The state has its budget for the next fiscal year. Is the legislature pleased with the results? David Grubb has the answer…
Cut 1 (36) “…I’m David Grubb.”
____________________________________
The author of a so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill for Louisiana that was defeated in the legislature says she will bring the bill back until it passes. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
_____________________________________
After a concealed carry bill was amended to allow teachers to carry a gun to school and serve as safety officers, a Louisiana teacher’s union voiced its concerns. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
________________________________________________
Governor John Bel Edwards signed House Bill 1, the state’s budget for the next fiscal year, on Thursday. Appropriations Chair, Houma Representative Jerome Zeringue, says the budget is a good reflection of both the intent of the legislature and the governor’s priorities.
Cut 4 (12) “…childhood education.”
The governor did exercise his line-item veto to reallocate $31-million from the Office of Tourism to fund merit-based pay raises for faculty in the state’s university, community, and technical college systems. Zeringue says the legislature takes no issue with those moves…
Cut 5 (11) “…restoring those dollars.”
The budget process moved surprisingly quickly during the session, atypical of previous years where some battles waged up until the final hours. Zeringue says that it took an unprecedented commitment from all branches to make it happen.
Cut 6 (12) “…the Mississippi River.”
_____________________________________________
A Louisiana House bill dubbed a “Don’t Say Gay” bill has failed to pass this year, but its author says she will bring it back next year. Last month, House Education Committee members voted in a bipartisan manner to end the bill’s progress. Bill author and Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says fellow Conservatives in the House moved the bill to a Committee of the Whole, meaning ALL members can debate and vote on it. However, she withdrew the bill from further consideration this year…:
Cut 7 (08) “…put the body through that.”
Horton says she will rewrite the bill to address some concerns that were voiced about it, and she will file the bill again next year. Many say the proposed legislation is a “solution seeking a problem”, but Horton says indoctrination of the very young to alternate lifestyles is very real…:
Cut 8 (10) “…teaching a standard.”
Horton says her bill is NOT anti-gay, anti-trans, or anti-any other group. She says it’s about assuring inappropriate topics are not discussed with children during what is supposed to be educational classroom time…:
Cut 9 (10) “…for the student.”
________________________________________
After the concealed carry bill was amended to allow teachers to carry a firearm to school and serve as safety officers, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers issued a statement in strong opposition. LFT Legislative Director Cynthia Posey says while they are for measures to address the issue of school safety this is not the way to go about it.
Cut 10 (11) “…more than that.”
Posey says if the bill becomes law, it places a huge burden on those teachers who choose to bring a gun to campus, and it also requires them to complete training on their own time.
Posey says the legislation also places an emotional liability on instructors. She says it’s not fair to ask teachers in a moment of extreme distress to switch from the role of educator to becoming a professional law enforcement officer. And because often the suspect is a current or former student, she says it’s not fair to ask a teacher to possibly shoot someone they know.
Posey says the issue comes down to funding and they always say we put our money where our priorities are.
The current legislative session ends on Monday.
________________________________________
Governor John Bel Edwards says he will testify before the legislative oversite committee investigating the May 2019 death of motorist Ronald Greene while in state police custody. Edwards says he viewed Lt. John Clary’s body camera footage in the Fall of 2020 days before he arranged for Greene’s family to see it.
Cut 13 (16) “…August of 2019.”
Edwards says there has been much speculation about what he knew and when concerning Greene’s death. Edwards says the Greene family attorney also viewed the body camera video and took notes that referred specifically to the Clary video.
The legislative oversite committee has heard testimony from state troopers and Ronald Greene’s mother Mona Hardin. Governor Edwards has been asked to answer questions and he says he plans to fully cooperate.
Edwards did mention a possible scheduling conflict with June 16th, but he does plan to answer lawmakers’ questions.
______________________________________________
The Saints have wrapped up week two of OTAs and coach Dennis Allen is happy with what he’s seen so far. The offense has plenty of new personnel, so does that mean we’ll see a more aggressive Saints attack in 2022? Allen says you’ll have to wait and see.
Cut 16 (20) “…do really well.”
One of the biggest additions to the Saints’ offense is former LSU star Jarvis Landry, who drew plenty of praise from Allen after his first few practices. Landry says he’s not quite where he wants to be, but he’s getting there.
Cut 17 (15) “ …I’ll be ready.”
___________________________________________
LSU opens NCAA Regional play tonight at 6 pm against Kennesaw State in Hattiesburg. The Tigers could be near or at full strength offensively with the potential returns of Jacob Berry and Cade Doughty, but LSU’s success will likely hinge on its pitching. Coach Jay Johnson says his guys are ready to go.
Kennesaw State is led by first-year head coach Ryan Coe, who has the Owls back in the tournament for just the second time in program history. Coe says his team has overcome its deficiencies by being relentless.
Cut 19 (19) _“…we’re on here.”
___________________________________________
The Ragin’ Cajuns have had a long way back since their last NCAA tournament appearance in 2016. The unexpected death of Tony Robichaux in 2019 was followed by a pandemic in 2020. And yet, here they are. Coach Matt Deggs says he couldn’t be more proud of the fight his team has shown and how it’s paid off.