7:30 LRN Newscast January 8

Governor John Bel Edwards has made giving teachers a pay raise of at 1,000 dollars the cornerstone issue of his 2019 legislative agenda, but questions remain as to how the state will pay for the roughly 135-million dollar proposal. Edwards says he plans to pay for the raise with increased revenue from an improving economy.
Cut 10 (09) “…doing better.”
But House Republican leadership is reluctant to recognize the increased revenues.

Alabama took a pounding in last night’s national championship game losing to Clemson in Santa Clara, California. Next year the game will be in New Orleans and Chief Operating Officer of the Sugar Bowl Jeff Hundley says they’ll have plenty of events leading up to the big game…
cut 15 (09) “….fans to do”
The national title game is expected to bring a 300-million dollar economic impact to the New Orleans region.

Congressman Cedric Richmond says he believes President Trump has committed impeachable offenses, but is waiting for the final results from the Mueller probe before taking action.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Hixson Brothers Funeral Home will handle the funeral services for the five children in Marksville who were killed in a multi-vehicle crash in Florida last week. Vice president of Hixson Brothers Funeral Homes Joel Swisher says the families of the victims are paying for the funerals, but if the public wants to help with additional expenses like medical and travel costs, they can make donations at stepscenla.org.