Louisiana Congressmen react to Tuesday’s mass shooting at a grade school in Uvalde, Texas. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
____________________________________
Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and people are ready to hit the road. David Grubb has more…
Cut 2 (36) “…I’m David Grubb.”
_____________________________________
A resolution calling on members of the Louisiana legislature to substitute for one day in K-12 schools advances from House Governmental Affairs. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
____________________________________
Members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation react to Tuesday’s tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. On Tuesday, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos walked into the Robb Elementary school and killed 19 children and 2 teachers. Louisiana District 2 Congressman Troy Carter says the massacre is “heartbreaking”, and says mass shooters often have mental problems and there are steps we could take to screen them before they get a gun…:
Cut 4 (11) “…should have been checked.”
Carter says local and federal authorities need to take whatever steps are necessary to assure maximum safety for children at school…:
Cut 5 (14) “…propensity for violence.”
District 6 Congressman Garret Graves says the Uvalde shootings were “disgusting”, and also feels it’s time to revisit public policy on school safety and screening gun owners. However, he feels it needs to be a well-thought-out and deliberate process…:
Cut 6 (15) “…killings from happening.”
Before the attack at Robb school, Ramos posted online he intended to kill his grandmother, then that he had shot her, then that he was going to “shoot up a school”. Graves says the issues for many mass shooters – particularly the very young ones – often start in the home…:
Cut 7 (07) “…by their parents.”
________________________________________
Despite record gas prices, Triple-A predicts nearly 40 million Americans will be traveling this Memorial Day weekend. Spokesperson Don Redman says people are ready to hit the road at levels we haven’t seen in five years.
This Memorial Day weekend is expected to be the busiest in two years, consistent with a trend of more and more people making travel plans that started earlier this spring. Redman says this is a strong indicator that the roads will only get busier over the coming months.
Cut 9 (09) “…for summer travel.”
Air travel has picked up as well, with three million passengers expected to take flight over the weekend, representing 7.7 percent of all travelers. Redman says that figure tops 2019, the last year prior to the pandemic.
Cut 10 (07) “…drive right now.”
Triple-A advises that if you are driving this weekend, make sure your vehicle is road-trip ready with a full inspection before you go.
________________________________________
A resolution for House members to volunteer as substitute teachers passes in House Governmental Affairs and advances to the House Floor. Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson who also serves as vice-chair of House Education says this is a way for members to gain firsthand experience and also assist with the ongoing teaching shortage.
Jefferson says he was inspired to author the resolution after Former House Speaker John Alario suggested other lawmakers volunteer in Louisiana schools in the past.
New Orleans Representative and former teacher Candace Newell spoke in favor of the resolution and says it’s important for lawmakers to serve in the education trenches casting votes impacting K-12 schools.
Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey also supported the legislation. He says while many lawmakers already volunteer in the community this is an ideal way to serve and have a better understanding of what teachers experience.
The resolution advances to the House floor.
_______________________________________
A bill to ban corporal punishment in public schools finally gets House approval after it failed to get enough votes in the lower chamber on two previous tries in this session. It’s not a total ban. Metairie Representative Stephanie Hilferty amended her legislation giving parents the option to authorize a spanking of their child through written consent…
Cut 14 (10) “…making that choice.”
The bill passed on a 70-28 vote. Erath Representative Blake Miguez voted against the measure. He says each school district should clarify its policy on corporal punishment and if parents don’t want their child spanked, they could opt out…
Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey says he’s voted against Hilferty’s bill in the pass, but likes the opt-in language that the legislation now contains…
Cut 16 (11) “…on their child.”
The legislation still needs Senate approval and the legislative session ends June 6th.
___________________________________________
LSU should finally take the field today at the SEC baseball tournament after not playing since last Saturday. It’s been a wild ride this season for the Tigers, but SEC Network host Peter Burns says LSU can use the time off to its advantage on the way to grabbing a couple of much-needed wins in its bid to host an NCAA regional.
Having a couple of extra days of rest could be good for the LSU pitching staff. Ma’Khail Hilliard has been the team’s top starting pitcher, but a true number two hasn’t emerged, meaning the Tigers will rely heavily on their bullpen. Burns says a lack of quality arms is a problem across the SEC.
______________________________________________