There are many tired LSU fans today after watching the Tigers baseball team beat Oregon twice, once on Sunday and then again last night to advance to the Super Regionals. Pitcher Landon Marceaux started Friday’s loss to Gonzaga, but came back last night to get the win in relief….
cut 14 (05) “…to me”
The Tigers will head to Tennessee for a Super Regional Series. Game one versus the Vols is Saturday night.

A bill to ban drivers from holding their cellphones while driving failed by one vote on the Senate floor. Covington Senator Patrick McMath tried to make the case that it would cut down on distracted driving, but Franklin Senator Bret Allain did not buy the argument…
cut 5 (14) “>…out there”
Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval has been trying to get this bill passed for years.

A bill to allow social media users to sue companies like Twitter and Facebook if their posts are censored for religious or political views is dead for the legislative session. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (31) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Speaking of social media, Governor Edwards is now on tik tok….
cut 30 (10) “….
The short video post concludes with a graphic telling Louisiana residents they can call 1-855-453-0774 to make an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

A bill that would have banned drivers from handling their cell phones while behind the wheel failed by one vote in the Senate. The House-approved measure needed 20 votes to pass the upper chamber, but it received 19. Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock says the legislation is too much of an infringement on personal freedoms
Cut 3 (11) “…state law”
Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval has been trying to get this legislation passed for years.

For the first time since 1989, LSU baseball won a regional championship on the road and they needed to win four straight elimination games to do so. The Tigers won the Eugene Regional with a nine to eight win over Oregon last night as Gavin Dugas hit two home runs…
cut 12 (06) “…this tournament”
LSU advances to the Super Regionals where they’ll play Tennessee on Thursday.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Canadian-based Canfor Corporation announce a new 160 million dollar lumber mill will be built in Beauregard Parish near DeRidder. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the mill is expected to create 130 new direct jobs with an average salary of nearly 60-thousand dollars and also 386 new indirect jobs…
Cut 6 (9) “…opportunity for us”
Canfor will locate the facility at the Beauregard Regional Airport and start-up is expected to begin late in the third quarter of next year.

Ochsner has started enrolling children between five and eleven-years old in Shreveport and New Orleans for a Pfizer COVID 19 vaccine trial. Erik Piccoli has more

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Erik Piccoli”

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Despite the pandemic, Louisiana ranks number one in the nation for graduating seniors completing financial aid forms needed to pay for college. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Legislation that would allow college athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness is nearing final legislative passage after it received House approval on Monday.  Taylor Sharp has the story.

Cut 3 (28)  “…I’m Taylor Sharp.”

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Ochsner Health has started to enroll five to eleven-year-olds in New Orleans and Shreveport  to participate in a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trial. Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Julia Garcia-Diaz says this trial differs from prior ones since the patients will be monitored for 18 months and there’s a 75-percent chance they will get the vaccine instead of a placebo…

Cut 4 (10) “…get the vaccine”

Participants who get the placebo will get the vaccine after six months.

Health officials say getting children vaccinated is critical to reaching herd immunity since they make up a third of the population. Ochsner Health System Chair of Pediatrics Dr. William Lennarz says an increase in variants has made it more critical for children to get vaccinated…

Cut 5 (10) “…doesn’t mean none”

According to federal and state data, about 300 children have died from complications connected to COVID-19, including eight in Louisiana.

Ochsner expects to enroll 75 patients at their two sites in Shreveport and New Orleans. Lennarz says to better suit the children the potency of the doses has been changed.

Cut 6 (8) “…doses in use”

Those interested in participating can visit ochsner.org and schedule their appointment.

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According to the National College Attainment Networks FAFSA Tracker, Louisiana ranks number one in the country in terms of financial aid completion with 33-thousand of Louisiana’s 2021 high school graduates completing their FAFSA. LOSFA Executive Director DR. Sujuan Boutte says it’s been a team effort.

Cut 7 (11) “…the GO Grant”

Louisiana schools require students to fill out the FAFSA forms in order to graduate helping them receive the financial aid they wouldn’t have known about. Boutte says students and parents are getting the message that they should always file the form regardless of their financial situation.

Cut 8 (8) “…to pay back” 

Students who have graduated from high school in 2021 have until June 30th, 2022 to complete a FAFSA but Boutte says the earlier one applies the better.

Cut 9 (11) “…is not complete”

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College athletes in Louisiana would be able to profit from their name, image, and likeness under a bill that is very close to final legislative approval after the House approved the measure on an 88-7 vote.  Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says once the governor signs the proposed law, it will be effective immediately.

Cut 10 (06) “…football season”

Athletes would receive compensation for sponsorships, endorsements, and even social media presence.  Connick says another way athletes can make money is through an licensing agreement.

Cut 11 (16) “…school.”

Connick says this bill is important because it ensures that Louisiana schools are not at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to recruiting student-athletes…

Cut 12 (12) “…other states.”

18 other states have passed similar laws.

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State senators are no longer pushing to make a temporary state sales tax permanent to fund highway transportation projects, instead, the Senate approved a bill to take revenue from vehicle sales taxes and spend it on roads. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says it would result in 375-million dollars in additional dollars for infrastructure

Cut 13 (10) “…term”

The measure heads to the House for their review and there are only three days left in the session. Currently, money from vehicle sales taxes goes into the general fund, but Ward’s proposal would use 75-percent of that money on roads and bridges…

Cut 14 (10) “…sub fund.”

But if lawmakers take money away from the general fund that would mean fewer dollars, for higher education, health care and public safety programs. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt still supports the effort

Cut 15 (06)“…to me”

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The LSU Tigers are headed to the Super Regionals after winning a wild nine to eight win over the Oregon Ducks in Eugene last night. The Tigers took the lead for the good with a three-run eighth. The go-ahead run scored when Oregon pitcher Kolby Somers balked to bring Cade Doughty home from third. LSU’s Landon Marceaux was the winning pitcher as the Friday night starter came out of the bullpen on two days rest to get the final seven outs. Coach Paul Mainieri

Cut 16 (17) “…regional championship.”

The Tigers hit three home runs on the night, one by Drew Bianco and two by Gavin Dugas (Doo-gahs) who had three home runs for the regional. Mainieri says the Tigers left fielder has been their rock all season

Cut 17 (12) this weekend.” 

LSU will now get ready to play Tennessee and Mainieri has at least one more weekend in the dugout. But the hall of fame coach says this postseason run should be about the players…

Cut  18 (14)”..for them.” (2x)

Individuals convicted of possessing a small amount of marijuana will no longer face jail time, even if they are a repeat offender as a result of legislation that received final legislative approval in the Louisiana Senate today (on Monday). Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says the legislation would help reduce overcrowding at local jails and reduce costs…
cut 8 (06) “…than anythuing”
People who have up to 14 grams of marijuana would face a fine no more than 100-dollars instead of the current fine of 300-dollars. Central Senator Bodi White says he can’t support it…
cut 30 (10) “…that’s all this is”
Despite the opposition, the measure heads to the governor’s desk.

The Senate also overwhelming voted for a House-approved bill that would raise the legal age to purchase tobacco and vape products from 18 to 21 years old.

College athletes in Louisiana would be able to profit from their name, image, and likeness under a bill that is very close to final legislative approval after the House approved the measure on an 88-7 vote. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says once the governor signs the proposed law, it will be effective immediately.
Cut 10 (09) “…football season”
Athletes would receive compensation for sponsorships, endorsements, and even social media presence. 18 other states have passed similar laws.

Senate leaders have given up on the idea of making an expiring temporary sales tax permanent and using that funding for roads. Instead, the legislation was re-worked to take 75-percent of the money generated from the state’s vehicle sales tax and spend it on transportation projects. But if passed, it would mean less money for colleges and health care.

The Louisiana Senate has given final legislative approval to a bill that will decriminalize the possession of 14 grams or less of marijuana. The proposal needed 20 votes to pass and that’s exactly how many it got as Senate President Page Cortez read the vote tally…
Cut 6 (10) “…the table”
The proposal heads to the governor’s desk. If signed into law, a person caught with a small amount of pot would not face jail time.

Also heading to the governor’s desk is legislation that would result in a referendum in St. Tammany Parish to see if they want to legalize riverboat gaming so a casino can be built in Slidell.

This afternoon the House passed a Senate bill that would allow college athletes to profit off of their name, image, and likeness through endorsements and sponsorships.

The state legislative auditor’s office releases a report that finds Louisiana Workforce Commission Workers may have been improperly compensated by 786-thousand dollars based off a paid leave program. Auditor Ricky Rodriguez says the way they see it, some employees were paid double the amount of time they actually work….
cut 10 (10) “….80 hours”
LWC Secretary Ava Cates says the extra payments were made when the agency’s employees were pushed to the limit during the first few weeks of the pandemic.

LSU had several great pitching performances yesterday as it staved off elimination in the Eugene Regional to beat Gonzaga and Oregon. The Tigers will face Oregon again tonight and the winner advances to the super regionals. Coach Paul Mainieri on who might pitch…
cut 14 (09) “…to win”
First pitch tonight is at 9 PM.

The LSU Baseball team will look to keep Paul Mainieri’s coaching career going as the Tigers take on Oregon tonight in the Eugene Regional championship game…
Cut 2 (30) …I’m Jim Shannon”

The Louisiana Senate has sent a bill to the governor’s desk that would eliminate jail time as a possibility for someone convicted of possessing 14 grams or less of marijuana. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau pushed for approval in the upper chamber…
cut 8 (06) “…than anything else”
It’s unknown if this legislation will receive the governor’s signature.

An audit conducted by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office says that the Louisiana Workforce Commission may have violated State Civil Service Rules by improperly paying employees 786-thousand dollars during the first three weeks of the pandemic. Auditor Ricky Rodriguez says the agency was using a special paid leave program…
cut 11 (08) “…compensated for”
But LWC Secretary Ava Cates says their employees were pushed to the limit during the first few weeks of the public health emergency and were paid in accordance with LWC policy.

State Troopers are still searching for a vehicle involved in the May 26th fatal hit in run in St. Helena Parish that killed a two-year-old girl and injured three others. Trooper Will Huggins says a family of four was outside of their vehicle on LA Highway 1045 due to a previous car accident…
Cut 3 (7) “…the suspect vehicle”
The vehicle has been described by witnesses as a light-colored van or SUV.

A bill that eliminates jail time and lowers the fines associated with the possession of 14 grams of marijuana or less has passed in the Senate and heads to the governor’s desk. Erik Piccoli has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Erik Piccoli.”

The Senate also approved a bill that would raise the age to purchase tobacco, alternative nicotine, or vape products from 18 to 21 years old. The upper chamber also approved a bill that would eliminate the state sales tax in mid-2022 on purchases of diapers and feminine hygiene products. Both measures return to the House for approval of Senate changes.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office says 27-percent of the pandemic-related unemployment insurance claims they reviewed had inconsistent or missing information. Assistant Director for the Legislative Auditor’s office Ricky Rodriguez says that should have been a red flag that the claimant was not entitled to the benefits…
cut 9 (12) “…those payments”
The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the agency was facing unprecedented challenges but still thwarted two large-scale fraud attempts.

LSU had several great pitching performances yesterday as it staved off elimination in the Eugene Regional to beat Gonzaga and Oregon. The Tigers will face Oregon again tonight and the winner advances to the super regionals. Coach Paul Mainieri on who might pitch…
cut 14 (09) “…to win”
First pitch tonight is at 9 PM.