LSU is looking at adjusting its fall semester so classes are done before Thanksgiving break. The idea behind this is to avoid a second coronavirus outbreak in late fall, early winter. Executive Vice President Provost Stacia Haynie says they are also looking at moving smaller classes to larger classrooms and…
cut 8 (08) “…online”
Haynie says masks could be required as well.

The RV Industry Association reports a 170-percent increase in RV sales as families who are not interested in getting on a plane, are looking at campers as their mode of transportation for summer vacations. Operational Manager for RV Masters in Kenner Jeff Charrier says if you are a first-time R-V buyer, inspect it front to back…
cut 12 (11) “…industry”

Ten Nicholls State students and ten Lafourche Parish Prison inmates spent the spring semester learning together about the criminal justice system in a first of its kind class in Louisiana. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

Did you watch America’s Got Talent last night on N-B-C? Louisiana native Archie Williams sang Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down or Me.” His story is an interesting one. The 59-year-old spent 36 years at Angola for the rape and stabbing of a Baton Rouge woman. He was exonerated last year as a result of new DNA evidence.

When LSU students return to campus next fall they could be required to wear masks while around others. Interim President Thomas Galligan discussed that possibility during a webinar hosted by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber…
cut 7 (09) “…masks” (3x)
And Galligan says if LSU fans are allowed inside Tiger Stadium, they will be wearing masks.

The state’s fishing industry will receive 73-million dollars in federal aid. 58-million dollars is to help fishermen who sustained losses during the prolonged opening of the Bonne Carre Spillway last year and the other 15-million dollars is to assist Louisiana fishermen and other parts of the industry affected by the COVID-19 pandemic…
cut 5 (08) “….to dealers”
That’s L-D-W-F Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks.

According to the RV Industry Association, RV sales are up by as much as 170 percent compared to this time last year. Operational Manager for RV Masters in Kenner Jeff Charrier says the allure of an RV is clear right now…
Cut 10 (11) “…in there”

Nicholls State has concluded its first inaugural class for a program that pairs ten students with ten inmates for one semester to teach both groups about the criminal justice system. Inside Out Program facilitator Kristen Callais says the program is the first of its kind in Louisiana.
Cut 13 (12) “…process”
The program was done in cooperation with Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre.

The Louisiana House has approved a 30-billion dollar spending plan for next fiscal year. It contains nearly a billion dollars in federal aid that’s being used to avoid deep cuts to state services. The proposal fully funds TOPS, K-through-12 schools and social services. The budget heads to the Senate, but final approval is not expected until a special session that will start on Monday night.

LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan says students will have to wear masks when they return to campus in August…
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is set to receive $73 Million in Federal Assistance to help the state’s fishing industry offset financial losses from freshwater flooding in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic. LDWF Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says the total estimated loss to the industry for flooding last year is $338 million, but any assistance is appreciated.
Cut 4 (12)_ “fishing community.”
Banks says LDWF must develop a spending plan for the funds before they are received.

Tort reform that supporters say will lower the state’s near highest in the nation auto insurance rates is now just one step away from the Governor’s desk after clearing a House committee. Governor Edwards and legislative Democrats have expressed concern over certain aspects of the legislation and an overall critique that the bill does nothing to lower auto insurance rates, but River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his legislation clearly requires insurance companies reduce rates by 10-percent

Cut 6 (08) “ …not one”

Talbot says one of the provisions saving insurers a lot of money involves drastically reducing the jury trial threshold, allowing for more reasonable settlements from crashes…

Cut 7 (06) “…than us”

Democrats would rather see laws passed that would prevent a person’s credit score, gender, or marital status from determining a person’s auto insurance rates. But Talbot argues that will not lower premiums…

Cut 8 (09) “…gets higher.”

A package of budget bills was passed by the House Tuesday calling for a 30 billion dollar spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1^st.

The budget now heads to the Senate with only a week left in the regular session, and it is not expected that the Upper Chamber will sign off on it before the regular session ends June 1^st.

It is because of that a special session will begin immediately after the regular session ends. Senate GOP Caucus Chairwoman Sharon Hewitt of Slidell says the special session will consider the budget alongside a series of tax breaks for COVID impacted businesses. She says no matter what happens though the constitution requires the budget be balanced and passed by July 1^st.

Cut 15 (08)“budget” 5-25

A Senate-backed tort reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance premiums is heading to the House floor after getting approval from the House Civil Law Committee. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his legislation helps accomplish that goal by lowering the jury threshold from 50-thousand to five-thousand dollars…

Cut 7 (06) “…than us”

Talbot says lowering the jury trial threshold will help settle cases for a more reasonable amount. 

Eight teenagers were injured when shots were fired early Monday morning during an unsupervised graduation party involving about 200 people at a business in Lake Charles on Highway 90. Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office says chaos ensued when bullets started firing.

Cut 3 (11)  “…trampled on.”  

Former south Louisiana Congressman and international pharma lobby head Billy Tauzin believes there will be an effective, non-vaccine treatment for COVID-19 by September. Tauzin says those treatments are focused on three categories: plasma infusions from COVID survivors, “decoy” proteins, and lab-created antibodies…

Cut 10 (04) “…a shot”

Tauzin notes current plasma treatments appear to be effective for about 50 percent of patients.

The Manning Passing Academy scheduled for next month in Thibodaux has been canceled due to the COVID-19 crisis. The Manning Passing Academy attracts over 12-hundred campers and over 200 coaches, trainers, and support staff. College and pro football analyst Mike Detillier says the Louisiana Line Camp held at Nicholls State has also been canceled for this year

Cut 13 (11) “ big loss”  

Louisiana’s new state education superintendent will receive an annual salary of $285,000.  Cade Brumley, was chosen last week by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to oversee public schools. His pay package was approved by the joint House and Senate and Budget committee today. However, his job confirmation must still be approved by the Senate.

A Senate-backed tort reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance premiums is heading to the House floor after getting approval from the House Civil Law Committee. Democrats are skeptical, but River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his legislation that requires insurance companies to reduce rates by 10-percent

Cut 6 (08) “ …not one”

Talbot says auto insurance companies will be able to reduce rates because the legislation makes several changes to the state’s civil justice system.

A Memorial Day gathering of 200 in Lake Charles ends with teens being injured after gunfire erupted during the celebration.  Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory says he’s surprised that more were not injured.

Cut 5 (09)  “…amazing to me.”

The incident took place at a business on Highway 90 and was unsupervised by adults.

The Manning Passing Academy scheduled for next month in Thibodaux has been canceled due to the COVID-19 crisis. College and pro football analyst Mike Detillier says it was a difficult call for the Manning family, but it was the right decision
Cut 12 (10) “…coming down”
The Manning Passing Academy attracts over 12-hundred campers and over 200 coaches, trainers, and support staff.

New reported COVID cases and deaths continue to slow to a fraction of the pace they were just a month ago. Only 11 new COVID fatalities are being reported today, along with 245 new positive cases. Today 831 are hospitalized, down 16 from Monday and vent usage increased by one to 103.

A Senate-backed tort reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance premiums is heading to the House floor. However, Democrats are skeptical. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says the bill will lower the jury trial threshold which will settle cases for a more reasonable amount thus lower rates. Democrats would rather see laws passed that would prevent a person’s credit score, gender, or marital status from qualifying a person’s auto insurance rates. But Talbot argues that won’t lower premiums…

Cut 8 (09) “…gets higher.”

Former south Louisiana Congressman and international pharma lobby head Billy Tauzin believes there will be an effective, non-vaccine treatment for COVID-19 by September. Experts however note a vaccine may not be ready until 2021, and Tauzin says the treatments he touts could help us weather what could be a severe second wave of the virus later this year.

Cut 11 (09) “…vaccine”

Eight teenagers were injured when shots were fired early Monday morning during an unsupervised graduation party involving about 200 people at a business in Lake Charles on Highway 90. Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office says chaos ensued when bullets started firing.

Cut 3 (11)  “…trampled on.”  

Two arrests have been made.