LSU’s senior associate athletic director Sharon Lewis tells the USA Today she’s filing multiple lawsuits against her current employer over mistreatment for trying to stop sexual harassment. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (36) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

In a letter to the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children LSU coach Ed Orgeron says he did speak on the phone with a man in December 2017 who told him a woman that former player Derrius Guice had “disrespected” wanted Guice not to play in the upcoming Citrus Bowl.

The American Rescue Plan does not contain student loan forgiveness, but it does allow temporary relief of taxes on student loans that are forgiven through 2025. Loan Expert with Student Loan Hero, Rebecca Safier says if the proposed student loan forgiveness of $10,000 passes, 35-percent of borrowers in Louisiana would have their debt eliminated. Safier says since the pandemic, student loan forgiveness has gained traction.

Cut 11 (04) “…and see”

A teacher’s union is filing a lawsuit against the Caddo Parish school board claiming its attendance bonus for educators is discriminatory. Red River United Vice President Jordan Thomas says the bonus is for full-time employees who were present for 90-percent of the current school year but discriminates against teachers that took maternity leave and…

Cut 12 (09)   “…allow them.” 

Several attempts to reach the Caddo Parish School System for comment were unsuccessful.

LSU’s associate athletic director of football recruiting, Sharon Lewis, tells USA Today she will file several lawsuits against the school, claiming she was mistreated for trying to stop sexual harassment. The Husch Blackwell report resulted in two athletic officials receiving a multi-week suspension. But Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says Lewis’s detailed allegations in USA Today of how she’s been mistreated over the last several years could lead to further discipline…

Cut 5  (08)  “…incompetent B.”

Over two million total doses of COVID vaccine have been administered in Louisiana with over 800,000 people having completed their vaccine series.

With the mass vaccination campaign in full swing State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says they’re launching a COVID vaccine hotline to help residents get connected with local providers.

Cut 13 (02) “…this week”

Based on research by the LSU Manship School Statehouse Bureau 7,800 Louisiana voters have left the Republican Party since the January 6^th attack on the US Capitol. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it’s an interesting phenomenon, but not one that will likely have any short-term electoral impacts on statewide Republican dominance.

Cut 8 (08) “..earlier”

Hogan also says registered Democrats have dropped 12-percent over the last decade.

While the American Rescue Plan does not contain student loan forgiveness it does allow temporary relief of taxes on student loans that are forgiven through 2025. Student Loan Hero, Loan Expert Rebecca Safier says this also applies to forgiveness on an income-driven repayment plan.

Cut 10 (10) “….tax bill.” 

LSU’s associate athletic director of football recruiting, Sharon Lewis, tells USA Today she will file several lawsuits against the school, claiming she was mistreated for trying to stop sexual harassment. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the allegations are explosive, including the details of an argument Lewis had with former football coach Les Miles.

Cut 3 (09)  “…M-fing face.” (2x)  

Lewis says the argument was over Miles’s alleged desire to have blond women or light-skinned black women on the recruiting staff that he considered prettier.

The LSU Manship School Statehouse Bureau says 7,800 Louisiana voters have left the Republican Party since the January 6^th attack on the US Capitol. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says this tracks with nationwide stats show roughly 100,000 Republicans have unregistered.

Cut 6 (09) “…registration”

More than 800,000 Louisianans have completed their vaccine series. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says this equates to just over 18 percent of the state’s population and those folks have a near-perfect but not guaranteed level of protection. That’s why we need herd immunity.

Cut 12 (10) “…lower.”

Herd immunity is thought to be 70 percent.

Willis-Knighton is one of 120 sites nationwide that will participate in a clinical trial for Regeneron’s COVID treatment.  Children’s Health Services Director Dr. Joseph Bocchini says even with estimates that with the current vaccination rate we could hit herd immunity by late summer, he says there will still be a need for COVID treatments.

Cut 16 (10) “…cases.”

126 “breakthrough” cases of fully vaccinated people getting COVID in Louisiana have been recorded.

Of the 834,000 Louisianans who’ve completed their vaccine series, only 126 have tested positive for COVID-19 so far. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

Baton Rouge contractor Kelly Sills was arrested at Disney World in Orlando in February for trespassing after he refused to have his temperature checked.  The Orange County Sheriff’s Office Sills says told officers he couldn’t be trespassing because he paid $15,000 to be there.  Sills, of Coastal Bridge, made headlines earlier this year over alleged failure to pay employees health insurance premiums.

The Legislative Auditor says 98 thousand indelible people received more than 405 million dollars in unemployment benefits in Louisiana from March of 2020 to the end of the year. Auditor Chris Magee says filings rose more than two-hundred thousand percent from pre-pandemic levels which led to errors…

Cut 4 (11) “…improper payments.” 

LWC will ask for repayment or it will be added to tax returns.

In a poll of 781 Louisiana adults, roughly half of the state’s residents approve of Louisiana’s response to the pandemic. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson says the 2021 Louisiana survey shows a divide among party lines.

Cut 12 (11)   “…handled it.” 

Legislation is filed that would ban K-12 schools from teaching “Divisive Concepts” one of which being that the United States or the State of Louisiana is institutionally or systemically racist. House Education Chairman Ray Garofalo says the bill would ensure a traditional classroom environment that deters discrimination.

Cut 6 (07) “…origin”

126 Louisianans have tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated, good for only .02 percent of all Louisianans who are fully vaccinated. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter this is just proof of the effectiveness of vaccines, and a message that should be shared with those still on the fence…

Cut 11 (12) “…as well”

A Legislative Auditor’s report finds that approximately 98-thousand individuals received $405 million of ineligible unemployment. Auditor Chris Magee says once the LWC determines if the error is administrative or fraud, they will enter into repayment agreements with those individuals. And if they fail to pay…

Cut 5  (09)  “…federal taxes.”

The ineligible payments were made on filings from March 28 to December 31 of last year.

Roughly half of the state’s residents approve of Louisiana’s response to the pandemic. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson says the 2021 Louisiana survey shows a divide among party lines and part of that was the state’s handling of the fall and spring elections. He says 75-percent of respondents supported the extra days for early voting.

Cut 13 (08)“…main in vote”

Of the 834,000 Louisianans who’ve completed their vaccine series, only 126 have tested positive for COVID-19 so far. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

More than 2-million vaccine doses have now been administered in Louisiana. The department of health reports 1,259 new cases of COVID-19 in the state. Those numbers reflect Good Friday and the weekend update of numbers. The state also says less than 300 are hospitalized with COVID and report 4 new fatalities.

A Legislative Auditor’s report finds that approximately 98-thousand individuals received $405 million in unemployment benefits and it appears they were not eligible in Louisiana from the end of March until the end of 2020. Auditor Chris Magee says the Workforce Commission reported benefit filings rose more than two-hundred thousand percent from pre-pandemic levels which led to the oversite.

Cut 4 (11) “…improper payments.” 

In a poll of 781 Louisiana adults, roughly half of the state’s residents approve of Louisiana’s response to the pandemic. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson says the 2021 Louisiana survey shows a divide among party lines.

Cut 12 (11)   “…handled it.” 

A Legislative Auditor’s report finds that approximately 98-thousand individuals received $405 million in unemployment benefits and it appears they were not eligible in Louisiana from the end of March until the end of 2020.  Auditor Chris Magee says they found the error by using the program Wage Data.

Cut 3 (12)  “…benefits.”  

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says filings rose more than two-hundred thousand percent from pre-pandemic levels which led to a backlog of paperwork and oversite.

56-percent of parents of school-age children think their child learned less over the past year according to the 2021 Louisiana Survey. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson…

Cut 7 (08)  “…as much.”

The 2021 legislative session begins next week there’s a bill that seeks to raise the state’s gasoline tax by ten cents and then increase the fuel tax by two cents every other year. Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Freiberg the tax can pay for a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles, a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, and widening I-20 in Monroe…

Cut 14 (10) “…infrastructure.”

But there’s not much support for raising the gasoline tax.

Legislation has been filed that would allow anyone 21 and older to carry a concealed handgun on their person without needing a permit. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says the bill is like the one filed in the House by Oil City Representative Danny McCormick, the big difference being McCormick’s bill sets the age limit at 18 instead of 21.

Cut 11 (09) “…passed.”

56- percent of parents of school-age children think their child learned less over the past year and despite that 77-percent do not blame the school system, that’s according to the 2021 Louisiana Survey. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson says responses in Louisiana mirror national data.

Cut 9 (09) “…for that.”

Some lawmakers are looking at the three-point-two billion dollars the state is receiving from the federal American Rescue Act to pay for better roads. But Governor Edwards says replenishing the state’s empty unemployment trust fund is his top priority…

Cut 4 (07)“…fund.”

Edwards says if we don’t replenish the fund by September the automatic employer tax increases will hamper our economic recovery
There will be a bill heard in the upcoming legislative session that seeks to increase the state’s gasoline tax to improve roads and bridges. Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Freiberg is proposing an increase the state’s gasoline tax by ten cents and then it would increase by two cents every other year until 2033. Freiberg says electric and hybrid vehicle owners would also pay annual fees…

Cut 15 (06)“…the cost.”

The bill is expected to face stiff opposition.

And a bill has been filed that would allow anyone 21 and older to carry a concealed handgun on their person without needing a permit. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says passing this legislation would make Louisiana the 19^th state to adopt a “Constitutional Carry” law.

Cut 10 (09) “…dangerous.”

Opponents say a concealed carry permit requires classes that teaches vital safety lessons.

Oil City Representative Danny McCormick introduces legislation that will make employers civilly liable if they force an employee to take a vaccine and that employee suffers health impacts. It also holds companies liable if they force you to be vaccinated to use their services, for example, to fly on a plane or buy groceries, and you get sick…

Cut 10 (10) “….with them.” 

A CDC real-world study shows those who get vaccinated are highly unlikely to carry and transmit COVID. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says 4,000 first responders and medical professionals were tracked after receiving two doses of either Pfizer or Moderna, and the results showed a 90 percent reduction in the chances of you getting infected.

Cut 5  (08)  “…things.”

The LSU Vet School receives an 11-million-dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health to establish a new cancer research facility. LSU Professor Rhonda Cardin wrote the grant application and says the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence will produce 3D cancer cells that will mirror the kinds you find inside cancer victims.

Cut 14 (09) “…development.” 

The center will support cancer research projects at both LSU and Southern University.

AccuWeather predicts 16 to 20 named storms and 7 to 10 hurricanes next hurricane season. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this season is shaping up like three other previous seasons… 1996, 2001, and 2012. Referred to as analog years.

Cut 8 (08) “…happens.”

A CDC real-world study of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines shows they reduce the risk of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infection by 90 percent once you complete your series. The key finding confirms that people who’ve been fully vaccinated are highly unlikely to get sick or even spread COVID-19. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter…

Cut 3 (09)  “…Louisiana.”  

The LSU Vet School receives an 11-million-dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health to establish a new cancer research facility. LSU Professor Rhonda Cardin wrote the grant application and says the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence, is a major step forward for the university.

Cut 12 (07)   “…before.” 

The center will support cancer research projects at both LSU and Southern University.

The 2021 hurricane forecast from AccuWeather predicts another above-average season for tropical activity in the Atlantic. Taylor Sharp has more.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Taylor Sharp.”  

The Senate Select Committee on Women and Children have asked LSU athletic director Scott Woodward, football coach Ed Orgeron, executive deputy AD Verge Ausberry, Senior Associate AD Miriam Segar and some current and former Board of Supervisors members to their Thursday meeting to discuss the previous mishandling of sexual misconduct cases. No word if Coach O will attend.