The Louisiana House has sent a 47-billion dollar spending plan to the Senate. Jeff Palermo reports the budget proposal includes 166-million dollars to provide bonus pay for teachers…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 
Cardell Hayes has been sentenced again to 25 years in the fatal shooting of ex Saints star Will Smith. Hayes was originally convicted of manslaughter in December of 2016 but the jury vote was 10-2. When non unanimous jury verdicts were ruled unconstitutional two years later, Hayes was granted a new trial. He was convicted again in January of this year.

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A new Jimmie Davis Bridge over the Red River is coming to Bossier and Caddo Parishes. DOTD held a Kick-off meeting for the community last night at Barksdale Baptist Church to provide information and answer questions. Public Information Officer Erin Buchanan explains what will replace the 60 year old 2-lane bridge…

Cut 7 (10) “…every day”

A couple of big Louisiana Festivals this weekend including one that has a $300 million dollar impact on New Orleans. Just for perspective, Jazz Fest has a bigger effect there than the Super Bowl does. And in Lafayette, Festival International means a $49 million dollar impact. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser

Cut 5 (12) “…footprint.” 

The Louisiana House approved a budget for the next fiscal year that contains 166 million dollars in bonus pay for teachers. According to House leaders that equals a stipend of about 17-hundred dollars, but Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland says it will vary…

Cut 10 (09) “…districts need.”
Meanwhile lawmakers are also committed to spending 3-point-5 million dollars so the state can receive 70-million dollars in federal aid that low-income families can use to help pay for lunches when kids are out of school. Apparently, some DCFS officials are concerned it might too late to participate in the summer EBT program, but McFarland doesn’t agree.

Cut 11 (11) “…feeding program.”
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As expected the Washington Commanders selected former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick in last night’s NFL draft. Daniels joins a franchise that has not had a winning season since 2016 and he plans to make the Commanders a winning organization

Cut 13 (11)  “…some fun.”
A few selections later former LSU wide Malik Nabers of Youngsville went to the New York Giants with the sixth overall pick.

It’s a huge festival weekend in Louisiana with Festival International and Jazz Fest. Both attract visitors from all over the world and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says it’s not only Lafayette and New Orleans that feel the benefits.

Cut 4 (13) “…over Louisiana.”

The Federal Trade Commission says no more noncompete agreements that prevent employees from leaving their jobs for other companies or starting businesses of their own. Here’s Colleen Crain…

Cut 2 (33)  “I’m Colleen Crain.” 

Governor Jeff Landry’s former campaign manager is the new head of the Louisiana Republican Party. A graduate of the U-S Naval Academy, Cory Dennis is excited about the job.

Cut 13 (12)  “…second home to me.”

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In addition to cutting a stipend for Louisiana teachers, early childhood education in Louisiana would lose 24 million dollars in funding under the budget proposal approved by House Appropriations. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says 24-million dollars means about 2-thousand fewer children going to pre-k.

Cut 12 (10) “…with funding.” 

Legislation to provide protections for in vitro fertilization clinics in Louisiana advances favorably from House Civil Law and will go before the full House next week. Bill author, Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis says her bill only affects IVF and does not impact the state’s abortion ban.

Cut 5 (12) “…statutes are.” 

A bill to protect IVF clinics so what happened in Alabama doesn’t happen in Louisiana advances to the House. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
Louisiana public school teachers would see a pay cut under the budget proposal approved by House Appropriations. But Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Freiberg does not want to see teachers lose money.

Cut 10 (07) “…salary.”

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The Louisiana Republican Party has a new executive director. The former manager for Jeff Landry’s Gubernatorial Campaign has been appointed to the position. A graduate of the US Naval Academy, Dennis is a black republican, but says he doesn’t think that factored into the decision to hire him.

Cut 15 (13)  “…those endeavors.”

Non-compete agreements in the workplace will soon be a thing of the past. The Federal Trade Commission made the decision to ban them yesterday. UNO Business Professor mark Rosa says the move is a positive thing for those who want to move on, but there may need to be limits to protect businesses.
Cut 8 (08) “…carve out.” 

Companies will no longer be able to tell employees that they cannot go to work for a competitor as the Federal Trade Commission votes to ban noncompete agreements on Tuesday.  UNO Business Professor Mark Rosa says on one hand, it’s appropriate for the free market to figure it out but there could be unintended consequences…

Cut 7 (10) “…that employer.”

Louisiana public school teachers would lose money  under the budget proposal approved by House Appropriations. The spending plan would reduce a two-thousand-dollar stipend teachers get now on top of their regular salary. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes says there’s time during the budget process to find money for the stipend.

Cut 11 (12) “…through the process.”

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Legislation to provide protections for in vitro fertilization clinics in Louisiana advances favorably from House Civil Law and will go before the full House next week. Bill author, Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis says after a Supreme Court ruling in Alabama caused IVF clinics to close, she wanted to keep that from happening here.

Cut 4 (11) “…not liable.”

A graduate of the U-S Naval Academy and the former campaign manager for Jeff Landry’s gubernatorial campaign is the new executive director of the Louisiana Republican Party. Maryland native Cory Dennis says the goal is to build on the party’s recent successes…

Cut 14 (05)  “…growing.”

Phase One of Entergy’s one point two-billion-dollar Grid Resilience Plan gets the green light from the Public Service Commission. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

A Springfield man was sentenced to 50 years in prison and physical castration yesterday…after pleading guilty to the repeated rape of a 14 year old girl. DA Scott Perrilloux’s Office said 54 year old Glenn Sullivan Senior pleaded guilty to four counts of second degree rape after DNA proved that Sullivan was the father of the teenager’s baby.

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More than half of all Louisiana residents have experienced physical violence in their lifetime. And the emotional cost is particularly high for children. Aaccording to a Necome Institute Study at Tulane 22 percent of children in Louisiana who’ve witnessed their mother or primary caregiver be a victim of domestic violence are more likely to be involved in a similar relationship in adulthood.

Cut 6 (12) “…on the kids.”

After 46 years in prison for the murders he committed at the age of 16, 63-year-old Warren Harris Junior has been granted parole. Jerrie Ledoux, who was also appointed by Governor Jeff Landry, told Harris she read the 200 pages of his file several times and while some things in his write-up still concerned her, she voted in favor of his parole.

Cut 12 (08) “…grant parole.” 

The Louisiana Parole Project argued that Harris’ drug addiction as a teen was the cause of his erratic behavior.

Domestic violence always takes an emotional and psychological toll. But according to a Necome Institute Study at Tulane, the financial cost in Louisiana is also staggering…10.1 billion dollars in 2022 alone. That includes medical expenses, lost productivity and criminal justice spending. But study co-author Antia Raj says Louisiana still offers no prevention services.

Cut 5 (12) “…that effort.” 
After 46 years in prison for the murders of three gay men in New Orleans, 63-year-old Warren Harris Junior has been granted parole. Harris was just 16 in 1977 when he was convicted on three counts of first-degree murder and a law passed in 2017 made parole possible because he was a juvenile. Former Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator voted against Harris’ release

Cut 11 (06) “…to deny.”
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A bill expected to generate a lot of debate in the final weeks of the regular session is a measure that seeks to restrict what kind of information can be released under the state’s public records law. Governor Jeff Landry is seeking to keep out of public view many emails or documents that result in public policy being formed…

Cut 13 (13)  “…we’re talking about.”
The Public Service Commission has approved Entergy’s 5-year grid resilience plan that includes 21-hundred projects to fortify structures to prevent or shorten storm-related power outages. Entergy President Phillip May on how they formulated their plan.

Cut 8 (10) “…in the future.” 

After being convicted 46-years ago for killing three gay men in New Orleans, at the age of 16, Warren Harris, Junior is granted parole. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31)  “I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Washington Parish Sheriff’s officials have captured a kidnapping suspect wanted in an incident yesterday.   Local and state authorities arrested James Ballard in Bogue Chitto State Park after finding him lying in a ditch.  We’re told the woman Ballard allegedly kidnapped managed to fight him off and call 9-1-1.

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When it comes to domestic violence, there’s always an emotional and psychological toll, but there’s also a financial cost. According to a Newcomb Institute study at Tulane University, in 2022 the price was a staggering $10.1 billion in Louisiana. Study co-author Antia Raj…

Cut 4 (12) “…our state.”

A bill expected to generate a lot of debate in the final weeks of the regular session is a measure that seeks to restrict what kind of information can be released under the state’s public records law. Turkey Creek Senator Heather Cloud is the author of the legislation that attempts to make changes to the state’s public records law

Cut 15 (09)  “…mislead the public”

The Public Service Commission has approved Entergy’s 5-year grid resilience plan that includes 21-hundred projects to fortify structures that will help avoid storm-related power outages or shorten their duration. The project is expected to cost 1.2 billion dollars but Entergy President Phillip May says the benefits far outweigh the cost…

Cut 7 (12) “…over time.”

After 46 years in prison for the murders of three gay men in New Orleans, at the age of 16, 63-year-old Warren Harris Junior has been granted parole. Because he committed crimes as a teen, a state law passed in 2017, allowed juvenile lifers parole eligibility after 25 years. Harris apologized for his crimes.

Cut 10 (11) “…years ago.”

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Governor Jeff Landry makes his case on why the state needs to reduce some of the information available under the state’s public records law. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

It will be a Top 20 battle tonight in Lafayette as the 19th ranked Cajuns softball team hosts seventh ranked LSU. Since losing to LSU last Tuesday, UL Lafayette has won four in a row, including a sweep over Southern Miss. The Cajuns are 33 & 15 . First pitch is at 6 pm.

This is the Louisiana Radio Network Legislative Report. I’m Jeanne Burns.

The goal of two bills making their way through the legislature is to repeal the three-year rule, that ensures property policyholders their carrier cannot drop their coverage after three years. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the bills are focused on revitalizing the insurance marketplace in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (08) “…which is choice.”

But Ben Riggs at Real Reform Louisiana opposes the bills and says the state’s insurance crisis is two-fold with unavailability and unaffordability and loss of the three-year consumer protection will only exacerbate the crisis.

Cut 8 (11) “…surcharge.” 

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields would like to see every school bus in Louisiana to have heating and air conditioning by August 1, 2025. Fields says it’s hard to learn in the classroom after sweating on the ride to school…

Cut 14 (12)  “… unconscionable.”

Jackson Parish Superintendent David Claxton, who is also the president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, many school districts are already transitioning to climate-controlled buses, but getting it all done by the 2025-26 school year might be difficult…

Cut 15 (08)  “…own ours”

Fields says there are federal grants available to help school systems pay for a-c and heat on busses.