Students will soon be able to earn a bachelor’s degree in aviation at LSU-Alexandria. Taylor Sharp has the story.
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Lawmakers have begun receiving ballots asking if they would like to cancel the automatically scheduled veto override session set to begin July 20th. Matt Doyle has the story…
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Governor Edwards signs a bill by Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt that will begin moving the state to a paper-based election system. Matt Doyle has the story.
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LSU Alexandria is launching a new aviation program where students can become commercial pilots without any military experience. Associate Vice Chancellor and Provost of Academic Affairs Dr. Eamon Halpin says this program was started due to the high demand for commercial pilots.
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Halpin says this program will lead to a bachelor’s degree as well as a number of flight certifications for students.
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In terms of who can enroll in the courses, Halpin says any student at the University can enroll regardless of age.
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The planned take-off for the program is Spring 2022.
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Veto override session ballots have been sent out to lawmakers and if a majority of lawmakers in both chambers elect not to return them an override session will begin July 20th.
Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the process for a veto session is in the constitution in that a session is automatically scheduled if even one veto is issued.
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Some Republican lawmakers recommended those in favor of a veto override session shred their ballots so they are not mistakenly sent in.
Pinsonat says it appears highly likely that the outcry over the Governor’s controversial veto of legislation involving transgender athletes will result in most lawmakers not sending in a ballot.
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Those ballots are due July 15th and Pinsonat says it will be public record which lawmakers sent in ballots asking for the veto session to be canceled.
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Should the session be held lawmakers would have four days to address the 28 different vetoes issued by Governor Edwards this year.
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Governor Edwards signs legislation that will begin the process of shifting Louisiana from an electronic voting system to a paper-based system.
Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says her bill will further strengthen the integrity of our elections.
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Under a paper system, voters will receive a paper ballot that they can look at to make sure their vote was tabulated correctly, and that can be later audited by hand should the need arise.
The state is currently in search of new voting machines but Hewitt says this bill directs the Secretary of State to wait until we know exactly what we’re looking for to move ahead…
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This commission will first meet on September 1st and generate a report before the start of 2022. Hewitt says it is unknown right now if the paper system will be available for the 2022 federal elections.
Hewitt says states all around the country that don’t already have a paper trail for their elections are quickly moving in that direction away from strictly electronic records…
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Tom Galligan’s tenure as interim President of LSU has come to an end with the appointment of Bill Tate IV as the school’s new permanent President. Galligan had a rocky ride between COVID, the Summer of Black Lives Matter, and a Title IX scandal. Galligan says he’s ready for some time off…
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Galligan took over just before the pandemic got started and says navigating that difficult period was a serious challenge.
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Galligan replaced F. King Alexander who left LSU to take on the same position at Oregon State.
LSU ultimately decided to shut down the campus and shift to virtual learning during the pandemic. Galligan says he was heartened by all the support he received after making some tough calls during that period.
Cut 15 (11)“…really supportive.”
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