Children who attend city-sponsored summer camps in Lafayette this week are also learning how to respond to active shooters. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

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Governor John Bel Edwards has called for a special session to begin on June 15th to redraw a Congressional district map, but a Republican legislator says it may not happen. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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In addition to normal camp activities, children who attend city-sponsored camps in Lafayette this week will also be trained on how to respond to an active shooter. Lafayette Police Corporal Matthew Benoit says it’s a growing concern that can’t be ignored.

Cut 3 (11) “…talk about.”

The presentation covers topics like what to do if you come across a gun and what to do at school if there’s an active shooter. Benoit says two school resource officers who already have a working relationship with students are presenting the program to children ages 9 to 12, and they are able to…

Cut 4  (09) “…more of a game.”

In addition to how to respond appropriately at school, they also instruct children on how to be more aware of their surroundings outside of school and if they see something out of the norm to say something. Benoit says they cover how to respond in a variety of situations.

Cut 5  (09) “…dangerous event.”

Resource officers are also teaching campers the proper way to respond to any threat of violence not just an active shooter.

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Republican lawmakers are confident the Congressional District map they approved in February is compliant with federal and state laws, despite a federal judge ordering the Legislature to redraw the map because it does not have two majority-Black congressional districts. Senate Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Sharon Hewitt…

Cut 6  (10) “…about that” 

Governor Edwards has issued the call for a special session to begin on June 15th for legislators to redraw a Congressional district map. Hewitt says a special session may not be needed depending on what the 5th U-S Circuit Court of Appeals says about the map approved by the Legislature. She says time is short as Congressional elections are this fall and other states are in a similar situation…

Cut 7 (12) “…new map.” 

Critics of the map approved by the Republican-led Legislature say a second majority-Black congressional district is warranted because one-third of Louisiana’s population is Black, therefore two of the state’s six congressional districts should be majority-minority.  But Hewitt says the federal voting rights act says the minority party does not have a right to proportional representation…

Cut 8 (11) “…voting rights act” 

Hewitt says the Black population is not concentrated enough to create to two majority-Black districts.

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Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval watched his bill that would have banned hand-held communication while operating a motor vehicle go down to defeat in the Senate. Huval has been relentless in his effort to make the state’s highways safer and says this push isn’t about taking away rights, it’s about saving lives.

Cut 9 (12) “…you’re speaking.”

One of the major hurdles Huval faced with his bill was concern that it could lead to overreach by law enforcement and potential profiling of drivers. To alleviate those concerns he received input from other lawmakers and agreed to a number of amendments that would have increased protections for motorists and oversight of law enforcement agencies.

Cut 10 (10) ” …in their hands.” 

Huval hasn’t been dissuaded by this most-recent setback. He promises that he will be back with another bill. He says there’s enough evidence from other states, like Georgia, that have adopted similar policies that this type of legislation could not only improve safety but decrease insurance rates as well.

Cut 11 (12)  “…much-needed legislation.” 

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While Americans are watching their pennies due to inflation, Senator Bill Cassidy has some positive news to report. Cassidy’s “No Surprises Act,” to keep patients from being caught off guard by medical bills is showing results.

Cut 12 (11) “…is working.”  

A recent study indicates that 12-million surprise bills are anticipated to be avoided this year alone.

Cassidy says if you do receive a higher bill for services contact the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-985-3095…

Cut 13 (07) “…two-five-nine 53-hundred”

(Louisiana Department of Insurance 1-800-259-5300)

Governor Edwards has called for a six-day special session to begin a week from today, bringing lawmakers back to Baton Rouge to redraw a Congressional district map. The call for the special session came less than 24 hours after a federal judge ruled the Congressional district map approved in February by the Legislature violates federal law because it did not contain a second majority-Black congressional district. Republican lawmakers believe an appeals court will put a hold on federal judge Shelly Dick’s order.

A bill that would limit the release of mug shots will soon take effect. David Grubb spoke with the New Orleans lawmaker who authored the bill…
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.”

School safety is a major topic of conversation after the recent mass shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says school kids are more “plugged in” to what’s going on than ever before, and school officials need to find ways to reach them, so they can know about potentially violent school incidents:
Cut 12 (07) “…let somebody know.”
Brumley says more focus will be made on keeping school facilities physically secure as well.

Helping your child get a jump on their motor skills could be as easy as using an app on your smartphone. LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center Doctor Amanda Staiano says there are apps that help parents teach their children how to kick, jump, throw a ball and even play hopscotch. Dr. Amanda Staiano says far too often young children lack proper motor skills.
Cut 4 (06) “…their age.”
Staiano says a 12-week app program boosted children’s motor skills by an average of 15-percentage points, taking them from below average to an average rating.

A federal judge issues a June 20^th deadline for lawmakers to submit a new Congressional Redistricting map and Governor Edwards has called for a six-day special session to begin June 15th. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

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New fees for drivers of all-electric and hybrid vehicles are set to go into effect. David Grubb has more on what the state will do with this additional revenue…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m David Grubb.”  

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State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says the 2022 legislative session that ended yesterday was a good one for education, especially for teachers who are getting a 15-hundred dollar pay raise. Brumley says legislators also addressed the teaching shortage crisis by approving a program called the Geaux Teach Program

Cut 3 (12) “…their TOPS”

Brumley says another piece of legislation approved to address the teacher shortage is that any resident who has a Master’s Degree in a particular content to teach at a local school in their area of expertise…

Cut 4  (08) “…other professions.”

Brumley says lawmakers also approved a bill requiring every student in high school to take a class in geometry.

Cut 5  (11) “…is geometry.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards has called for a special session to begin June 15th after a federal judge rejected the Congressional Redistricting Map the Legislature approved in February. Research Director with the Public Affairs Research Council Melinda Deslatte (Duh-Lot) says the judge issued a June 20^th deadline for the new map that must have two majority-minority districts.

Cut 6  (06) “…different map.” 

The special session must end by 6 PM on Monday June 20.

Edwards initially vetoed the map lawmakers passed but the veto was overridden and the map ended up in court. Deslatte says Monday’s judgment has Republicans who approved the map seeking alternatives.

Cut 7 (12) “…new map.” 

Deslatte says it was an ending to a regular session that she’s never seen before in Louisiana and with the deadline less than two weeks away it’s anyone’s guess as to what will happen.

Cut 8 (11) “…uncertain at the moment.” 

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One of the bills to pass the legislative session is HB 1031, which adds an annual fee of $110 for all-electric vehicles and a $60 fee for hybrid owners to help offset the losses from gas tax collections. Transportation Secretary Sean Wilson says the legislation is about making sure everyone who uses the roads helps maintain them.

Cut 9 (12) “…average driver pays.”

Wilson says that the feedback that he’s gotten from drivers and the auto industry has been positive so far and that the fee system will continue to develop just as the technology and the marketplace for electric and hybrid vehicles do.

Cut 10 (12) ” …tweaked over time.” 

A number of states already have legislation in place to help recoup revenues lost to electric and hybrid vehicles, and Wilson says that comparatively speaking Louisiana’s fees are lower than most. With the huge investment made in infrastructure in this year’s budget, Wilson wants the state to move to the forefront in both preparedness and innovation.

Cut 11 (11)  “…going forward.” 

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Louisiana is receiving 176-million dollars to bring reliable internet service to rural areas. The governor’s office says it’s enough money to connect 88-thousand homes and businesses with high-speed internet. Executive Director of Louisiana Broadband and Connectivity Veneeth Iyengar (Vuh-neeth Eye-IN-gar) says Louisiana is one of only four states to receive this money from the U-S Department of Treasury

Cut 12 (09) “…the most”  

Iyengar says the money will go to the state’s new GUMBO program, a grant program for internet providers who want to bring broadband service to rural areas…

Cut 13 (12) “…internet service providers.”

Iyengar says this money is coming from American Rescue Plan that was approved by Congress and they know more money will be coming from the historic infrastructure bill passed late last year…

Cut 14 (10)  “..affordable internet.”