With the 2024 regular legislative session in the books, Colleen Crain has a review from Council for a Better Louisiana President…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell’s bill banning unauthorized cell phones on school grounds heads to Governor Jeff Landry’s desk to be signed after unanimous approval by the State Senate. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.” 

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Judges in Louisiana will soon have the option to sentence those who commit sexual crimes against a child under the age of 13 to surgical castration in addition to prison time. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Governor Jeff Landry’s first regular legislative session ended Monday night. Council for a Better Louisiana President, Barry Erwin says there were several anticipated important issues that lawmakers addressed and others that popped up in the session…

Cut 4 (12) “…going anywhere.”

Erwin says it’s possible that a Constitutional Convention could still be held, for example, if Governor Landry called for what would be his third special session this year.

Among the biggest issues lawmakers passed, Erwin says was a package of bills to lower insurance rates.

Cut 5 (11) “…pretty significant.” 

Erwin says a big win for the governor was the passage of the Gator Scholarship Program. The Education Savings Account bill that passed wasn’t what was proposed initially. Erwin says the program will be smaller in scale and…

Cut 6 (11) “…accounts.”

The Gator Scholarship Program is set to begin for the 2025-26 school year.

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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the state will not renew a contract for a Louisiana float to appear in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Nungesser says they didn’t see a boost in tourism inquiries last year.

Cut 7 (10) “…come close.”

Instead, they will continue participating in the New Year’s Day Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, and they are looking for some helping hands.

Cut 8 (12) “…all volunteers.” 

Nungesser says that compared to Macy’s Parade the return on investment is night and day.

Cut 9 (05)  “…for this float.”

If you’re interested in volunteering, visit EXPLORELOUISIANA.COM for more information

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Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell’s bill that would ban cell phones from classrooms heads to Governor Jeff Landry’s desk to be signed. Mizell says there are options for schools to determine how phones will be stored but no matter what method used, positive results will be achieved.

Cut 10 (07) “…in their hand.”

One area of pushback was the possible cost that could have been incurred but Mizell says more solutions have been suggested that wouldn’t add any additional cost to schools.

Cut 11 (12) “…really cool system.”

Feedback from the Teacher Workforce Commission says the number one issue was the lack of attention in classrooms while competing with students using cell phones. Mizell says with this bill teachers should be getting some help.

Cut 12 (06) “…their phone.” 

If signed the bill would go into effect in the 2024-2025 school year.

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Judges in Louisiana will have the option to sentence those who commit sex crimes against children to surgical castration, in addition to prison time. Bill Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow told Denham Spring Senator Valerie Hodges that far too often perpetrators are repeat offenders.

Cut 13 (10)  “…doing it again.”

The surgical castration option would apply if the victim is under the age of 13. Judges already have the discretion to order chemical castration, which is less invasive, as a sentencing option for aggravated sex crimes.

The bill, which a Democrat authored, received overwhelming support from GOP lawmakers. Barrow says such crimes against children are inexcusable.

Cut 14 (12)  “…a baby.”

When someone violates a child, Barrow says it’s something that child must deal with for the rest of their life and she believes surgical castration should be an option, because…

Cut 15 (03)  “…very severe.”

The bill would take effect August 1^st.

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LSU’s season ended last night with a crushing four-to-three loss in ten innings to North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Regional. The Tar Heels scored the tying run in the ninth inning off LSU ace pitcher Gage Jump and UNC took the lead in the tenth inning when freshman right fielder Jake Brown dropped a fly ball to let the go-ahead run get on second base. Coach Jay Johnson didn’t want to see the season end…

Cut 16 (11) “…Super Regional at home.” 

LSU took a 3-2 lead in the third inning when Jared Jones connected on his 28th home run. Tigers relief pitcher Will Hellmers had the best performance of his LSU career as he threw 5.2 innings of scoreless baseball. It was Hellmers last game in an LSU uniform

Cut 17 (17) “…absolutely.”

Hellmers appreciated the opportunity he was given…

Cut 18 (18)  “…I was trying to do.”

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a 48-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year. Jeff Palermo on what it contains…

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The legislative session ends today and lawmakers failed to approve a bill that would ban all edible THC products. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.” 

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Louisiana lawmakers have approved a 48-billion dollar budget that includes a two-thousand dollar stipend for teachers and hundreds of millions of dollars for infrastructure projects. House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland says teachers can expect their two-thousand dollar stipend earlier next school year

Cut 3 (10) “…schools.” 

McFarland says the goal is to make that two-thousand dollar stipend a permanent raise, but they need to see what future projections look like first.

McFarland says another highlight of this budget is what they decided to do with 771-million dollars in extra money they had to spend. He says instead of putting it into the Rainy Day Fund, they will spend it now

Cut 4 (12) “…addressed.” 

Early childhood advocates are not happy with this budget as nine-million dollars in funding to assist low income families pay for pre-k classes was cut. McFarland says part of the reasoning behind this…federal dollars from the pandemic that went towards early childhood education has expired

Cut 5 (11)  “…back fill it.”

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The legislative session ends today with lawmakers failing to approve a bill that would ban edible THC products.  This is a win for businesses and cannabis aficionados. Crescent Canna CEO Joe Gerrity led the effort to kill a bill that sought to prohibit consumable hemp products…

Cut 6  (10) “…total ban. ” 

Lawmakers have approved new regulations, including age restrictions, limits on portion size and where these products can be sold.

Cut 7 (12) “…cans per package.”  

Gerrity says a lot of what he heard on the Senate and House floor is nonsense and the lawmakers that are working so hard to ban these products lack the basic fundamental understanding of them.

Cut 8 (05)  “…what they’re talking about.” 

Opponents of the THC industry says they’re still much too accessible and lack common-sense guardrails.

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In Reserve, a 16-year-old Aariah Henry was murdered early Sunday in what authorities believe was a targeted attack. St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre says the victim was one of six in a Black Dodge Challenger and he’s shared video of the tragic incident in hopes of making an arrest.

Cut 9 (08) “…in Reserve.” 

You can see that video at LouisianaRadioNetwork.com

Tregre says they don’t believe Henry nor the other two females in the car were the intended victims…

Cut 10 (09) “…at all.”

Both cars from the incident have been recovered and are being processed for evidence.

The victim was a 10^th grader at East St. John High School, and Tregre says after talking to Henry’s homeroom teacher, there’s no evidence to believe she incited the violence.

Cut 11 (09) ” …accountable.”

If you have any information you’re asked to contact investigators.

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There were six teams from Louisiana that made the NCAA Baseball Tournament and only LSU is left. The Ragin Cajuns were eliminated last night by Texas A-and-M as the Aggies defeated U-L Lafayette nine to four. Catcher Jose Torres says they gave it their best…

Cut 12 (11) “…your way.” 

Deggs says Sunday night’s loss to the Aggies will motivate his team to go father next season

Cut 13 (09) “…won’t ever stop.” 

Louisiana Tech’s magical season had a disappointing ending as the Bulldogs lost to Kansas State 19 to 4 and then 9-to-3 to Southeast Missouri in the Fayetteville Regional. Bulldogs Coach Lane Burroughs on what he told his team…

Cut  14 (09) “..play good.” 

Tech won 45 games and a Conference USA Regular Season title. Burroughs says those are two great accomplishments, but the ultimate goal is a trip to the College World Series…

Cut 15 (10) “…keep working.

Tulane was eliminated on Sunday with a 17-7 loss to UC-Irvine. Nicholls and Grambling State had their seasons end on Saturday as they both failed to win a game at their respective regionals.

ULM received a $750 thousand grant over three years from the state’s Entertainment Development Fund. Sean Richardson has the story.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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2023 was predicted to be the highest job growth in 25 years for Louisiana, it ended up just average. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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The legislative session comes to an end today and it was a good one for Governor Jeff Landry. Colleen Crain explains…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.” 

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The University of Louisiana at Monroe received the state’s Entertainment Development Fund of $750 thousand grant over three years to create opportunities for students looking for a career in the film industry.  Associate Professor of Communication, Dr. Chris Mapp

Cut 4 (12) “…fill that void.”

The grant allows ULM to do several things by crating a film and media arts concentration, establishing an in-hour motion picture studio on the Clark M. Williams Innovation Campus and host filmmaking summer camps for high school students across the region.

Mapp says this grant will not just be beneficial for students.

Cut 5 (12) “…valuable access.” 

ULM will acquire state-of-the-art equipment that gives students hands-on experience from ADR editing suites, studio sound stages and professional office spaces.  All to support workforce training and help attract film projects. Mapp says when it comes to the potential of the new program, the skies the limit.

Cut 6 (12) “…tools that they need.”

Mapp says this is a rare opportunity to not just make movies but to make a difference.

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Last year it was predicted Louisiana would see a job growth of 40,000, the highest increase in 25 years. But ULL Acadiana Business Economist Gary Wagner says that the forecast has since been revised and the state only gained close to 10,000 jobs.

Cut 7 (13) “…our average.”

So, while the gains were only a fourth of what was predicted, Wagner says Louisiana had an average year for job growth, which is still better than job losses.

As to why the numbers were so far off, Wagner says the figures are derived from 160,000 businesses nationwide. When the more accurate data is gathered nine to 12 months later, Wagner says the actual numbers are from Louisiana businesses.

He says it’s a good lesson not to put too much stock into job forecasts.

Cut 8 (11) “…for Louisiana.” 

Wagner says seeing as Louisiana only experienced a fourth of the predicted job gain, it’s not necessarily a poor reflection of the state’s overall economy.

Cut 9 (08)  “…average year.”

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The 2024 regular legislative session ends today and La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the biggest piece of legislation approved is the Gator Scholarship Program. Alford says it brings Education Savings Accounts to Louisiana, allowing families to access public dollars to pay for private school tuition….

Cut 10 (08) “…in government.”

The Gator Scholarship Program will not start until the 2025-26 school year and it still remains to be seen how much funding will be available for vouchers and who will be eligible and how much will families receive.

The biggest item not to pass is the bill that would have enabled a constitutional convention to take place in August. Alford says it’s a blow to the governor and because it was assumed there would be a convention, many big picture ideas were put on hold in this session.

Cut 11 (10) “…November ballot.”

Alford says an interesting dynamic developed during this session and that is the Louisiana Senate did not go along with everything the governor wants

Cut 12 (11) “…on the other.” 

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LSU Baseball won two games Sunday and they are one win away from hosting a Super Regional Series. The Tigers defeated Wofford 13-6 in an elimination game yesterday and defeated North Carolina eight to four last night to force a winner take all game today against the Tar Heels. Josh Pearson hit home runs in both games and says this team is always in the fight

Cut 13 (13)  “…keep at it.”

Johnson says you can never count out a team with talent and experience…

Cut 14 (11)  “…from that.”

Thatcher Hurd was the big story. The right-hander has struggled this season, but had his best outing of the year against the Tar Heels, giving up just two runs and striking out six. Hurd says Coach Johnson gave the entire team confidence they could win two games yesterday

Cut 15 (10)  “…off of.”

Johnson on the decision to start Hurd against U-N-C…

Cut 16 (13) “…certainly did.” 

It remains to be seen who will start tonight. The Regional Championship game is tonight at 5 PM.