Four women accusing LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor of fostering a toxic and discriminatory workplace spoke about their decision to file an EEOC complaint against the school. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 1 (29) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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President Biden pushed for the passage of the American Jobs Plan during a visit to Lake Charles, a city that could use a new bridge and hurricane recovery dollars. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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In addition to providing a digital copy of your driver’s license LA Wallet now offers the ability to store a copy of your COVID vaccine card. Governor Edwards says it’s optional and free of charge.

Cut 3 (04)  “…information” 

Edwards says users can be assured their health information is protected with the LA Wallet and the ability to have a copy of your vaccine status in the application is ideal for residents who tend to misplace things.

Cut 4 (08) “…lose them.” 

If you don’t have a smartphone you also have the option to receive a printed copy of your vaccine records from a parish health unit or any provider that administers vaccines and uses the LINKs system.

LA Wallet launched in 2018 to provide a digital copy of your driver’s license. Edwards says the additional feature for your vaccine status is completely voluntary.

Cut 5  (10)  “…allows.”

The LA Wallet app is free and available for download on the Apple App and Google Play stores.

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Four women who filed EEOC complaints alleging they suffered sexual harassment and discrimination at LSU Health Shreveport are calling for Chancellor G.E. Ghali to be removed. Attorney Allison Jones represents the four high-ranking members of the school. Jones says Ghali created a toxic work environment hostile to women.

Cut 6 (10) “…behavior”

Jones highlighted behavior by administrative employee Dr. Scott Kennedy, alleging his routine harassment of female coworkers was allowed by Ghali.

Jones says her clients hoped to address the situation privately, but instead the LSU Board of Supervisors held an executive session where politicians were invited, but the media and accusers were barred.

Cut 7 (07) “…situation.”

An internal investigation by the school looked into the complaints but did not find any Title Nine violations. Ghali is currently on leave, but denies the allegations.

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Jen Woerner is one of the accusers. She says this decision wasn’t easy…

Cut 8 (11) “…truth”

An LSU Health Shreveport spokesperson responded saying “LSU Health Shreveport does not comment on personnel matters.”

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LSU quarterback TJ Finley has officially entered his name into the transfer portal.  Finley started five games for the Tigers last season after an injury to Myles Brennan, but was replaced late in the year by Max Johnson.  USA Today Network LSU Beat reporter Glen Guilbeau says after spring practice Finley saw the writing on the wall.

Cut 9 (12) “…play much”

The Ponchatoula native threw for 941 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions in 2020.  While Finley showed some promise, Guilbeau says he wasn’t consistent enough.

Cut 10 (11) “..of games” 

Even though Finley’s time in Baton Rouge didn’t go as planned, Guilbeau is still confident that Finley can have a nice career.

Cut 11 (11) “…than ever”

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President Joe Biden was in Lake Charles today to tout his American Jobs Plan, which he says will create millions of jobs to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure. Biden says this legislation would result in tax hikes for the wealthiest Americans to pay for new roads and bridges, like the Calcasieu River Bridge…

Cut 12 (12)   “…this important” 

Biden says over 80-thousand vehicles a day use the I-10 bridge in Lake Charles and it’s one of 45-thousand bridges in the US that are structurally deficient.

Republicans do not support Biden’s plan. House Republican Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana says the President is promoting a budget-busting tax hike that will force middle-class jobs overseas. But Biden says his plan would result in over 16-million American jobs and is willing to meet with GOP legislators to find common ground

Cut 13 (11)“…to compromise.”

The other issue surrounding Mr. Biden’s trip to Lake Charles is hurricane recovery. Local officials say Hurricane Laura devasted the region and Congress has yet to approve a disaster relief package. The President says he believes residents in southwest Louisiana need the help and he’ll make sure they get it

Cut 14 (10) “..I’ve observed” 

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House Labor approves legislation prohibiting employers from retaliating against employees for sharing salary information with each other, and from asking about applicants’ previous wage history. Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Carpenter says in 2013 the Legislature passed legislation allowing state employees to share salary information and it narrowed the gender pay gap.

Cut 15 (09) “…percent.” 

Carpenter says 19 states have passed similar pay transparency laws.

Carpenter says blocking employers from asking about applicants’ wage history ensures they don’t get lowballed when taking a new job.

Cut 16 (09) “…retirement” 

The legislation is opposed by the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

ID.me the new verification process for unemployment goes into effect today to help reduce fraud. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (27) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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A measure to increase the cost of a hunting and fishing license clears its first legislative hurdle as it receives approval from the House Natural Resources Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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A new program goes into effect today to help speed up the verification process for Louisianans filing for unemployment. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says ID.me will help ensure the correct person collects benefits.

Cut 3 (11)  “…10 minutes” 

Cates says those new to filing and existing claimants transitioning from one type of unemployment to another will be required to use the new verification process.

Cut 4 (11) “…social security card.” 

The identification process is a federal requirement for COVID-related unemployment claims and Cates says don’t be surprised if you have to resubmit verification documents again in the future. She says the process also protects claimants.

Cut 5  (09)  “…those benefits.”

A recent audit indicates more than 100-thousand individuals received unemployment benefits they were not entitled to from LWC.

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Legislation that would have established a closed party primary system for Louisiana congressional elections gets shelved for the session.

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt wrote the bill. She says under the current jungle primary system voters don’t have much incentive to make sure they register with a party that matches their views.

Cut 6 (13) “…record”

The bill had a 5.5 million dollar price tag due to the need to hold an additional election every cycle, and concerns were raised about the logistics of holding that extra election and how it could create a logjam.

Louisiana GOP Deputy Chairman Charlie Buckles says the party authored a resolution in support of the bill. He says the jungle primary system results in elections that are less issue-based.

Cut 7 (12) “…rat.”

Louisiana is one of the few states in the nation that does not have a closed primary system.

Libertarian Party activist Mike Wolf says moving to closed primaries would produce candidates that more consistently represent their party’s mainstream views.

Cut 8 (09) “…candidate”

Opponents argued closed primaries would result in more ideologically extreme candidates and give independent and no party voters less of a say in politics.

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The House Natural Resources Committee approves legislation that would increase the cost to purchase recreational hunting and fishing licenses. State Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet says license fees have remained steady for the last 20 years and a fund that’s helped finance the department is nearly dry

Cut 9 (07) “…big dilemna”

The proposal calls for the cost of a basic fishing license to increase from $9.50 to 17-dollars, a basic annual hunting license would climb from 150 to 200-dollars. Several other types of licenses related to hunting and fishing would also see an increase.

Montoucet says over the last several years his department has done more with less money, but it’s come to a point where they can’t continue operating this way…

Cut 10 (09) “..this bill” 

Abbeville Representative Ryan Bourriaque says his constituents are concerned about higher fishing and hunting licenses and so he’s hoping that as the bill moves through the legislative process they can find other sources of funding…

Cut 11 (10) “…hurricanes”

More discussion on the bill is expected in the House.

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Former LSU President F. King Alexander says the opposition he faced from local leaders to his move to deprioritize standardized test scores in admissions was racist.

Alexander says his support for and adoption of holistic admissions three years ago prompted outrage from prominent boosters and members of the Board, but…

Cut 12 (11)   “…university” 

Alexander says LSU was one of the last schools in the nation to adopt holistic admissions.

The prior policy only allowed four percent of the incoming freshmen to not meet the required ACT/SAT requirements. He says it was disproportionately used to recruit student-athletes of color.

Cut 13 (08)“…laboratories.”

Alexander says about a quarter of all student-athletes at the time did not meet the school’s baseline GPA or ACT/SAT criteria.

Alexander says he doesn’t regret the firestorm his policy change created and wouldn’t do anything differently in that regard.

Cut 14 (10) “…university” 

Alexander made the comments on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.