Our state is losing population. Kevin Gallagher reports on new census data showing 27-thousand fewer residents than just one year before…:
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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Production gets underway next month in Lafayette for a sci-fi thriller starring an Oscar Award Winning Actor. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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With a growing shortage of teachers, the legislature looks for ways to generate a new wave of educators. David Grubb has the story…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m David Grubb.”
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Louisiana is losing population in MOST of its parishes. U.S. Census Bureau data shows our state lost over 27-thousand residents between July 2020 and July 2021. Dr. Allison Plyer is chief demographer with The Data Center in New Orleans. She says the pandemic accounts for some of the diminishing numbers…:
Cut 4 (11) “…55,000.”
The worst losses were in Cameron and Calcasieu parishes, which both lost over 5% of their people in the one-year period. Plyer says it’s easy to see the negative impacts of two major hurricanes hitting that area in 2020. She says the fact that these parishes have no levee protection is a problem…:
Cut 5 (07) “…safe place to live.”
A few parishes actually did grow a bit. St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Livingston, Ascension, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana and Lafayette parishes saw population growth of from 1-percent to 2 & ½-percent. Plyer says – for the most part – there is a general lack of people moving INTO the state, while population declines for various reasons…:
Cut 6 (09) “…decreases in birth rates.”
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In two weeks, the film 57 Seconds starring Oscar winner Morgan Freeman and the Hunger Game’s Josh Hutcherson will begin filming in Lafayette. President of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority Mandi Mitchell says it’s based on E. C. Tubb’s science fiction work Fallen Angel.
Cut 7 (08) “…and morality.”
The production will shoot in multiple locations in Lafayette including the Cajun Dome and is expected to spend $8.5 million in the city and create 500 jobs. Mitchell says $2.7 million will go towards payroll.
Cut 8 (12) “…productions.”
Mitchell says filming is scheduled to take place for five weeks with 20 weeks of postproductions and there’s plenty of opportunity for those who are looking for work in the industry.
Cut 9 (12) “…lafayette.org.”
The film is also expected to generate 2,700 room nights at area hotels. Filming begins on April 11th.
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Louisiana lawmakers are looking for solutions to the state’s growing teacher shortage. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says currently there are approximately 2500 unfilled positions in the classroom.
Cut 10 (10) “…are being impacted.”
Brumley says the Department of Education has seen some success in reaching out to high schoolers to encourage them to become teachers and would like to bolster those efforts with the creation of the Geaux Teach Fund.
Cut 11 (10) “…career in education.”
The Geaux Teach Fund bill is sponsored by Delhi Representative Francis Thompson and would provide scholarships annually for students to pursue careers in education and would be administered through the Department of Education…
Cut 12 (09) “…number of teachers.”
The legislation is heading to the House floor. The goal is to create the Geaux Teach Fund through legislation and then allocate dollars to it.
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We are expecting to learn this morning that state lawmakers will hold another veto session as they will attempt to override the governor’s veto of the Congressional district map approved by the Republican-led Legislature last month. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says it will take 70 votes in the House and 20 votes in the Senate to override the veto and there are 68 Republicans in the House
Cut 13 (12) “..Congressional map “
The veto session would begin Wednesday and the regular session would be temporarily halted.
The Republican-led Legislature attempted to override the governor’s vetoes in the last regular session and failed. Alford says John Bel Edwards is ready to defend his veto of the Congressional map that features one majority Black district…..
Cut 14 (07) “..want and see”
Edwards believes the Congressional district map should feature two majority Black districts because the African American voting population has grown since the last Census. Republicans still believe there should be one and Alford says if the veto override attempts fails, it’s doubtful Republicans will send a map to the governor that has an additional Black voting district…
Cut 15 (10) “..the courts”
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Spring practice is just underway for the LSU football Tigers who held their second practice on Saturday. Quarterback Myles Brennan says the attitude is completely different than when LSU ended the season against Kansas State in the Texas Bowl…
Cut 16 (20) “..has been awesome.”
Brennan is in competition with Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels for starting quarterback. Myles says battling for playing time is nothing new for him….
Cut 17 (19) “ competition as well.”
Accountability and attention to detail are the two big buzzwords during spring camp. Sophomore wide receiver Jack Bech…
Cut 18 (19) “ …get our degree.”