AM LRN Newscall June 4

The 2021 regular legislative session will be over by this time next week and while there are still a few issues left most of the heavy lifting has already been completed. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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 Those who’ve been vaccinated will be able to visit Louisiana’s 21 state parks and 18 historic sites for free through July 31st. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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A bill to make kindergarten mandatory beginning at age five passed in the House and now returns to the Senate. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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There’s just under a week left in the legislative session and while most of the heavy lifting is done there are still a few hot topics left for lawmakers to debate before 6 PM on June 10th.

The budget is wrapped up and several controversial culture war bills are headed to the Governor, but LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford there’s one major hold up…

Cut 4 (08)”…weekend.”

Edwards is expected to veto any legislation removing the need to have a permit or training to concealed carry and legislation removing the ability for trans athletes to participate in women’s sports.

Alongside the tax reform issues, Alford says lawmakers still have some major gaming-related bills to finish.

Cut 5 (09)”…betting.”

The Slidell casino vote recently escaped a Senate committee it had been stuck in for weeks and is headed to the Senate floor.

Lawmakers also need to pass the taxation portion of legislation that allows the use and sale of the raw form of medical marijuana, but it’s been amended to include an infrastructure-related tax proposal.

Cut 6 (09)”…passing.”

The Conservative Caucus has vowed to block any efforts to use the point four-five percent of the sales tax that is expiring in 2025 to permanently pay for infrastructure projects.

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Governor Edwards announces that vaccinated individuals can now gain free entry into all Louisiana State Parks and historic sites through July 31st.

Edwards says it doesn’t matter when you got your shot, if you have proof, you get in free.

Cut 7 (11)  “…state parks.”

Louisiana has 21 state parks and 18 historic sites.

Edwards says many of these facilities got overhauls and renovations over the course of the last year and are more family-friendly than ever before.

Cut 8 (09) “…sites.”

Edwards says they’re still offering their shot for shots program to those who are still on the fence about getting vaccinated…

Cut 9 (10) “…future” 

Only 32 percent of Louisianans are fully vaccinated.

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A bill to make kindergarten mandatory beginning at age five passed in the House on a 59-31 vote. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes presented the bill for Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields and says he’s tired of Louisiana consistently being ranked towards the bottom of the list in education.

Cut 10 (08) “…our kids.”

The bill faced opposition from Houma Representative Beryl Amedee, she believes the mandatory age to begin school should remain at seven and kindergarten a choice.

Cut 11 (10) “…parental rights.”

Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Texas have mandatory kindergarten laws and Hughes says it’s time to make an investment for a better future for children in Louisiana.

Cut 12 (12) “…sense.”

The original bill required children who turn five by September 30th to attend but was amended to March 31st for the school calendar year. The amended bill now returns to the Senate where it passed in the upper chamber on a 34-1 vote. If passed would go into effect for the 2022-23 school year.

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A Baton Rouge nurse began a door-to-door campaign earlier this year to educate and vaccinate people for COVID. Carla Brown lost her husband to COVID after she exposed him to the virus, a man who survived a gunshot wound to the head as a child and cancer twice, only to succumb to the virus.

Cut 13 (13) “…in vain.”

Brown along with the assistance of Baton Rouge pharmacy has vaccinated just shy of a thousand residents. Her goal is to reach two thousand by the 4th of July.

Cut 14 (11) “…not available.”

When Brown’s husband contracted COVID he ended up at the hospital and due to visiting restrictions, died alone. Brown is now a Hospice Nurse in an effort to comfort patients in their last moments, something she couldn’t do for her husband.

Cut 15 (08)“…one lives.”

Brown shared her story last month on ABC’s talk show The View.

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Louisiana Tech announces the Ruston Regional has sold out of its entire inventory of all-session tickets available to the general public. It’s the first time the Bulldogs are hosting a regional in baseball. Tech Coach Lane Burroughs says he’s seen teams hosting their first regional tighten up

Cut 16 (24) “…let it rip.”

The Bulldogs will host Rider tonight at 6 PM. Burroughs says staff ace Jonathan Fincher will get the start…

Cut 17 (16) thinking things.” 

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Tonight at 9 PM, it will be LSU and Gonzaga facing off in the Eugene Regional. The Bulldogs will send seven-game winner Alek Jacob to the hill. He has 103 strikeouts on the season. Jacob doesn’t throw hard, but he has a lot of swing and miss to his game. First baseman Tre Morgan on their approach…

Cut  18 (08)”..to this guy.”

LSU will send Landon Marceaux to the mound. Coach Paul Mainieri wants Marceaux to pitch to contact…

Cut 19 (11) “…the end.” 

Morgan on playing for Mainieri who is retiring at the end of the season…

Cut 20 (14)  “…high note.”