The House Appropriations Committee has stopped an effort to increase the annual salaries of state lawmakers from $16,800 to around 39-thousand dollars. The panel rejected the proposal on a 16-5 vote. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes voted against the bill…

Cut 6 (09)  “…goes on.” 

Hughes believes an independent commission should be established to determine the salary of legislators.

When the pandemic disrupted life as we know it, many women fell behind or missed their annual mammograms. LSU Health New Orleans Surgical Oncologist Dr. Shawn McKinney says she, like other surgeons, is seeing the repercussions with more patients who have advanced or later stages of breast cancer.

Cut 3 (10) “…advanced disease.”

Last week U.S. Preventive Services Task Force changed course and advises to begin screenings at 40 years of age instead of 50.

Louisiana lawmakers approved a state budget plan that erased a proposed $2,000 annual raise for public school teachers   – and instead put hundreds of millions of dollars towards paying down retirement debt. Representative Jack McFarland says this will allow schools to spend funds as they see fit which could include raises for educators.

Cut 10 (08) “…two for one.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards says he, along with the majority of those in the state, believes investments in education overall should be made while the funding is available.

Cut 13 (12) “…these investments.” 

Edwards says he will continue to work with the House on the budget acknowledging that if the Senate makes changes, then it will also have to be approved in the House.

If and how teachers will receive pay raises in Louisiana in the state’s budget remains to be seen after changes made by House Republicans. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LDWF enforcement agents are looking for information about a Louisiana Black Bear that was found fatally wounded in Lincoln Parish on May 12. Anyone with information should call the Louisiana Operation Game Thief hotline at 800-442-2511.

Ochsner Health’s announcement to lay off nearly 800 employees in Louisiana and Mississippi highlights the grim reality that the healthcare system is facing financial challenges. Louisiana Hospital Association President and CEO Paul Salles says inflation has impacted the healthcare industry nationwide.

Cut 4 (08)  “…of expenses.”

Salles says regionally labor expenses have increased by over 25 percent and the cost of drugs and other supplies have increased by about 20 percent.

A $2.3 million study by LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center will determine if altitude plays a role in weight loss.  Participants of the ‘Low Oxygen and Weight Status” study will sleep 8 hours a night in oxygen tents for a period of four months. Lead Researcher Claire Berryman says the controlled effects of oxygen may benefit people struggling with obesity.

Cut 15 (13)  “…weight status.”

The 2.3 million grant was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

House Republicans approve a budget for next fiscal year that does not contain funding for a two-thousand dollar teacher pay raise but instead pays off teachers’ retirement debt.  Representative Jack McFarland says the issue can be resolved if needed on the ballot.

Cut 12 (12)    “…for them.” 

Edwards says he, along with the majority of those in the state, believes investments in education overall should be made while the funding is available.

Cut 13 (12) “…these investments.” 

Edwards says he will continue to work with the House on the budget acknowledging that if the Senate makes changes, then it will also have to be approved in the House.

Today is the deadline for Louisianans to file their state income taxes. Deputy Secretary of Revenue Luke Morris says if you have not filed and feel you need an extension, you no longer have to file with the state to get one…:

Cut 7 (09) “…to file that form.”

You can file your state return electronically or by mail, but it must be postmarked “May 15.” You can pay online at “revenue.louisiana.gov/LaTAP”

Researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center will conduct a $2.3 million study to determine if elevated oxygen levels help with weight loss. Lead Researcher Claire Berryman says the underlying goal of this study is to determine whether sleeping in a low-oxygen tent leads to increases in energy expenditure, decreases in appetite, and greater body weight loss.

Cut  16 (12)  “…more calories.” 

Participants will sleep in a tent with oxygen levels equivalent to 85 hundred feet. And will also follow a controlled diet for four months.

Louisiana Hospital Association CEO Paul Salles says inflation played a role in last week’s announcement that Ochsner is laying off 770 employees at it’s facilities in Louisiana and Mississippi. Salles says more hospital systems could do the same as hospitals do not have the ability to raise prices like other industries…
cut 5 (11) “….that quickly”

If you haven’t filed your state income taxes today is the deadline. Deputy Revenue Secretary Luke Morris says filers will receive an automatic six month extension if they don’t submit their returns, but you still have to pay what you think you may owe….
cut 9 (09) “…to take place”
You can pay online at revenue-dot-louisiana-dot-gov/LaTaP.

Does altitude play a role in weight loss? Researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center are looking to answer these questions through a new study. Teiko Foxx has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

There are just four more regular season games left for the second ranked LSU baseball team and their bullpen is a mess. The Tigers blew a nine-run lead yesterday and lost to Mississippi State 14-13 in ten innings.

Meanwhile, LSU softball will host a regional this week, the second seed is the Lady Cajuns from U-L Lafayette.

Governor John Bel Edwards is urging the Louisiana Senate to provide teachers with a two-thousand dollar pay raise in the state budget…
cut 11 (09) “….to happen”
The Republican controlled House did not contain funding for teacher pay raises in its budget plan. Instead, the lower chamber proposes paying down teacher retirement debt, which would free up dollars for local school systems to provide funding for higher teacher salaries.

A bill waiting for a vote on the Senate floor would create a health care workforce fund. The Louisiana Hospital Association supports the legislation. President and CEO Paul Salles…
cut 6 (13) “…big difference”

Today is the deadline to file your 2022 state income taxes. Deputy Secretary of Revenue Luke Morris says if you have not filed and need an extension, you no longer have to file with the state to get one…:
Cut 7 (09) “…to file that form.”
But it’s not an extension to pay and you must send the Department of Revenue at least part of what you think you owe today.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is embarking on a $2.3 million study to determine if altitude plays a role in weight loss. Lead Researcher Claire Berryman says to determine whether low oxygen levels in the air can help obese individuals lose weight , they will have participants sleep in a tent with oxygen levels equivalent to 85-hundred feet…
Cut 14 (10) “…Aspen Colorado.”
Berryman says the study’s goal is to determine whether sleeping in low oxygen tent leads to increases in energy expenditure, decreases in appetite, and greater body weight loss.

Ochsner Health’s announcement that it’s laying off 770 employees sent a signal the healthcare industry is struggling. Louisiana Hospital Association President Paul Salles says hospitals nationwide are facing a tough operating environment largely driven by inflation
Cut 4 (08) “…of expenses.”
Salles says he would not be surprised to see other hospital systems also reduce their workforce.

There are four weeks left in the legislative session and it remains to be seen if public school teachers will get a raise. The Republican controlled House’s plan is to use state surplus dollars to pay off state retirement system debt and this will free up dollars for local school systems to fund the raises. Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland…
cut 10 (08) “….two for one”
But Governor Edwards is pushing the Legislature to allocate the two-thousand dollar raise in the budget. We are still waiting for Senate Finance to provide its plan.

Today is the state income tax filing deadline. Kevin Gallagher reports on changes and new options for filers…:
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

A Denham Springs Police Officer was critically wounded during a shootout Thursday afternoon in the parking lot of a shopping center. Corporal Shawn Kelly –who was shot multiple times – was hired by Denham Springs police in 2019.  Denham Springs Police Chief Rodney Walker says Kelly can use your prayers…

Cut 12 (11) “…to us” 

A blood drive in Officer Kelly’s honor is being held in Walker today on Ball Park Drive until 1 pm.

Legislation targeting the LGBTQ community is advancing in the Louisiana Legislature.  Governor John Bel Edwards says he’ll address the bills when and if they cross his desk.

Cut 4 (07)  “…damaging.” 

Edwards says he’s frustrated lawmakers are not focusing on topics to grow the state’s economy and improve education instead.

Ochsner Health is in the process of laying off nearly 800 employees across its system. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Palermo.”

Fans of Louisiana’s own Duck Dynasty can see a trailer of the full-length feature film about Phil Robertson’s life before he became famous as the patriarch for the reality TV series.  The Blind, that was filmed entirely in Shreveport hits the big screen on September 28^th.