State Representative Mike Bayham says he had the honor of a lifetime as he had the opportunity to shake hands and speak with Pope Leo the 14th. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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While there’s progress being made, truancy continues to be a problem in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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Republican State Representative Mike Bayham from Saint Bernard Parish had the thrill of a lifetime as he met Pope Leo the 14th at the Vatican. Bayham says he gave the first American-born pontiff a copy of a state resolution congratulating him on becoming the head of the Catholic church…
Cut 3 (08) “…he appreciated it.”
Leo the 14’s grandparents on his mother’s side got married and lived in the New Orleans 7th Ward before moving to Chicago. Bayham also gifted Pope Leo a glass oyster shell, a symbol of St Bernard’s rich commercial fishing heritage…
Cut 4 (09) “…this is unique.”
Bayham says he asked the Holy Father to keep St. Bernard Parish in his prayers and prayers for his mother Kathy Gomez and a woman who works at the State Capitol who is undergoing experimental treatment for an aggressive form of cancer.
Bayham went to Holy Cross High School in New Orleans and says when you have one on one time with the pope you need to make the most of the opportunity..
Cut 5 (07) “…first American pope.”
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After months of delays, construction at the new Buc-ee’s in Ruston is finally underway. Equipment moved in last Friday, and construction workers started turning dirt on Monday. Mayor Ronny Walker says the delays will prevent the massive road trip staple from opening in 2026.
Cut 6 (08) “…fine with us.”
Mayor Walker says when the new Buc-ee’s does open, it will create hundreds of jobs, and they’re all good-paying jobs.
Cut 7 (05) “…more than that.”
Walker says the quality of the jobs go far beyond the 18 to 20 dollar an hour starting wage.
Cut 8 (07) “…in North Louisiana.”
Construction is also underway at the Buc-ee’s in Lafayette; so even though Mayor Walker doesn’t view this as a race, there could be a friendly competition as to which one will open first.
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While the state is making progress on truancy, it still has quite a ways to go. The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana says statewide, the truancy rate – that is, five or more unexcused absences in a semester – is more than 40 percent. PAR President Steven Procopio says the truancy rate varies by parish, and it varies greatly within each region and demographic.
Cut 9 (08) “…an immediate connection.”
Procopio says the Louisiana Department of Education and BESE are working on a strategy to boost student attendance, whether it be enforcement, encouragement or both.
Cut 10 (11) “…a little bit.”
Procopio says it’s a challenge to determine where Louisiana ranks nationally, since each state defines truancy differently. However, when applying the national definition of chronic absenteeism – absent for more than ten-percent of all class time, whether excused or unexcused – Louisiana doesn’t do too badly.
Cut 11 (06) “…about 22.5-percent.”