Speaker Pro Tem Tanner Magee says due to LSU’s lack of transparency over the alleged Title IX violations some lawmakers are considering only giving the school level funding.  Which could jeopardize construction of a new library and science building. Magee says ultimately, it’s the students who are punished and not those responsible.

Cut 12 (10) “…the table.”

Mandeville Republican Richard Nelson files legislation to allow a statewide vote on if marijuana should be decriminalized, regulated, and sold recreationally. Nelson says if the Legislature approves the ballot initiative and a majority of citizens vote in favor, marijuana would be decriminalized across the state.

Cut 5 (10)“…in favor.”

Nelson hopes it will make it on the Fall 2022 ballot.

Baton Rouge Police release body camera footage showing the November 8^th encounter between officers and LSU receiver Koy Moore that led to Moore filing a complaint. The footage shows Moore and a friend hiding behind a truck as police broke up a party. An officer tells them to put their hands on a truck before moments later pulling a gun on the two. Police Chief Murphy Paul says the officers’ intent was not malicious, but both were given letters of reprimand.

Cut 9 (11) “…experience.”

Included in President Biden’s two trillion-dollar infrastructure proposal is funding for passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Baton Rouge Area Foundation VP John Spain says it would be perfect for professionals who commute between the two cities. Commuters could get some work done while traveling, whereas…

Cut 13 (03) “…done.”

Spain adds the rail system could come in handy for moving people out of harm’s way during hurricanes.

There’s an effort to allow voters to decide if recreational marijuana should be legalized and decriminalized in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

_______________________________

Body camera footage from an incident last year involving LSU receiver Koy Moore and Baton Rouge Police is released to the public. Matt Doyle has more on the incident that led to Moore filing a complaint.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

____________________________

President Biden’s infrastructure plan could make passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans a reality. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

____________________________

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson files legislation to legalize and decriminalize recreational marijuana in Louisiana but wants the final decision to be made by the voters. Nelson says about 16 states have legalized cannabis and most have done so by ballot initiative.

Cut 4 (10)“…process.”

The measure would have to require two-thirds of members of the House and Senate’s approval, plus more than 50-percent of voters. Nelson says if the majority vote in favor, marijuana would be decriminalized across the state.

Cut 5 (10)“…in favor.” (x2)

Nelson says most lawmakers he’s spoken with are open to allowing their constituents to vote on legalization and if approved it would most likely go on the fall ballot of 2022.

Cut 6 (09) “…this going.”

A recent survey shows that two-thirds of residents support the legalization of marijuana in Louisiana.

_____________________________

Baton Rouge Police released body camera footage showing an encounter last year between officers and LSU receiver Koy Moore that led to Moore filing a complaint against the officers.

The footage shows Moore and a friend hiding behind a truck as police broke up a late-night party. They are then approached by an officer who tells them to put their hands on a truck before moments later pulling a gun on the two. BRPD Chief Murphy Paul…

Cut 7 (11)  “…dialogue.”

Two officers then pat down Moore and the other man, search the area for contraband, find none, and allow Moore and the other man to leave.

Audio from the body camera shows Moore telling an officer that he was scared and upset that a gun was pulled on him and he was searched while he wasn’t doing anything wrong. Paul confirmed the two did nothing wrong…

Cut 8 (12) “…through that.”

The incident took place on November 8^th around 2 AM. Police say they were responding to noise complaints related to a roughly 200 person party that was happening on the top deck of a parking garage.

There’s audio of an officer explaining to Moore that hiding behind a vehicle looked suspicious and he feared for his life. Paul says the officers’ intent was not malicious, but both were given letters of reprimand.

Cut 9 (11) “…experience.”

____________________

Speaker Pro-Tem Tanner Magee says the legislative response to the LSU scandal will be in the form of mandatory reporting bills, for example, if you fail to report a sexual assault you can be terminated. Because legislators can only submit five bills that aren’t funding-related.

Cut 10 (07) “…this session.”

Magee says we should see a more comprehensive response in the next session, but he has heard that some legislators are looking to limit LSU’s funding this session.

Cut 11 (07) “…these things.”

Magee says due to the university’s lack of transparency over the alleged Title IX violations it could keep the school from receiving funding for things that LSU needs like a new library and science building. Magee says ultimately, it’s the students who are punished and not those responsible.

Cut 12 (10) “…the table.”

The session begins on Monday.

_____________________________

Included in President Biden’s two trillion-dollar infrastructure proposal is funding for passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Baton Rouge Area Foundation VP John Spain says passenger rail would be perfect for professionals who commute between the two cities. They can get a bite to eat and get some work done while traveling, whereas…

Cut 13 (03) “…done.”

Spain adds the rail system could come in handy for moving people out of harm’s way during hurricanes.

Spain says another big benefit of the line would be for Baton Rouge residents who need to fly out of Louis Armstrong International…

Cut 14 (12) “…one night.”

Spain says polls show 60-80 percent of southeast Louisiana residents support the construction of the line.

Spain says travel from the Capital to the Cresent City would take about 45 minutes to an hour and they’d likely start with eight to ten round trips per day, and increase over the first few years.

Cut 15 (08)“…bridges.”

The proposed line would feature stops in Baton Rouge, Gonzales, LaPlace, Louis Armstrong International, and New Orleans just blocks from the Superdome.

The Office for Civil Rights has opened an investigation to examine if LSU is in compliance with Title IX requirements. This is after extensive media coverage of the university. The U-S Department of Justice referred the allegations to the Office for Civil Rights to investigate. They will examine complaints from the 2018 – 2019 academic year to the present.

LSU’s associate athletic director of football recruiting, Sharon Lewis, tells USA Today she will file several lawsuits against the school, claiming she was mistreated for trying to stop sexual harassment. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the allegations are explosive, including the details of an argument Lewis had with former football coach Les Miles.

Cut 3 (09)  “…M-fing face.” (2x)  

Lewis says the argument was over Miles’s alleged desire to have blond women or light-skinned black women on the recruiting staff that he considered prettier.

The LSU Manship School Statehouse Bureau says 7,800 Louisiana voters have left the Republican Party since the January 6^th attack on the US Capitol. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says this mirrors nationwide stats that roughly 100,000 Republicans have unregistered.

Cut 6 (09) “…registration”

Over that same period, Democrats lost 8,000 members, continuing the party’s ongoing downward trend.

A teacher’s union files a lawsuit against the Caddo Parish school board claiming its attendance bonus for educators is discriminatory. Red River United Vice President Jordan Thomas says every teacher who worked this school year should be recognized and the system could have offered prorated bonuses based on attendance to do that.

Cut 14 (09) “…employees.” 

A statement from the Caddo Parish School System says they do not comment on pending litigation.

LSU’s senior associate athletic director Sharon Lewis tells the USA Today she’s filing multiple lawsuits against her current employer over mistreatment for trying to stop sexual harassment. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (36) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

In a letter to the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children LSU coach Ed Orgeron says he did speak on the phone with a man in December 2017 who told him a woman that former player Derrius Guice had “disrespected” wanted Guice not to play in the upcoming Citrus Bowl.

The American Rescue Plan does not contain student loan forgiveness, but it does allow temporary relief of taxes on student loans that are forgiven through 2025. Loan Expert with Student Loan Hero, Rebecca Safier says if the proposed student loan forgiveness of $10,000 passes, 35-percent of borrowers in Louisiana would have their debt eliminated. Safier says since the pandemic, student loan forgiveness has gained traction.

Cut 11 (04) “…and see”

A teacher’s union is filing a lawsuit against the Caddo Parish school board claiming its attendance bonus for educators is discriminatory. Red River United Vice President Jordan Thomas says the bonus is for full-time employees who were present for 90-percent of the current school year but discriminates against teachers that took maternity leave and…

Cut 12 (09)   “…allow them.” 

Several attempts to reach the Caddo Parish School System for comment were unsuccessful.

LSU’s associate athletic director of football recruiting, Sharon Lewis, tells USA Today she will file several lawsuits against the school, claiming she was mistreated for trying to stop sexual harassment. The Husch Blackwell report resulted in two athletic officials receiving a multi-week suspension. But Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says Lewis’s detailed allegations in USA Today of how she’s been mistreated over the last several years could lead to further discipline…

Cut 5  (08)  “…incompetent B.”

Over two million total doses of COVID vaccine have been administered in Louisiana with over 800,000 people having completed their vaccine series.

With the mass vaccination campaign in full swing State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says they’re launching a COVID vaccine hotline to help residents get connected with local providers.

Cut 13 (02) “…this week”

Based on research by the LSU Manship School Statehouse Bureau 7,800 Louisiana voters have left the Republican Party since the January 6^th attack on the US Capitol. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it’s an interesting phenomenon, but not one that will likely have any short-term electoral impacts on statewide Republican dominance.

Cut 8 (08) “..earlier”

Hogan also says registered Democrats have dropped 12-percent over the last decade.

While the American Rescue Plan does not contain student loan forgiveness it does allow temporary relief of taxes on student loans that are forgiven through 2025. Student Loan Hero, Loan Expert Rebecca Safier says this also applies to forgiveness on an income-driven repayment plan.

Cut 10 (10) “….tax bill.” 

LSU’s associate athletic director of football recruiting, Sharon Lewis, tells USA Today she will file several lawsuits against the school, claiming she was mistreated for trying to stop sexual harassment. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the allegations are explosive, including the details of an argument Lewis had with former football coach Les Miles.

Cut 3 (09)  “…M-fing face.” (2x)  

Lewis says the argument was over Miles’s alleged desire to have blond women or light-skinned black women on the recruiting staff that he considered prettier.

The LSU Manship School Statehouse Bureau says 7,800 Louisiana voters have left the Republican Party since the January 6^th attack on the US Capitol. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says this tracks with nationwide stats show roughly 100,000 Republicans have unregistered.

Cut 6 (09) “…registration”

More than 800,000 Louisianans have completed their vaccine series. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says this equates to just over 18 percent of the state’s population and those folks have a near-perfect but not guaranteed level of protection. That’s why we need herd immunity.

Cut 12 (10) “…lower.”

Herd immunity is thought to be 70 percent.

Willis-Knighton is one of 120 sites nationwide that will participate in a clinical trial for Regeneron’s COVID treatment.  Children’s Health Services Director Dr. Joseph Bocchini says even with estimates that with the current vaccination rate we could hit herd immunity by late summer, he says there will still be a need for COVID treatments.

Cut 16 (10) “…cases.”

126 “breakthrough” cases of fully vaccinated people getting COVID in Louisiana have been recorded.

Of the 834,000 Louisianans who’ve completed their vaccine series, only 126 have tested positive for COVID-19 so far. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

Baton Rouge contractor Kelly Sills was arrested at Disney World in Orlando in February for trespassing after he refused to have his temperature checked.  The Orange County Sheriff’s Office Sills says told officers he couldn’t be trespassing because he paid $15,000 to be there.  Sills, of Coastal Bridge, made headlines earlier this year over alleged failure to pay employees health insurance premiums.

The Legislative Auditor says 98 thousand indelible people received more than 405 million dollars in unemployment benefits in Louisiana from March of 2020 to the end of the year. Auditor Chris Magee says filings rose more than two-hundred thousand percent from pre-pandemic levels which led to errors…

Cut 4 (11) “…improper payments.” 

LWC will ask for repayment or it will be added to tax returns.

In a poll of 781 Louisiana adults, roughly half of the state’s residents approve of Louisiana’s response to the pandemic. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson says the 2021 Louisiana survey shows a divide among party lines.

Cut 12 (11)   “…handled it.” 

Legislation is filed that would ban K-12 schools from teaching “Divisive Concepts” one of which being that the United States or the State of Louisiana is institutionally or systemically racist. House Education Chairman Ray Garofalo says the bill would ensure a traditional classroom environment that deters discrimination.

Cut 6 (07) “…origin”

126 Louisianans have tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated, good for only .02 percent of all Louisianans who are fully vaccinated. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter this is just proof of the effectiveness of vaccines, and a message that should be shared with those still on the fence…

Cut 11 (12) “…as well”

A Legislative Auditor’s report finds that approximately 98-thousand individuals received $405 million of ineligible unemployment. Auditor Chris Magee says once the LWC determines if the error is administrative or fraud, they will enter into repayment agreements with those individuals. And if they fail to pay…

Cut 5  (09)  “…federal taxes.”

The ineligible payments were made on filings from March 28 to December 31 of last year.

Roughly half of the state’s residents approve of Louisiana’s response to the pandemic. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson says the 2021 Louisiana survey shows a divide among party lines and part of that was the state’s handling of the fall and spring elections. He says 75-percent of respondents supported the extra days for early voting.

Cut 13 (08)“…main in vote”

Of the 834,000 Louisianans who’ve completed their vaccine series, only 126 have tested positive for COVID-19 so far. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

More than 2-million vaccine doses have now been administered in Louisiana. The department of health reports 1,259 new cases of COVID-19 in the state. Those numbers reflect Good Friday and the weekend update of numbers. The state also says less than 300 are hospitalized with COVID and report 4 new fatalities.

A Legislative Auditor’s report finds that approximately 98-thousand individuals received $405 million in unemployment benefits and it appears they were not eligible in Louisiana from the end of March until the end of 2020. Auditor Chris Magee says the Workforce Commission reported benefit filings rose more than two-hundred thousand percent from pre-pandemic levels which led to the oversite.

Cut 4 (11) “…improper payments.” 

In a poll of 781 Louisiana adults, roughly half of the state’s residents approve of Louisiana’s response to the pandemic. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson says the 2021 Louisiana survey shows a divide among party lines.

Cut 12 (11)   “…handled it.” 

A Legislative Auditor’s report finds that approximately 98-thousand individuals received $405 million in unemployment benefits and it appears they were not eligible in Louisiana from the end of March until the end of 2020.  Auditor Chris Magee says they found the error by using the program Wage Data.

Cut 3 (12)  “…benefits.”  

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says filings rose more than two-hundred thousand percent from pre-pandemic levels which led to a backlog of paperwork and oversite.

56-percent of parents of school-age children think their child learned less over the past year according to the 2021 Louisiana Survey. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson…

Cut 7 (08)  “…as much.”

The 2021 legislative session begins next week there’s a bill that seeks to raise the state’s gasoline tax by ten cents and then increase the fuel tax by two cents every other year. Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Freiberg the tax can pay for a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles, a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, and widening I-20 in Monroe…

Cut 14 (10) “…infrastructure.”

But there’s not much support for raising the gasoline tax.

Legislation has been filed that would allow anyone 21 and older to carry a concealed handgun on their person without needing a permit. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says the bill is like the one filed in the House by Oil City Representative Danny McCormick, the big difference being McCormick’s bill sets the age limit at 18 instead of 21.

Cut 11 (09) “…passed.”