A record 119 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the year-end holidays. Sean Richardson has more.
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Civil rights groups are urging school districts across the state not to post the Ten Commandments starting January 1st. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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The Louisiana Department of Education’s upcoming Teacher Exit Data Report says fewer Louisiana teachers are leaving the profession. Colleen Crain has more.
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AAA expects a record number 119-million travelers over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. That’s 3 million more travelers than last year. Don Redman with Triple-A says with Christmas falling on a Wednesday, peak travel is expected the weekends before and after the holiday.
Nearly 90-percent of travelers will drive, drawn by the flexibility and affordability of road trips. Though gas prices are lower than last year, the total falls slightly short of 2019’s record. Redman says over 7-million passengers will fly, despite ticket prices being 4-percent higher domestically and 13-percent internationally. So, get there early.
Cut 5 (06) “…long security lines.”
Redman says if you’re planning on leaving Sunday, you’ll be in good company.
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Civil rights organizations are urging school districts not to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms starting January 1st as required by a new state law. Alanah Odoms, the executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana, says Judge John DeGravelles (de-GRAVEL) was very clear in his ruling that the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools is unconstitutional.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, however, ruled that DeGravelles’ injunction only applies to the five districts named in the lawsuit. The state has said it would defend any school district which gets sued over displaying the Ten Commandments. Odoms says the state is wasting taxpayer money in doing so.
Cut 8 (15) “…that it’s unconstitutional.”
Odoms is urging the state to follow its own advice until the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments on January 23rd.
Cut 9 (13) “…the school districts.”
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Fewer Louisiana teachers are leaving the profession. The Louisiana Department of Education’s upcoming Teacher Exit Data Report shows a two-percent drop in the number of teachers exiting their positions, with 13-percent leaving in 2023-2024 compared to 15-percent the previous year. LDOE Deputy Superintendent Jenna Chaisson (CHASS-on) says this marks the second consecutive year of decline.
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Chaisson emphasized the critical role teachers play in student success and the state’s commitment to supporting them. Initiatives include the “Let Teachers Teach” workgroup and stipends.
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Chassion says these efforts aim to recruit and retain quality educators while addressing shortages in critical areas with differentiated compensation for different jobs.
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Congress is now in an all-out game of Beat The Clock. If Congress does not reach a budget deal by midnight Eastern time tonight, the federal government will be shut down. New Orleans Democratic Congressman Troy Carter says he thought there was a bipartisan, bicameral deal – until one man who’s not even in Congress threw everything into turmoil.
But Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves says that’s not the complete story.
Carter says if there’s a shutdown, everyone from all walks of life will pay a dear price.
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Graves says the wrong people will be paying the price for a government shutdown.
Lawmakers worked well into the night last night and will work late again today, right up until midnight if necessary, to get a deal done. Graves says Congress is close to reaching one.
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Saints Coach Darren Rizzi has named rookie Spencer Rattler the starting quarterback for Monday’s game at Green Bay, but Rizzi is not closing the book on Derek Carr returning. Carr is trying to come back from a fractured non-throwing hand and reports of him missing the rest of the season are inaccurate…
Rizzi sounded more pessimistic about Alvin Kamara. The star running back left last Sunday’s game in the fourth quarter with a groin injury. Rizzi says at first they thought the injury was minor, but further imaging has shown the injury is worse than originally thought…
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U-L Lafayette athletics director Bryan Maggard has fired Bob Marlin in the middle of his 15th season. The Cajuns made it to the NCAA Tournament in 2023, but this season they are 3-and-9. In a statement, Maggard said a change is necessary. Host of the Locked on Sun Belt Podcast, Dave Schultz, says there’s been an exodus in talent in Lafayette and they haven’t been able to replace it…
Marlin was 269 and 198 during his time in Lafayette, but Schultz says fan interest in the program has declined…