Governor Edwards has restored $100 million that was cut from the state budget for the health department, but will it prompt a veto override session? Brooke Thorington has more.
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Congressman Steve Scalise met with LSU Coach Brian Kelly and other SEC officials to discuss potential legislation regarding collegiate Name-Image-Likeness deals. Kace Kieschnick has more…
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If you plan on hitting the water this 4th of July weekend, expect to see an increased presence from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. It’s called Operation Dry Water – a national effort to raise awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence. Boating Education Coordinator Lt. Garret Kimble says to expect heightened enforcement.
Louisiana reported 29 boating fatalities in 2022, with alcohol playing a role in five fatalities or 17 percent. As of May this year, Louisiana has reported four fatalities.
Kimble says DWI on the water carries the same penalties as on the road and it will also impact your driving privileges on the road.
Kimble encourages boaters to designate a sober pilot when on the water.
Last year during Operation Dry Water Weekend, LDWF agents arrested 12 boaters for DWI on the water. Operation Dry Water will take place from July 1 to July 3.
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Governor Edwards has line-item vetoed the state budget and restored $100 million to the health department. The adjustment removed $125 million that conservatives earmarked to pay down retirement debt. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the legislature deserves all the criticism they are receiving over the budget.
The governor also restored $7.5 million to early childhood education.
Pinsonat says so far there hasn’t been a response from House or Senate leadership if the budget-line time veto by the governor will prompt a veto-override session.
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The blind vote on the budget in the final minutes of the legislature, Pinsonat says was extremely irresponsible of lawmakers and he doubts the budget would be the tipping point for a veto-override session.
Pinsonat believes if anti-transgender legislation is vetoed, that conservative lawmakers would choose to return to the capitol to override the governor.
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Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise met with Brian Kelly, Nick Saban, and other SEC officials to discuss potential legislation surrounding college athlete NIL deals. The NCAA made it legal for athletes to profit off their name image and likeness in July of 2021 in a controversial decision among college sports fans, and while many athletes have been able to benefit from the new rules. Scalise says legislation is necessary to ensure their protection…
In addition to the lack of regulations and protections in the current NIL landscape, the House Majority Leader pointed out differing rules on a state-by-state basis. As each state looks to handle the future of college athletics in its own way, athletes are left to navigate the inconsistencies while some schools gain competitive advantages. Scalise says schools recognize this issue…
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Scalise says he’s been forming a growing coalition to fight this issue and that many members of congress agree this is uncharted territory that must be addressed. Scalise shared his hope to protect both students and the future of college athletics…
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The Independence Day holiday weekend means busy highways, and the state’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is underway. Greg Fischer, with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, says expect to see a big police presence this weekend…:
Each year, at peak holiday travel time, federal highway safety dollars flow to states (Louisiana included) to fund added police manpower; detecting impaired drivers and coping with crashes. Fischer says July 4th is among the worst holidays for DWI mishaps…:
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Fischer says sobriety checkpoints could be in place across the state. He says carries a fine of $1000 and up to six months behind bars. He advises guys to not be macho, if they’ve been drinking this weekend…:
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He says the same applies to women as well. “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” runs now through Wednesday night, July 5th.