Two species of Cicadas are emerging together for the first time since 1803. But one species might not make an appearance. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Legislation requiring all public school buses to have heating and air conditioning by 2032 fails to receive the support of the Louisiana House. Brooke Thorington has the story…

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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LSU Tigers improved its NCAA Tournament resume with a solid nine-to-one win over Georgia in the opening game of the SEC Tournament. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.” 

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For the first time since 1803 two species of cicadas are emerging at the same time. One species every 17 years and another called, the Great Brood every 13 years. The problem is in 2011 there were no sightings for the Great Southern Brood in Louisiana. LSU Ag Center Insect Diagnostician, Christopher Carlton says that could be due to a few reasons from migration to extinction in the area.

Cut 4 (07) “…reliable emergence.”

The Ag Center is asking for help to document the emergence of individual cicadas but also to see if there are any chorusing activities in the trees.

Cut 5 (11) “…in the field.” 

Carlton says, “Once they are gone they never recover.” And with peak emergence passed there’s still time to get out and help.

Cut 6 (14) “…all be gone.”

Emergence areas can be as small as acre or less.” says Carlton.

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Members of the Jewish community were stunned after House Governmental Affairs voted against a bill to remove gassing as a form of execution in Louisiana. Jacquelyn Stern with Jews Against Gassing says it was as if the committee ignored their testimony altogether.

Cut 7 (13) “…and listening.”

The bill passed in the Senate and Stern was hopeful House members would have also been allowed to hear the legislation but in a 22-16 vote the committee failed to advance the bill.

Committee testimony against the bill included John Sinquefield (Sink-field) with the State Attorney General’s Office who said the use of nitrogen hypoxia is not comparable to the poisonous gas used during the Holocaust. Stern says he completely missed the point…

Cut 8 (12) “…as Jews.” 

During the crime session, Governor Jeff Landry championed adding different methods to carry out executions that included nitrogen hypoxia.

Stern says she and other members of Jews Against Gassing plan to continue to fight for their cause even though requests to meet with the governor have been ignored.

Cut 9 (11)  “…our testimony.”

In addition to Louisiana, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi have approved the use of nitrogen hypoxia for executions.

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The Louisiana House has put the brakes on a bill requiring all public school buses to have heating and air conditioning by 2032. The proposal would also mandate all buses bought after August 1st would be equipped with heat and air. Amite Representative Robby Carter doesn’t see how anyone would vote against a safety measure…

Cut 10 (10) “…in the afternoon.”

But Republicans fought against the bill over concerns that it’s an unfunded mandate for local school systems. Pollock Representative Gabe Firment…

Cut 11 (11) “…thank you.”

The bill failed on a 57-42 vote. Pineville Representative Mike Johnson was one of the no “votes…”

Cut 12 (06) “…local school.” 

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Today starts the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament, hosted on the Southeastern University campus in Hammond.   Athletic Director, Jay Artigues says going from a four-team tournament in 2021 to an eight-team will bring not just a good time but a huge economic impact as well.

Cut 13 (14)  “…Hammond America.”

Artigues says that the Southland Conference sees what Southeastern has been able to create and it’s not just hosting baseball, it’s creating an event where visiting teams and fans want to come out.

Cut 14 (10)  “…for the fans.”

Also starting today is the Conference USA Tournament, which Louisiana Tech is hosting for the first time since 2021. Director of Marketing and Communications for Experience Ruston, Tori Davis, says it’s great for local businesses as seven visiting teams along with families and fans are in the town for the tournament. The Bulldogs are also the top seed so that means a surge in local fans.

Cut 15 (09)  “…here in Rust0n.”

While the past has shown that when the temperature gets hotter going into the summer months, tourism can start to slow, but Davis said that hasn’t been the case.

That is because of other events going on in Ruston. From travel ball to festivals starting June 1st.

Cut 16 (10) “…Louisiana Peach Festival.” 

The Bulldogs open against MTSU today at 4 pm.

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LSU’s nine to one win over Georgia in the first game of the SEC Tournament possibly locked up an invite to the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers entered the league tourney, winners of four of their last five SEC series. D-1 Baseball’s Kendall Rogers says LSU’s solid play of late has been impressive…

Cut 17 (12) “…realizes that.”

Louisiana Tech begins postseason as the top seed in the Conference USA Tournament in Ruston. The Bulldogs will face Middle Tennessee in their first game today. Rogers says Tech is a dangerous team in the postseason, because of their experienced hitters

Cut 18 (12)  “…La Tech.”

The Ragin Cajuns will begin play in the Sun Belt Tournament as the top seed. Rogers says Cajuns have been strong on the mound all year, and now their bats are cooking…

Cut 19 (20) “…as well.” 

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LSU baseball opened the SEC Tournament yesterday morning with an impressive nine-to-one win over Georgia. The Tigers began today on the bubble for receiving an NCAA Tournament bid, but Coach Jay Johnson says he knew a win over Georgia would solidify their chances of making a Regional

Cut 20 (13) “….else does that.”

LSU women’s basketball has a new assistant coach in a familiar face, as Hall of Famer Seimone Augustus is returning as an assistant coach. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1 (35)  “…I’m Mel Bridges”

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Target says it’s cutting prices on five-thousand items in its store. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

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LSU women’s basketball announces Hall of Famer Seimone Augustus is joining the staff as an assistant coach. According to Patrick Wright, voice of the Lady Tigers, though Augustus is replacing Johnny Derrick due to his retirement, she is set to fill a much different role.

Cut 3 (08) “…that stuff.” 

Besides coming in with an impressive resume, both at LSU and in the WNBA, Wright says Augustus also has a hometown advantage.

Cut 4 (10) “…great player.” 

As a player at LSU, Augustus led the team to their first three Final Four appearances and was the first woman in school history to have her jersey retired. After 16 years in the WNBA and three Olympics appearances, Wright says Augustus is the perfect candidate for the role.

Cut 5 (05)  “…the floor.”

This is Augustus’ second assistant coaching job after one season with the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.

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The fate of a Constitutional Convention this fall is in the hands of the Senate as it awaits a hearing in Governmental Affairs after clearing the lower chamber. La Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says there are many questions over Governor Jeff Landry’s appointment of delegates and how they could sway constitutional changes.

Cut 6  (11) “…they want. ” 

Alford says there’s already been opposition from Senate leadership over the governor’s appointment of 27 delegates to the convention.

Cut 7 (11) “…that up.”  

Alford believes the debate over delegates will be significant if the bill advances to the Senate floor.

Cut 8 (12)  “…state government.” 

The bill passed in the House on a 75 to 27 vote.

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Target announces its lowering prices on about five-thousand items in its store. UNO Business Professor Mark Rosa says Target is hoping the lower prices will result in more customers who end up buying more items….

Cut 9 (11) “…first in line.” 

Target says they’ve already cut prices to 15-hundred items and plan to slash prices on hundreds household basic items like food, drinks, diapers and pet foods, which Rosa says this is the logical way to go.

Cut 10 (13) “…routinely.” 

Earlier this year, Target reported its first annual decline in sales in seven years due to factors like inflation and a seedy economic outlook. However, Rosa says Target is proving they won’t just watch profits dip again.

Cut 11 (07) ” …ahead of that.”

Target says the lower prices will start over summer on both national and in-house brands.

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The Ragin Cajuns softball season ended on Sunday with a four to three loss to the Baylor Bears. A disappointing end for a team that won 45 games this season. Brooke Ellestad couldn’t hold back the tears in the postgame press conference

Cut 12 (10) “…all year.” 

Southeastern Louisiana was also eliminated yesterday with a 12 to 2 loss to Alabama. But LSU is moving on to the Super Regionals after blanking Southern Illinois nine to nothing in five innings. Coach Beth Torina’s team will play at Stanford in a best out of three series starting on Friday

Cut 13 (12) “..next weekend.”