The list of candidates to become the next president at LSU is narrowed down to eight. There are two familiar names among the final eight, University of Louisiana System President Doctor Jim Henderson and Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne. Governor Edwards says it’s imperative the right candidate is chosen.
Cut 4 (09)“…is having.”
LSU Presidential Search Committee will begin interviewing the finalists on Monday.

The Senate Labor Committee approves a proposal that would double what minimum wage workers currently earn in Louisiana. The measure would set the state’s minimum wage at 15-dollars an hour starting next year. The executive director of the Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families, Susan East Nelson, supports the legislation because she says one in four children in the state face food insecurity…
cut 9 (09) “…livable wage’
Previous minimum wage proposals have failed to gain traction in the Louisiana Legislature.

Research by the US Drug Test Centers gives legislators food for thought as they consider whether to allow voters to decide if recreational marijuana use should be legal in Louisiana. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Winnsboro Police Lieutenant Terrance Pleasant has been accused of offering sexual favors and money in exchange for a favorable police report to a female driver who was involved in a two-vehicle crash. A grand jury has indicted Pleasant on one count of bribery and one count of abuse of office.

A bill raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour next year advances out of Senate Labor. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The USA Today Network reports that tomorrow Governor John Bel Edwards will announce a one-billion-dollar biodiesel plant will be built at the Port of Columbia on the Ouachita River in Caldwell Parish. State Representative Neil Riser says Edwards helped make the project happen by using millions in federal dollars to secure the deal.

The legislation that would centralize the state’s sales tax collection system receives overwhelming support in the Louisiana House as the proposal passes on a 96-4 vote. The measure would create an eight-member board to oversee tax collections, instead of having the duties split between state and local government. There are concerns the legislation will result in lost revenue for local governments. Hornbeck Representative Rodney Shamerhorn says the legislation is also too vauge…
cut 15 (10) “…we go”
The Senate is also expected to approve the bill.

There’s also legislation waiting to be heard that would legalize recreational marijuana use. But would that increase pot usage among younger people. Jonathan Baktari, CEO of US Drug Test Centers, says based on the 16 states that have legalized weed, there’s no strong correlation…
cut 11 (08) “….below”
The US Drug Test Centers say they’ve seen a 30-percent increase in marijuana usage among Louisiana adults since 2015.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne and U-L System President Doctor Jim Henderson are among the finalists to be LSU’s next president. Governor John Bel Edwards discussed the search on his monthly call-in show…
cut 1 (27) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Governor Edwards will provide an update today at 2:30 PM on the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state health department will provide new numbers later today on how many people are vaccinated. As of Monday, the number was nearly one-point-one million Louisiana residents who completed the vaccinate series.

The Senate Labor Committee has approved a measure on a three to two vote that would raise the minimum wage in Louisiana to 15-dollars an hour. It faces opposition from business groups. Jim Patterson with LABI says studies show that raising the minimum wage is actually not good for low-wage earners…
cut 8 (11) “….employment”
The bill is not expected to make it through the legislative process.

But a bill that would create a single tax collector in the state, instead of having the duties split between state and local governments, has received full House approval. New Iberia Representative Gerald Beaullieu says the current system is complex and burdensome for businesses…
cut 14 (11) “…those rankings”
The measure heads to the Senate for more discussion.

The Senate Labor Committee voted three to two for a bill to set the state’s minimum wage at $15 an hour beginning in 2022. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says we owe this to frontline workers, many of them make close to the minimum wage which is currently $7.25 an hour.
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It’s unclear if the legislation has enough support to pass the Louisiana Senate.

A study by US Drug Test Centers shows 8 percent of Louisianans admit to using marijuana within the last month, a 30 percent increase since 2015. CEO Dr. Jonathan Baktari says that gives the state the 29th highest rate of use among adults. He says judging by results in other states that number would rise should Louisiana legalize weed…
cut 10 (09) “…access.”

The Louisiana House approves legislation that would allow the people to vote on an amendment centralizing Louisiana’s sales and local tax collection system. The legislation has strong support from the state’s business community and was brought by Speaker Clay Schexnayder.
Cut 13 (13) “…constituents.”
The proposal heading to the Senate creates an eight-member board to oversee tax collections.

The LSU Presidential Search Committee has selected eight candidates to interview next week as the search heats up for a new president of the LSU System. Governor John Bel Edwards discussed the search on his monthly talk show…
cut 6 (08) “…do that”
Edwards’ Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne and U-L System President Jim Henderson are among the finalists.

The Senate Education Committee approved bills today in response to LSU’s mishandling of previous sexual misconduct cases. The legislation spells out how college campuses and law enforcement should communicate when an allegation is made and detail what employees should do when they receive a complaint. It also requires colleges to fire employees who do not properly report allegations. LSU interim president Thomas Galligan spoke in favor…
cut 5 (09) “…safe”

The Senate Education Committee also approved a bill that requires five-year-olds to attend kindergarten. Executive Director of the Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families Susan East Nelson supports the bill because research shows early education has a direct impact on learning and social skills.
Cut 12 (11) “…children thrive”

Louisiana elected officials are satisfied that a jury found ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus Ted James said on Talk Louisiana on WRKF he was expecting an acquittal….
Cut 8 (10) “..held accountable”
Chauvin will be sentenced in two months and the most serious charge carries up to 40 years in prison.

The House Ways and Means Committee advances a proposal that would eliminate the state’s income tax on residents and a tax on businesses known as the corporate franchise tax. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson says to make up for an estimated four billion dollars in lost revenue, local governments can raise property and sales taxes
Cut 13 (08)“….income tax rate”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s thankful the criminal justice system dispensed justice against ex-Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin who was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. U-S Senator Bill Cassidy says justice was done…
cut 6 (11) “….never taught”
Cell phone video showed Chauvin’s knee pressing on Floyd’s neck for nine and half minutes during an arrest. During that time Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe.

A bill heading to the state senate would take a portion of the state’s sales tax and use it to improve Louisiana’s roads. The bill’s author, Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock says it’s a concept that Texas does…
cut 4 (100 “….sales tax”
Peacock’s proposal would generate about 800-million dollars over the next three years.

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.”

Divers have recovered a sixth body that was a crewmember on the capsized Seacor Power lift boat in the Gulf of Mexico. The Lafourche Parish Coroner’s office identifies the person as 31-year-old Quinon Pitre of St. Mary Parish. Seven crew members remain missing.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Derbes resigns accusing AG Jeff Landry of retaliating against him for reporting alleged sexual misconduct by former top aide Pat Magee. Derbes’ Attorney Jill Craft says after reporting alleged harassment and sexism towards other workers, Landry retaliated by opening an investigation into Derbes…
Cut 7 (13) “…unheard of.”
Magee has resigned after a second person came forward accusing him of sexual harassment. Landry says an investigation found Magee made inappropriate comments, but his behavior did not rise to the level that he should be fired, if it had, one of the alleged victims’ would’ve filed suit…
cut 9 (10) “….the case”

The Senate Education Committee is scheduled to debate a bill this morning that would make it mandatory for young children to attend kindergarten. Stand for Children Governmental Affairs Director Brigitte Nieland calls this common-sense legislation considering how poorly Louisiana does in national education rankings…
cut 16 (05) “….debate really”
The Louisiana Family Forum says attending kindergarten should be a parent’s decision not the legislature.

The state sales tax is 4.45-percent, but .45-percent of that tax is set to expire in 2025. Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock is proposing to use the temporary portion of the sales tax to be spent on highway construction projects….
cut 6 (09) “…three years’
He says currently that money just goes into the general fund to be spent on almost anything, so it’s time to ween lawmakers