Love the Book Week has volunteers in every parish cleaning up Louisiana this week.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (26) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

_____________________________________________

The director of the Center for Economics, Business and Policy Research at LSU explains what the Trump Administration is trying to accomplish by raising tariffs at least 10-percent on almost every country. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

____________________________________________

The 2025 fiscal legislative session begins next Monday, so what will be the big issues? Colleen Crain spoke with Senate President Cameron Henry

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

______________________________________________________

This week is Love the Boot Week, a statewide anti-litter initiative in Louisiana.. The campaign, aimed at beautifying the state through volunteerism, has grown significantly since its inception, now including hundreds of groups across all 64 parishes. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, who leads the effort, hopes to engage one-thousand volunteer teams..

Cut 4 (09) “…in the parking lots.”

Nungesser says the campaign encourages community involvement, noting that individuals who participate in cleanup efforts are 80-percent less likely to litter in the future.

Cut 5 (09) “…pay the price for it.”

Nungesser envisions a cleaner Louisiana, where visitors are impressed by its beauty.

Cut 6 (07) “…our great state.”

Visit Love-the-boot-dot-org for more information.

______________________________________________________

There are divided opinions over President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs and what they will do to the U-S economy.  LSU Economics Professor Dek Terrell says the tariffs are attempting to produce two outcomes, increase manufacturing in the United States and leverage for future trade negotiations with other countries.

Cut 7 (10) “…by initiating negotiations. ”

Terell says the biggest cause for concern is an increase in prices on goods, citing efforts to revitalize U.S. manufacturing, such as Hyundai’s $5.8 billion steel mill project.

Cut 8 (08) “…in the U.S.”

Louisiana’s economy could shrink significantly if a full-blown trade war unfolds. Despite hopes for long-term gains, Terrell emphasized the importance of short-term economic negotiations.

Cut 9 (07)  “…a recession.”

______________________________________________________

A bill filed for the upcoming session provides an incentive for students to attend a Louisiana public university if they achieve a score of 31 or higher on the ACT. Ruston Representative Christopher Turner is proposing that high school students who score that high can receive up to 12-thousand dollars yearly in TOPS scholarship money to attend a public university in Louisiana…

Cut 10 (14) “…in Louisiana.”

Participation in the TOPS scholarship has declined. According to state data, in the 2020-21 school year , 56-thousand students were on TOPS, this year there are fewer than 48-thousand TOPS recipients.

Since 2016, the amount of money a student receives from the TOPS scholarship has not changed, which has contributed to the decline in students accepting TOPS. Turner’s bill would raise the existing award amounts and the highest-performing students coming out of high school would receive 12-thousand dollars annually. He says the goal is to get our best brightest to stay in Louisiana…

Cut 11 (12) “…more money.”

Incoming freshmen for the next school year are eligible for the new award, if the bill becomes law. Turner says the legislation would also provide 35-hundred dollars to students who want to attend a two-year school…

Cut 12 (10) “…academic side.”

The proposed legislation has up to a 35-million dollar price tag. The governor proposed a stand still budget, so finding money to pump more money into the TOPS program will be a challenge.

______________________________________________________

For the last two school years, teachers have received a two-thousand-dollar stipend on top of their regular pay, but that additional two-thousand dollars for teachers and one-thousand dollars for school support staff is set to go away because Constitutional Amendment Two did not pass. Senate President Cameron Henry says the goal is to give teachers a permanent pay raise, but finding the money to do that will be difficult…

Cut 13 (12)  “…late May.”

Henry says despite the failure of Constitutional Amendment Two at the ballot box, the state remains in okay financial shape. But he says some agencies will not receive the funding they are seeking…

Cut 14 (09) “…some folks.”

Henry expects funding will increase for the Louisiana Department of Health and State Police. L-S-P’s duties expanded following the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street as efforts were intensified to make sure the city was safe during Super Bowl and Mardi Gras activities.

A fiscal legislative session starts next Monday. Henry expects portions of what was Constitutional Amendment Two will be discussed again…

Cut 15 (11) “…of that”

Sweeping reciprocal tariffs from President Trump of 10-percent on all imports and higher rates on key trade partners, such as China and the E-U, has sparked concern across Louisiana industries.  Sean Richardson reports.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

___________________________________________________

ULM students have voted to put a 75-dollar per fee on themselves with the money going to the school’s athletic department. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

___________________________________________________

Bossier, Caddo and Webster Parishes are under a tornado watch until 9:00 tonight and tomorrow the severe weather threat expands statewide. LSU Public health climatologist Barry Keim…

Cut 3 (15) “…severe weather.” 

Heavy rainfall is a possibility with this storm system. Kein says north Louisiana could see two to three inches, while an inch of rain could fall along the coast…

Cut 4 (12) “…rainfall amounts.”

Keim says once after the cold front passes through, Louisiana will experience a big drop in temperatures…

Cut 5 (11) “…low 70s.”

______________________________________________________________

President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs of 10 percent on all imports and higher rates on key trading partners, such as China (34%) and the European Union (20%), has sparked concerns across Louisiana industries.  Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says it could cost more to eat out…

Cut 6 (10) “…no question about it.”

Economists are concerned the tariffs could slow the U-S economy, and Harris says the restaurant industry is bracing for increased costs for essential goods.

Cut 7 (06) “…or replace equipment.”

Harris says with the potential of costs going up, low-margin profitable businesses like restaurants like will have to do some belt-tightening..

Cut 8 (11) “…period of time.”

______________________________________________________________

ULM students have approved a 75-dollar fee per semester that will generate 600-thousand dollars in its first year for the school’s athletic department. ULM Athletic Director John Hartwell says the fee goes into effect for the 2025 Fall Semester…

Cut 9 (11)  “…21 million dollars.”

Hartwell says they plan to use the money to install a new video board in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The A-D says the new revenues will also go towards improving the well-being of their student athletes .

Cut 10 (10) “…sports medicine program.”

The fee passed on a 711 to 650 vote. Hartwell says opponents to the athletic fee proposal said they do not attend athletics events or questioned the need to spend more money on sports. Hartwell says a successful athletic program improves the entire university…

Cut 11 (11) “…your diploma.”

____________________________________________

The family of a 73-year-old grandfather is pleading for his release after immigration enforcement agents took him into custody near his home in Lafayette while on his way to work. He’s at an ICE processing center in Evangeline Parish. The family says Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriquez has lived in the U.S. for 45 years since he fled Cuba. Rodriguez’s stepdaughter Christian Cooper Riggs posted this emotional plea on Facebook…

Cut 12 (15) “…our country.”

Riggs says Rodriguez tried to become an official citizen for the last ten years, but because he committed a crime in the first couple of years after he arrived in the U.S., he’s been unsuccessful. She says for the last 43 years her stepfather has been a modeled immigrant…

Cut 13 (14)  “…not the solution.”

Rodriguez cares for his wife who has dementia. Riggs says she understands the United States has an immigration problem, but a 73-year-old man, who works and cares for his family and has lived in the United States for 45-years is not part of the problem…

Cut 14 (05) “…a machete.”

Riggs is asking for your prayers and if the public wants to get involved, they can contact their elected officials and ask for her step father’s release.