People with disabilities can save money without losing their benefits, thanks to a new program from the State Treasurer’s Office and the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance. Don Molino has more…
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Governor John Bel Edwards has signed a bill into law requiring driver’s education courses to teach students how to act during a traffic stop. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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Miscues cost the Tigers as the Florida Gators snatch a national championship away from LSU. Jeff Palermo has a recap of last night’s baseball game….
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The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance and the State Treasurer’s Office launch a new savings program to help people with disabilities. Tyana Dequana with LOSFA says the LA ABLE program enables people with disabilities to put money aside for future expenses.
Dequana says people can save up to $14,000 a year without losing those benefits. But once the account reaches $100,000, social security payments would end until the amount goes back under that threshold. She says this comes as a relief to many with disabilities who will finally be able to do something to help themselves for the future.
Dequana says this will be a vital program especially for families with young disabled children with medical expenses. She says this gives families a chance to have a savings account so these kids can have the same opportunities as every other child.
For more information visit able.ofsa.la.gov.
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Governor John Bel Edwards signs into law measures aimed at keeping both motorists and police officers safe during a traffic stop. One of the new laws set to go into effect August 1 is by Plaquemine Representative Chad Brown and it requires driver’s education courses to teach soon to be drivers about what to do during a traffic stop because every situation is unique.
Cut 7 (10) “officer’s directions”
The governor also signed into law Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti’s legislation, which is similar to the House bill. Brown believes the training can reduce the risk of a routine traffic stop becoming violent, if everyone knows how to respond. He says while police officers receive training on how to conduct the stops, it’s important for us as citizens to react appropriately as well.
The Office of Motor Vehicles will provide the course material from the Louisiana Commission of Law Enforcement. Brown says many motorists become anxious during traffic stops, and so are the officers.
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Governor John Bel Edwards vetoes a bill to provide freedom of expression on college campuses. In his veto message, Edwards said the legislation by Alexandria Representative Lance Harris was a solution in search of a problem. But Harris says freedom of speech is under siege on many college campuses around the country.
The bill would have created a protocol for Louisiana universities to handle controversial speakers on campus. It came in response to University of California Berkley officials cancelling a scheduled appearance by conservative political commentator Ann Coulter. The Republican legislator said he was attempting to protect free expression and freedom of speech on college campuses.
Harris says he’s surprised by the veto because the administration did not express concerns as the bill moved through the process. Harris has been a vocal opponent to many of the governor’s proposals, and he hopes the veto wasn’t politically motivated. He believes this was an important bill that should have been signed into law.
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Jimmy D. Long Sr. School of Math, Science, and the Arts is the new official name of the Natchitoches high school, as the governor signed the bill adding the name of the late state lawmaker to the school’s title. Delhi Senator Francis Thompson authored the legislation. He says it’s not a big change, but it’s an important change.
Thompson says they didn’t want to do anything that would impact the funding and operation of the school or its students. That’s why for all practical purposes, the school will go by its original name of the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts.
Thompson says there will be no expense associated with the name change. The board that oversees the school will decide how and when to make the transition. Long is one of LSMSA’s founding fathers and Thompson says he’s glad this simple act will honor Long’s legacy.
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Tough ending to a great season for the LSU baseball team as they lost 6-1 to the Florida Gators, who swept the Bayou Bengals in the CWS finals to win their first national championship. The Tigers trailed the whole game, but had chances to take the lead in the 7th and 8th innings, but shortstop LSU Kramer Robertson says it didn’t work in their favor…
It appeared LSU tied the game at two in the 7th inning, but a runner’s interference call took a run off the board. The umpire ruled Jake Slaughter slid directly into the shortstop covering second base on a double play instead of into the bag. Josh Smith, who scored on the play, had to return to third base because of the interference call. Here’s how Coach Paul Mainieri saw it…
Mainieri was emotional at the start of the postgame press conference. He talked about how last summer affected him as Baton Rouge suffered through riots, police shootings and deadly flooding. He wanted to accomplish something good…
The loss ends the LSU playing careers for several great Tigers like Jared Poche, Alex Lange, Greg Deichmann, Cole Freeman and Kramer Robertson. Robertson says he has no regrets…