Time is running out for homeowners who suffered damage from hurricanes in 2020 and 2021 to complete a survey to find out if they are eligible for rebuilding grant dollars. Teiko Foxx reports an outreach session takes place today in Lake Charles at the Allen P. August Center from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. …

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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With qualifying for the fall elections just 4 weeks away, could we see some declared candidates for Governor decide NOT to run? Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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According to research by the Public Affairs Research Council, the average teacher salary in Louisiana is just over $52,000, well below the national average. Brooke Thorington has more with PAR president Steven Procopio.

Cut 3 (32)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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As an August 1 deadline approaches, Restore Louisiana holds an outreach event in Lake Charles today to help homeowners who suffered damage from hurricanes in 2020 and 2021 apply for federal rebuilding grant dollars. The event is at the Allen P. August Center from 3:30 to 6:30 pm. State Office of Community Development Director Pat Forbes says many hurricane victims have not completed a survey to see if they are eligible

Cut 4 (12)  “…their homes.”

Restore LA provides grant funding to homeowners who suffered damages from Hurricanes Laura and Delta and the May 2021 severe storms. The money can pay for repairs, reconstruction, and/or reimbursement for repairs already completed. Forbes says the survey is easy to complete and takes little time…

Cut 5 (12)   “…application started.”

Louisiana’s total allocation is $3.1 billion for the 2020-2021 disaster events. Homeowners may be eligible for up to $250 thousand in assistance and homes will be built to meet fortified standards.  Forbes says they have helped thousands of homeowners but the goal is to help every homeowner who could use the financial aid

Cut 6 (12)  “…Lake Charles.”

Since its launch in February 2022, the program has offered more than $208 million in grant awards to over 2,590 homeowners affected by 2020-21 disaster events. Homeowners who are unable to attend the event can complete the survey at restore.la.gov.

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State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter is reminding parents to be sure their children are up to date on their immunizations before school begins. Childhood vaccination rates, in Louisiana, typically exceed the national average, but Kanter says those numbers have been trending downwards the last few years, from 97 percent to 94 percent.

Cut 7 (11) “…that we are.”

Kanter says a 95% immunization rate equates to herd immunity.

He credits the state’s above-average vaccination rate to awareness, broad insurance coverage, and access to immunizations.

Kanter says immunization rates for children have also dropped nationally. The interruption of the pandemic in general is one reason and…

Cut 8 (11) “…concerning here.’”

For example, to prevent a measles outbreak, Kanter says the community needs to have at least a 95 percent vaccination rate. Some children are unable to be vaccinated due to allergies, their age, or they are immune compromised.

Cut 9 (11)  “…threshold.”

Kanter says despite Louisiana having one of the broadest vaccine exemption laws in the country, the childhood immunization rates remain above the national average.

For guidance, Kanter urges parents to speak with their child’s pediatrician about vaccinations. For more information visit Immunizations-dot-LA-gov.

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Qualifying for the fall elections in just one month from now, and the field of announced candidates for governor is fairly big. At last count nine people say they’ll run, but will they still feel that way in 30 days? U.L.-Monroe political science professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says he anticipates someone will drop out before then…:

Cut 10 (11) “…happens every cycle.”

The six Republicans declared are A.G. Jeff Landry, Treasurer John Schroder, former LABI head Stephen Waguespack, State Senator Sharon Hewitt, state Rep. Richard Nelson and Crowley businessman Xan (ZAN) John. Hunter Lundy is the lone independent, and there are two democrats declared; former DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson and central Louisiana educator Daniel Cole. Stockley expects no more democrats will get in, because the state Democratic Party’s plan is to unite all support behind Wilson…:

Cut 11 (07)  “…chance of an upset.”

Stockley says he would not be surprised to see some of the six GOP hopefuls back out before qualifying starts next month. He says it’s likely that state Republicans also want to focus the conservative vote down…:

Cut 12 (10)    “…to reconsider.” 

Qualifying is August 8th thru the 10th at the Secretary of State’s office in Baton Rouge.

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According to research from the Public Affairs Research Council, the average teacher salary in Louisiana is $52,472, more than $12,000 below the national average. PAR President Steven Procopio says teacher salaries in Louisiana are also below the southern regional average.

Cut 13 (08) “…than ours.”  

As for how long Louisiana can get away with subpar teacher pay remains to be seen. Procopio says the million dollar question is what is it that we have to pay to get and keep quality teachers.

Cut 14 (09)  “…teacher pay.”

Procopio says there’s also an equity issue when it comes to teacher salary in Louisiana. He says typically educators in larger cities make more than those in smaller towns, and in some cases, those in rural areas make just over half the state average.

Cut 15 (05)  “…quality education.”

During the legislative session, lawmakers gave teachers in Louisiana a one-time $2,000 pay increase for the upcoming school year.

LSU makes history as for the first time two players from the same school are the first two picks in the Major League Baseball draft.  Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Legislation to increase the tax break for parents whose children attend private school has been signed by the governor. Brooke Thorington has more.

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

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Paul Skenes is the first LSU player to be selected number one in the Major League Baseball draft since Ben McDonald in 1989. The Pittsburgh Pirates used their top overall pick on Skenes, who features a 100-mile per hour fastball and a wipe out slider

Cut 3 (11) “….this position” 

Skenes says he was in shock when Pittsburgh called him and told him they were taking him with the number one overall pick…

Cut 4 (09)  “…in Pittsburgh” 

The Washington Nationals selected LSU center fielder Dylan Crews with the second overall pick. Crews says he followed the Nats as a kid as he followed former number one overall pick Bryce Harper…

Cut 5 (11)  “…as him.”

It’s the first time high school or college teammates were selected one-two in the Major League Baseball draft.

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St. Tammany Parish Deputies have arrested 25-year-old Malik Morris of Memphis, Tennessee for allegedly burglarizing five restaurants in the Covington area. Spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says after a brief pursuit, the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.

Cut 6 (11)  “…a neighborhood” 

Following a brief foot pursuit, the suspect was taken into custody. Carboni says the police chase begin Saturday afternoon on Highway 190 when a deputy tried to pull over Morris’s box truck that was used in the burglaries…

Cut 7 (11)  “…medical assistance” 

Morris was also charged with possession of a stolen firearm and vehicular negligent injury. Carboni says Morris may also be tied to other burglaries in the parish…

Cut 8 (12)  “…those agencies” 

Morris was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center. The investigation is ongoing.

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Beginning next year parents who send their kids to private school will receive an increase of $5,000 to $6,000 tax break per child in Louisiana. The governor signed the legislation that Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel authored.

Cut 9 (09)  “…their taxes.”

The current deduction costs the state about $22-millon annually and that will increase to $24.2 million in 2024. Schlegel says the tax credit actually saves the state half a billion annually. When the bill was before Senate Revenue during the session Pineville Senator Jay Luneau questioned Schlegel about how the additional $1,000 tax credits will impact the state budget.

Cut 10 (10)  “…taxpayers.”

The $5,000 tax break was added in 2008 and Schlegel says parents who send their child to private school pay on average $7,200 a year and considering inflation the tax break should increase. DeRidder Senator Mike Reese also asked how the loss of additional funds will impact the state’s budget but agreed with the bill’s intent.

Cut 11 (11)  “…them there.”

The $1,000 increase is the first since the break’s creation 15 years ago.

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A street racing sting by multiple Baton Rouge law enforcement agencies resulted in 26 vehicles towed and a total of 30 citations over the weekend. Spokesperson L’Jean McKneely says they learned the street drivers were getting together and followed them to different areas…

Cut 12 (13) “…in play” 

The street racing participants were met with a large law enforcement presence around 11:00 p.m. in the parking lot at the Capital Area Technical College. Participants meet to perform stunts like “donuts” in front of an audience. McKneely says street takeovers will not be tolerated and there will be legal consequences…

Cut 13 (12) “…cost you.”

McKneely says Baton Rouge authorities are working to deter street racing activities.

Cut  14 (11)  “be tolerated….”