With Louisiana teachers now making nearly $2k less than their regional peers, Governor Edwards’ office is working toward pay raises that would see educators hitting the southern regional average. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (26) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
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Could we see a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico this week? Don Molino has more on that…
A disorganized area of thunderstorms in the northwest Caribbean Sea is grabbing the attention of forecasters. Seth Warthen, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says the chances of development of anything major are low.
Warthen says the system is expected to move over the Yucatan Peninsula into the Western Gulf.
Cut 4 (10) “…to get developed.”
Warthen says once the storm moves north, the risk for a major impact in Louisiana is fairly low.
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Governor John Bel Edwards has plans to recommend a raise of at least a grand for public school teachers, the first substantial raise in about a decade. The plan would also see cafeteria workers and other personel get a pay best of $500 annually. The governor’s education policy advisor Donald Songy says the message from Edwards to the teachers is clear.
Cut 6 (06) “…southern regional average.”
Songy says the timeline for getting the pay raises put into effect will start with getting the ball rolling during the next legislative session, which starts in April.
Cut 7 (05) “…2020 school year.”
Songy believes the state can afford it, thanks to a strengthening economy…
Cut 8 (06) “…the additional revenue.”
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An Alexandria woman faces second-degree murder in the death of her husband in front of their three children Saturday in the parking lot of a Walmart. Alexandria Police say 31-year-old Kayla Coutee shot her 30-year-old estranged husband, Thomas Coutee. Corporal Wade Bourgeois…
Bourgeois says there were a lot of posts on social media questioning the second-degree murder charge. But Bourgeois says under Louisiana law, planning a murder doesn’t result in a first-degree murder charge.
The 2-year-old child of the Coutee’s wasn’t the only kid present at the shooting. Bourgeois says two other children, who were unrelated to the victim, were in Mrs. Coutee’s car at the time.
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Drivers on I-12 West between Hammond and Walker got a nasty surprise today as the road was littered with nails, leading to over a dozen flats for commuters. Authorities aren’t sure if this was intentional, or just a case of bad luck, but either way State Police Spokesperson Trooper Bryan Lee says it sure did cause a lot trouble for quite a few drivers.
The department of transportation was on scene to pick up any nails that hadn’t already found their way into your brand new Goodyear’s. Lee says it’s not too uncommon, and as such there’s a special vehicle ready to go when the nails hit the road.
Troopers are trying to narrow down just where this may have happened, And Lee says…
I-12 West is now open to public.