NFIB jobs report say only 18 percent of small business owners are planning to increase compensation for workers. That’s the lowest since 2021. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Governor Jeff Landry has signed Marrero Senator Patrick Connick’s bill that would strengthen penalties against food establishments that do not clearly label imported seafood. Colleen Crain had more.

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Colleen Crain.” 

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When you’re making your hurricane plans, don’t forget to include your pets. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Small business compensation plans fall to the lowest levels seen since 2021 according to the NFIB jobs report. Only 18 percent of business owners plan to increase compensation in the next three months. NFIB State Director Leah Long says this is concerning.

Cut 4 (08) “…going through.”

Long says, “It’s not that people aren’t willing to work… it’s finding the skilled qualified workers.”

Cut 5 (10) “…in a small business.”

One industry that is having trouble filling job openings is construction down one point from April and Long says its going to take more than higher wages.

Cut 6 (10) “…in the state.”

Forty-two percent of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in May, up two points from April.

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A surge of imported shrimp and crawfish is flooding restaurants and grocery stores and customers are being misled to believe the product is locally caught. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick’s Menu Law aims to strengthen protection for consumers

Cut 7 (11) “…in this bill.”

In 2019 a law was passed to force restaurants to print on their menu if the product was imported and that year restaurants had 2600 violations with zero resulting in fines. Connick says that was due to the law being a non-critical violation and the new law would strengthen penalties making it a critical violation.

Cut 8 (12) “…two thousand dollars.” 

Now any establishment serving seafood must quote clearly display the country of origin in a manner that is easily visible to the consumer unquote. Connick says the restaurant association, retailers and importers voiced their concerns, but this is the right thing to do.

Cut 9 (12)  “…Louisiana hopefully.”

The law will take effect on January 1^st.

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In addition to making your hurricane plans for you and your family don’t forget about the four-legged members of your family.  LSU School of Veterinary Medicine spokesperson Ginger Guttner says Katrina taught to Louisianas never to leave their pets behind.

Cut 10 (12) “…driving around.”

Websites like petswelcome.com and bringfido.com can help you find pet-friendly hotels.

Guttner says to pack enough pet food for one week, and if you have a cat don’t forget litter and a litter box. Also, make sure you pack their medications and their monthly flea and tick medications.

And if you haven’t already, Guttner says now is the time to have your dog or cat microchipped

Cut 11 (11) “…come off.”

If your pet is already microchipped make your contact information is up-to-date.

Other things you should have readily available if you must evacuate are proof of vaccinations and rabies tags.

And remember to be patient with your pet when you have to leave your home. Guttner says they can tell when you’re stressed and a new environment for your pet could bring out behavioral issues.

Cut 12 (10) “…extra stops.” 

Even if your dog is housetrained, the stress of evacuating could cause them to have accidents.

For a list of hurricane preparedness visit LouisianaRadioNetwork.com

https://lsu.edu/vetmed/disaster_prep/tips_pet_owners.php

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College athletic departments are preparing for the likelihood of paying their athletes a total of 22 million dollars as a result of a historic antitrust case between the NCAA and two former college athletes. LSU Executive Deputy Athletics Director Verge Ausberry says they are just waiting for terms to be finalized

Cut 13 (11)  “…year to year.”

Ausberry expects LSU will remain competitive once revenue sharing between athletic departments and athletes becomes a reality…

Cut 14 (12)  “…look.”

The money that will go to the athletes will come from the massive TV deals that major conferences have agreed to with ESPN and Fox, plus other sources of revenue.

One potential new source is sponsor logos that will be permitted on football fields this year.

Schools will also look to cut costs. Texas A&M has already laid off more than a dozen staff members. Ausberry says LSU is looking to schedule more in-state schools for non-conference football games because it’s not as costly

Cut 15 (11)  “…range.”

As the crawfish season is coming to an end, just how bad was it? Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (28)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Governor Landry has signed legislation that prohibits transgender individuals from using restrooms, locker rooms and sleeping quarters at public schools and jails that do not match their biological sex. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

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The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office has been featured on the A&E show “Murder at the Motel”. The episode tells the story of twenty-eight-year-old Sonya Ortego’s (or-ta-go) murder at the Dees Motel by Jackie Pruitt on March 24, 2016. Chief Deputy Jared Morton describes the scene.

Cut 3 (11) “…all over the walls.” 

Pruitt was traveling through town for a court date the following day and rented a room for the night. Morton says the motive for the murder remains unknown.

Cut 4 (06) “…at all.” 

Deputies found Pruitt at the courthouse where they questioned him and acquired a search warrant for his car and found the victims cellphone covered in blood. Morton noticed blood on his vehicle and scratches on his body. He was arrested and DNA obtained matched the victim.

Cut 5 (11)  “… at the hotel.”

Pruitt was convicted of first-degree murder in 2017.

You can watch “Murder at the Motel” on A&E or stream online now.

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Crawfish season is winding down, and to say it was an unpredictable one is an understatement.  LSU Ag Center Crawfish specialist Mark Shirley says towards the end of the season, April and May, supply increased in some fields, but that wasn’t the case for every crawfish farmer.

Cut 6  (11) “…those fields. ” 

At the start of the season, things looked extremely dire due to the summer drought and extreme heat. December through February Shirley says supply was down around 90 percent. In May supply increased, but Shirley says it was only 40 to 50 percent compared to other Mays.

Cut 7 (11) “…production year.”  

As for the outlook for the next mudbug season, Shirley says farmers are cautiously optimistic.

Cut 8 (11)  “… next year.” 

Shirley says even though supply increased in April and May, for the most part, folks in south Louisiana were able to enjoy them. Out-of-state eateries went without mudbugs this season.

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Governor Jeff Landry has signed what has been called the bathroom bill. The legislation prohibits a transgender individual from using a bathroom or locker room at a school that does not match their biological sex. Denham Springs Representative Roger Wilder says his legislation is designed to protect females, especially young girls…

Cut 9 (10) “…uh oh” 

Director of the Louisiana Trans Advocates, Peyton Rose Michelle, says this law will  only create more fear in the transgender community about bathrooms.

But Wilder says women should not have to worry about a biological man, who is now a transgender woman entering a bathroom

Cut 10 (05) “…their gender.”

The legislation also extends to bathrooms and sleeping areas at prisons and domestic violence shelters. It passed in the Houston on an 80-17 vote and in the Senate the vote was 29 to 10 in favor. Wilder says there was strong support for this measure

Cut 11 (04) ” …guidelines.”

After signing the bill, Governor Landry said in a statement that he’s proud to sign House Bill 608 which protects women’s safety and reinforces the very definition of what it means to be a woman.