After hitting the Southern regional average for teacher’s salaries back in 2007, Louisiana has fallen behind. Kelley Ray has more…
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A Tangipahoa school board member is under fire after he shared a photo of a noose on Facebook. Jim Shannon has the story…
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US Presidents pardon turkeys on Thanksgiving, Louisiana pardons a crawfish early in the crawfish season. Emile the crawfish will be allowed to live his life out peacefully thanks to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser who picked “Emile” to be pardoned for their “annual pardoning of the crawfish”…
Several were in attendance at the old U.S. Mint in New Orleans to witness the proclamation, including representatives from the the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. Nungesser says not everyone understands the event. During a visit to the White House, he tried to explain it to Vice President Mike Pence…
Cut 4 (11) “for Thanksgiving.”
This unique event celebrates the crawfish season which is underway. Nungesser says the price might be high now, but it will come down soon…
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Teacher salaries reached the Southern regional average in 2007, but Louisiana has fallen behind, as educators receive on average 17-hundred dollars less. And with a one-billion-dollar shortfall, it’s unlikely extra money will go towards the 47-thousand public school teachers. Legislative Director for the Louisiana Federation of Teachers Cynthia Posey says the pay is leading to fewer teachers…
Posey says teachers are in the profession to changes lives. She says even though it isn’t all about the money, they have bills to pay and families to take care of…
Posey hopes lawmakers can stabilize the budget in the ongoing special session, so more money can be available for teachers…
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Tangipahoa Parish School Board member Mike Whitlow is facing heavy backlash for posting a picture of a noose on his public Facebook page. The picture had the caption: “If we want to make America great again, we will have to make evil people fear punishment again.” Tangipahoa Parish council member Louis Joseph says it was a bad idea.
Joseph says that kind of behavior is unacceptable for someone in a position of authority.
Cut 10 (05) “is reprehensible.”
Whitlow says the post was not racially motivated, and was only inspired by an article he read that called for stiffer prison sentences for violent offenders. He says he’s taken the appropriate steps to remedy the situation.
Whitlow says negative reactions to his post are misplaced, and has no intention of stepping down.
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Attorney General Jeff Landry and Governor John Bel Edwards have agreed to coordinate efforts to bring litigation against opioid manufacturers, who they feel are responsible for the epidemic that’s claiming hundreds lives every year. The A-G’s Chief Deputy Bill Stiles says the state seeks damages for costs incurred within the Medicaid program.
Cut 13 (10) “these prescriptions”
Stiles hopes to expand the scope of the lawsuit into all state services effected, including corrections and family services.
Stiles says the suit is in the interest of all Louisianans, as the opioid epidemic is a problem that cuts across racial and class lines.
Stiles is optimistic that the suit will be successful in attacking the root of the epidemic, and help the state recoup the heavy cost of opioid addiction.
The lawsuit is the result of an 18 month multi state investigation involving 42 other attorney generals.