The Bayou State is thawing from the frigid temperatures of the last few days, but winter isn’t over yet. Colleen Crain looks ahead to the warmup and cool down of the next few days…
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”
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U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson believes the Louisiana Legislature should not draw a new Congressional map. Jeff Palermo reports the Bossier Parish Republican says the state should press for a trial on the current map…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
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Nicholls State University has received a $3-million donation, which is the largest in the school’s history. Nicholls’ spokesperson Jerad David says the Mary and Al Danos Family Foundation commitment will be used to construct a new College of Business Administration.
Cut 3 (11) “…State University.”
David says Al Danos was always a big fan and supporter of the university and the generous donation from his family will not only go towards funding a new building, but it will also carry on the family’s legacy.
Cut 4 (11) “…Business Administration.”
Approximately one-fifth of Nicholls’ students are business majors.
In addition to the $3-million donation, David says the school is seeking state capital outlay funds and private funds to construct the new Al Danos building.
David says the atrium in the new building will be named after The Brady Family, who’s also from Bayou Lafourche, thanks to their recent donation. He says they hope these donations will inspire others to leave their mark on the university as well.
Cut 5 (11) “…new facility.”
The new building will be located on the current site of the school’s J.J. Ayo Swimming Pool.
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The Bayou State is coming out of a deep freeze but don’t put away your hats and gloves just yet. Montra Lockwood with the National Weather Service Lake Charles says to look for a short break from the freeze…
Cut 6 (08) “…on Friday.”
Tonight, expect temperatures in the 20s north of I-10 and in the lower 30s in the southern part of the state.
After the quick reprieve from the freezing temperatures, expect a frigid weekend says Lockwood…
Cut 7 (08) “…I-10 corridor.”
The weekend temperatures will still challenge Louisiana’s normal winter lows but as far as snow and freezing rain, Lockwood says…
Cut 8 (09) “…next week.”
Lockwood says warmer weather, up into the 60s is coming next week.
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U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson believes Louisiana’s current Congressional map is constitutional and the state legislature should not approve a new map with two Black majority districts. But Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says the state has exhausted all of its legal avenues…
Cut 9 (10) “…map.”
U-S District Judge Shelly Dick ruled the map the Louisiana Legislature approved in 2022 violates the Voting Rights Act because only one of the six districts provides an avenue for a Black candidate to get elected.
Speaker Johnson says there should be a full-blown trial on Louisiana’s current map, but Murrill says they have to follow Judge Dick’s order to draw a new map by January 30th…
Cut 10 (10) “…my remedies.”
Governor Jeff Landry is backing a map that makes Republican Garret Graves’ sixth district the second Black voting district. Louisiana’s lone Black Congressman Troy Carter says the governor and the legislature are doing the right thing…
Cut 11 (05) “…African American districts.”
The map Landry supports is up for a vote in the Senate today. Graves calls it a crazy proposal because it runs from Baton Rouge to Shreveport.
Johnson leads a chamber with a slim Republican majority and a new map with two majority minority districts would likely give Democrats another seat in the House.
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As legislators debate changing to closed-party primary elections, US Senator Bill Cassidy believes it’s a waste of money. A fiscal note on the legislation quotes a $10 million figure for next fiscal year and $6 million for the following fiscal year. Cassidy says a Louisiana pollster has estimated a $90 million cost to taxpayers.
Cut 12 (08) “…on here.”
Cassidy also worries the change will disenfranchise the state’s approximately 800-thousand Independent voters. The Republican also believes if the system isn’t broken don’t fix it and that taxpayers shouldn’t pick up the tab.
Cut 13 (07) “…you pay for it.”
Cassidy says the public doesn’t see closed party primaries as a priority.
Cut 14 (12) “…(x2) roads and bridges.”
Cassidy says voters who have a strong opinion on open or closed primaries should contact their state lawmakers.