LDH says of those who’ve received one dose of the COVID vaccine so far, only 25-percent are Black. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…Brooke Thorington”
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Most parents will receive a significantly larger child tax credit as a result of the stimulus plan set to be signed by the President. Matt Doyle has the story.
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LSU officials were taken to task by lawmakers Wednesday over the school’s mishandling of sexual misconduct and assault. Matt Doyle has the story.
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According to the state department of health only a quarter of those who’ve received at least one dose of their COVID vaccine, so far are Black. Director of Community Partnerships and Health Equity at LDH, Dr. Earl Benjamin-Robinson says they are working to counter the hesitancy among blacks to be vaccinated.
Benjamin-Robinson says they are holding vaccine events in locations accessible to the Black community.
Cut 5 (12)“…African Americans.”
Benjamin-Robinson says a survey over the summer indicated that only 49-percent of Blacks in the state planned to get vaccinated. To counter hesitancy among Blacks they are working to establish trust in the community and offer an opportunity for a conversation with Blacks who doubt the vaccine.
Cut 6 (11) “…downplaying that.”
Benjamin-Robinson says Louisiana is not alone, other states are showing similar disparities among Blacks and vaccinations.
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The 1.9 trillion dollar American Rescue Act approved by Congress contains a significant, one-year expansion of the child tax credit. Parents are now eligible to receive up to 3,600 dollars per child five and under and 3,000 dollars per child age six to sixteen. Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families Director Susan East Nelson…
The current child tax credit is 1,400 to 2,000 dollars per child but it’s estimated nearly a third of children live in households that do not qualify because their earnings are too low. The new legislation makes all households earning up to 150,000 dollars a year, and individuals making up to 75,000 dollars a year eligible.
The Act allows parents to receive the credit in installments of up to 300 dollars a month instead of collecting it on their return. Nelson says that’s more useful than the current end-of-year lump sum.
The Treasury Department is still working out how the installment option will be handled and when it will be available.
Reports estimate the child tax credit expansion will cut child poverty by over 40 percent. Nelson calls it a landmark policy.
Congressional Democrats indicated they will explore making the expansion permanent later this year. The American Rescue Act awaits President Biden’s signature.
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The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has voted in favor of teacher and support staff pay raises along with $40-million in aid to public schools. BESE Member Doris Voitier (Vo-chey) says they looked at the needs of employees and school systems…
The proposal that now goes before the state legislature would provide $400 raises for teachers and $200 for support staff, plus an additional 40-million dollars in state funding for public schools.
Voitier says if the Revenue Estimating Conference recognizes additional funds in April, BESE would like the option to increase the teacher pay raises.
Voitier says the legislature has the option to accept the $80-million request, reject it and at that point, the request would revert to the prior year, or send the request back to BESE.
BESE is also asking the legislature for an additional $40-million for operational expenses. Voitier says expenses have increased and many school systems anticipate a decrease in local funding.
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Lawmakers grilled LSU officials about the school’s mishandling handling of sexual misconduct and assault cases documented in the Husch Blackwell report.
LSU interim President Thomas Galligan was asked by Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow if the school has reached out to assault victims it once ignored…
Galligan was not President during the period covered by the report.
The only punishment to result from the report was the temporary suspensions of two athletic administrators. New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson asked how they could still be trusted to be responsible for students.
The two administrators, Verge Ausberry and Miriam Segar, were suspended for 30 and 21 days without pay respectively.
Galligan defended the penalties saying there was no policy in place at the time detailing how administrators should have acted when they were made aware of incidents of misconduct. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell…
Galligan told lawmakers the school reformed the way it handles such cases and will do better in the future. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says the administration’s reaction to the report doesn’t inspire confidence…
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The Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team will begin Conference Tournament play today and will take on the winner of the Florida Atlantic-UTEP game. Tech coach Eric Konkol says he may add some new wrinkles for the game.
Cut 17 (15) “…conference tournament.”
Tech is the number one west seed in the Conference-USA tournament. Despite high expectations, Konkol says his team will not worry about the added pressure
Cut 18 (16) “…best basketball.”
The Bulldogs have three players that average around 11 points per game in Isaiah Crawford, Kalob Ledoux, and Kenneth Lofton Jr. Konkol says opponents can’t focus on one particular player which makes them harder to defend.