Business groups are calling on an early end of enhanced unemployment benefits but Governor Edwards says he wants to make an informed decision as to not end benefits too early. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

A flash flood watch is in effect this weekend across south Louisiana.  The National Weather Service says there’s the potential for two to five inches of rain with localized higher amounts. Professor of Research at LSU Dr. Vinny Brown says that rain will fall on already saturated soil…

Cut 16 (09) “soil saturation”

The House rejected an attempt to extend the state’s 180 million dollar film tax credit out to 2028 from its current sunset date of 2025.

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson hammered the bill, saying we can only afford a meager 800 dollar teacher pay raise for 60 million dollars while giving Hollywood 180 million a year. He adds…

Cut 6 (12) “system”

LSU, McNeese and, Southern all lost in game one of their respective regionals and will be fighting to keep their seasons alive today.  LSU lost 3-0 to Gonzaga and will play Central Connecticut at 3 p.m.  McNeese lost to TCU 12-4 and will face off against Oklahoma State at noon.  Southern fell to Texas 11-0 and will battle it out with Fairfield at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, regional host Louisiana Tech rolled over Rider 18-2 in game one of the Ruston Regional.  Tech will play NC State tonight at 6 p.m.

An effort to extend the state’s 180 million dollar film tax credit program into 2028 was rejected by the House and appears unlikely to pass by the end of the session next week. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

LSU, McNeese, and Southern will all be fighting to keep their seasons alive as each team lost game one of regional play yesterday.  LSU will take on Central Connecticut at 3 p.m.  The Cowboys will face off against Oklahoma State at noon and the Jaguars will do battle with Fairfield at 1 p.m.

The Louisiana Tech Baseball team has a lot more breathing room as they grabbed an easy win over Rider in game one.  The Bulldogs will play NC State at 6 p.m.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser will be in Juneau, Alaska next week as part of a partnership between our two states to jointly promote domestic seafood.  Nungesser says after visiting Alaska he’ll be hosting their Lt. Governor on a trip to New Orleans later on.

Cut 6 (12) “winning that”

A bill to cover bariatric surgeries for state employees passes overwhelmingly in the legislature after a long-fought battle. Bill author Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says this is welcome news for state employees in an effort to extend their life and reduce the costs spent on morbidly obese-related illnesses.

Cut 13 (09) “were on”

Business groups are calling on an early end of enhanced unemployment benefits but Governor Edwards says he wants to make an informed decision as to not end benefits too early. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

A flash flood watch is in effect this weekend across south Louisiana.  The National Weather Service says there’s the potential for two to five inches of rain with localized higher amounts. Professor of Research at LSU Dr. Vinny Brown says that rain will fall on already saturated soil…

Cut 16 (09) “soil saturation”

The House rejected an attempt to extend the state’s 180 million dollar film tax credit out to 2028 from its current sunset date of 2025.

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson hammered the bill, saying we can only afford a meager 800 dollar teacher pay raise for 60 million dollars while giving Hollywood 180 million a year. He adds…

Cut 6 (12) “system”

LSU, McNeese and, Southern all lost in game one of their respective regionals and will be fighting to keep their seasons alive today.  LSU lost 3-0 to Gonzaga and will play Central Connecticut at 3 p.m.  McNeese lost to TCU 12-4 and will face off against Oklahoma State at noon.  Southern fell to Texas 11-0 and will battle it out with Fairfield at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, regional host Louisiana Tech rolled over Rider 18-2 in game one of the Ruston Regional.  Tech will play NC State tonight at 6 p.m.

After receiving several letters and complaints from numerous business groups and owners to end the federally enhanced unemployment benefits before they expire in September.  Governor John Bel Edwards says as of yet he doesn’t have the benefit of the study, but he does know that Louisiana is heavily dependent on tourism.

Cut 10 (09) “not jobs”

The Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone” is expected to cover an area of 4,761 square miles this summer ranging from Louisiana to Texas. That’s according to LSU scientist Dr. Nancy Rabalais who says the low oxygen area in the gulf, where it’s hard for living resources to survive, is about 500 square miles less than previous years but still a disappointing number.

Cut 3 (07) “might come through”

Two men were struck and killed while changing a tire on the shoulder of I-10 westbound in St. James Parish on Thursday afternoon.  33-year-old Jermaine Irvine of St. Francisville’s vehicle veered off the roadway as 33-year-old Daniel Thomas was assisting 50-year-old James Breaux of Donaldsonville.  State Trooper Taylor Scrantz says Breaux and Thomas were pronounced dead at the scene and toxicology samples have been taken from all three parties…

Cut 13 (06) ‘be filed as well”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser will be in Juneau, Alaska next week as part of a partnership between our two states to jointly promote domestic seafood.

Nungesser says Louisiana and Alaska are the two biggest producers of domestic seafood in the US and the partnership is a natural fit.

Cut 4 (12) “taleovers”

Business groups are calling on an early end of enhanced unemployment benefits but Governor Edwards says he wants to make an informed decision as to not end benefits too early.

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Brooke Thorington”  

The author of legislation that would extend the state’s 180 million dollar film tax credit out to 2028 says there will be a second vote on the bill in the House on Monday. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt’s proposal was shot down in the House Thursday but 23 representatives were missing for the vote and she is confident they can find the support needed on a second try.

Two men were struck and killed while changing a tire on the shoulder of I-10 westbound in St. James Parish on Thursday afternoon. State Trooper Taylor Scrantz says 33-year-old Jermaine Irvine of St. Francisville’s vehicle veered off the roadway as 33-year-old Daniel Thomas was assisting 50-year-old James Breaux of Donaldsonville with a flat tire. Scrantz urges motorists to be aware of disabled vehicles on the side of the road…

Cut 14 (9) “…on the roadway”

The Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone” is expected to cover an area over 4,700 square miles this summer from Louisiana to Texas. That’s according to LSU scientist Dr. Nancy Rabalais who says the area is about 500 square miles less than previous years but the reduction is still much less than was expected.

Cut 3 (7) “…might come through”

A move to extend the film tax credit out to 2028 was rejected by the House and appears likely to be dead for the session. Opponents, hoping to see the program sunset in 2025, lambasted the bill on the House floor calling the 180 million dollars handed out yearly misplaced priorities, but supporters like Columbia Representative Neil Riser tout numbers from the Lt. Governor showing the credit has a 1.3 billion dollar annual tourism impact.

Cut 8 (10) “…came there.” 

Business lobbyists are blaming the state’s labor crunch on the Governor’s decision to continue accepting federally enhanced unemployment benefits. In response Edwards says he’s tasked an economist with studying the issue, but notes the over 8 billion in federal benefits have really helped out local economies…

Cut 11 (11) “…meeting.”

Two men were struck and killed while changing a tire on the shoulder of I-10 westbound in St. James Parish on Thursday afternoon. State Trooper Taylor Scrantz says 33-year-old Jermaine Irvine of St. Francisville’s vehicle veered off the roadway as 33-year-old Daniel Thomas was assisting 50-year-old James Breaux of Donaldsonville with a flat tire…

Cut 12 (6) “…killing em both”

Scrantz says Breaux and Thomas were pronounced dead at the scene and toxicology samples have been taken from all three parties.

A flash flood watch is in effect this weekend across south Louisiana.  Assistant Professor of Research at LSU Dr. Vinny Brown says we just can’t shake this rainy pattern

Cut 15 (11) “…southern Louisiana.” 

After receiving several letters and complaints from numerous business groups and owners to end the federally enhanced unemployment benefits before they expire in September, Governor John Bel Edwards says he wants to make an informed decision before reacting.

Cut 9 (11) “…or not.”

Economist Jim Richardson served on the Revenue Estimating Conference for the state for three decades.

The Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone” is expected to cover an area over 4,700 square miles this summer from Louisiana to Texas. That’s according to LSU scientist Dr. Nancy Rabalais who says the area is about 500 square miles less than previous years but still a disappointing number.

Cut 3 (7) “…might come through”

The House rejected an attempt to extend the state’s 180 million dollar film tax credit out to 2028 from its current sunset date of 2025. The bill began as an effort to incentivize companies to do more productions outside of New Orleans but evenly grew into a generalized extension of the program. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson hammered the bill, saying we can only afford a meager 800 dollar teacher pay raise for 60 million dollars while giving Hollywood 180 million a year. He adds…

Cut 6, 12 seconds, system

supporters of the tax credit argue it has a billion-dollar plus yearly impact on state tourism.

The Legislature sends Governor Edwards a bill that would allow the use of medical marijuana in the raw, smoke-able form, a bill the Governor is expected to sign into law. The only forms of medical marijuana you can buy in Louisiana right now are awful expensive and Houma Representative Tanner Magee says his legislation addresses that…

Cut 12 (10)   “…tremendously” 

Legislation establishing the tax rate for raw medical marijuana is still working through the Legislature.

A bill to make kindergarten mandatory beginning at age 5 passes the House on final approval. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes presented the bill by Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields and says he’s tired of Louisiana consistently being ranked towards the bottom of the list in education.

Cut 10 (09) “…our kids.”

Opponents argue it takes the choice out of parents’ hands.

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.” 

There’s less than a week left in the session and lawmaker have until 6 PM June 10^th to wrap up their business. Still left to be resolved is a major piece of tax reform legislation that would ultimately have to be decided on by the voters, sports gaming taxation and regulation, a proposal to utilize some sale tax to pay for infrastructure, and a St. Tammany Parish casino vote.