LRN AM Newscall April 1

Legislation that would allow lawmakers to rewrite the state’s constitution has been filed. Teiko Foxx spoke with LaPolictics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford who explains the process.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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House Natural Resources approves a bill to raise fees on Louisiana processors and distributors who import foreign seafood. Colleen Crain reports the additional dollars will help fund a state program that tests imported seafood…

Cut 2 (32)  “I’m Colleen Crain.” 

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A 12-year-old with a rare form of terminal cancer’s visit to Mansfield, Louisiana last week was both memorable and heart-touching. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Louisiana could hold its first constitutional convention in half a century. Legislation defining the framework has been filed by New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu. LaPolictics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says it is not a done deal, as there are concerns about the timing of the convention…

Cut 4 (11) “…session early.”

Beaullieu proposes the convention begins May 20th and ends July 15th. That means the ongoing legislative session would have to end two weeks early and there are concerns about completing the work that needs to be done in the regular session.

Alford says Governor Landry and several state lawmakers are pushing for a constitutional convention so they can streamline the state’s constitution by moving certain items out and putting them into state law.

Cut 5 (13) “…for now.” 

The plan calls for 171 delegates to write the new constitution. That would consist of all 144 state lawmakers and Governor Jeff Landry would handpick the other 27 delegates.

Alford says private dollars would pay for the convention.

Cut 6 (12) “…find out.”

Louisiana voters would vote in November to approve a new constitution.

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A bill raising fees on processors and distributors importing seafood from foreign countries has passed the House Natural Resources Committee with unanimous support Bill sponsor, Houma Representative Jessica Domangue…

 Cut 7 (09) “…increase testing.”

The bill now heads to the full House for consideration.

Domangue, the daughter of a commercial fisherman, is concerned about the lack of resources to test foreign seafood for harmful contaminants. She says it’s important the state does supplemental testing because the feds do not do enough

Cut 8 (08) “…human health.” 

Domangue says the fees currently collected by the Louisiana Department of Health only partially fund needed screening. Her bill would increase the annual flat fee of $100 currently collected from processors and distributors of foreign seafood to 0.1% of their annual gross revenue.

Cut 9 (07)  “…functions.”

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A week from today a total solar eclipse will darken the skies for those lucky enough to be in the narrow band of land stretching from Texas to Maine. But LSU Planetary Astrophysicist Dr. Natalie Hinkel says the northwest corner of Louisiana will have the best view of the celestial marvel.

Cut 10 (09) “…the earth.”

For Louisiana, the eclipse will begin around 12:30, with the best view around 1:45, and it will end by 3:10.

If you can’t make it to the closest locations in Texas or Arkansas that will have a 100% view of the total eclipse, Hinkel says you’ll still want to step outside and check it out. But she warns you not to look directly at the sun unless you have specialized eyewear, not your average sunglasses.

Cut 11 (12) “…eclipse glasses.”

Doing so without appropriate eyewear can cause permanent damage to your retina.

Northwest Louisiana will have a 95% view of the total eclipse, followed by the Lake Charles and Alexandria areas at 90%, the Baton Rouge and Lafayette regions at 85%, and southeast Louisiana with an 80% view.

If you haven’t purchased your certified eclipse glasses yet, Hinkel suggests visiting Eclipse.aas.org.

Cut 12 (08) “…eclipse glasses.” 

You can also find a link and map at LouisianaRadioNetwork.com. The next solar eclipse for continental U.S. will be 2044.

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Mansfield, Louisiana Mayor Thomas Jones says he will never forget last week’s council meeting as the small town deputized 12-year-old Davarjaye “DJ” Daniel of Houston. It was the 821st time the young man with a rare form of terminal brain and spine cancer had been sworn in as an honorary officer. Jones says DJ is an inspiration.

Cut 13 (07)  “…help somebody.”

The reason DJ’s father, Theodis Daniel, chose Mansfield is that his family, who had been there since the early 1900s, left after his great-uncle was lynched. Jones says the visit was an emotional and significant one.

Cut 14 (05)  “…to know.”

Jones says meeting DJ and the magnitude of his family’s return to the small DeSoto Parish city, was better than any church service he’s ever attended.

Cut 15 (07)  “…days ahead.”

The city had a uniform and badge specially made for DJ whose goal is to be sworn in to as many law enforcement agencies as possible.

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LSU and Iowa meet again tonight, a rematch of last year’s national championship game won by the Lady Tigers. This time the setting is the Elite Eight, the winner advances to the Final Four. Both teams feature superstar players. Angel Reese for LSU and Caitlin Clark for Iowa. Some believe there’s a heated rivalry between the two, Reese says that’s not the case…

Cut 16 (16)  “…friends” 

Mulkey says she sees a lot of similarities between Reese and Clark…

Cut 17 (22) “…basketball before” 

Both teams do like the trash talk and some fans get offended. But Hailey Van Lith says the smack-talking has been good for the game and it’s malicious…

Cut 18 (20)  “…ever done.”