The pandemic caused many women to miss their annual mammograms and surgeons are seeing the fallout. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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A proposal to raise the salary of state lawmakers, starting with next term, was soundly defeated in the House Appropriations Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “….I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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When the pandemic disrupted life as we know it, many women fell behind or missed their annual mammograms. LSU Health New Orleans Surgical Oncologist Dr. Shawn McKinney says she, like other surgeons, is seeing the repercussions with more patients who have advanced or later stages of breast cancer.

Cut 3 (10) “…advanced disease.”

McKinney says Louisiana has always been above the national average for diagnosis of breast cancer, especially among the younger African American population presenting with more aggressive breast cancer.  Last week U.S. Preventive Services Task Force changed course and advises to begin screenings at 40 years of age instead of 50.

Cut 4 (06)  “…to help.” 

During the pandemic, a gap in health insurance complicated matters for many and annual mammograms fell by the wayside. McKinney says there are several programs to help women pay for mammograms and she urges patients to never let finances be an obstacle and to always tell their healthcare provider about their family history.

Cut 5 (09) “…evaluated.”

McKinney says at any age if you notice something different or find a lump in your breast to call your physician and be evaluated as soon as possible.

For a listing of where you find free mammograms and pap smears visit the Louisiana Breast and Cervical Health Program website at lbchp.org.

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The House Appropriations Committee has stopped an effort to increase the annual salaries of state lawmakers from $16,800 to around 39-thousand dollars. The panel rejected the proposal on a 16-5 vote. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes voted against the bill…

Cut 6 (09)  “…goes on.” 

Hughes believes an independent commission should be established to determine the salary of legislators.

Gretna Representative Joe Marino led the effort to raise the pay of lawmakers. He says being a legislator is time consuming and a higher salary would result in a larger pool of candidates in wanting the job…

Cut 7 (12)  “…16-8″ 

The salary for state legislators has not changed since 1980. But Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says he ran for the job knowing the salary and it will not give lawmakers give themselves a pay raise

Cut 8 (11)  “…some pain” 

The raise would have started next year when a new Louisiana Legislature is sworn in.

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LDWF is investigating the illegal killing of one of the state legacies – the Louisiana Black Bear – found in Lincoln Parish last week. Sgt. John Hattaway says agents and biologists responded to the call of a bear shot on Millie Road.

Cut 9 (09) “…the road.”

Black bears remain protected by state laws, which currently do not allow them to be hunted. The Louisiana black bear was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1992. Hattaway says the black bear was delisted in 2016 and their numbers are being restored.

Cut 10 (12) “…attracts them” 

Biologists determined the bear weighed more than 200 pounds. Hattaway says taking a bear during a closed season brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.

Cut 11 (12)  “…thousand dollars”

Anyone found guilty of shooting this black bear may also face civil restitution for the replacement value of the illegally taken black bear totaling $10,000.

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Legislation to establish a partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Louisiana advances from House Appropriations. Bogalusa Representative Melinda White’s bill creates the Louisiana Imagination Library Program with dedicated funding for children up to age five to receive free books by mail.

Cut 12 (07) “…kindergarten.” 

Louisiana ranks 47^th in Literacy in the country and when children are read to earlier in life White says it can increase their reading skills and it also helps their parents…

Cut 13 (12) “…of funding.” 

New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes applauds White’s legislation and supports efforts to encourage children and even adults to read more.

Cut 14 (09)  “…for kindergarten.”

The bill advances to the House floor.

Today is the state income tax filing deadline. Kevin Gallagher reports on changes and new options for filers…:

Cut 1 (32)  “I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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If and how teachers will receive pay raises in Louisiana in the state’s budget remains to be seen after changes made by House Republicans. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Does altitude play a role in weight loss? Researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center are looking to answer these questions through their latest research. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Ochsner Health’s announcement that it’s laying off 770 employees across its 42 hospitals and 200 urgent care and health centers in Louisiana and Mississippi sent a signal the healthcare industry is struggling. Louisiana Hospital Association President and CEO Paul Salles says hospitals nationwide are facing a tough operating environment largely driven by inflation

Cut 4 (08)  “…of expenses.”

Salles says he would not be surprised to see other hospital systems also reduce their workforce.

Salles says regionally labor expenses have increased by over 25-percent and the cost of drugs and other supplies have increased about 20-percent. He says hospitals do not have the ability to raise prices like other industries…

Cut 5 (11)   “…that quickly.”

Salles says acute care hospitals are in line with about a three-percent increase in federal dollars, so government funding is not keeping up with the actual costs of running a hospital.

He says the Louisiana Legislature is trying to help as Turkey Creek Senator Heather Cloud has a bill to create a healthcare workforce fund with surplus dollars…

Cut 6 (13)  “…big difference”

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Today is the deadline to file your 2022 state income taxes. Deputy Secretary of Revenue Luke Morris says if you have not filed and feel you need an extension, you no longer have to file with the state to get one…:

Cut 7 (09) “…to file that form.”

Morris says there have been some changes in state income tax that will affect your tax debt or refund. In 2022, the state’s income tax brackets were lowered, but  you can no longer deduct your federal income taxes paid on your state income tax return. And federal itemized deductions is now limited to medical expenses only…:

Cut 8 (07) “…a balance due.”

Morris says extensions to a November due date are now automatic without filing for an extension but– if you’re not expecting a refund – you must send the Department of Revenue at least part of what you think you owe today…:

Cut 9 (09)  “…to take place.”

You can file your state return electronically or by mail, but it must be postmarked “May 15.” You can pay online at “revenue.louisiana.gov/LaTAP”

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The state budget which had monies earmarked for teacher salary increases of $2,000, has been altered by House Republicans to pay off teacher’s retirement debt instead.  Representative Jack McFarland says this solves two problems, decreasing the debt and it frees up monies for local school systems to use for raises.

Cut 10 (08) “…two for one.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s unfortunate that House lawmakers removed not only teacher pay raises but funding for early childhood and higher education. But he’s hopeful they will be restored in the higher chamber.

Cut 11 (09)  “…to happen.”

The governor also has plans to increase the teacher pay raises to $3,000 if the Revenue Estimating Conference recognizes additional funds.

By moving funds for pay raises to pay off retirement debts, some worry that school systems won’t give teachers pay raises on the local level. McFarland says the issue can be resolved if needed on the ballot.

Cut 12 (12)    “…for them.” 

Edwards says he, along with the majority of those in the state, believes investments in education overall should be made while the funding is available.

Cut 13 (12) “…these investments.” 

Edwards says he will continue to work with the House on the budget acknowledging that if the Senate makes changes, then it will also have to be approved in the House.

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LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is embarking on a $2.3 million study to determine if altitude plays a role in weight loss. Lead Researcher Claire Berryman says to determine whether low oxygen levels in the air can help obese individuals lose weight , they will have participants sleep in a tent with oxygen levels equivalent to 85-hundred feet…

Cut 14 (10)  “…Aspen Colorado.”

Participants of the ‘Low Oxygen and Weight Status” study will sleep 8 hours a night in oxygen tents, also called altitude tents, for a period of four months. Berryman says the controlled effects of oxygen may benefit people struggling with obesity.

Cut 15 (13)  “…weight status.”

Participants will also follow a controlled diet for 2 weeks and meals will be provided. Berryman says the underlying goal of this study is to determine whether sleeping in low oxygen tent leads to increases in energy expenditure, decreases in appetite, and greater body weight loss

Cut  16 (12)  “…more calories.” 

The 2.3 million grant was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

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Saints Coach Dennis Allen confirmed reports that newly signed tight end Foster Moreau could participate in the team’s offseason training activities in two weeks. Moreau has been undergoing treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma since he was diagnosed with the team after taking a physical with the Saints in March. Allen says they are leaning on the doctors to make that decision…

Cut 17 (17) “…his recovery”

After signing Moreau, the Saints are at 86 players and could still add four more. Allen says they’ll keep looking at ways to improve the roster…

Cut 18 (16) “…looking at that”

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The second ranked LSU baseball team dropped its second consecutive SEC Series as the pitching staff is coming unglued after Paul Skenes pitches on Friday night. On Saturday, LSU gave up six runs in the eighth inning in a 9-4 loss and on Sunday, the bullpen blew a nine-run lead as Mississippi State rallied for a 14-13 win in ten innings. Coach Jay Johnson used nine different pitchers yesterday….

Cut 19 (16) “…..right side” 

Gavin Guidry, Christian Little, Nate Ackenhausen and Bryce Collins got touched up the most in the comeback loss. The defeat drops the Tigers to 39-12, 17-9 in the SEC with four more regular season games left. Johnson says there’s great character with this group and is confident they’ll bounce back….

Cut 20 (16)  “… we have to do”  

Ochsner Health is in the process of laying off 770 employees across its system. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Crawfish prices are heating up just in time for you to say ‘I love you Mom’ with a crawfish boil the weekend. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

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Bills targeting the LGBTQ community are advancing in the Louisiana Legislature. Governor John Bel Edwards was asked about the legislation, and he says it worries him because of the increased likelihood of the trans population committing suicide.

Cut 3 (07) “…to be worse.”

Among the bills is one prohibiting public-school teachers from discussing sexuality and gender identity, another forbidding gender-affirming health care for transgender minors, and restricting the use of certain pronouns in public schools.

Similar legislation is also being considered or has been enacted in other conservative states. Edwards was asked if he plans to veto any of the bills. Because the bills could still be amended, he says he’ll address it when and if they cross his desk.

Cut 4 (06)  “…damaging.” 

When he travels the state and talks to individuals, Edwards says it’s not about LGBTQ issues. Edwards says it’s not a problem and he’s frustrated lawmakers are not focusing on topics to grow the state’s economy and improve education instead.

Cut 5 (06) “…focused on.”

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If you’re a working mom, Louisiana ranked the worst state to live in, according to WalletHub’s 2023 Best & Worst States for Working Mom report.  WalletHub Analyst Jill Gonzales says Louisiana failed in a number of categories.

Cut 6 (12)  “…on yet.” 

The report looked at 17 metrics to generate rankings across three categories: childcare, professional opportunities, and work-life balance. 50% of single-mom families in the state live in poverty. Women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, and 73 percent of moms with children under age 18 were working in 2022. Gonzales says in order for the metrics to teeter in the state’s favor… major changes would have to take place

Cut 7 (09)  “…bottom up.” 

The state ranked 22^nd in female unemployment rate and 35^th in median women’s salary. Gonzales says there is major employment and work balance gap between working moms and men.

Cut 8 (13)  “…dads are.” 

West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina were also ranked “the worst” in many categories. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were among the top ten.

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An employee at an Arby’s in New Iberia was found dead in the fast food restaurant’s freezer. New Iberia Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Daneisha Hughes says officers were called to the scene shortly before 6:30 last night…..

Cut 9 (05) “…freezer.”

Hughes says the deceased individual is a female and a preliminary autopsy found no obvious signs of trauma…

Cut 10 (04) “…of foul play” 

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A Denham Springs Police Officer is fighting for his life after he was shot multiple times during a shootout yesterday afternoon in the parking lot of a shopping center. Denham Springs Police Chief  Rodney Walker says his officers responded to a call of a man and woman arguing….

Cut 11 (09)  “…officers down”

Corporal Shawn Kelly is in critical condition. The man who allegedly shot Kelly, 30-year-old Justin Roberts, was fatally shot by Livingston Sheriff Deputies.

Corporal Kelly has been a certified police officer since 1997 and he was hired by Denham Springs police in 2019.  Kelly has received multiple commendations for his generous ways and positive attitude. Chief Walker says Kelly can use your prayers…

Cut 12 (11) “…to us” 

Officers and the public have participated in a blood drive today. Another one is scheduled for Monday. Tomorrow there will be a prayer vigil in the parking lot where Kelly was shot.

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Mother’s Day is one of the busiest weekends of the crawfish season and retailers are dropping prices in an effort to get your business. That’s according to Crawfish App Co-Founder Laney King who says this may be the last big weekend of the crawfish season

Cut 13 (13) “…you can.” 

According to crawfish pricing data compiled from over 1,650 vendors on The Crawfish App, crawfish prices are the same this Mother’s Day weekend in 2023 compared to Mother’s Day weekend last year. A sack of live medium crawfish will run between $2.00-$2.23 per pound. Laney says live crawfish are reasonably priced.

Cut 14 (12)  “…or so.”

 King says fishermen are not dropping prices but retailers across the state are dropping prices for Mother’s Day gatherings.

Cut 15 (07) “…a pound”

The Crawfish App compares prices from more than 16 hundred vendors in Louisiana.