There’s a number of hot-button issues up for debate in this year’s legislative session but a political analyst doesn’t expect many of them to get far. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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A New Orleans lawmaker files legislation requiring college university employees who fail to properly report incidents of “power-based violence” such as sexual assault, harassment, and domestic violence. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Governor John Bel Edwards will address the Legislature from Southern’s campus at 6 PM today to kick off the session. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat expects the legislative session that begins today to be dominated by debate over how to allocate billions in federal pandemic aid.

There are a number of controversial culture war topics on the docket including trans issues, marijuana legalization, prison labor, and teaching about systemic racism, but ultimately…

Cut 4 (11)“…happens”

Pinsonat says unlike in other states he does not expect there to be much appetite in Louisiana for controversial elections and voting bills.

The Legislature will be tasked with writing the regulatory framework for sports betting after a legalization ballot initiative passed overwhelmingly last year. Pinsonat expects it to get done…

Cut 5 (10)“…government”

The biggest argument will be about the scope of legalization. Will it be contained to riverboat casinos and Harrah’s in New Orleans, or will it be allowed at video poker or through online betting websites?

Pinsonat says it will take a month to take center stage but the biggest fight will be over the 3.2 billion in incoming federal aid, and whether to use it to pay down debt or fund new services or construction.

Cut 6 (05) “…riches”

Final federal guidance on just how states can spend their American Rescue Act aid has not been delivered yet. It’s expected sometime within the next 30 days.

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A bill is filed that would result in automatic termination of any post-secondary employee who fails to properly report incidents of “power-based violence” to the campus Title Nine coordinator.

New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman wrote the legislation. She says it’s inspired by 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.

Freeman says under this legislation incidents like the kind that allegedly occurred when a former LSU running back sexually harassed a Superdome worker would have to be reported.

Cut 8 (11) “..student.”

74-year-old Gloria Scott alleges running back Derrius Guice sexually harassed her while she was working at the Superdome. Scott says she reported the incident to LSU but was told because she wasn’t a student and the event at the Dome did not involve LSU that it did not fall under Title Nine reporting requirements.

STAR legal director Morgan Lamandre says under this law if you receive knowledge that someone has committed an act of power-based violence, you must report it.

Cut 9 (11) “…radar.”

Current policy often only requires Title Nine reporting if employees are informed of a victim who is involved with the school.

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At 6 PM Governor Edwards will kick off the 2021 Legislative session with a speech at Southern University’s Mumford Stadium.

Edwards will use that time to lay out his agenda. He says he will reject any efforts to reduce state revenue through tax cuts this year.

Cut 10 (10) “..tax.”

Edwards is holding the speech at Southern due to COVID restrictions limiting indoor gatherings. Typically he would address the legislature in person at the state Capitol.

Edwards will push for legislation to close the state’s gender pay gap, which he says remains among the worst in the country, and to end discriminatory practices in setting auto insurance rates.

Cut 11 (05) “…record.”

Edwards also backed a small pay raise for teachers and higher education staff this year.

The governor says he’s in favor of any legislation to raise the state’s minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, which has not changed since 2008.

Cut 12 (13) “…into law.”

Edwards says he also supports legislation for mandatory kindergarten, a statewide Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator, and law enforcement disciplinary reform.

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Republican Speaker of the House Clay Schexnayder’s agenda for the 2021 legislative session includes tax reform, allocation of federal COVID relief funds, and replenish the unemployment trust fund.

He wants to simplify the tax code to make it easier for small businesses and citizens to operate and get things done in the state. Schexnayder says it 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. For example, after the first year that Mississippi streamlined their internet sales tax collection they collected$400-million as opposed to Louisiana’s average of $180-million. He says our tax rate and population are also higher so once reformed it could create a considerable amount of revenue for the state.

Also, importation is the allocation of the $3.5 billion of COVID relief funds from the federal government. Schexnayder says they want to be sure they replenish the state’s unemployment trust fund that was depleted during the pandemic.

Cut 14 (10) “…accounts.”

The Speaker says he feels that lawmakers are ready to return to session and senses a bipartisan effort to return the state to a sense of normalcy.

Cut 15 (10)“…really good.”

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The Ragin Cajuns eight-game winning streak ended yesterday with a 16-11 loss to Arkansas State. U-L Lafayette committed two errors that led to eight unearned runs and the Cajuns also walked nine hitters, while U-L batters struck out 13 times. Coach Matt Deggs says that all led to the loss…

Cut 16 (17) “…our loss.”

The Cajuns are 20-12 overall, 7-and-2 in conference play and in first place in the Sun Belt West. On Sunday, U-L Lafayette fell behind 3-0, but took the lead in the fourth when they hit three straight home runs. The Cajuns hit seven home runs as a team. Deggs says they are exciting even in a loss…

Cut 17 (18) “…that generous.”

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Despite losing 13-4 on Sunday to Kentucky, the LSU baseball team won its first SEC series of 2021 as the Tigers beat the Wildcats on Friday and Saturday. Freshman right-hander Blake Money made his first SEC start and suffered the loss giving up five runs in four innings. Kentucky scored eight runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Coach Paul Mainieri

Cut  18 (18)  “…for that”

LSU snapped a six game SEC losing streak on Friday with a 15-2 win on Friday and held on for an eight to six victory on Saturday. Freshman shortstop Jordan Thompson committed a throwing error that opened the door for Kentucky’s big inning. Thompson ays despite the loss, he believes the Tigers are heading in the right direction…

Cut 19 (13) “…going forward” 

Thompson had three hits yesterday and eight hits over the weekend to raise his average to nearly .300. Thompson says hard work has got him feeling good at the plate…

Cut 20 (20) “…I guess.” 

Colorado State University anticipates another above-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2021. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (29) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Lawmakers grilled LSU’s lawyer over the decision to ban all employees from testifying under oath at a legislative committee investigating the school’s mishandling of sexual misconduct cases. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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State Police say a vehicle heading the wrong way on Interstate 10 near Crowley caused a fiery crash that killed three people and left another person in critical condition. Trooper Thomas Gossen says the vehicle driving in the opposite direction slammed head-on into another vehicle…

Cut 3 (07)  “…that was also involved.” 

Gossen says they are still trying to determine why one of the vehicles involved was heading in the wrong direction. He says there are cases when a vehicle gets on the wrong on-ramp and ends up traveling against the current flow of traffic, but they are not sure what happened in this incident…

Cut 4 (08) “..westbound lanes” 

The identities of the victims have not been released and Gossen says because the vehicles were badly damaged, it’s difficult to determine who was heading the wrong way…

Cut 5  (09)  “…the crash.”

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Colorado State University hurricane researchers anticipate an above-average 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Graduate Researcher at CSU Jhordanne Jones says they are predicting 17 named storms, not as active as last year but still above average.

Cut 6 (09) “…in 2020”

2020 was a record-breaking hurricane season with 30 names storms. Jones says this time last year sea surface temperatures along the east coast and Gulf of Mexico were higher than normal.

Cut 7 (09) “…active season”

CSU is not anticipating El Nino conditions at the peak of the 2021 season. El Nino tends to decrease tropical activity.

Jones says Louisiana has a 50-percent probability of landfall hurricanes in 2021, which she says is hauntingly like predictions we had last year.

Cut 8 (09) “…happens”

Jones says they will be observing if we transition into an Enso or neutral state which means we could experience above-normal activity.

AccuWeather is predicting  16 to 20 named storms for 2021 and seven to ten to become hurricanes.

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LSU’s General Counsel told lawmakers why LSU employees had been banned from speaking under oath to a Legislative Committee today.

Winston Decuir says it’s related to a lawsuit by a current LSU administrator. He says he learned of the lawsuit Wednesday and had not or seen who was named in it when the decision was made.

Cut 9 (08) “circumstance.”

That lawsuit, by Atheltic Administrator Sharon Lewis, alleges a broad conspiracy to cover up sexual misconduct claims at the school, and retaliation against Lewis for investigating claims against former coach Les Miles.

New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman says she has witnesses who claim either Verge Ausberry or Miriam Segar violated the terms of their recent suspensions…

Cut 10 (12) “…job” 

Athletic Department administrators Ausberry and Segar were suspended for several weeks each as a result of Husch Blackwell findings that they mishandled reports of sexual misconduct. A condition of their suspension was that they were barred from performing any of their duties.

Freeman pointed out head coach Ed Orgeron had already refused to attend the hearing before the lawsuit. Freeman says Tuesday night Orgeron held a Zoom Spring Football press conference…

Cut 11 (05) “…statement”

A number of other athletics and administrative leaders had also refused to attend before the lawsuit was known.

Freeman says she’s heard from alumni and students who are furious that LSU didn’t fire anyone after the Husch Blackwell report’s release. Decuir responded on behalf of Interim President Tom Galligan…

Cut 12 (11)   “…unacceptable” 

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says a family of four in Louisiana could purchase a health insurance plan for premiums as low as 163-dollars per month at health-care-dot-gov. Director of the Office of Minority Health Doctor LaShawn McIver says that’s because of newly expanded financial assistance

Cut 13 (12)“…enrollment period”

McIver says the President recently extended the special enrollment period to August 15, so that families can take advantage of newly expanded financial assistance

Cut 14 (12) “…qualify for” 

McIver says if you need assistance they have a toll free number at 1-800-318-2596

Cut 15 (11) “…COVID relief law.”