The new Louisiana Bass Trail is promoting north Louisiana’s world renowned bass fishing to kids. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
______________________________________
Student leaders from Louisiana universities went before the House budget committee to plead with lawmakers not to cut funding for the TOPS scholarship program. Jeff Palermo has more…
______________________________________
A report by the state Department of Children and Family Services finds the number of reported sex trafficking cases in Louisiana rose 25-percent last year. Emelie Gunn has more…
______________________________________
North Louisiana is known for its great locations for bass fishing, which is why the Lt. Governor’s office in partnership with the office of tourism and state parks has announced the launch of the Louisiana Bass Trail. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the trail includes 7 lakes at 8 state parks and he believes this will help attract recreational fishermen from all over.
Nungesser says this year is the 100th anniversary of the National Park System, and they want to use this as a chance to promote the great outdoors in the Bayou State. The Lt. Governor hopes the trail can also help get more kids involved in the outdoors and fishing. He says kids who embark on the Bass Trail will be given “bassports,” complete with information about all of the stops on the trail.
Nungesser says they will have prizes for winners who complete the trail, and they hope to add more stops in the future. He says kids can use an app on their phones to log their catches while enjoying the world class fishing Louisiana has to offer.
______________________________________
Governor John Bel Edwards says the state should not get involved in the city of New Orleans’ decision to remove confederate monuments. The city is attempting to hire a contractor to take down three Confederate statues and a monument that commemorates an attack by a white supremacists. Edwards was asked on his monthly call-in radio show and he says it’s not something they’ve focused on at the state level.
Louisianans from all corners of the state have voiced their opinions on social media. Groups like Take Em Down NOLA and others have hosted rallies celebrating the removal of the monuments, while others have fought to keep them in place. But Edwards says it isn’t the state’s place to get involved.
Cut 8 (09) “city of New Orleans”
Two different bills have been filed seeking to protect confederate monuments around the state. But Edwards says he hasn’t spoken to either author. He says this is an issue that was brought forward by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who wants to see the monuments removed.
_________________________________________________________
Student body leaders call on the state legislature to fully fund the TOPS scholarship program. Under the governor’s current budget proposal, TOPS is only funded at 70 percent. Northwestern State University student president John Pearce testified before the House Appropriations Committee and says he’s heard a lot of concerns from students.
Cut 10 (07) “extremely worried”
This year TOPS students had to pay over half of their spring tuition for the first time ever. Pearce says they are disappointed lawmakers are breaking their promise to help cover their tuition costs. He says TOPS was a great way to keep students in Louisiana, and he’s worried as that money dissipates, so will the students.
Southeastern Louisiana University student president Erin Fernandez says students at her school are also worried. She says with all the uncertainty surrounding the state budget, it’s hard for students and parents to plan, which is leading them to look for other options.
__________________________________________________
Sex trafficking cases reported in Louisiana rose by 25-percent last year. That’s according to a report by the state Department of Children and Family Services. Child Welfare Consultant Walter Fahr says of that number 45-percent of those victims were juvenile. He says the highest number of human trafficking reports came from Orleans and Caddo Parishes.
The report identified 447 victims statewide. Fahr says the report is beneficial because it helps to determine sex trafficking hot spots. He says the primary reason for the 25-percent increase is the state is doing a better job of identifying victims.
Fahr says there is a chance that the number of sex trafficking victims is on the rise given the easy access of online solicitation. But he says authorities are also getting better at tracking down pimps and helping victims recover and move on with their lives.