The Appropriations Committee sends a budget to the House floor that contains money for teacher pay raises, but it doesn’t have additional dollars for public schools. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
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Debate has begun in the legislature about whether or not the state should invest hundreds of millions into renovating the Superdome. Matt Doyle has more…
cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”
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Today marks the 12 year anniversary of one of the longest, continually active criminal cases in the State Fire Marshal Office’s history. In 2007 a Ruston home fire that resulted in the death of 25 year old Ronia Washington was determined to be arson and her death a homicide. Fire Marshall Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says it has been a multi-agency investigation for years.
Cut 3 (12) “…to an arrest.”
Rodrigue says the family is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
Cut 4 (09) “…line after that.”
Rodrigue says over the years, people have had information, but they were afraid to say something.
Cut 5 (08) “…than their fear.”
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The House Appropriations Committee approves a 30-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year that contains funding for a teacher pay raise that’s more than the governor’s proposed one-thousand dollar pay hike. Metairie Representative Cameron Henry says the state can do better than a one-thousand dollar raise…
Cut 6 (10) “…500 or 600”
Henry’s proposed budget does not include an additional 39-million dollars for school districts, which is funding that the governor wants to see included. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says local school leaders say the extra money can go towards school supplies and teacher retirement costs…
Cut 7 (11) “…with it.”
Henry says school districts are receiving a lot of money, while teachers are underpaid…
Cut 8 (14) “…Southern average”
The full House is set to vote on the budget Thursday.
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The Superdome is hoping to complete a 450 million dollar renovation before the 2024 Superbowl, but questions abound about whos going to pay for it, and that sparked an animated discussion in Senate Finance today.
LSED Commissioner Hillary Landry says the renovation will spur more intrastate commerce.
Cut 9 (11) “…incalculable“.
But Metairie Senator Conrad Appel says a strong majority of economists agree that providing state and local subsidies to build stadiums for professional sports teams costs taxpayers more than any economic benefits that are generated. Appel says there’s better ways to spend a few hundred million dollars.
Cut 10 (12) “…Superdome”
The Saints have agreed to pay for a third of the cost of the renovation.
Baton Rouge Senator Bodi White says there’s just not enough information available right now to make an informed decision about whether or not the state should fork over the cash for this sought-after renovation.
Cut 11 (10) “…back.”
New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop, whose district includes the Superdome, says lawmakers from outside of the Crescent City may be undervaluing just how important the structure is.
Cut 12 (13) “…city.”
The debate over financing will likely take shape in full before the next legislative session.
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Governor John Bel Edwards and New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell announce a funding deal that will provide the city with 67.5 million dollars up front to fix streets and the drainage system. Edwards says the agreement also calls for 26-million dollars in annual recurring funding…
Cut 13 (12) “…infrastructure”
For the agreement to be finalized, the legislature will need to approve three pieces of legislation. One of the bills would place a one-percent tax on hotel room rentals and another calls for nearly a seven-percent tax on short-term housing rentals.
The announcement of the deal comes after a 114-year-old water main busted, flooding roads and closing schools…
Cut 14 (06) “…essence”
Mayor Cantrell says this is a historic day for her city…
Cut 15 (10) “…absolutely great.”