The Louisiana House has approved a budget that does not contain funding for Governor John Bel Edwards’ proposed two-thousand dollar pay raise. Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews says there is money in the budget to pay down teacher retirement debt, which would allow for local school systems to give an appropriate raise…
cut 12 (13) “….13-50 staff”
Democrats oppose this budget proposal and later this month the Senate will unveil its own budget plan.

The experimental drug – donanemab – developed by Eli Lilly slowed cognitive decline by 35% in Alzheimer’s patients who participated in a Phase three trial. LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center Professor Dr. Owen Carmichael says the medication breaks up the sticky amyloid plaques that cause cognitive decline in the brain.
Cut 4 (12) “…the stuff.”
But there are concerning side effects, like brain swelling and hemorrhaging.

Alex River Fete takes place this weekend in downtown Alexandria. Special events coordinator Angella Guillote says the festival features great music, art that you can purchase and excellent food, especially if you like bar b que…
cut 14 (13) “…the amphitheater
For more information go to alex-river-fete-dot-com.

The LSU baseball team opens a three game series at Auburn tonight. Coach Jay Johnson says Auburn, who reached the College World Series last year, will provide a tough challenge…
Cut 16 (19) “…good opponent.”
First pitch tonight is at 6 PM.

House Republicans approve a budget for next fiscal year that does not contain funding for a two-thousand dollar teacher pay raise. Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue, a Republican from Houma, says their funding plan calls for the paying down of debt of the state retirement system, which would free up dollars for local school systems to give out the raise
Cut 10 (10) “… institutions.”
Democrats are skeptical and so is Governor Edwards. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne delivered this message to the House…
cut 25 (16) “…do it”
The Senate will vote on its budget proposal in a few weeks.

An experimental medication called donanemab (Dough-nan-e-mab) has shown promising results in slowing cognitive decline in Alzheimer patients…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Teiko Foxx.”

The coronation of King Charles the Third takes place in England tomorrow. There are some who don’t like Charles because of the affair he had with his current wife while married to Princess Diana. LSU Professor Meredith Veldman says in the U-K there’s a PR campaign to change the narrative…
cut 8 (07) “…endured”

The Louisiana House has approved a proposed budget for next fiscal year that does not contain Governor John Bel Edwards’ proposed two-thousand dollar annual teacher pay raise. Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says teachers can still receive a raise from their local school systems, because there’s money in the budget to pay down teacher retirement debt. But its a plan Shreveport Representative Tammy Phelps doesn’t like…
cut 11 (09) “…this way”
The state Senate will begin discussions on its budget plan next week.

It’s another big weekend for festivals. You have Jazz Fest in New Orleans, the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, the Morehouse May Madness Street Festival in Bastrop and Alexandria has its biggest down event, Alex River Fete. Special Events Coordinator Angella Guillote…
cut 13 (07) “…art fete”
The weekend lineup can be found at alex-river-fete-dot-com.

The coronation of King Charles III is tomorrow and Anglophiles will have to get up early to watch it live. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana Department of Insurance fines a Texas law firm $2 million for its role in an insurance fraud scheme. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Crawfish producers say consumers buying mudbugs only on the weekend is making it difficult for them to make a profit. Teiko Foxx has more

Cut 2 (31)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx” 

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Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon fines a Texas law firm $2 million for its role in an insurance fraud scheme. He says McClenny, Mosely, and Associates, also known as MMA, admitted to misrepresenting 856 claims of Louisiana policyholders.

Cut 3 (09) “….this fraud.”

Donelon says law firms are usually regulated by the bar association and the Supreme Court when it comes to misrepresentation…

Cut 4 (11)  “…we’re acting.” 

The scheme involved a roofing company going door to door in areas of suspected damage, filing claims, and collecting money from insurers on a homeowner’s policy without the policyholder’s authority.

Cut 5 (12) “…heard of.”

If you believe you might have been misrepresented fraudulently by MMA, call the Louisiana Department of Insurance.

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It’s been a decent crawfish harvest but one crawfish famer says low sales are affecting producers statewide. Chairman of Louisiana Crawfish Promotion and Research Board, David Savoy says a mixed bag of inflation and limited consumption has made this one of the worst seasons.

Cut 6 (12)  “…70’s prices.” 

Louisiana crawfish producers are only getting $1.25 to $1.35 a pound for their crops. Savoy says restaurants are earning $2.14 more per pound for boiled crawfish than producers are for live crawfish.

Cut 7 (11)  “…absolutely ridiculous.” 

Savoy says if the remainder of the season remains at this level, producers of the red crustaceans will not see favorable profits.

Cut 8 (12)  “…whole deal.” 

Savoy encourages consumers to support and buy from local farmers and that will increase the state’s crawfish industry.

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The joyride of four children that began in Smith County, Texas ended around 8:30 this morning in Port Allen, after logging some 300 miles. West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, Sgt. Landon Groger says they received a call from the car owner, who was tracking the vehicle with their GPS. Deputies then found it on Highway 415.

Cut 9 (07) “….of Port Allen.”

(The driver is 15 years old)

The three passengers are 12, 13, and 14. Groger says no one was injured.

Cut 10 (10) “…jurisdiction.” 

And while he admits a 300-mile trip is quite a trek considering the driver and passengers are all juveniles, Groger says he’s not necessarily taken aback.

Cut 11 (05)  “…surprise me though.”

The teens will face charges in Smith County, Texas where the vehicle was stolen.

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Alabama Baseball Coach Brad Bohannon was fired today following reports of suspicious betting activity before last Friday’s game against LSU that suspended sports betting on Alabama baseball in Ohio, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. A statement from the Bama AD says Bohannon violated University standards, duties, and responsibilities. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne says the promise of further investigation makes him believe there’s a connection to the suspicious gambling…

Cut 12 (09) “…firing him.” 

Bohannon named a new starting pitcher for Friday’s game less than an hour before first pitch. US integrity notified Ohio betting officials of two suspicious bets including one worth over six figures for Alabama to lose which caused the closures, but Horne says LSU was a heavy favorite anyway…

Cut 13 (12) “…the case.” 

This isn’t the first time in recent months Bohannon has found himself under fire. Horne says he and two other coaches faced a lawsuit last month over the mishandling of Johnny Blake Bennet’s 2019 rib injury…

Cut 14 (12)  “…formal accusation”

The University will investigate the incident and Jason Jackson has been named interim Head Coach. LSU is not suspected of being involved in the betting probe.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has levied a two-million dollar fine against the attorneys with a Texas law firm known as McClenny, Mosely and Associates. Donelon says they orchestrated a scheme involving a roofing company going door-to-door in areas of suspected damage, filing claims, and collecting money from insurers on a homeowner’s policy with the policyholder’s authority…
cut 5 (12) “….heard of”
Louisiana’s Western District federal court has also suspended the lawfirm for fraudulent Hurricane Laura suits.

Four children, ranging from 15 to 12-years-old were arrested in Port Allen today after they were caught in a stolen vehicle from Texas. West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Landon Groger says the minors went on a 300-mile joy ride…
cut 11 (05) “…surprise me though”
The youths will face charges in Smith County, Texas, where the vehicle was stolen.

Crawfish producers say consumers buying mudbugs only on the weekend is making it difficult for them to make a profit. Teiko Foxx has more
Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

Ruth’s Chris Steak House has been bought for 715-million dollars by Darden Restaurants, which also owns Olive Garden and LongHorn SteakHouse. The original Chris Steak House opened in New Orleans in 1927 and now has 154 locations worldwide, including New Orleans, Metairie, Baton Rouge and Lafayette.

The Louisiana Department of Insurance fines a Texas law firm $2 million for its role in an insurance fraud scheme. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Alabama’s baseball coach Brad Bohannon was fired today after it was reported this week that there was suspicious wagering involving the Crimson Tide’s game against LSU last Friday. Bama’s AD says Bohannon violated the standards, duties and responsibilities expected of university employees.

Bossier City authorities credit a hotel manger for helping them apprehend a man who was on a killing spree. Police spokesperson Louis Johnson says 50-year-old Cortrell Burks fled to a nearby hotel after fatally shooting two people during an armed robbery Tuesday morning at a gas station off of I-20…
Cut 13 (12) “…further harm.”
Burks is also charged in the stabbing death of a 40-year-old woman in Birmingham, Alabama.

West Baton Rouge sheriff deputies stopped a stolen vehicle out of Texas this morning and the four people inside ranged from 12 to 15 years-old.
cut 9 (07) “….of Port Allen’
That’s Sergeant Landon Groger who says the four minors will be returned to Texas to face charges in that state.

The Louisiana House is debating the budget bill today, which is the state’s spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. The House Republicans version of the budget differs from the governor. Funding for teacher pay raises is not included and House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says they’ve also taken out 52-million dollars in early childhood education assistance…
cut 9 (14) “…as they are”

The House Labor Committee rejected a bill that would have raised the state’s minimum wage to 10-dollars an hour in 2024. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Jim Patterson argued the legislation is not needed, because he says there are very few people who work for less than 10-dollars an hour…
cut 19 (12) “….not necessary’

A Bossier City police officer continues to recover after he was shot multiple times while responding to a fatal shooting on Tuesday morning. Police spokesperson Louis Johnson says officers arrived in about 90 seconds after getting word of a shooting at the Valero gas station on Industrial Drive. Johnson says Officer Kenny Gallon was shot four times…
cut 14 (11) “…keep him protected”
The alleged gunman from Alabama is in custody and faces two counts of first degree murder for killing two people inside the store.

The FDA has approved an RSV vaccine for adults 60 years old and up. Pharmaceutical giant GSK has produced the vaccine. In a late-stage clinical trial, a single dose shot lowerd the risk of symptomatic illness by 83-percent and of severe illness by 94-percent. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Expert Doctor Fred Lopez says the CDC approval is still needed…
cut 6 (09) “…..approve it”
CDC approval could come next month.