4:30 LRN Newscast June 07

State lawmakers may have thought their work was done, but Governor Edwards has called a June 15th Special Session to redraw a rejected congressional redistricting map. A federal judge tossed out the map submitted by legislators during a redistricting session earlier this year because it had no second majority minority district. Black voters make up just under one-third of the state. Public Affairs Research council research director Melinda Deslatte says, with the deadline to resubmit less than two weeks out, what’ll happen is anyone’s guess…:

CUT 08  (11)        “…at the moment.”

State Police say a man fleeing a traffic stop in Carencro led to a high speed chase, then a fatal crash. LSP says the vehicle overturned on state Highway 182; ejecting a 16-year-old passenger, who was not wearing a seat belt. He died at the scene. The driver was treated for minor injuries and charges against him are pending.

 

State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says the 2022 legislative session that ended yesterday was a good one for education, especially for teachers who are getting a 15-hundred dollar pay raise. Brumley says legislators also addressed the teacher shortage by approving a program called the Geaux Teach Program…:

CUT 03(12)      “…their TOPS.”

Also, a new law mandates that all high school students must take geometry.

A former Baton Rouge Police Department officer turned himself in, after he was charged with dumping guns that were part of an investigation. Former officer Ben Zeringue allegedly did this before leaving the BRPD in 2020. The guns – with magazines carrying live rounds – were found by some school kids. Zeringue is charged with 3 counts each of malfeasance in office, injuring public records and theft of firearms.

3:30 LRN Newscast June 07

A federal judge issues a June 20th deadline for lawmakers to submit a new Congressional Redistricting map and Governor Edwards has called for a special session to begin June 15th. Brooke Thorington has more.

CUT 01(35)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

State Police say a Carencro Police chase early this morning resulted in a fatal crash. Troopers say an 18-year-old driver fled a traffic stop; leading to the chase and the vehicle rolling over. A 16-year-old passenger was un-restrained and ejected from the car. He died at the scene.

 

One of the bills to pass the legislative session is HB 1031, which adds an annual fee of $110 for all-electric vehicles and a $60 fee for hybrid owners to help offset the losses from gas tax collections. Transportation Secretary Sean Wilson says Louisiana’s fees are lower than most states, and the money raised will go to a mounting list of highway and bridge work…:

CUT 11(11)      “…going forward.”

A Morgan City man is under arrest for possessing child and animal pornography. A cyber-crimes investigation that started in May led to the seizure of 66-year-old Keith Taylor’s computer and devices, which yielded dozens of images and videos involving juveniles and many featuring animals. As of news time he had not posted bond. The investigation continues.

Updated LRN PM Newscall as the Governor has issued a call for a special session

A federal judge issues a June 20th deadline for lawmakers to submit a new Congressional Redistricting map and Governor Edwards has called for a six-day special session to begin June 15th. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

______________________________________

New fees for drivers of all-electric and hybrid vehicles are set to go into effect. David Grubb has more on what the state will do with this additional revenue…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m David Grubb.”  

______________________________________

State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says the 2022 legislative session that ended yesterday was a good one for education, especially for teachers who are getting a 15-hundred dollar pay raise. Brumley says legislators also addressed the teaching shortage crisis by approving a program called the Geaux Teach Program

Cut 3 (12) “…their TOPS”

Brumley says another piece of legislation approved to address the teacher shortage is that any resident who has a Master’s Degree in a particular content to teach at a local school in their area of expertise…

Cut 4  (08) “…other professions.”

Brumley says lawmakers also approved a bill requiring every student in high school to take a class in geometry.

Cut 5  (11) “…is geometry.”

___________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards has called for a special session to begin June 15th after a federal judge rejected the Congressional Redistricting Map the Legislature approved in February. Research Director with the Public Affairs Research Council Melinda Deslatte (Duh-Lot) says the judge issued a June 20th deadline for the new map that must have two majority-minority districts.

Cut 6  (06) “…different map.” 

The special session must end by 6 PM on Monday June 20.

Edwards initially vetoed the map lawmakers passed but the veto was overridden and the map ended up in court. Deslatte says Monday’s judgment has Republicans who approved the map seeking alternatives.

Cut 7 (12) “…new map.” 

Deslatte says it was an ending to a regular session that she’s never seen before in Louisiana and with the deadline less than two weeks away it’s anyone’s guess as to what will happen.

Cut 8 (11) “…uncertain at the moment.” 

____________________________________________________

One of the bills to pass the legislative session is HB 1031, which adds an annual fee of $110 for all-electric vehicles and a $60 fee for hybrid owners to help offset the losses from gas tax collections. Transportation Secretary Sean Wilson says the legislation is about making sure everyone who uses the roads helps maintain them.

Cut 9 (12) “…average driver pays.”

Wilson says that the feedback that he’s gotten from drivers and the auto industry has been positive so far and that the fee system will continue to develop just as the technology and the marketplace for electric and hybrid vehicles do.

Cut 10 (12) ” …tweaked over time.” 

A number of states already have legislation in place to help recoup revenues lost to electric and hybrid vehicles, and Wilson says that comparatively speaking Louisiana’s fees are lower than most. With the huge investment made in infrastructure in this year’s budget, Wilson wants the state to move to the forefront in both preparedness and innovation.

Cut 11 (11)  “…going forward.” 

_____________________________________________________

Louisiana is receiving 176-million dollars to bring reliable internet service to rural areas. The governor’s office says it’s enough money to connect 88-thousand homes and businesses with high-speed internet. Executive Director of Louisiana Broadband and Connectivity Veneeth Iyengar (Vuh-neeth Eye-IN-gar) says Louisiana is one of only four states to receive this money from the U-S Department of Treasury

Cut 12 (09) “…the most”  

Iyengar says the money will go to the state’s new GUMBO program, a grant program for internet providers who want to bring broadband service to rural areas…

Cut 13 (12) “…internet service providers.”

Iyengar says this money is coming from American Rescue Plan that was approved by Congress and they know more money will be coming from the historic infrastructure bill passed late last year…

Cut 14 (10)  “..affordable internet.” 

2:30 LRN Newscast June 07

New fees for drivers of all-electric and hybrid vehicles are set to go into effect. David Grubb has more on what the state will do with this additional revenue…:

CUT 02(33)      “…David Grubb.”

Another bill passed in the closing hours of the session will allow students to substitute computer coding for a foreign language when applying for TOPS academic grants. The bill’s author says computer coding is more valuable to potential employers than knowing a foreign language.

 

State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says the 2022 legislative session that ended yesterday was a good one for education, especially for teachers who are getting a 15-hundred dollar pay raise. Brumley says lawmakers also approved a bill requiring every student in high school to take geometry…:

CUT 05(11)      “…is geometry.”

Louisiana is receiving 176-million dollars to bring reliable internet service to rural areas. The governor’s office says it’s enough money to connect 88-thousand homes and businesses.  Louisiana Broadband and Connectivity director Veneeth Iyengar (Vuh-neeth Eye-IN-gar) says this money is coming from American Rescue Plan that was approved by Congress, and more money will be coming via infrastructure bill passed late last year…:

CUT 14(10)      “…affordable internet.”

1:30 LRN Newscast June 7

A federal judge issues a June 20th deadline for lawmakers to submit a new Congressional Redistricting map, Governor Edwards says he’ll call for a special session. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Edwards has also decided to allow a bill that will bar transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports to become law without his signature. Edwards vetoed similar legislation last year but said it became obvious to him the bill would become law regardless of his actions.

Another bill to pass the legislative session was HB 1031, which adds an annual fee of $110 for all-electric vehicles and a $60 fee for hybrid owners to help offset the losses from gas tax collections. Transportation Secretary Sean Wilson says the feedback that he’s gotten from drivers and the auto industry has been positive so far and that the fee system will continue to develop just as the technology and the marketplace for electric and hybrid vehicles does.

Cut 10 (12) ” …tweaked over time.”

Louisiana is receiving 176-million dollars to bring reliable internet service to rural areas. Executive Director of Louisiana Broadband and Connectivity Veneeth Iyengar (Vuh-neeth Eye-IN-gar) says the money will go to the state’s new GUMBO program, a grant program for internet providers who want to bring broadband service to rural areas…

Cut 13 (12) “…internet service providers.”

12:30 LRN Newscast June 7

Governor Edwards is expected to call for a special session after a federal judge rejected the Congressional Redistricting Map the Legislature approved in February. Research Director with the Public Affairs Research Council Melinda Deslatte (Duh-Lot) says Monday’s judgment has Republicans who approved the map seeking alternatives.

Cut 7 (12) “…new map.” 

Louisiana is receiving 176-million dollars to bring reliable internet service to rural areas. The governor’s office says it’s enough money to connect 88-thousand homes and businesses with high-speed internet. Executive Director of Louisiana Broadband and Connectivity Veneeth Iyengar (Vuh-neeth Eye-IN-gar) says Louisiana is one of only four states to receive this money from the U-S Department of Treasury

Cut 12 (09) “…the most”  

One of the bills to pass the legislative session was the passage of HB 1031, which adds an annual fee of $110 for all-electric vehicles and a $60 fee for hybrid owners to help offset the losses from gas tax collections. Transportation Secretary Sean Wilson says the legislation is about making sure everyone who uses the roads helps maintain them.

Cut 9 (12) “…average driver pays.”

LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing is ranked 10th in the nation that’s according to the Nursing Schools Almanac. Demetrius Porche, Dean of the School of Nursing at LSU Health New Orleans credits the success of their students and the wide range of programs they offer for the ranking.

AM Cut 7 (12) “…of excellence.”

 

 

11:30 LRN Newscast June 7

Governor Edwards is expecting to call for a special session after a federal judge rejected the Congressional Redistricting Map the legislature passed before the regular session. Research Director with the Public Affairs Research Council Melinda Deslatte (Duh-Lot) says the judge issued a June 20th deadline for the new map that must have two majority-minority districts.

Cut 6  (06) “…different map.” 

State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says the 2022 legislative session that ended yesterday was a good one for education. He says lawmakers approved legislation to address the teacher shortage by allowing any resident who has a Master’s Degree in a particular content to teach at a local school in that area of expertise…

Cut 4  (08) “…other professions.”

Teachers also received a 15-hundred dollar pay raise.

Dr. Catherine O’Neal, chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, is the new chief medical adviser for the Southeastern Conference. She will be working to develop conference-wide standards of health. O’Neal says she hopes her efforts will have value beyond the field of play.

Cut  11 (12)  “…the college athlete.” 

LSU’s baseball season ended Monday with an 8-7 loss to Southern Miss in the final of the Hattiesburg Regional. After two nail-biting rallies in a row, Friday and Saturday the Tigers failed to advance in the regional. Here’s Tigers coach Jay Johnson…

Cut 16 (11)  “…lot to say.”

 

9:30 LRN Newscast June 7

The LSU baseball season came to an end last night as the Tigers lost to Southern Miss eight to seven in the Hattiesburg Regional Championship game. Jay Johnson’s first season at LSU ends with a 40-22 record.

The 2022 legislative session also ended yesterday, but Governor John Bel Edwards says legislators will be back very soon. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 1 (39) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Because of unprecedented surplus money, state lawmakers were able to dole out teacher pay raises, higher education received one of the largest investments in its history, early childhood funding was also a big winner, and a lot of money was spent on roads and bridges. House GOP delegation chairman Blake Miguez says that’s great, but he also wishes the Legislature could have done more to reduce the tax burden on residents…
cut 15 (14) “…that money”

LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing is ranked as the 10th best nursing school by Nursing Schools Almanac. Demetrius Porche, Dean of the School of Nursing at LSU Health New Orleans credits the success of their students and the wide range of programs they offer for the ranking.
Cut 7 (12) “…of excellence.”
Among public nursing schools, the LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing ranked 5th in the country.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Republican lawmakers are generally satisfied with what was accomplished in the Regular Legislative Session that wrapped up yesterday. House GOP Delegation chairman and Erath Representative Blake Miguez says the session was unusual in that billions of dollars in one-time federal money – from the pandemic and three hurricanes – were available…
Cut 13 (11) “…in the infrastructure.”
But lawmakers could return to the state capitol very soon as a federal judge in Baton Rouge has ruled the Legislature must re-draw a Congressional District map because it does not contain two majority-minority districts…
cut 6 (10) “….the district’
That’s Governor Edwards who says the judge has set a June 20th deadline for a new Congressional District map.

The LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing Ranks as the tenth best nursing school in the country according to Nursing Schools Almanac. LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing Dean Demetrius Porche gives credit to their qualified instructors who are making a difference in this high-demand profession…
cut 8(11) “….the discipline”
The same report ranks LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing fifth-best in the country among public nursing schools.

The chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Doctor Catherine O’ Neal is taking on the added task of chief medical adviser for the Southeastern Conference. The SEC says O’Neal is tasked with ensuring the physical and mental health, and holistic wellness of its student-athletes. O’Neal believes this comprehensive approach to health will provide a lasting impact.
Cut 12 (06) “…the whole person.”
Dr. O’Neal has practiced medicine for nearly 20 years, specializing in infectious disease research and treatment, and has been on the faculty at LSU medical school in New Orleans since 2009 and chief medical officer at the Lake since 2020

7:30 LRN Newscast

The 2022 regular legislative session came to a conclusion yesterday as state lawmakers completed a three-month-long law-making period by passing a budget that will dole teacher pay raises and spends hundreds of millions of dollars on infrastructure projects.

The head of the state House GOP delegation gives lawmakers overall high marks for their work. More from Kevin Gallagher….:
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

And Edwards announced last night he’s letting the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act become law without his signature.

LSU Health New Orleans Nursing School is ranked as the tenth best by Nursing Schools Almanac. Schools were assessed on an institution’s academic prestige and perceived value. The breadth and depth of nursing programs offered and Students’ success on the National Council Licensure Examination of Registered Nurses…
cut 9 (07) “….97-percent”
That’s LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing Dean Demetrius Porche.

Dr. Catherine O’Neal, chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, is the new chief medical adviser for the Southeastern Conference…
Cut 10 (12) “…conference standards.”
Dr. O’Neal says she will conduct educational sessions for coaches, and medical staff, and meet regularly with team doctors and trainers.