8:30 LRN Newscast January 18

State lawmakers can begin filing bills for the 2022 regular session starting today. Kevin Gallagher on the bills that will come up for debate when the three-month-long session begins in March…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Governor John Bel Edwards will hold a press conference in Baton Rouge this afternoon to kick off his statewide Litter Abatement and Beautification Task Force. He’ll be joined by Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. They will hold the press conference near Ward’s Creek, where a lot of trash has gathered.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy reports his re-election campaign has raised 18-million dollars and he has about $11-million in cash-on-hand. U-L-M political science professor Joshua Stockley says that is considerably more than Kennedy raised for his campaign in 2016…:
Cut 13 (11) “…have that in 2022.”
So far there are only two announced candidates, political newcomer Luke Mixon and community activist Gary Chambers who is pushing to decriminalize marijuana possession in a new TV commercial.

Avoyelles Representative Dary Deshotel says 58 parishes have applied for funds to expand broadband in their areas. Deshotel says it’s a 90-million dollar program, but there are other ways the available funds could grow…
cut 8 (14) “….in Louisiana”
Deshotel says awards will be announced in March.