Louisiana’s education comeback continues with another increase in a national ranking. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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Could US Representative Julia Letlow run for U-S Senate next year? Jeff Palermo reports President Trump and Governor Landry have reportedly discussed it…
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The House Appropriations Committee approves a budget for next fiscal year that keeps teacher salaries at their current level. There’s been a concern that a two-thousand dollar stipend that teachers have received the last couple of school years would go away, but House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland announced today they have moved money around to make sure teachers do not see a drop in pay…
Cut 3 (10) “…charter school systems.”
The two-thousand dollar stipend for teachers and one-thousand dollars for school support workers costs the state nearly 200-million dollars. The teacher stipend money was not included in the governor’s proposed budget. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says the committee amended the budget proposal so teachers will not receive a pay cut.
Cut 4 (12) “…support staff”
The House Appropriations Committee found money to pay for the teachers stipend by blocking 91-million dollars in funding for new vehicle and heavy equipment purchases for state agencies. The panel also cut 26-million dollars in benefits for ineligible Medicaid recipients. Louisiana has also saved 20-million dollars because of a hiring freeze and the state has also paid down debt early, saving 25-million dollars in interest.
New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes says the budget bill heading to the House floor is balanced and contains no new taxes
Cut 5 (06) “…pledged to do.”
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Louisiana continues moving up the national rankings in education. U.S. News and World Report now ranks Louisiana 37th in K-through-12 education – that’s up from number 40 last year and 46 two years ago. Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley says there are two main catalysts behind the increase in ranking.
Cut 6 (08) “…additional support.”
Dr. Brumley says while innovation in education is important, this is a time when going back to the basics is what the state needs right now.
Cut 7 (11) “…little extra help.”
Brumley says while the state can certainly be proud of moving up nine notches in the education ranking by U.S. News and World Report, the number-37 ranking means that the job is nowhere close to being done yet.
Cut 8 (07) “…left to do.”
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The Derek Carr era in New Orleans, as brief as it was, is over. The Saints quarterback announced his retirement over the weekend, saying his right shoulder developed a degenerative condition that will prevent him from continuing his NFL career. Luke Jackson, who covers the Saints for NOLA-dot-com and The Advocate, says it’s a crushing blow for Carr.
Cut 9 (12) “…it a career.”
Carr’s retirement leaves a trio of youngsters in the Saints’ quarterback room – Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough (“shuck”). Shough is a rookie, and Haener and Rattler have a combined total of zero wins as starting quarterback. Jackson says the quarterback competition is on.
Cut 10 (08) “…leg up already.”
The Saints have taken a quarterback in the last two drafts – Rattler in the fifth round last year and Shough in the second round this year. Jackson says depending on what happens this season, they may do so again next year.
Cut 11 (08) “…next year’s draft.”
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The Associated Press is reporting that President Trump and Governor Jeff Landry have discussed Congresswoman Julia Letlow challenging Senator Bill Cassidy in next year’s Republican primary. Cassidy is seeking a third term, but ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says Cassidy’s vote in 2021 to convict Trump in his impeachment trial still has many Republicans upset…
Cut 12 (11) “…for this state.”
A spokesperson for the Cassidy Senate campaign says Senator Cassidy delivers conservative results for the people of Louisiana and he works hard to support the President’s agenda.
Letlow has served in the U-S House Representatives since 2021 and already has a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee. She’s well respected among the Louisiana Congressional delegation and Republicans. But Stockley says it’s not easy to defeat an incumbent U-S Senator…
Cut 13 (11) “…chooses to do.”
Cassidy is already well-funded. Last month, Louisiana’s senior senator announced he has seven-point-five million dollars in campaign donations.
Stockley says he’s not surprised President Trump is getting involved in Louisiana’s 2026 U.S. Senate race, especially considering Cassidy voted to convict Trump in 2021. And Cassidy had concerns about the President’s pick for U-S Health Secretary, before eventually voting to confirm Robert F Kennedy…
Cut 14 (14) “…to him.”
Cassidy is already facing one well-known challenger, former Congressman and now State Treasurer John Fleming.