calls for using 500-million dollars in federal pandemic aid to help replenish the state’s unemployment trust fund.

According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the state’s unemployment rate is 4-point-two percent, the lowest it’s been for March in 14 years. But employers are still in search of workers. Could inflation bring retirees back??? Economist Loren Scott says it hasn’t happened yet…
cut 11 (04) “….unemployment rate”

Today is the deadline to file your federal tax return. If you’ve been waiting until the last minute, you’re not alone. Metairie CPA John Theriot has advice if you are one of the 43 million Americans who procrastinate.
Cut 7 (09) “…file an extension.”
Theriot says the extension doesn’t give you an extension to pay, if you owe the federal government that payment needs to be made today.

The Pelicans came up short last night in their first playoff appearance since 2018 as they lost to the top-seeded Phoenix Suns 110 to 99. New Orleans started slow, scoring just 34 points in the first half, but they were within six points with six minutes left. Head Coach Willie Green…
cut 19 (09) “…second half”
Game two is Tuesday night in Phoenix.

The House Appropriations Committee has passed the state’s annual budget. Committee Chairman and Houma Republican Representative Jerome Zeringue (zer-ANG) says it will provide money for teacher pay raises, enough money for early childhood education, public schools, vouchers, TOPS grants, and for state colleges and universities…:

Cut 5 (13) “…backlog of issues.”

The budget now heads to the House on Thursday.

A bill to raise the pay rate for bus drivers will be heard in Senate Finance this afternoon. Covington Senator Patrick McMath says the rates haven’t changed since the 80s and it’s getting more difficult for drivers to maintain the school buses they own, and it’s causing a driver shortage.

Cut 14 (08)  “…this help.”

Today is the deadline to file your federal taxes and David Grubb has tips for procrastinators…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

After five people were shot in Baldwin last night the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance. Authorities were called just before 10:30 last night after a complaint of gunfire in the Rosebud Road and Baptiste Street area of Baldwin.