Governor John Bel Edwards says his number one legislative priority for 2019 is getting Louisiana teachers a 1,000 dollar pay raise, and school support workers a 500 dollar pay raise. Bayou State educators are paid noticeably less than their southern counterparts, and Edwards says we need to start catching up.
The average pay in 2015-1016 for a teacher in Louisiana was 49,900 dollars. The national average is 58,000.
Senator John Kennedy says he hasn’t picked horse in the 2019 governor’s race yet. That’s after he bowed out of the competition early this month, citing his desire to continue serving his Senate term that runs through 2022. Currently Businessman Eddie Rispone and Congressman Ralph Abraham are the only Republicans in the race, but Kennedy says don’t be shocked if the field gets more crowded.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has stocked over 8 million fish into 59 waterbodies around the state this year. The fish are stocked in an effort to enhancing the angling experiences of those casting a line in Louisiana. LDWF inland fisheries operations manager Alex Perret says among the fish brought in, over 7.3 million were Florida largemouth bass, in an effort to introduce its genetics into area waters.
Cut 6 (09) “…bit bigger bass.”
Perret says not all of the waterways prove to be a good fit for the Florida variety of bass, so the agency has become selective with distribution.
Several Angola inmates are celebrating the holidays with new Seminary degrees through the Leavell College of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The college conferred 64 Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Christian Ministry. Department of Corrections spokesperson Gary Young says the graduates have become very important to the facility in working with fellow inmates.