Tax reform is expected to be a big topic at the legislative session which got underway last week. In his address to lawmakers to open the session, Governor Edwards called on revenue-neutral tax reforms. He says since 2016 they’ve made great strides stabilizing the budget and can’t go back to running deficits…
cut 11 (08) “….positive”
Republican legislative leaders are looking at lower income tax rates in exchange for a reduction in tax break programs.

There’s a bill in the legislative session that would bar transgender athletes from participating in girls or women’s sports at public schools. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says there’s a chance the legislation will pass,,,
cut 13 (08) “…in Louisiana’
The NCAA has threatened to remove events from states that pass this legislation. New Orleans is set to host the men’s Final Four next year.

The Louisiana Department of Education is launching a new campaign to boost the state’s shockingly poor levels of literacy among young students. Right now only half of the third-graders are reading on or above their grade level. Superintendent Cade Brumley says that number has been declining for several years.
Cut 4 (09)“…successful”
The state is launching a new series of training programs for teachers and administrative staff in elementary and middle grades to boost literacy rates.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says a rehabbed brown pelican that was found covered in oil near Queen Bess Island in 2010 following the BP spill, and then released in Georgia, has found its way back to the Bayou State. LDWF Biologist Casey Wright says this is the first pelican released from the Coast Guard Station in Brunswick to return home.
Cut 7 (12) “…I saw it.”
Wright says brown pelicans are hard-wired genetically to return to their birth colony to breed, even when they move long distances.

Governor John Bel Edwards encourages lawmakers to use the legislative session to solve some of the inequities that have plagued the state. Matt Doyle has the story…
cut 2 (32) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

Edwards says he’s also asking for lawmakers to approve another pay increase for K-12 teachers and support staff. The governor is also proposing a faculty increase for higher education professors and his budget proposal also fully funds TOPS.

The NCAA has announced its support for transgender athletes and threatens to pull events from states that pass anti-transgender laws. There’s a bill in the legislative session that would prohibit transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports in this state. Political commentator Clancy Dubos says the state legislature may end up creating problems that do not currently exist…
cut 14 (10) “….of the problem”
New Orleans is set to host the NCAA Final Four next year.

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says literacy is an issue in Louisiana and he says the state is starting a new initiative to help spark a reading revival…
cut 5 (10) “….books”
Brumley says they have several online resources on the state department of education’s website including, classroom libraries.

Today is the first full day of the legislative session and approving a new budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1st is a top priority. During his State of the State address last night, Governor Edwards says the state is receiving over three billion dollars in federal stimulus aid, but the money must be spent wisely…
cut 12 (12) “…debt”
But there could be a push to use some of this money on recurring expenses.

The state department of education has announced plans to increase the state’s literacy rates. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says it’s concerning that by the end of third grade only 46-percent of students have achieved mastery of English Language Arts…
cut 6 (08) “…dropouts”
Schools and families can now access resources on early literacy and foundational skills on the state department of education’s website.

A number of antitransgender bills have been filed that one political analyst says could be costly for the state if any pass. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Advocate is reporting that four LSU Health Shreveport employees have filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that Chancellor Doctor G-E Ghali covered up harassment claims made by medical students and disciplined faculty who raised the allegations. An LSU Health Shreveport spokesperson says the school is ready to defend itself against these latest allegations.

Governor John Bel Edwards wrapped up the first day of the Legislative session Monday with a speech at Southern University’s Mumford Stadium outlining his hopes for the next two months. Edwards challenged lawmakers not to allow the state to return to the pre-pandemic normal, but to something better, highlighting his support for equal pay, minimum wage increases, and other reforms.
Cut 10 (13) “..difficult.”
The session will run for the next two months and there are a lot of different items on the agenda, including legislation that would bar transgender individuals from participating in girls’ or women’s sports. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says the NCAA is threatening to pull events like the Final Four, which New Orleans is set to host next year, if this bill passes…
cut 15 (07) “…transgender student”

Louisiana has seen literacy rates among elementary and middle-grade students decline for several years in a row. Matt Doyle spoke with Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley about the state’s plan to fix this…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The mishandling of previous sexual misconduct cases at LSU will be an issue in the legislative session that starts today. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman has a bill that would require the firing of any university employee who fails to report sexual misconduct and abuse allegations…
cut 28 (11) “…student”
Freeman says cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, and harassment will be reported to that school’s Title Nine coordinator and the Title Nine coordinator will report the school’s chancellor.

Governor Edwards will kick off the 2021 Legislative session at 6PM with a speech at Southern University’s Mumford Stadium. Edwards will push for legislation to close the state’s gender pay gap, which he says remains among the worst in the country, and he wants to end discriminatory practices in setting auto insurance rates.
cut 11 (05) “…record.”

Residents in the St. Landry Parish village of Palmetto are rummaging through the damage from an EF3 tornado that ravaged at least 25 homes early Saturday morning and claimed one life. Parish President Jesse Bellard (Bell-ard) says the tornado touched down on Bolden Road just off Highway 359.
Cut 3 (11) “…storm.”
The twister also sent seven people to the hospital.

A 26-year-old woman who fell off her jet ski and was not found until the next day is listed in critical condition at a hospital in Covington. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says the search began Friday night in the Tchefuncte River…
cut 6 (08) “….next morning”
Einck says around 10:30 on Saturday morning the woman’s jet ski was located and St. Tammany Parish deputies found her about a half-hour later.

Lawmakers return to the State Capitol today for the 2021 legislative session. Last year’s session was disrupted because of the coronavirus pandemic, so there are a lot of issues that legislators will attempt to tackle. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says he’s pushing a tax reform bill that he says will simplify the state’s tax laws and help attract businesses…
cut 15 (10) “…really good”
Governor John Bel Edwards says he’ll support tax reform as long as it doesn’t reduce the amount of tax revenue going into the state’s coffers. And Edwards is once again asking legislators to raise the state’s minimum wage…
cut 12 (13) “…into law”

A bill that will be heard in the legislative session calls for the automatic termination of any university or college employee who fails to properly report incidents of “power-based violence” to the campus Title Nine coordinator. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman says her legislation is in response to LSU’s failure to properly handle incidents of sexual misconduct.
Cut 7 (11) “…terminated.”
Power-based violence is defined as dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking.

Last November, most parishes approved a ballot item that would allow for legal sports betting. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says legislators will use this session to pass the rules and taxation for sports betting to finally be legal…
cut 5 (10) “….government”
The biggest argument will be about the scope of legalization, will it just be limited to the casinos or can you also place bets on your phone?

Governor John Bel Edwards will address the Legislature from Southern’s campus at 6 PM today to kick off the 2021 legislative session…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there will be a lot of discussion during the session about how to spend over three billion dollars in federal coronavirus aid. Pinsonat says do you use it to pay down debt or fund new services or construction…
cut 6 (05) “….riches”

The mishandling of previous sexual misconduct cases at LSU will be an issue in the legislative session that starts today. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman has a bill that would require the firing of any university employee who fails to report sexual misconduct and abuse allegations…
cut 8 (11) “…student”
Freeman says cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, and harassment will be reported to that school’s Title Nine coordinator and the Title Nine coordinator will report the school’s chancellor.

Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder wants to simplify the tax code to make it easier for small businesses and citizens to operate. Schexnayder says the sales tax would stay the same…
Cut 13 (09) “…part of it.”
Schexnayder says the state is missing out on a substantial amount of revenue from internet sales.