House Speaker Clay Schexnayder supports the idea of a veto session after Governor Edwards vetoed a bill that would ban transgender athletes from participating in female sports. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed significant pieces of a complicated tax plan to distance the state’s income tax collections from federal collections. But for the legislation to be enacted must receive voter approval if passed on the October ballot.

Governor Edwards has signed into law legislation providing more oversight for Title IX Offices on college campuses. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell’s legislation calls for new training requirements and details when employees must report complaints or incidents they witness. It also bans retaliation against those who report allegations and requires detailed published reports from campuses on how they handle Title IX complaints.

Cut 10 (06) “…closely.”

The new law also allows colleges to fire employees for failure to report allegations.

Ragin Cajuns head football coach Billy Napier is receiving a contract extension that will pay him two million dollars, nearly double what he made last year.  This extension comes on the heels of a 10-1 record in 2020 and ranked 15th in the final AP poll. The Voice of the Cajuns Jay Walker says this contract is well-earned.

Cut 12 (12) “…this past year”

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder voices support for calling a veto override session to overturn the Governor’s veto of legislation that would transgender girls and women from participating on female sports teams. State lawmakers will receive mail ballots during the first week of July asking whether they want a veto session. Political consultant Lionel Rainey says if one chamber votes against it, the veto session is canceled…

Cut 4 (09) “…tough call”

The Legislature has never a held veto override session.

Starting June 1^st of next year 300 dollar individual lifetime hunting and fishing licenses will be phased out but sportsmen will still be able to buy a 500 dollar combination lifetime hunting and fishing license. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Undersecretary Bryan McClinton says this change has some sportsmen under a false impression…

Cut 6 (10) “…clear up.”

Governor Edwards has signed into law legislation providing more oversight for Title IX Offices on college campuses. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell’s legislation closes loopholes found in previous campus safety policies and now allows for employees who fail to report sexual misconduct to be terminated.

Cut 9 (12) “…available.”

The bill is largely the result of hours of legislative hearings held before the start of the session in which LSU officials were grilled about the findings in the Husch Blackwell report.

Governor Edwards vetoes legislation that would have blocked transgender athletes from participating in girl’s and women’s sports teams in Louisiana K-12 and post-secondary schools. In his veto statement, Edwards said discrimination is not a Louisiana value. Edwards says he concerned about the mental health impact the bill would have on trans youth.

Cut 13 (11) “…do it.”

The question remains will a veto session be called? Political consultant Lionel Rainey says House Speaker Clay Schexnayder supports a veto session.

Cut 3 (10) big sign,

The legislature has never held a veto override session. Lawmakers will receive ballots in the mail during the first week of July asking whether they want a veto session. If one chamber votes against it, the session is off.

Registration is underway for the Shot at a Million, the state’s vaccine lottery program. Assistant Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Health Kim Hood says you don’t have to upload a photo of your vaccine card, however, if your name is picked, they will verify your vaccine status.

Cut 6 (12) “…good news.”

To register go to ShotAtAMillion.com or call 877-356-1511.

The odds to legally place your bets on sports in Louisiana have improved immensely now that the Governor has signed legislation creating the framework for sports wagering. The question that remains to be answered is just how much revenue legalized sports betting will generate. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says he has a reasonable guess on just how much it would produce.

Cut 8 (05) “…annually.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed two more sports betting bills that set up the possibility Louisiana residents in 55 parishes will be able to place wages on live sporting events in time for the upcoming football season. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward believes sports gaming will generate an additional 30-to-40 million dollars in tax revenues…
cut 9 (08) “….early childhood education”

State officials say over 160-thousand people who are vaccinated against the coronavirus have signed up for a chance to win one million dollars through Louisiana’s shot at a million campaign. A Drawing for a smaller cash prize of 100-thousand dollars and a 100-thousand dollar scholarship will begin on July 9th. Louisiana Health Department Assistant Secretary Kim Hood says you only have to register once for the weekly drawings…
cut 5 (03) “….prizes”
Go to shot-at-a-million-dot com to register.

Governor Edwards followed through on his vow to veto legislation that would have banned trans athletes from playing on girls’ and women’s sports teams in Louisiana…..
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Governor Edwards has signed the bill that will allow for medical marijuana patients to use a smokeable form starting in January. The bill received very little opposition. Houma Representative Tanner Magee…
cut 11 (06) “….a lot of uses”

Governor John Bel Edwards has vetoed the legislation that would have prohibited transgender athletes from competing on girls sports teams. Edwards says the bill was a solution in search of a problem as this is not an issue in Louisiana. But the author of the measure, Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell, says the Legislature is often proactive in responding to situations before they occur…
cut 16 (12) “….protected”
Lawmakers could vote to override the veto but would need to hold a veto session, something they have never done.

Governor Edwards has signed House Bill 391 legalizing the usage of smokable medical marijuana for certain patients…
cut 10 (11) “….alternative to opiods”
That’s Houma Representative Tanner Magee who says the smokeable form will become available in January.

Gamblers are one step closer to legally place bets on live sporting events now that Governor Edwards has signed two bills for it to become law on July 1st. Brooke Thorington.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Ragin Cajuns football coach Billy Napier is set to make two million dollars next season, nearly doubling what he made for the 2020 season. One-point-six million dollars of that salary will come from the Ragin Cajun Athletic Foundation. Napier’s proposed contract needs University of Louisiana System Board approval.

Governor John Bel Edwards has vetoed a bill that would have prevented transgender girls and women from participating on women’s sports teams in Louisiana. Edwards calls the legislation discriminatory and in search of a problem that does not exist.
cut 15 (10) “…in sports”
The governor says the proposed law also puts Louisiana at risk of losing major sporting events like next year’s NCAA Men’s Final Four.

Governor Edwards has signed legislation creating the framework to bet on a live sporting event and a bill that spells out where the tax revenues will go. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says the state Gaming Control Board will develop the rules and accept applications from venues that want a sports betting license.
Cut 7 (10) “…able to do.”
The state’s riverboat casinos, Harrah’s casino in New Orleans, and the racetracks are expected to apply for licenses.

Governor Edwards has signed legislation legalizing the smokable form of medical marijuana. Erik Piccoli has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Erik Piccoli.”

Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul is in Washinton D-C has he’ll participate in a roundtable discussion with President Joe Biden to discuss crime prevention. Aides say the President is also expected to issue a series of executive orders that will seek to reduce violence and he’ll continue to push Congress to pass more gun legislation.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed the legislation that puts the framework in place for legal sports betting in the 55 parishes that approved it last fall. The governor also signed a bill that lays out where the tax revenues from legalized sports gambling will go…
cut 8 (05) “….annually”
Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says 25-percent of that money will go towards early childhood education.

The governor also got out his veto pen and with a signature, he prevents a bill that would have prohibited transgender girls and women from participating in female sports. Edwards calls the bill discriminatory, but the bill’s author Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell disagrees…
cut 14 (10) “….sport”
The state legislature can attempt to override the veto if they call themselves in for a veto session.

Starting next year, Louisiana patients who are prescribed medical marijuana can purchase the smokeable form at one of the state’s nine licensed medical marijuana pharmacies. It’s another expansion to the state’s medical-marijuana program the Legislature created in 2015. Houma Representative Tanner Magee on what state lawmakers may try to do next year to expand the program even more…
cut 12 (12) “….have more pharmacies”

More than 160-thousand vaccinated residents have registered to get another shot, a shot at a million dollars. Assistant Secretary for the Louisiana Health Department Kim Hood says the lottery to incentivize more people to get vaccinated, ShotAtAMillion.com, went live at noon on Monday.
Cut 4 (06) “…exciting.”
Weekly drawings start July 9th, the one-million-dollar grand prize will be announced on August 13th.

Gamblers are one step closer to legally place their bets on sports in 55 voter-approved parishes now that Governor Edwards has signed the legislation. Brooke Thorington.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Governor Edwards has signed legislation legalizing smokable more affordable medical marijuana for certain patients. Erik Piccoli has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Erik Piccoli.” 

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Governor Edwards followed through on his vow to veto legislation that would have banned trans athletes from playing on girls’ and women’s sports teams in Louisiana schools. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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More than 160-thousand vaccinated residents have registered to get another shot, a shot at a million dollars. Assistant Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Health Kim Hood says the lottery to incentivize more people to get vaccinated, ShotAtAMillion.com, went live at noon on Monday.

Cut 4 (06) “…exciting.”

Officials are pleased the vaccine lottery is off to such a good start. Hood says registration is quick and easy you just have to enter some basic information contact information, date of birth, and where you received your vaccination.

With weekly prizes starting July 9^th and the following four weeks, Hood says many people have asked if they have to register weekly to be considered.

Cut 5  (05) “…prizes.”

There are 14 total prizes in the vaccine lottery, five cash prizes, and nine scholarships. Hood says you don’t have to upload a photo of your vaccine card, however, if your name is picked, they will verify your vaccine status.

Cut 6 (12) “…good news.”

To register go to ShotAtAMillion.com or call 877-356-1511. The states’ vaccination rate is just below 34-percent.

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The odds to legally place your bets on sports in Louisiana have improved immensely now that the Governor has signed legislation creating the framework for sports wagering. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says now the gaming commission has the checkered flag to issue provisional gaming licenses.

Cut 7 (10) “…able to do.”

Ward says then permanent gaming licenses would be put in place by the beginning of football season in 2022.

Sports betting was approved by voters in 55 parishes and gamblers will only be able to legally wager on sports in those parishes.

The question that remains to be answered is just how much revenue legalized sports betting will generate. Ward says he has a reasonable guess on just how much it would produce.

Cut 8 (05) “…annually.”

As for who will be holding all the cards at the end of the game Ward says they’ve already dedicated where a percentage of the winnings will go.

Cut 9 (08) “…early childhood education.”

To place bets, you must be 21 and older and have an account with a sports betting operator. Bets cannot be placed on high school or youth sports events.

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Governor Edwards has signed House Bill 391 legalizing the usage of smokable medical marijuana for certain patients. Houma Representative Tanner Magee, who sponsored the bill, says its purpose is to drive down costs and present a much-requested product for patients…

Cut 10 (11) “…alternative to opioids.”

Patients will likely be able to purchase the product sometime in January due to the small number of manufacturers. The bill received remarkably little pushback during the legislative session which Magee attributes to a shift in public opinion…

Cut 11 (6) “…a lot of uses.”

Currently, only LSU and Southern University produce medical marijuana for the state. Moving forward, Magee says most of the push will be to expand its availability in the state…

Cut 12 (12) “…have more pharmacies.” 

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Governor Edwards vetoes legislation that would have blocked transgender athletes from participating in girl’s and women’s sports teams in Louisiana K-12 and post-secondary schools.

In his veto statement, Edwards said discrimination is not a Louisiana value. Edwards says he concerned about the mental health impact the bill would have on trans youth.

Cut 13 (11) “…do it.”

Edwards announced his opposition to the bill early in the legislative session.

Bill author and Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell took issue with Edwards’ accusation that the bill is discriminatory.

Cut 14 (10) “…sport.”

Edwards countered that this legislation could put the state at risk of losing major sporting events like the 2022 Final Four for no reason.

Cut 15 (10)“..sports”

But Mizell says the legislature is often proactive in responding to situations before they occur.

Cut 16 (12) “…protected.”

The bill cleared both chambers of the Legislature with over two-thirds support. Mizell indicated that the chances of a veto session being called may be dependent on what other pieces of legislation are also vetoed. Per the AP the Legislature has not held a veto override session since the current state constitution was first adopted in the 70s.

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Cut 17 (16) …keep Vitello.” 

Cut  18 (16)”..situation there.”

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Cut 19 (14) “…lives.” 

Cut 20 (27)  “…next weekend.” 

Governor Edwards vetoes legislation that would have banned transgender athletes from playing on K-12 and post-secondary school girls and women’s sports teams in Louisiana. The bill cleared the legislature on veto-proof majorities but it is unknown whether lawmakers will elect to call a veto override session.

The newly approved drug Aduhelm (Add-u-helm) to treat Alzheimer’s has stirred interest in the state but it comes with a hefty price tag.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The CDC reports a higher-than-expected number of cases of myocarditis in people who received their second dose of mRNA covid vaccines. LSU Health Shreveport infectious disease professor Dr. John Vanchire says cases have been the highest amongst men under the age of 18 and the heart inflammation symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pains

Cut 12 (11) “…have recovered”

Catholic High School in Baton Rouge has vacated its 2017 and 2020 state football championships after the LHSAA determined they violated rules that occurred in 2017 as a result of an investigation that began in March. WBRZ-TV sports reporter Matt Trent says he’s learned that inappropriate contact occurred with athletes.

Cut 3 (14) “…open house.”

Former catholic coach Gabe Fertitta says he was not aware of the allegations when he resigned his position in February to join Louisville.