It’s Memorial Day and the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs announces a new way to honor a fallen loved one online. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

There are four teams who are in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. The LSU Tigers are not hosting but they’ll be a number two seed somewhere. Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech, the Ragin Cajuns, and Southeastern Louisiana all received an automatic bid after winning their conference tournaments.

Moody’s has raised Louisiana’s bond credit rating to A-a-2 after it was A–a-3 for six years. It’s because Louisiana has made significant progress “restoring its financial reserves and liquidity in recent years by structurally aligning revenue and spending. State Treasurer John Schroder says the new rating will save the state about 750-thousand a year in interest for every 300-million in bonds issued….
cut 5 (12) “….uhh for the state”

If you are heading out to the grocery store today to pick out meat to throw on the grill. Dave Foster, CEO of the Cattle Producers of Louisiana, has this advice…
cut 13 (09) “….quality experience”

Representative Mike Huval’s cellphone ban bill meets defeat once again. David Grubb has more…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m David Grubb.”

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Most Louisiana lawmakers are on board with loosening the restrictions that are currently in place for name, image, and likeness deals for college athletes. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Louisiana State Treasurer John Schroder says the check is in the mail. On Thursday almost 30-thousand unclaimed property checks were mailed out after a data match to update addresses. The checks total $4.8 million in unclaimed property.

Cut 3 (04) “..the bank.”

The state is charged with overseeing unclaimed funds that can be from a variety of sources, for example, a deposit from a utility provider, or money left in an old bank account. Schroder says his staff works diligently to find the rightful owners.

Cut 4  (09) “…our program.”

Schroder says when the Louisiana Department of Revenue is able to provide Unclaimed Property with current addresses it allows them to unite those lost funds with the proper owner.

Cut 5  (08) “…Revenue.”

And if you don’t receive a check, it doesn’t mean you don’t have unclaimed property with the state, visit LaCashClaim.org to see if your name is listed and file a claim.

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Senate Transportation made the decision to defer Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill to ban handheld cellphone use while driving. The greatest concern for lawmakers continues to be the possible overreach by law enforcement that the ban could enable. Huval tried to allay that concern.

Cut 6  (08) “…to stop people.” 

Huval said that his bill would actually improve upon current legislation that bans texting in driving, as it provides greater protection for drivers and creates measures for tracking citations to find and address potential abuses of power.

Cut 7 (09) “…who is stopped.” 

New Orleans Senator Gary Carter continued to hit on the point made by several lawmakers; that Huval’s bill would lead to law enforcement profiling drivers who may or may not be using their cell phones in order to look for larger offenses.

Cut 8 (12) “…unfortunate consequences.” 

The vote to defer was close, going down 4-3.

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The state House has overwhelmingly voted for a measure that would remove the current restrictions on the state’s name, image, and likeness law. Crowley Representative John Stefanski says the measures would allow universities and their employees to participate in NIL deals, which allows student-athletes to receive endorsement money

Cut 9 (10) “…to do”

The legislation also removes limitations on boosters and NIL contracts would remain private between the player and the business. Stefanski says the legislation would not allow LSU or any school in Louisiana to use an NIL deal to recruit a player to come to their school…

Cut 10 (09) ” ..recruit an athlete” 

The measure heads back to the Senate for concurrence on House amendments. Stefanski says the changes the state is about to make to its NIL laws will put Louisiana in line with what other states are doing…

Cut 11 (12)  “…like you said” 

The measure is one vote in the Senate away from reaching the governor’s desk.

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For Memorial Day, the National World War II museum in New Orleans will have a number of events honoring fallen soldiers. Museum Director of Education, Dr. Maggie Hartley says on Monday they will hold a commemoration ceremony featuring a gold star spouse, that’s an individual who lost their military spouse in service.

Cut 12 (11) “…this holiday.”  

If you’ve never visited the WWII museum, Hartely says plan to spend an entire day or two if possible, to really take it all in. She says they have world-class exhibits that immerse you into the historic conflict.

Cut 13 (10) “…democracy.”

The WWII museum is part of the nationwide Blue Star Museums program. And Hartley says that means if you are active military or a reservist admission to the museum is free right now.

Cut 14 (08)  “…this summer.”

Free admission for active military and reservists runs annually from Armed Forces Day until Labor Day.

According to Gun-Violence-Archive-Dot-org, Louisiana has the most mass shootings per capita than any other state in the United States. New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission director Rafael Goeyeneche says it’s another unfortunate statistic that shows how violent our state is…
cut 28 (14) “….are shot or killed”
Goyeneche says more officers on the streets are needed to prevent mass shootings.

Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill to ban drivers from using their handheld cellphones while driving failed to get out of a Senate Committee and the measure is likely dead for the session. Huval tried to tell lawmakers that his proposed law would not open the door for racial profiling…
cut 6 (07) “…stop people”
The bill was defeated on a four to three vote in Senate Transportation.

The state treasurer’s office is sending out four-point-eight million dollars in checks to residents in every parish in Louisiana. Treasurer John Schroder says since 2018, the department of treasury and department of revenue search for updated addresses to return Unclaimed Property checks directly without the person filing a claim…
cut 5 (08) “…claim”
To see if the state is holding unclaimed property that belongs to you, visit L-A-Cash-Claim-dot-org.

Legislation close to final legislative passage would allow schools and its employees help facilitate NIL sponsorship deals between student-athletes and a business. The measure also loosens restrictions on boosters. Crowley Representative John Stefanski says the law will put Louisiana in line with what other states are doing…
cut 11 (12) “….you said”

“GunViolenceArchive.org” ranks Louisiana first in the nation in mass shootings per capita. Just this calendar year alone, there have been 16 mass shootings that killed 9 people and injured 79 others. New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission director Rafael Goyeneche says gang activity & youth anger accounts for most of the violence. He calls it “retaliatory street justice”…:
Cut 7 (11) “…any innocent bystanders.”

U-S Senate Candidate Luke Mixon says it’s time for Congress to pass legislation that promotes responsible gun ownership.
Cut 15 (12) “…background check.”
Mixon is one of three announced challengers to Senator John Kennedy.

The Congressional Naming Commission has recommended that Fort Polk in Vernon Parish be renamed for World War I legend Sgt. William Henry Johnson. LSU military history professor, Dr. Martin Loicano says despite being down to just a knife and after suffering 21 separate wounds, he kept the Germans at bay on the Argonne Line in France in 1918.
Cut 10 (09) “…by himself.”
The Naming Commission will submit all recommendations for Congressional approval by Oct. 1.

Memorial Day weekend also marks the start of the summer boating season. Lt. Tim Fox with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says boat and P-W-C operators born after January 1 1984 must take an online boating safety course and he encourages all boat operators to take it…
cut 6 (09) “…..good decisions”
Got to boat-us-dot-org-slash-louisiana.

A research website ranks Louisiana the worst for mass shooting incidents, based on population.…:
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

U-S Senate candidate Democrat Luke Mixon says it’s time for Congress to enact universal background checks on firearm sales. Mixon calls for his Republican opponent Senator John Kennedy to vote for such legislation because he says current gun laws are not working.
Cut 13 (04) “…control.”

Congress will decide by October 1st whether to rename Fort Polk in Vernon Parish after World War One legend Sergeant William Henry Johnson. So who is Sergeant Johnson. Despite being severely wounded he held off the Germans with just a knife in the Argonne Line in France in May of 1918. LSU military history professor Doctor Martin Lociano says Johnson who began in a segregated military and was not allowed to fight at first alongside white American soldiers ended up receiving an award for his heroism from the French Military…
cut 11 (09) “…than most are”

A busy weekend is expected on the state’s waterways. Lt. Tim Fox with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says wearing a life jacket can save your life…
cut 5 (08) “…get to you”

U-S Senate candidate Luke Mixon says it’s time for Congress to enact universal background checks on firearm sales.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

State Police says Wednesday’s fatal police shooting in Winn Parish that involved Jackson Parish Sheriff deputies started with a disturbance at a nursing home in Jonesboro involving 53-year-old Abe Banks of Jonesboro, who fled the scene. A police chase ended in Dodson on U-S Highway 167. L-S-P says deputies approached the vehicle, Banks did not comply with the deputies’ commands and shots were fired and Banks was struck.

The Congressional Naming Commission has recommended that Fort Polk in Vernon Parish should be renamed after World War One Legend Sergeant William Henry Johnson. Sergeant Johnson became a military hero for keeping the Germans at bay on the Argonne Line in France in May of 1918. He only had a knife and was severely wounded. Despite his heroism, Sgt. Johnson died in poverty at age 36. LSU military history professor Dr. Martin Loicano says Johnson’s story is a reminder of the many Black soldiers who fought for their country even when it didn’t always fight for them.
Cut 12 (13) “…that was given.”

Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year for boating. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Lt. Tim Fox says always have a sober operator when on the water.
Cut 4 (09) “…priority number one.”
Fox says there should be enough lifejackets for everyone on the boat.