Early voting for the U.S. Senate primary runoff elections is underway. The winner of the Republican and Democratic primaries will  advance to the November general election. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says while there was great anticipation leading up to the May 16th primaries, but there seems to be a sense of apathy leading up to the runoffs.

Cut 20 (09) “…a great deal.”

Remember, registered Republicans vote in the Republican primary and registered Democrats vote in the Democratic primary and Secretary of State spokesperson Trey Williams says if you are a registered no party voter you can’t switch back and forth…

Cut 3 (09) “…this go around”

Early voting runs through June 20th.

Local school superintendents are not pleased with the governor’s plan to take 168-million dollars in public school funding and use that money instead to keep paying a two-thousand-dollar stipend for teachers. Rapides Parish Schools Superintendent Jeff Powell, who’s also the president of the Louisiana Association of Superintendents, says the loss of funding will hurt and school leaders are talking to their local lawmakers.

Cut 28 (11) “…many school systems”

Landry believes his plan is doable and will not result in deep cuts to school operations. A two-thirds vote by the legislature is needed for the plan to pass and mail-in ballots must be turned in by June 23^rd.

A documentary on legendary Heisman trophy-winning LSU running back Billy Cannon is set to release the week of this year’s LSU-Ole Miss game. His daughter, Bunnie Cannon, made the project happen. She says she wants to give fans a glimpse at who he truly was.

Cut 6 (12) “…the football.”

The documentary will be aired by Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

Early voting for the June 27^th election is underway. The US Senate Republican primary pits John Fleming versus Julia Letlow, while the Democratic Primary runoff has Jamie Davis versus Gary Crockett. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the lack of drama in the runoff will likely carry over into the general election…

Cut 6 (13) “….Fleming are funded”

School Superintendents are not on board with Governor Landry’s plan to use 168-million dollars in public school funding to pay the two-thousand stipend that teachers have received the last three years. During a press conference last week, Landry directed local school systems to use non-instructional dollars to pay the two-thousand-dollar stipend for teachers and one-thousand dollars for support workers. But Rapides Parish schools’ Superintendent Jeff Powell says non-instructional dollar covers a lot of the operating costs.

Cut 9 (04)  “…they cost now.”

Lawmakers have until June 23^rd to turn in a mail in vote on Landry’s teacher pay plan. It needs two-thirds approval in the House and Senate.

An already below-average hurricane season is now forecast to be even more so. Researchers from Colorado State University have revised their original prediction down from 13 to eleven, with just five hurricanes predicted now, two of them expected to be major.  While this is good news, CSU Researcher Nick Mesa says it does not mean we should let our guard down.

Cut 15 (11) “…ready to go.”

The United States begins play in the World Cup tonight as they take on Paraguay in Los Angeles. The nearest host sites to Louisiana are Atlanta, Dallas and Houston, but Paul Boron who does reporting for the Louisiana Soccer Association says tickets are extremely expensive and he says FIFA has done that by design…

Cut 12 (12) “…to get in”

The cheapest tickets to get into even low-demand games are upwards of 200 dollars.

Novaspark, which uses air and water to produce power, is expanding its workforce in West Monroe and it’s establishing a new facility in Houma. Novaspark says the expansion will scale production of atmospheric hydrogen generators used in defense and energy applications. State Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says the project in Terrebonne Parish is expected to create 240 new jobs…

Cut 11 (12) “…hydrogen world”

Starting in July of 2027, Louisiana voters who cannot provide a photo ID before they enter the voting booth, will have to present certain documentation to prove their identity. Secretary of State Nancy Landry…

Cut 28 (09) “…Costco cards”

So, starting with the statewide elections in 2027, if a voter does not have a photo ID, he or she will need to provide the poll worker with a birth certificate, Social Security Card or certificate of citizenship, along with a voter registration notice, a recent utility bill, bank statement or pay stub.

An El Nino has officially formed in the Pacific Ocean, which forecasters say will reduce tropical storm activity in the Atlantic and the Gulf. And it’s expected to be a strong El Nino. LSU Health climatologist Barry Keim says we’ve had Super El Ninos in the past…

Cut 7 (12) “…every year”

Keim says not only does El Nino produce a quieter Atlantic hurricane season, it can also produce a wetter and cooler winter and spring if it hangs around that long,

Eddy Furniss is a legendary LSU player as he still holds the SEC record for most home runs, doubles and RBIs in a career. His son Will Furniss has helped Ole Miss reach the College World Series. Eddy says Ole Miss had some bad luck early in the season, but it’s now going the Rebels’ way….

Cut 13 (12) “…only play game”

The Rebels will face North Carolina tomorrow night in the opening round of the College World Series.

Governor Landry has signed a package of election integrity and security bills designed to enhance election safeguards and further secure Louisiana’s election process. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says one of the measures strengthens the state’s voter ID laws.

Cut 13 (12)  “…vote would count.”

Landry says the new voter ID law lists the acceptable forms of identification needed for a voter to cast a ballot if he or she shows up to vote without a state-issued photo ID. It goes into effect July 1^st, 2027.

Public School teachers in Richland Parish are set to receive huge bonuses as a result of sales taxes generated from the construction of the 27-billion-dollar Meta A-I Data center. Greg Hilburn of the USA Today Network is reporting the bonus checks could be as much as 50-thousand dollars for vested, certified teachers.

Vermilion Catholic in Abbeville has put a new policy in place that prohibits its kindergarten through eighth grade students from using social media. Father Alexander Albert says response to the new policy is mostly positive…

Cut 5 (10) “…easier as parents”

The school’s policy largely mirrors the policies of the social media platforms, most of which prohibit anyone under 13 years old from creating accounts.

The College World Series starts tomorrow, and the Ole Miss Rebels will face North Carolina. One of the Rebels’ top players is former West Monroe star Hayden Federico. His dad is former ULM head coach and current La Tech assistant Michael Federico…

Cut 12 (11) “…win a national championship”

Starting in July of 2027, Louisiana voters who cannot provide a photo ID before they enter the voting booth, will have to present certain documentation to prove their identity. Secretary of State Nancy Landry…

Cut 14 (09) “…Costco cards”

So, starting with the statewide elections in 2027, if a voter does not have a photo ID, he or she will need to provide the poll worker with a birth certificate, Social Security Card or certificate of citizenship, along with a voter registration notice, a recent utility bill, bank statement or pay stub.

Vermilion Catholic in Abbeville has instituted a new policy that prohibits K-through-8^th grade students from having a social media account.  Father Alexander Albert says social media has proven to do nothing but disrupt the educational and social development of kids.

Cut 4 (08) “…with each other.”

The social media ban is effective 365 days a year as long as the student is enrolled at the school.

Many families are having to cut back on spending because of tough financial times. If your children are asking questions, Layne McDaniel, with the Louisiana CPA Society says if you are children are young, do not give too many complicated details, but if they are older, you can more freely give them more details of exactly what’s going on…

Cut 9 (13) “…something like that’

Have you seen the social media posts involving former LSU star Paul Skenes playing catch with a group of little leaguers at a park in Pittsburgh? Eddie Dubuis, is a father of two of the kids that had a chance to meet Skenes…

Cut 21 (09) “…talking about”

The Pirates All-Star was driving around on his off day, saw the kids playing baseball, and decided to stop his car and watch. Before you knew it, he was playing catch with the little leaguers and signing autographs.

Secretary of State Nancy Lancy applauds Governor Landry for signing three bills that she says will improve election integrity and security. One of the measures requires documentation to verify identity if a voter attempts to vote without a photo ID. Nancy Landry says the governor also signed a bill that requires Louisiana to use the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program to identify any non-citizen that’s registered to vote in Louisiana.

Cut 15 (11) “…rolls remain clean.”

No LSU at the College World Series this season, so if you are looking to root for someone with Louisiana ties, how about former West Monroe star Hayden Federico and the Ole Miss Rebels. His dad is former ULM head coach and current La Tech assistant Michael Federico…

Cut 10 (10) “…words for it”

School superintendents are pushing back against Governor Landry’s plan to take money away from the operating budget of public schools and use those dollars to fund a two-thousand dollar stipend that teachers have received the last three years. Jefferson Parish Schools Superintendent James Gray wrote a letter to legislators asking them to find an alternative solution. A two-thirds vote from the House and Senate is needed for this plan to be approved. A vote takes place later this month.

A Vermilion Pairsh school is taking a strong stand in getting their students off of social media…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein”

Governor Landry has signed a package of election integrity and security bills designed to enhance election safeguards and further secure Louisiana’s election process. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says one of the measures strengthens the state’s voter ID laws.

Cut 13 (12)  “…vote would count.”

Landry says the new voter ID law lists the acceptable forms of identification needed for a voter to cast a ballot if he or she shows up to vote without a state-issued photo ID.

Many families are having to do belt-tightening because of rising costs. Layne McDaniel with the Society of Louisiana CPAs says in light of that, be prepared if your kids have some tough money questions for you.

Cut 7 (08) “…need to understand.”

McDaniel says when you talk to your kids about tough financial times, there’s no need to give too many complicated details to younger kids.

Vermilion Catholic in Abbeville has instituted a policy that does not allow students from kindergarten to eighth grade to have a social media account and if they do, there are consequences….

Cut 6 (10) “…expulsion”

Father Alexander Albert says social media has proven to do nothing but disrupt the educational and social development of kids.

The College World Series starts tomorrow and the Ole Miss Rebels will face North Carolina. One of the Rebels top players is former West Monroe star Hayden Federico. His dad is former ULM head coach and current La Tech assistant coach Michaelk Federico…

Cut 12 (11) “…win a national championship”