This time of year means increased black bear encounters in areas of the state. Kevin Barnhart speaks with large carnivore program manager for LDWF Maria Davidson to find out why.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
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Bass fishing has been OK’d as a trial sport for the Louisiana High School Athletics Association. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Governor Edwards hosted the LSU freshman football players for dinner at the mansion, and shot a PSA for veterans with Saints QB Drew Brees, prompting opponents to say he’s politicizing Louisiana sports…
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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries are receiving calls that black bear spottings are on the rise in portions of Louisiana. Large carnivore program manager for LDWF Maria Davidson says several reasons contribute to the encounters, including mother bears forcing her young to scatter to start fending for themselves as she preps for another mating season.
In addition to the younger bears, Davidson says adult male bears are on the prowl as part of the mating season.
Cut 5 (08)“…their home range.”
Davidson says there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of encountering a bear around your home.
Cut 6 (11) “…of those things.”
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Bass fishing has been accepted by the Louisiana High School Athletics Association as a trial sport, with 173 schools in Louisiana telling the organization that they’d like to see fishing made official.
LHSAA Assistant Executive Director Adam MacDowell says prep-age fishing competition is already popular in the state, and this will give those kids a chance to use those skills while wearing school colors.
Students who represent their schools will still be allowed to participate in club level competition, unlike sports like football or basketball.
The sport won’t feature one on one competitions between rival schools, but four large regional tournaments in March, and a two-day state championship event April 3rd and 4th next year. MacDowell lays down the rules…
MacDowell says based on the initial, positive response from LHSAA schools, he expects the waters will be packed with students at the state tournaments next year.
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Governor Edwards has been making the rounds in the world of sports recently, hosting LSU freshmen football players at the mansion and filming a PSA with Drew Brees.
Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says in an election year, such public embrace of beloved sports heroes could be fodder for his Republican gubernatorial opponents.
The Brees PSA promotes the recently signed Veterans First Business Initiative, which offers assistance to veterans or their surviving families who are pursuing entrepreneurial dreams.
Pinsonat says typically Louisiana governors are hands off when it comes to LSU. Sure, they’ll root and cheer for the home team from a sweet suite, but it’s been nearly a century since we’ve seen a governor so publicly partner with the Tigers.
But it might not be cold politically calculus driving these decisions. Brees has a history of supporting veterans, and Pinsonat says Edwards and LSU coach Orgeron have a public friendship and openly support each other.
The LSU freshman got a tour of the mansion and dinner with the Governor and his wife.
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Craft beer brewers across the state are seeing a slump in business. While six breweries may have opened over the last year, five others have shut their doors. Executive director of Louisiana’s Craft Brewer’s Guild Cary Koch part of the reason for the plateau in the industry is antiquated state laws on the books.
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Koch says the increased competition from neighboring states is also a factor, saying many of those states have laws that have kept up with the changes in the industry.
Cut 14 (09) “…oldest craft breweries.”
In Louisiana, the three-tier system of having a brewer, distributor, and a retailer is cutting into the ability to stay afloat. Koch says of the outdated business models that brewers have to deal with is the lack of the ability to self-distribute product.