There is legislation for the regular session that would require the governor to review the state’s agreements with the Saints and Pelicans. Emelie Gunn has more….
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A bill has been filed by Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb that would raise the fine for texting while driving. Halen Doughty has the story…
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The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved the Louisiana State Student Standards, which changes Common Core. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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Colfax Representative Terry Brown has filed legislation for the regular session that would require the governor to look over Louisiana’s agreements with the Saints and Pelicans and allow him to renegotiate the contracts to reduce state subsidies. Brown says if we’re cutting public dollars for developmentally disabled children and roadways, state-funding for professional sports teams should be reduced…
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Brown says since 2002 the Saints and Pelicans have received about 369 million dollars from the state. According to a 2013 Forbes article, Owner Tom Benson will receive 392-million dollars in subsidies through 2025. He says Louisiana is tough fiscal times and tough decisions need to be made…
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Brown says this legislation does not require Governor Edwards to renegotiate with the Saints and Pels, but it asks him to consider altering the contracts. He believes Governor Edwards will do what’s in the best interest of the state.
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Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb has filed a bill that would increase the fine for texting while driving. The fine for texting, emailing, or checking social media while driving is currently $175, but this bill seeks to raise that fine to $500. Highway safety advocate Jim Champagne says police are having a hard time getting a handle on the issue.
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Champagne says Alaska has the highest penalty for texting while driving, with a $10,000 fine. He says Louisiana’s penalty is relatively low compared to other states. He says too many people are texting or using their phones while driving, and it is not safe for other drivers.
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Champagne says safe driving habits start with parents and their kids. He says stopping this dangerous practice needs to become a bigger concern for the public.
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The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved the Louisiana State Student Standards in English and math, which replaces Common Core in these areas. BESE president Jim Garvey says these new standards still uphold high learning expectations and will help students move forward to better prepare for college and careers.
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BESE came to this decision after a steering committee and three subcommittees reviewed and developed the new standards with the help of about 100 educations from around the state and parents and business organizations. Garvey says now the decisions that affect the children in the classroom are made at the local parish level.
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The Louisiana State Student Standards will now develop age appropriate content and allow teachers the freedom to decide their method of instruction along with other changes. Garvey says the governor and legislators still have to review these changes. He says the committee worked the hardest on was creating more clarity about what was expected from teachers and students.
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Spring football kicks off today for the LSU Tigers. The Bayou Bengals will practice 14 times before the Spring Game, which will take place on April 16th at 3 PM in Tiger Stadium. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says the biggest curosity heading into spring is LSU’s new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, who is expected to bring a different look to the Tigers defense…
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LSU heads into Spring practice, thin at linebacker, especially if the Tigers decide to play a three-four front. Moran says incoming freshman, Michael Divinity, who has already enrolled in school, has a chance to earn himself significant playing time with a good spring…
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On offense, LSU needs to find two new starting tackles as last year’s starters, Jerald Hawkins and Vadal Alexander are getting ready for the NFL draft. Moran says soon to be sophomore Toby Weathersby has a chance to be a starter at tackle…
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Three days left in the special session to address massive budget shortfalls this fiscal year and next. Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on lawmakers to raise revenues to fill the budget holes and he scored a victory last night when the House approved an increase to the state’s alcohol tax. The bill’s author, Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox, urged his colleagues to support the higher tax…
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The legislature has already agreed to raise the cigarette tax by 22-cents and it would generate 46-million dollars a year. If the Senate agrees to a higher alcohol tax, it would raise four-million dollars this fiscal year. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody proposed a three-year expiration on the higher tax, which received opposition from democrats, like New Orleans Representative Walt Leger, who expressed concern about layoffs at public colleges, without additional revenues…
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Carmody’s proposed amendment was not approved. Louisiana has not raised taxes on alcohol since 1948. Dry Creek Representative Dorothy Sue Hill also objected to a sunset date on the additional beer tax, because it’s been decades since the last time it was raised
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