Governor Edwards is expected to veto a bill to conceal carry a handgun without a permit and the bill to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports. Brooke Thorington explains once a session has ended overriding a veto isn’t easy.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Monty Sullivan is celebrating the legislative passage of what he calls “TOPS for grown folks”. Matt Doyle has more.

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Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh wants House leadership and law enforcement to take action against Bogalousa Representative Malinda White for allegedly grabbing and threatening him with gun violence on the House floor. Matt Doyle has the story.

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The LSU baseball season is over and so is the hall of fame coaching career of Paul Mainieri. Tennessee hit six home runs in a 15-6 rout of the Tigers to complete a sweep of the Super Regional Series. Mainieri was visibly emotional in the ninth inning. The 63-year-old says he was thinking about his late father and his nearly four decades as a coach…

Cut 4 (14) “…for more.”

LSU’s season ends with a 38-25 record and the Tigers fall short of reaching the College World Series. Mainieri says his team battled all year long…

Cut 5  (12) “…my last team”

Tennessee won the super regional series two games to nothing. They won the first game four to two and then rode that momentum to an easy victory in game two. Mainieri says it was a tough way to end an up and down season…

Cut 6 (10) “…call it a career.”

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Governor Edwards is expected to soon sign legislation that would provide grants to low and middle-income workers 21 and older who want to go to a community or technical college.

Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Monty Sullivan calls the grants “TOPS for grown folks” who want to go into one of five high-demand, high pay fields…

Cut 7 (10) “…hiring.”

Only those making 300 percent or less over the federal poverty line, or about 38,000 dollars a year, are eligible.

Individuals who meet the income, age, and career field requirements can be awarded up to 3,200 dollars a year and 6,400 dollars total.

Cut 8 (11) “…the like.”

Recipients can use the grants on a range of programs from full two-year nursing degrees to multi-week industrial certification programs.

The grants will cost the state 10.5 million dollars a year and Sullivan expects they’ll spend every dollar of it, and hopefully be able to expand the program in the future.

Cut 9 (12) “…opportunity.”

Once signed into law the grants will begin in the summer of 2022.

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Governor Edwards is expected to veto two high-profile bills from the 2021 legislative session that made their way to his desk. One bill bans transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports, the other the right to conceal carry without a license. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says overriding a veto isn’t simple.

Cut 10 (11) “…override it.”

Pinsonat says to override a veto after a legislative session, the majority of both houses must agree to reconvene and return to the capital city and hold a veto session.  He says it is an extremely rare occurrence and traditionally the upper chamber votes against it.

Cut 11 (11) “…of a bill.”

The question remains will the Republicans want the two bills passed enough to return to the capitol and hold a veto session. Pinsonat believes Edwards already has an idea of how a veto will be received if he does indeed refute the legislation.

Cut 12 (09) “…do this.”

If both chambers do agree to return for a veto session it will take a two-thirds majority vote of both houses to override a veto.

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Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh says he’s filed a police report against Bogalousa Representative Malinda White for allegedly threatening gun violence against him on the House floor.

The incident occurred after a heated argument over White’s domestic violence-related bill that was opposed by Seabaugh. Seabaugh says they were arguing about an amendment when…

Cut 13 (12) “…finish this”

White says as a domestic abuse survivor she was triggered by Seabaugh telling her she didn’t understand the legislation she wrote. Seabaugh says the argument was over a technical difference in the bill’s wording. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder confirmed State Police is investigating the incident.

Seabaugh says White was “way too emotionally involved with the bill” and is “irrational about the issue”. He also says other unnamed individuals accused White of similar behavior earlier in the session.

Cut 14 (13) “…hallway.”

White apologized for her actions on the House floor Thursday after withdrawing the legislation at the heart of the conflict but has not made further comments about it. The bill was opposed by both the conservative Christian advocacy group Louisiana Family Forum and the NRA.

Seabaugh says White is guilty of simple battery or assault and wants law enforcement and House leadership to take action against White. He says if he had done the same thing, he’d be tossed out.

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The Advocate reports prominent House Democratic Representative Ted James of Baton Rouge will represent White if she is charged.

Legislation that results in more state dollars going towards improving roads and bridges was approved by lawmakers in the final hour of the 2021 legislative session. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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A progressive advocacy group recommends that this fall people vote against a tax swap proposal passed by the legislature. Matt Doyle has more…

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It is an ideal weekend to go fishing and it’s also the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Free Fishing Weekend this Saturday and Sunday. LDWF spokesperson Gabe Giffin says the annual event is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to cast a line with family and friends.

Cut 3 (08) “…license.”

Another reason the annual Free Fishing Weekend is held in June is that fishing licenses in the state run yearly beginning in June. Giffin says the free weekend gives anglers a grace period and serves as a reminder to renew.

Cut 4 (12) “…this month.”

The free weekend includes both fresh and saltwater fishing. Giffin says it’s also the perfect weekend to introduce the sport to someone who’s never been before and possibly recruit a new fishing buddy.

Cut 5  (07) “…every day.”

Outside of this weekend, anyone 16 or older must possess a Louisiana fishing license when fishing in any public waters in the state.

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Governor Edwards says he’ll look closely at a bill that would gradually increase funding for roads and bridges by an additional 300-million dollars per year. Edwards is concerned that the money is coming out of the general fund, potentially creating shortfalls in other areas of state government, especially after federal coronavirus aid is spent

Cut 6 (09) “…surely won’t”

Supporters of the proposal say the state has made major investments in education, health care, and other areas while roads and bridges continue to deteriorate. But the governor is concerned about taking money out of the general fund to put towards roads, when the general fund will see fewer dollars in 2025. when a temporary sales tax expires…

Cut 7 (12) “…alone”

The transportation funding bill received overwhelming support in the House and Senate. Starting in 2023, it would begin to shift sales tax revenue from vehicle purchases from the general fund to another fund for highway projects. Edwards supports the idea of investing more dollars into roads, but not at the expense of other key government services…

Cut 8 (11) “..crticial investments” 

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A tense exchange between two lawmakers ended in threats, tears, and the removal of a bill. On Wednesday Bogalusa Representative Malinda White and Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh had a heated exchange over her bill and White allegedly said to Seabaugh “let me get my gun and finish this or I’m going to get my gun and we can finish this.” White then pulled her bill.

Cut 9 (11) “…about.”

House Bill 159 would provide a civil definition of domestic abuse. White who has previously shared that she’s a victim of domestic abuse herself was visibly emotional over the withdrawal of her bill.

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The Louisiana Budget Project recommends voters reject a “tax swap” tax reform proposal passed by the legislature at the fall ballot.

The constitutional amendment would lower income tax rates in exchange for eliminating the ability to deduct federal taxes. Executive Director Jan Moller says this doesn’t do anything for most Louisianans.

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Tax rates on income over 50,000 dollars a year would be slashed by 1.75 percent while rates on income below 50,000 dollars a year would only fall half a point or less.

Moller says the “tax swap” also features some unfortunate inclusions like an automatic trigger that would further cut taxes should the state see a surplus and a hard income tax cap of 4.75 percent.

Cut 12 (10) “..finish line”

Should those two features go into effect opponents argue the state could have to make deep cuts to healthcare and education should the economy tank in the future.

Moller says because the proposal disproportionally benefits upper-income earners and includes some bad long-term tax policy…

Cut 13 (09) “…needs.”

Supporters of the tax swap say it simplifies the state tax code and will make Louisiana more attractive to businesses.

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The Advocate newspaper reports retired Oregon State Coach Pat Casey is unlikely to become the next coach at LSU.  Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says LSU hiring a coach who allowed a sex offender to play on Oregon State’s 2018 national championship team would not be a good look.

Cut 14 (12) “….the energy” 

Another name to watch in the school’s search for a new coach is former LSU catcher and current Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. Bianco has spent the last 20 years as the coach in Oxford and Higgins believes he could do a good job as the head man in Baton Rouge.

Cut 15 (11) “…a lot”