Business groups are calling on lawmakers to cease federally enhanced unemployment to help end the worker shortage. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Attorney General Jeff Landy along with 44 other attorneys general in other states and territories wants Facebook to stop the launch of Instagram for Kids. Brooke Thorington explains.
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A House floor vote on legalizing recreational marijuana use is once again delayed. Matt Doyle asked a political analyst what’s going on with this hot topic…
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A radiation detection device developed in part by five LSU students will be sent to the Moon next year as part of the IM-1 lunar mission.
Senior Engineering Undergrad Jacob Miller helped developed the case the iPhone-sized detection device will be housed in. He says this equipment will help keep future astronauts safe.
IM-1 stands for Intuitive Machines, a Houston-based private company that is contracted by NASA to supply payloads for two upcoming trips to the Moon.
Recent Physics graduate Haley Pellegrin says the vacuum environment presents a lot of technical challenges to equipment, and once you send something to the moon you can’t go fix it later.
The five students worked under LSU SpaRTAN Lab head Jeffery Chancellor. He says these scientists may be young but that’s not unusual in this field.
The IM-1 mission is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2022.
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Frustrated over labor shortages several members of the Louisiana chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses want the state to ween recipients off federally enhanced unemployment benefits and direct the money elsewhere, like incentives for people to get back to work. Louisiana NFIB Director Dawn McVea says labor shortages are impeding recovery for many businesses.
McVea says they are looking to propose a measure like Montana which enacted a hiring bonus of $1,200 and elimination of federal enhancements to unemployment benefits.
Opponents like Louisiana Budget Project says businesses are unable to find enough qualified workers because they fail to pay a fair wage. McVea says but some members report they have increased wages.
McVea says they are working with Monroe Representative Michael Echols to put forth an amendment to curb federal unemployment incentives on bills looking to make changes to current state unemployment benefits.
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Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, along with a bipartisan group of more than 40 attorneys general in other states and territories, wants Facebook to reconsider launching Instagram for Kids. Landy fears a child-friendly Instagram for ages 13 and under will be misused by predators.
Landry says while the internet can be a great resource for kids it is also a great resource for those looking to take advantage of children and fears that Instagram for Kids is another method for social media to gain insight on a vulnerable population.
Those against Instagram for Kids claim children lack the ability to understand privacy and say Facebook and Instagram reported 20 million child sexual abuse images last alone. Landy says it only continues to get worse.
Another report found a 200-percent increase in recorded instances in the use of Instagram to target and abuse children over a six-month period in 2018. In March Facebook, which owns Instagram, announced the launch for preteens.
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A vote on legislation that would legalize recreational marijuana use in Louisiana is once again delayed on the House floor.
LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says it’s clear this bill is close to passing, but the bill author just doesn’t have enough support at the moment to call for a vote.
The bill would legalize possession and use for those over the age of 21. A companion bill would set the licensing fees for personal and commercial growth of the plant, currently at 100 and 2,500 dollars respectively.
Alford says the bill has everything going against it right now except broad public support, but he warns against giving up on it just yet.
Alford says it’s possible the bill is dead for the session but just like medical marijuana could find success after a few more attempts.
The bill by Mandeville Republican Representative Richard Nelson currently is set to be heard Wednesday.
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LSU hosts 14th ranked Louisiana Tech tonight at Alex Box Stadium. The Tigers have struggled in SEC play this year, but are undefeated this season in mid-week non-conference contests. Coach Paul Mainieri can’t explain it…
After tonight’s scheduled game against La Tech, LSU will host Alabama for the final home SEC series of the season. Mainieri on the importance of this week…
Cut 18 (16)”…sugar-coating it” (x2)
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Louisiana Tech is having an outstanding season as they have a 33-12 record. But one of their dozen losses occurred earlier this year at Alex Box Stadium. Bulldogs Coach Lane Burroughs is looking forward to another chance at the Tigers
This week Louisiana Tech will find out if they are one of 20 schools in the running to host an NCAA Baseball Regional. Burroughs says he’s not losing any sleep over the anticipated announcement…