A Bossier City Senator proposes dedicating the expiring .45 percent of the state’s sales tax solely to roads and bridges. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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Assistant Attorney General Matthew Derbes resigns and files an EEOC discrimination complaint against AG Jeff Landry alleging retaliation for his reporting of former top aid Pat Magee’s alleged workplace sexual misconduct. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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There are claims on social media that the COVID vaccine is causing an increase in miscarriages. Brooke Thorington talks with an OB/GYN about the allegations

Cut 3 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The full Senate is set to hear legislation that would dedicate .45 percent of the state sales tax, which is set to expire in 2025, to road and bridge construction. Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock’s proposal would raise about 840 million over three years. Peacock says it’s similar to how Texas funds its road projects…

Cut 4 (10)“…sales tax.”

If adopted the proposal would generate 168 million in 2022, 294 million in 2023, and 387 million in 2024 as it is gradually phased in.

Peacock says with billions in federal infrastructure aid potentially headed our way we need to start putting some money aside.

Cut 5 (08)“… for federal funds.”

The legislation requires at least half of the funds to be evenly divided among the state’s nine transportation districts and all funds must be used for the direct cost of projects.

The bill cleared committee with no votes against but with some concerns it could prompt another fiscal cliff. Peacock argues it will gradually install fiscal discipline ahead of the tax’s expiration.

Cut 6 (09) “…three years.”

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Assistant Attorney General Matthew Derbes resigns accusing AG Jeff Landry of retaliating against him for reporting alleged sexual misconduct by former top aid Pat Magee. Debres’ Attorney Jill Craft says after reporting alleged harassment and sexism towards other workers Landry retaliated by opening an investigation into Derbes and more…

Cut 7 (13)  “…unheard of.”

Craft also says the AG denied Derbes a promotion and then took away the majority of his job duties after he reported Magee’s behavior.

Craft says Derbes first reported the harassment in 2019 to his superiors, spoke with other administrators about it, and then finally submitted the allegations in an email.

Cut 8 (09) “…problem.”

Derbes also claims the Attorney General showed political preferential treatment for a person who was facing 20 counts of child porn. Landry says he was not aware of the accusation.

Landry says while an investigation did find Magee made inappropriate comments his behavior did not rise to the level of sexual misconduct. He says if it had, one of the alleged victims would’ve filed suit.

Cut 9 (10) “…the case.”

After an investigation by a third party, Magee was placed on leave without pay to start the year and had his pay docked.

AG’s Office HR Director Sandra Schober says she investigated Derbes claims and found claims that jobs and workspaces were withheld or assigned based on women’s looks to be false.

Cut 10 (09) “…form a narrative.”

Derbes has filed an EEOC discrimination complaint. Craft says it’s the first step towards filing a retaliation claim.

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Social media claims that the COVID vaccine is responsible for a more than 300-percent increase in miscarriages is raising eyebrows. LSU Health New Orleans OB/GYN Doctor Asha Heard says recent studies by the CDC and the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology say otherwise.

Cut 11 (05) “…the two.”

Heard says miscarriages early in pregnancy are far more common than you would think.

Cut 12 (06) “…recognized pregnancies.”

But as with any medical concerns, Heard suggests a dialogue with your personal physician about the vaccine and pregnancy.

Cut 13 (08) “…are pregnant.”

Heard also says there’s been no evidence to date suggesting the COVID vaccine increases stillbirths or reduces fertility.  She says if there was evidence the FDA and CDC would pause the rollout and review data as they did with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

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A bill requiring public schools to provide kindergarten and mandatory attendance will be heard in the Senate education committee today. Stand for Children Governmental Affairs Director Brigitte Nieland says they fully support Senator Cleo Fields’ legislation because kindergarten provides vital foundational skills for students.

Cut 14 (09) “…student’s lifetime.”

Nieland says while some assume kindergarten is already mandatory if the bill passes it would go into effect fall of 2022 and increase attendance considerably.

Cut 15 (11)“…takes effect”

Nieland says the bill makes common sense and only if the state’s education system performed higher would the measure be up for debate as far as she’s concerned.

Cut 16 (05) “…debate really.”

The bill says a child who turns five years of age on or before September 30th would be required to attend kindergarten and pass a readiness assessment prior to first grade.

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ULM has wrapped up its first spring football season under new head coach Terry Bowden. Bowden is facing a big task in trying to upgrade a roster that didn’t win a game in 2020. Bowden plans on adding players before the team gathers again in August

Cut 17 (23) “…one or two.”

Bowden says one of the goals this summer is to add depth at the running back position…

Cut  18 (19)”…in the season.” 

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For the second straight week, D-1 baseball has Louisiana Tech ranked 14th in the country. Bulldogs Coach Lane Burroughs says there’s not much discussion about the ranking…

Cut 19 (18) “…be ranked.” 

This weekend, Tech will host Marshall for a four-game series that will start on Friday. The Thundering Herd are 6-and-22 on the season, but Burroughs says they have to be ready to play Marshall

Cut 20 (19) “…ability to adapt.” 

LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan withdraws his name from being named permanently to the post. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Students will not be required to get a COVID vaccine to attend in-person classes this fall at either LSU or UL system schools. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

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LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan withdraws from consideration to be named permanent President. Galligan, who served as Dean of LSU’s Law School, was named to the post of interim President in January of 2020. Galligan says he came to the decision after spending time with his 14-month-old grandson recently.

Cut 3 (10)  “…do best.” 

Galligan was the dean of the LSU law school when he was named temporary leader of the LSU system in January of 2020. The 65-year-old says teaching is what he does best, and the role of president prevents him from instructing.

Cut 4 (05) “…classroom.” 

As for his predecessor, Galligan says they will have a big job considering the school’s Title IX issues. He says however improvements to reporting sexual misconduct at the university are significantly underway.

Cut 5  (07)  “…commitment.”

Galligan will remain interim until the board names his replacement.

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The Edwards administration announces it’s using 216 million dollars in federal coronavirus stimulus money on road and infrastructure projects. The money was approved by Congress in December and Governor John Bel Edwards says improving the state’s roads and bridges have been a priority of his administration

Cut 6 (10) “..for awhile”

The federal money replaces the lost gas tax revenue the state experienced last year because fewer people traveled as a result of the pandemic. State  Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says 50-million dollars will go towards extending I-49 from Lafayette to New Orleans…

Cut 7 (12) “..to construction”

Wilson says another 20-million dollars will go towards widening I-10 in Ouachita Parish. He says federal law is also requiring them to use 11-million dollars on installing electric vehicle charging stations statewide

Cut 8 (11) “..of that”

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A Senate Committee approves a constitutional amendment expanding the size of the State Supreme Court from seven justices to nine.

Bill author and Covington Senator Patrick McMath says the current makeup of State Supreme Court districts is not representative of the state’s population distribution.

Cut 9 (07) “..district.”

The bill also calls for a redistricting of the State Supreme Court to be conducted after every census.

Cut 10 (08) “.problem” 

If approved by voters the new redistricting would have to receive a 2/3rds vote in the Legislature and the Governor’s approval to be implemented. If approved by voters the amendment would become effective in 2025.

Democratic Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau had some concerns that Democratic New Orleans Senator Jimmy Harris, a co-author, tried to allay…

Cut 11 (12) “..either way”

The legislation heads to the Senate floor.

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The UL and LSU systems will not require students be vaccinated to attend in-person classes for the upcoming fall semester.

UL System President Jim Henderson says he has concerns about mandating students take a vaccine that is still under FDA emergency use authorization.

Cut 12 (07)   “..vaccine” 

Full biological licensing for vaccines may not be available until 2022.

That being said Henderson strongly encourages all students to get a vaccine as soon as they can

Cut 13 (08)“….campuses”

All Louisiana residents 16 and older are eligible to receive the vaccine at local pharmacies.

Despite not implementing a vaccine mandate Henderson is confident that our current vaccination rates will facilitate a safe fall campus experience, barring a new vaccine immune variant.

Cut 14 (07) “..science” 

Henderson says about 50 universities across the country have announced vaccine mandates, but a much larger number have either not weighed in, or said they will not require it.