A new poll of Louisiana voters shows their biggest concern right now is with a crime. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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A bill related to the use of corporal punishment in K-12 schools has been filed for the upcoming session. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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One of the biggest decisions lawmakers will address this session is over teacher pay raises. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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A new poll shows crime is the Number One concern of Louisiana voters. The poll was conducted by JMC Analytics for Justice Action Network and shows 40 percent of respondents replied they are more worried about rising crime and criminal justice than issues like the economy, the environment, and public health. Pollster John Couvillon says on the surface that much seems obvious, but there is another takeaway in the polling results…:

Cut 4 (10)  “…punishment is warranted.”

The poll indicates we are worried about crime, but think jail cells are for violent offenders. The JMC poll sampled over 600 Louisiana voters. 7-percent of respondents were white; 28 percent were black. The political party mix was 40 percent Democrat, 38 percent Republican and 22 percent Independent or other party. Couvillon says the SECOND largest concern for voters is the economy and inflation…:

Cut 5 (12) “…folks in the state.”

Coming in third among voter concerns was Education. Couvillon says the subject has many fiscal and socio-political nuances that may deserve further in-depth polling…:

Cut 6 (08)  “…one word: education.”

You can read the entire poll report at “WinWithJMC.com”

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Among the bills filed for the upcoming session is one related to corporal punishment in elementary and secondary schools. Even though policies vary across individual school systems, Metairie Rep Stephanie Hilferty wants to incorporate a statewide rule for the matter.

Cut 7 (11) “…for the child.”

Last year Hilferty sponsored legislation that would ban the practice across the board altogether and it narrowly missed passage. In this session she wants parents to make the decision if the school system can or cannot physically punish their child.

Cut 8 (07) “…approve of it.”

Even though Hilferty believes corporal punishment should be discontinued in public schools, she wants parents to chime in among the school systems that still allow for it.

Cut 9 (11)  “…child’s behavior.”

According to the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents for the 2021-2022 school year, 19 school districts allowed corporal punishment.

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A new study by Tulane University researchers finds a link between how getting sick often may impact how quickly the brain ages and increase the risk of dementia and other forms of cognitive decline.  Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Liz Engler-Chiurazzi says the study showed aging male mice who experienced sporadic colds or flu often had impaired cognition.

Cut 10 (07) “…to communicate” 

This study is the first to model intermittent infections in mice and examine the long-term consequences for brain function. Engler-Chirurazzi says in humans, cognitive impairments from a similar number of inflammations could have increasing effects that negatively impact the brain.

Cut 11 (11)  “…life span.”

The findings may have implications on how infections are handled among the elderly and those at risk for dementia. Engler-Chirurazzi says if dementia is hereditary treatment should be rendered in a way to mitigate those effects.

Cut 12 (08)  “…more aggressively”

Engler-Chiuarazzi says in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to stay healthy and infection-free as possible.

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For his final year in office, Governor Edwards has proposed a $2,000 annual teacher pay raise and if the Revenue Estimating Conference recognizes additional funds, he wants a $3,000 pay increase instead. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin on the one hand lawmakers want to give teachers an increase in pay…

Cut 13 (07) “…affordable.” 

Last year Edwards pushed for a $2,000 raise and lawmakers agreed to a $1,500 increase. Erwin says once again, lawmakers are concerned that once a sales tax is repealed the raises won’t be sustainable.

Cut 14 (10)  “…part too.”

Erwin believes the larger school districts are more likely to be able to budget for pay raises as opposed to smaller districts that have less revenue.

In his two terms, Edwards has pushed for teacher pay to reach the southern regional average which is $56,000. Erwin says Louisiana ranks 12^th out of the 16 states in the southern region with an average pay of $53,000.

Cut 15 (07)  “…southern average.”

Erwin says schools across the state and country continue to be plagued with staffing shortages.

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LSU celebrated its first national championship in basketball with a parade through campus that ended in the Maravich Center and the celebration continued in the PMAC as several players, Coach Kim Mulkey and dignitaries spoke in front of some grateful fans. The seniors had a chance to speak, including Alexis Morris

Cut  16 (17)  “..(cheers).” 

It was just two years ago when Tickfaw native Kim Mulkey was introduced in the PMAC as the new head coch of the Lady Tigers. Mulkey says the goal was to win a national title…

Cut 17 (19) “…(cheers)” 

Mulkey spoke for a few minutes and left the stage with this message…

Cut 18 (21) “…(cheers)”

According to a recent study, states across the country were graded based on financial literacy and financial education and Louisiana failed tremendously. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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After the State Fire Marshal prompted the reopening of closed cases, they’ve made nine arrests in Tangipahoa Parish. Brooke Thorington has more.

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

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Louisiana is 2023’s second least financially literate state according to a recent WalletHub study. Louisiana ranked 50 of 51 states as one of the least financially literate states. WalletHub Analyst, Jill Gonzales says Louisiana ranks poorly in several categories including “unbanked households”.

Cut 3 (12) “….as well.”

The study shows Louisianans also rank low in sustainable spending – with large credit card bills and spending more money than earned.  Gonzales says consumer habits in Louisiana show poor money management and on average only, the minimum amount is paid on credit card bills.

Cut 4 (11)  “…interest rates.” 

WalletHub’s wallet literacy survey that analyzes mortgage, interest rate, and retirement literacy ranked Louisiana below average. Overall, the state is the third worst education state in the country and ranked 18^th in high school financial literacy scores. Gonzales says making an impact in education would be a step towards increasing basic concepts in money management for all ages.”

Cut 5 (10) “…and literacy.”

The importance for people to be smart about their finances became even more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains crucial in the present during this period of high inflation.

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For the past seven months investigations from the State Fire Marshals Office and the Hammond Fire Department have resulted in nine arrests in seven arson cases. State Fire Marshal Chief Dan Wallis reopened several closed investigations and spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says one case involving three suspects is allegedly linked to two Hammond house fires and more.

Cut 6 (08)  “…partners involved.” 

The reopened cases include house, vehicle, and business fires from August 2022 and January 2023.

The Christmas Eve fire at the Hammond Walmart is among the cases. Rodrigue says the suspect confessed it was set to create a distraction so he could steal merchandise and it was tips and overwhelming media coverage that assisted in closing that case.

Cut 7 (08)  “…face everywhere.” 

Rodrigue says assistance from the State Fire Marshal’s Office allowed the Hammond Fire Department to re-examine the seven arson cases.

Cut 8 (08)  “…on our tip-line.” 

You can find the tip line number and the ability to submit an anonymous tip at their website, sfm.dps.louisiana.gov under the report information concerning arson fires tab.

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Shipbuilding giant Edison Chouest (pronounced: shwest) is constructing a 260-foot-long vessel that will be used to support offshore wind turbines. The vessel is being built at the LaShip shipyard in Houma and it’s called E-C-O Edison. LaShip General Manager Wally Naquin says the job has involved 275-thousand work hours and has another year to go…

Cut 9 (09) “…energy independent”

It’s being built for a Danish firm called Orsted, who builds and operates wind farms around the globe. Vice President of Orsted Windpower Mikeel Maehlisen says it will be used to maintain wind farms in the Northeast…

Cut 10 (12) “…walk to work” 

Maehlisen says the E-C-O Edison will house 60 workers who will temporarily live on the vessel while they perform maintenance on turbines in a wind farm…

Cut 11 (10)  “…their home”

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Four Louisiana parishes rank in the top ten for the largest percentage of population loss between 2021 and 2022. The four parishes were impacted by Hurricane Ida, which hit southeast Louisiana in August of 2021. Demographer Greg Rigamer says population loss was expected following the Category Four storm…

Cut 12 (14) “…south Louisiana” 

According to Census data, St. John the Baptist lost five-percent, Terrebonne four-percent, Plaquemines and St. Charles Parishes three-percent between 2021 and 2022. Rigamer says after a natural disaster, wealthy communities recover quickly, but that’s the not case when a large percentage of the storm victims are low-income..

Cut 13 (11) “…re-investing”

Rigamer says people will also leave an area if they are not adequately protected from flooding…

Cut 14 (10)  “…that environment.”