The House Appropriations Committee has approved a budget that keeps teacher salaries at their current level though teacher stipend money received over the last few years was not included in the governor’s proposed budget. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says the committee amended the budget proposal so teachers will not receive a pay cut.

Cut 4 (12) “…support staff”

Louisiana continues moving up the national rankings in education. U.S. News and World Report now ranks Louisiana 37th in K-through-12 education – that’s up from number 40 last year and 46 two years ago. Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley says there are two main catalysts behind the increase in ranking.

Cut 6 (08) “…additional support.”

Brumley is proud of moving up nine places but says that the job is nowhere close to being done.

Senator Bill Cassidy may see another challenger for one of Louisiana’s Senate seats next year. The Associated Press is reporting that President Trump and Governor Jeff Landry have discussed Congresswoman Julia Letlow challenging Cassidy in next year’s primary. Letlow is well respected among Republicans and the Louisiana Congressional delegation, but ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says it’s not easy to defeat an incumbent U-S Senator…

Cut 13 (11)  “…chooses to do.”

The brief Derek Carr era in New Orleans is over. The Saints quarterback announced his retirement over the weekend, saying his right shoulder developed a degenerative condition that will prevent him from continuing his NFL career. Luke Jackson, who covers the Saints for NOLA-dot-com and The Advocate, says it’s a crushing blow for Carr.

Cut 9 (12)  “…it a career.”

The Saints rookie minicamp this weekend got rocked with shocking news that quarterback Derek Carr has retired. The Saints said while healing from a concussion and an injury to his non-throwing hand that ended his 2024 season, Carr developed degenerative damage to his right shoulder, which he determined would prevent him from continuing his playing career. In a statement, New Head Coach Kellen Moore says Carr will be missed.

Cut 14 (10) “…really, really special.”

Carr said while surgery was an option, it would not have guaranteed him the ability to perform at his prior level.

John Foster is just one night away from securing a spot in Sunday’s season finale of American Idol. The 18-year-old LSU student nailed his two songs last night to earn a spot in the top five. He will perform again tonight on ABC; and if he’s among the three to survive elimination, he will advance to the final round on Sunday.

The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and the Louisiana Center for Health Innovation at UL-Lafayette have teamed up to do a comprehensive survey to learn more about the challenges veterans are facing. Gabriella Wilson is the director of the Louisiana Center for Health Innovation and says there are three different surveys and each survey is designed to capture the real-life experiences and challenges veterans face.

Cut 8 (12) “…also education.”

May is National Foster Care Month, and the Department of Children and Family Services is using the occasion to spotlight the need for foster caregivers. Secretary David Matlock says thousands of kids need good, caring foster families.

Cut 4 (11) “…amazing foster homes.”

Big news out of Saints camp over the weekend – quarterback Derek Carr has retired. Carr says his right shoulder has developed degenerative damage to the point that it’s impossible for him to continue his playing career. Head coach Kellen Moore says Carr and his family have been very thorough in keeping the team updated on his condition, and that the team will be with him as he navigates this next chapter of his life.

Cut 15 (11) “…an incredible experience.”

May is National Foster Care Month, and the Department of Children and Family Services is using the occasion to spotlight the need for foster caregivers. Secretary David Matlock says foster parents are very special people, and they make a lot of sacrifices.

Cut 5 (09) “…very hard places.”

AARP is urging the House to reject a Senate bill that has advanced to the lower chamber. Andrew Muhl with AARP of Louisiana says Senate Bill would effectively get nursing homes off the hook for damages caused by abuse and neglect. Muhl points to the incident involving Bob Dean, who evacuated residents in nursing homes he owned to an unsanitary warehouse during Hurricane Ida, in which seven people died. Muhl says he feels that that case spurred the nursing home industry to fight back.

Cut 11 (07) “…a nursing home.”

Muhl says under the bill, Dean’s liability would have been capped at 100-thousand dollars instead of in the millions. The bill was written by Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly, who says his bill is intended to clarify existing state law and is also intended to get healthcare providers to continue providing essential services in the state.

Cut 13 (05)  “…Malpractice Act was.”

On April 30th, the Senate passed the bill 26-to-11. It is now awaiting debate in the House Health and Welfare Committee.

The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and the Louisiana Center for Health Innovation at UL-Lafayette have teamed up for a comprehensive survey on the challenges facing veterans. Director of the Louisiana Center for Health Innovation Gabriella Wilson says the goal of the survey which is open till June 15^th, is to improve services and support systems for veterans and their families.

Cut 9 (12)  “…by the end of November.”

The survey can be found at lchi.louisiana.edu.

Major announcement over the weekend as Saints QB Derek Carr announced his retirement, due to degenerative damage to his right shoulder.  Carr’s retirement leaves three quarterbacks in the Saints’ room – 26-year-old Jake Haener, 24-year-old Spencer Rattler and 25-year-old rookie Tyler Shough (“shuck”). New head Coach Kellen Moore.

Cut 16 (10) “…awareness to it.”

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It’s National Foster Care Month and the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services is looking for more foster families. Here’s Colleen Crain.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

All eyes will be on Louisiana’s own John Foster tonight as he competes for a spot in American Idol’s top three.  The Addis native performed twice last night earning him a spot in tonight’s top five found.  18 year old Foster is a pre-med student at LSU.

Shocking news out of the Saints’ rookie camp this weekend as quarterback Derek Carr has retired. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

May is National Foster Care Month, and the Department of Children and Family Services is using the occasion to spotlight the need for foster caregivers. Secretary David Matlock says the number of foster families in Louisiana has gone up in recent years, but they could always use more.

Cut 6 (07) “…and so forth.”

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AARP is urging the House to reject a Senate bill that has advanced to the lower chamber. Andrew Muhl with the AARP of Louisiana says Senate Bill would effectively let nursing homes off the hook for damages caused by abuse and neglect. Muhl points to the incident involving Bob Dean, who evacuated residents in nursing homes he owned to an unsanitary warehouse during Hurricane Ida, in which seven people died.

Cut 10 (12) “…100-thousand dollars total.”

The bill was written by Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly, co-authored by Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh. Seabaugh says the bill is not intended to rewrite law, but to clarify existing law he says was always intended to include nursing homes in the Medical Malpractice Act.

Cut 12 (08) “…nursing home industry.”

May is National Foster Care Month, and the Department of Children and Family Services is using the occasion to spotlight the need for foster caregivers. Secretary David Matlock says thousands of kids need good, caring foster families.

Cut 4 (11) “…amazing foster homes.”

The state does provide training to those approved to be foster parents.

The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and the Louisiana Center for Health Innovation at UL-Lafayette have teamed up to do a comprehensive survey to learn more about the challenges veterans face. Louisiana Center for Health Innovation Director Gabriella Wilson says they want to assess the needs of veterans…

Cut 7 (12) “…needs of everybody.”

The survey can be found at lchi.louisiana.edu. It will be open till June 15.

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AARP is speaking out against a bill that it says would let nursing home companies off the hook for abuse and negligence. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Saints rookie minicamp this weekend got rocked with shocking news that quarterback Derek Carr has retired. The Saints Carr had developed degenerative damage to his right shoulder, which he determined would prevent him from continuing his playing career. New Head Coach Kellen Moore says Carr will be missed.

Cut 14 (10) “…really, really special.”