Those who are vaccinated against COVID-19 can visit Louisiana’s 21 state parks and 18 historic sites for free through July 31st. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor Edwards has announced the state has hired economist Jim Richardson to study whether Louisiana will opt-out of the extra 300-dollars the federal government is making available to unemployed workers. Business groups say employers are struggling to find workers, because of the enhanced unemployment benefits.

State lawmakers have returned to their districts as there is no legislative activity at the capitol today. The legislative session ends next Thursday and LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says tax reform and gaming bills still need final legislative approval…
cut 5 (09) “….betting”
A senate bill that sets up the protocols and oversight for sports gambling is nearing final legislative passage after the House voted for it yesterday.

A Baton Rouge nurse is on a mission to vaccinate two thousand people by July 4th. Carla Brown’s husband died from the virus last year after she unknowingly brought COVID into her home. Brown says so far she’s vaccinated nearly one-thousand people…
cut 14 (11) “…not available”
Only 32-percent of Louisianans are fully vaccinated, one of the lowest percentages in the country.

Governor Edwards announces that vaccinated individuals can now gain free entry into all Louisiana State Parks and historic sites through July 31st. Edwards says it doesn’t matter when you got your shot, if you have proof, you get in free.
Cut 7 (11) “…state parks.”
The state health department says nearly one-point-five million residents are fully vaccinated or about 32-percent of the state’s population.

At the governor’s press briefing, Baton Rouge nurse Carla Brown told her story of vaccinating nearly one-thousand people after she unknowingly brought the coronavirus home last year, which resulted in the death of her husband…
cut 13 (13) “…in vain”
Brown is asking for every American to get vaccinated.

A Senate-approved bill to make kindergarten mandatory beginning at age five is nearing final legislative approval after the Louisiana House voted for the measure….
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The state health department reports 54-thousand more doses of COVID vaccines have been administered in the past week as nearly one-point-five million residents are fully vaccinated or about 32-percent of the state’s population. The Louisiana Health Department is also reporting eight more COVID deaths.

A bill to remove the state sales tax from feminine hygiene products along with diapers is heading to the full Senate for final passage. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The White House has approved Louisiana’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration in Ascension, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberville and Lafayette parishes as a result of last month’s flash flooding that damaged at least 29-hundred homes. FEMA spokesperson Stuart Lewis homeowners in these parishes who suffered damage can receive grants for home repairs, low-cost loans, and temporary housing…
cut 4 (11) “…those things”

The Colorado State Hurricane Forecast Team is sticking with its prediction of 18 named storms this hurricane season as we are in the first week of the hurricane season. CSU researcher Jhordanne Jones says Gulf coast residents should have plans in place if a storm threatens their area…
Cut 11 (11) “…informed.”

The LSU baseball team is in Oregon getting ready for the Eugene Regional in what could be Paul Mainieri’s final weekend as the coach of the Tigers. Mainieri says he’s not trying to think about how his career is ending soon…
Cut 19 (18) “…Super Regional.”

LSU announces it has parted ways with offensive line coach James Cregg. In 2019, the Tigers offensive line received the Joe Moore Award which goes to college football’s best offensive line. But the o-line didn’t play well last season and Cregg is not known for his recruiting.

LSU running back Keontre Bradford has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

For the first time ever, Louisiana Tech will host an NCAA Baseball Regional. Bulldogs Coach Lane Burroughs says after a grueling Conference USA Tournament where they played six games in five days, his guys are ready to play a game again…
cut 30 (27) “…go down’
Tech will host Rider tomorrow night at 6 PM at J-C Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

Also at 6 Pm tomorrow, Louisiana Tech will face T-C-U in the Fort Worth Regional opening round. The Cowboys are making their sixth appearance in a Regional and they are two and ten all-time. They went 0-2 in the Nashville Regional in 2019.

Senate Finance advances a bill that would dedicate point four-five percent of the state sales tax that is set to expire in 2025 permanently to infrastructure. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward made an emotional appeal to the committee, saying he doesn’t want to see any more of his family move out of state because of Louisiana’s inadequate infrastructure.
Cut 8 (10) “…state.”
The legislation would generate 400-million dollars every year that would go towards road and bridge improvements.

An effort to remove the state sales tax on the purchase of feminine hygiene products and diapers is heading to the Senate floor for final legislative passage. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman says her legislation has wide support.
Cut 6 (11) “…Catholic Bishops”
Removing the 4.45 percent sales tax on the purchase of tampons and, diapers would cost the state $10.5 million dollars.

The Loyola University Law School has put together the first comprehensive report on prison deaths in Louisiana and it has found a vast majority of the deaths from 2015 to 2019 were the result of a medical illness. Professor Andrea Armstrong says suicide and drug overdose deaths were the second and third leading causes. Armstrong says the report points to the need for an independent panel oversight committee to look at prison deaths…
cut 16 (07) “….deaths’

The city of Ruston is getting ready for a big weekend of visitors as the city is hosting an NCAA Baseball Regional, a big youth softball tournament at its sports complex and Saturday is the Louisiana Peach Festival. Ruston Mayor Ronnie Walker says their sports complex has helped keep tourism up during the pandemic…
cut 12 (10) “….every weekend”

The Senate Finance Committee approves a proposal to make permanent a .45-percent state sales tax and use that money to pay for improved roads and bridges. Baton Rouge Democratic Senator Regina Barrow is concerned that dedicating this money, which would be about 400-million dollars a year, could lead to financial problems elsewhere…
cut 9 (09) “…education”
And a conservative group of lawmakers says this portion of the sales tax should roll off the books in 2025 as intended when passed in 2018.

The Loyola University Law school releases the first comprehensive report on inmate deaths in Louisiana. Professor Andrea (On-dree-ah) Armstrong says 786 known inmates died from 2015 to 2019. She says most of the deaths are the result of medical illness and only half of the preexisting conditions were diagnosed while incarcerated.
Cut 14 (10) “…behind bars.”

A bill that would give voters in St. Tammany Parish an opportunity to decide in October if gaming can be legalized in that parish so that a casino can be built in Slidell received approval from the Senate Finance Committee. Spectrum Gaming VP Matthew Roob provided committee members with information on the number of Louisiana gamblers who visit casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast…
cut 5 (10) “…region”
But St. Tammany resident Linda Thornhill is skeptical about how gaming revenue is appropriated.
Cut 6 (12)”…it did.”
Despite the opposition, the measure heads to the Senate floor for final legislative passage.

Legislation dedicating a portion of the state sales tax that is set to expire in 2025 cleared a Senate committee 7-4 and is headed to the Senate floor. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The White House has approved Louisiana’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of the flash flooding last month that damaged several thousand homes and left five people dead. The declaration will allow affected residents in Ascension, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, and Lafayette parishes to register for FEMA aid.

An effort to give voters in St. Tammany Parish a chance to vote on whether they want a new riverboat casino in Slidell cleared a key legislative hurdle as it passed the Senate Finance Committee on a five to four vote. Spectrum Gaming VP Matthew Roob says a casino in Slidell would keep thousands of gamblers in Louisiana from going to the Mississippi Gulf Coast…
cut 5 (10) “…region”
The proposal heads to the Senate floor for final legislative approval.

The city of Ruston is getting ready for a big weekend. Louisiana Tech is hosting an NCAA baseball regional, the city is also hosting a youth softball tournament and the Louisiana Peach Festival is Saturday. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker…
cut 13 (07) “…you want”

Legislation that would extend a temporary sales tax beyond 2025 and use that money to improve roads and bridges receives the approval of the Senate Finance Committee. Metairie Republican Senator Cameron Henry is not too keen on permanently extending a tax that was a temporary solution to a previous budget crisis…
cut 10 (11) “….an income tax”
The bill heads to the Senate where it will need two-thirds approval.

Legislation that would give voters in St. Tammany Parish an opportunity to vote on whether they want a riverboat casino in Slidell is advancing to the Senate floor after a close vote in Senate Finance. Chairman Bodi White had this to say to the opponents who testified against the legislation…
cut 7 (11) “…what we do”

The first-ever comprehensive report of deaths behind bars in the state is released by Loyola Law. Brooke Thorington has more on what the study found among the 786 deaths from 2015 to 2019.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the fatal shooting of a woman who was found dead this morning inside an apartment on Houma Boulevard. The sheriff says there is no suspect or motive available at this time. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office says human remains were discovered in a wooded area of Golden Meadow just north of Yankee canal. An autopsy is scheduled.