The legislative session begins next week and one of the biggest decisions lawmakers will face is over teacher pay raises. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Because of declining enrollment and a teacher shortage, the Jefferson Parish School Board has approved the closure of several schools, including Grace King High School and Helen Cox High School. Meanwhile in St. Martin Parish, three 17-year-old students were arrested for making bomb threats last month.

19 school districts still allow corporal punishment in schools. Metairie Representative Stephanie Hilferty has filed legislation that would allow parents to make the decision if the school system can or cannot physically punish their child….
cut 8 (07) “…..approve of it”
Last year Hilferty sponsored legislation that would ban the practice across the board altogether and it failed on a close vote.

Tulane University researchers find a link between getting sick often can accelerate cognitive decline and potentially increase the risk of dementia. Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Liz Engler-Chiurazzi says their study showed aging male mice who experienced sporadic colds or flu often had impaired cognition.
Cut 10 (07) “…to communicate”
Engler-Chiruazzi says these findings may have important implications for standard of care around how infections are handled among the elderly and those at risk for dementia.