Matt Doyle spoke with a Marrero Democrat who says Louisiana’s working-class deserves a raise and he’ll push to increase the minimum wage when lawmakers convene for the legislative session…
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”
_____________________________________
Ash Wednesday is the start of the Lenten season and the supply of seafood is looking good. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
___________________________________________
New data shows gun death rates in the Bayou State continue to rise. Brooke Thorington spoke with Violence Policy Center, Legislative Director Kristen Rand about the disturbing trend.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
____________________________________________
A significant cold front is blasting into the state today. National Weather Service Shreveport meteorologist Brad Bryant says gusty, northwest winds will make it worth your while to dress warm.
Cut 4 (06)_ “…feel pretty chilly.”
Bryant says sustained winds between 15 and 20 miles per hour will get your attention today…
Cut 5 (04) “…30 mph occasionally.”
Bryant says over the winter, the state has seen multiple cold fronts creep through and stall at the coast, but…
Cut 6 (08) “…there for sure.”
____________________________
Governor John Bel Edwards wants to raise the state’s minimum wage and Marrero Representative Kyle Green has filed legislation that would increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to nine dollars an hour in 2021. He says since the economy is booming, there’s no reason businesses can’t afford to pay their workers fairly.
Cut 7 (07) “…of this state.”
Arkansas rose its minimum wage to 10 dollars this year. It’s set to rise to eleven dollars in 2021. Green says nine dollars an hour is still not a living wage, but he’s willing to work with opponents who might refuse a higher number.
Cut 8 (07) “…a pay increase.”
Democrats running for President back a 15 dollar minimum wage by 2025.
The last increase in the minimum wage for Louisianans happened in 2009 under the Obama Administration. Green says we’re long overdue to increase it again.
Cut 9 (09) “…their basic necessities.″
The move is opposed by the business lobbyists.
____________________
Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten season and seafood becomes a popular dish. Chairman of the Gulf Seafood Institute Harlon Pearce believes there should be plenty available. Pearce says high water levels and weather conditions have resulted in a bountiful crawfish harvest.
Cut 10 (10) “…into the season.”
Pearce says oysters went through a rough phase with the high Mississippi river levels, but now there are more than enough to go around and prices are leveling out much better than what they were.
Cut 11 (05) “…good right now.”
Pearce says wild-caught Louisiana catfish are gaining in popularity among restaurants.
Cut 12 (09) “…farm raised shrimp.”
_____________________________________
New data from the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control shows Louisiana ranks fifth in the nation among states with the highest per capita gun death rates in 2018. The states with the highest rates are Mississippi, Alabama, Wyoming, Missouri followed by the Bayou State. Violence Policy Center, Legislative Director Kristen Rand explains what these states have in common.
Cut 13 (09) “…gun ownership.”
Rand says there are several studies that show a correlation between areas that have stronger gun violence prevention laws and lower rates of gun deaths. Also, a key factor is lower exposure to firearms as represented by household gun ownership in having lower death rates.
Cut 14 (10) “…since 2009.”
The nationwide average for gun deaths is 12 per 100-thousand, in Louisiana the death rate is 21 per 100-thousand, significantly above the national average. Rand says it’s time for Louisiana to get proactive and prevent gun deaths.
Cut 15 (10) “…death rate.”
__________________________________________
LSU basketball coach Will Wade is not happy with the SEC schedule makers. The Tigers are at Florida tonight for an 8 PM tip and then they’ll host Texas A-and-M Saturday at 11 AM. Wade says it’s the second time his team has had to play late on Wednesday and turnround and play their next game on Saturday morning….
Cut 16 (20) …cold’
The first time LSU played a late Wednesday night game, followed by an early Saturday morning contest, they lost to Vanderbilt and Auburn. Wade says it’s not fair they’ve had this scheduling inequity twice
Cut 17 (20) “not right”
LSU will bring a 10-4 SEC record into Gainesville and they are tied for second place with Auburn. Florida is 9-5 in league play and Keyontae Johnson leads the Gators in scoring as he averages 14 points and seven rebounds a game. He also shoots 53-percent from the field. Wade says the six-foot-five sophomore is tough to handle
cut 18 (12) “against us”
Last month, LSU beat Florida 84-82 in the PMAC. Last season, the Gators won two of the three games played between the two teams.
____________________________________________________
The 11th ranked LSU baseball team welcomes Louisiana Tech to Alex Box Stadium tonight. The Tigers are 5-3 and through eight games Coach Paul Mainieri has been shuffling the line-up and getting mixed results. Mainieri says with SEC play starting in a couple of weeks, he intends to use a similar lineup over the next four games to see if they can win with that group…
cut 19 (21) can handle it”
In tonight’s game, left-hander Brandon Kaminer will start on the mound for LSU. Kaminer has not allowed a run in three appearances. Mainieri says after a rough fall, the Florida native has pitched well…
cut 20 (17) “ keep it up”