Higher ed leaders are celebrating the 38 billion dollar budget for next year that’s headed to the Governor’s desk. Contained within is a roughly two and a half percent average pay raise for higher ed faculty, and a few other items that UL System President Jim Henderson calls transformative…

Cut 4 (09)”…higher education”

TOPs is fully funded and Go Grants have also been expanded.

Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Colonel Joey Strickland asks you to take a moment out of your day today to pay respects to those who died serving the United States. He says Memorial Day is most importantly about those who fell but is also an opportunity to remember those who are still serving, like our National Guardsmen who are overseas…

Cut 13 (07) “…are”

Hurricane season starts tomorrow so check your flood insurance renewal status.

If you’re hitting the waterways you are not alone on this Memorial Day. A boat towing company says to expect a jump in the number of boaters and new navigators. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

We’ll find out whether or not LSU makes it into the NCAA tournament today at 11 AM. The team had a disappointing 13 and 17 SEC record but their chances could be buoyed by coach Paul Mainieri’s retirement announcement. In other college baseball news Tech will be hosting a regional.

Americans observe Memorial Day today, remembering those who died serving our country. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Colonel Joey Strickland says today is partially about remembering those who have served in the military, but…

Cut 12 (12) “…forgotten”

UL System President Jim Henderson calls the budget for the fiscal year starting in July the biggest investment in higher education the state has seen in 13 years. The 38 billion dollar spending plan is headed to the Governor’s desk. Henderson says it features a faculty pay raise that breaks down to about a two to two and a half percent increase.

Cut 3 (10)  “…for us.”

Henderson says this raise gets faculty a quarter of the way to the southern regional average.

Not only are there more drivers on the road for Memorial Day this year, but according to a Sea Tow Services survey, 52-percent of the boaters say they plan to spend more time on the water this year compared to 2020. Sea Tow President Kristen Frohnhoefer (Frone – hoffer) says expect waterways to be crowded.

Cut 6 (11)”…with it.”

Hurricane season starts tomorrow and Louisiana residents know all too well about storm preparedness.  David Maurstad, the head of the National Flood Insurance Program with FEMA, says every homeowner should have a flood insurance policy

Cut 9 (13) “…you need.” 

The Legislature sends a 38 billion dollar spending plan to Governor Edwards’ desk featuring tens of millions of dollars in new funding for K-12 and higher education. Among those expenditures are an 800 dollar teacher pay raise and an about a 2.5 percent pay raise for higher ed faculty. Senate President Page Cortez says they may be reoccurring costs, but it’s a priority that’s worth it.

Cut 14 (12) “…do that” 

The budget also fully funds TOPS.

After 15 seasons and one national championship at LSU, Paul Mainieri has announced he’s retiring as a college baseball coach. The Tigers had a rough year and are on the NCAA tournament bubble but Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says  Mainieri’s announcement might give the selection committee another reason to put the Tigers in a regional.

Cut 5  (10)  “…deserve that”

Cameron Parish authorities say it was a tip from a local woman that helped them identify a human skull found off a highway in 2018. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington” 

If you’re traveling for Memorial Day weekend DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says expect roadwork on I-10 next to the Texas border and near the Atchafalaya Basin and I-12 in St. Tammany Parish. Mallet says there will be no lane closers but be aware of speed limit changes and lane shifts…

Cut 8 (7) “…at any minute” 

A bill allowing college student-athletes to get paid endorsements and otherwise profit off of their name, image, and likeness is one step away from hitting the Governor’s desk after getting unanimous approval in a House committee. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says we won’t be the first, or last state to go down this path…

Cut 7 (09) “…form of it.”

A bill prohibiting trans athletes from participating in K-12 and college girls’ and womens’ sports is headed to the Governor’s desk where he’s expected to veto it. Jefferson Representative Laurie Schlegel says the bill seeks to protect biological females…

Cut 10 (7) “…no longer exist.”

Opponents say the bill is discriminatory and will drive away businesses with more progressive values and jeopardize New Orleans’ ability to host major sporting events.

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder formally removes Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo as House Education Chairman, ending a month-long controversy starting with Garofalo’s comments about slavery.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington” 

The Legislature also approved legislation that would allow medical marijuana to be sold and consumed in its “raw, smokeable” form a police reform bill that deals with body camera usage and limits on no-know warrant usage, and the  House passes a bill mandating the national anthem be played before sporting events at state-funded facilities.

We’ve got the start times for LSU football’s first three games of the season. They’ll open in Los Angeles against UCLA in primetime on Fox on September 4^th at 7:30. They’ll host McNeese on September 11^th at 7 PM, and host Central Michigan on September 18^th at 6:30.

UL Lafayette also kicks off their season on September 4^th with a big nationally televised contest against Texas in Austin at 3:30. ULM will also get some national TV time for their season opener on the road against Kentucky. Terry Bowden’s Bulldogs will start that September 4^th game at 11 that morning.

Northwestern’s season is over after getting blasted by UNO 14-1 in Southland conference tournament play. The Privateers had three grand slams on the afternoon two by Darren Willis and one by Travis Gober.

Legislation allowing athletes to profit off of their name image and likeness is nearing the finish line after clearing House Education with unanimous approval.

LSU faces uncertain odds of getting into the NCAA tournament after getting bounced from the SEC tournament. Despite LSU’s 13-17 conference record, the team is ranked 24^th in the RPI. Coach Paul Manieri hopes the selection committee will take that into consideration.

Cut 17 (14) “…in the 20s as well.”

Louisiana Tech continues their fantastic season tonight against Southern Miss in the Conference USA Tournament winners’ bracket contest. Tech is coming off of a late-night win over UTSA on a walk-off home run in the 12^th inning, the longest game in C-USA Tourney history while Southern Miss didn’t have a first pitch in their win over Western Kentucky until 12:15 last night due to the Bulldog’s marathon contest.

McNeese plays Southeastern in the Southland Conference Tournament starting at 7 PM.

The family of Ronald Greene is demanding the officers who are on tape beating Greene prior to his death in police custody in 2019 be charged criminally. Greene family attorney Lee Merritt called out the troopers involved by name and says they need to be behind bars, right now.

Cut 13 (12)“…arrest.”

The family is set to meet with the Governor today.

Legislation allowing college student-athletes to profit off of their name, image, and likeness received unanimous approval in a House committee and is headed to the House floor. UL Systems president Jim Henderson says state higher education leaders are all on board with this bill and feel it will benefit athletes and programs in both larger and smaller schools.

Cut 8 (06) “…your consideration.”

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo has been formally removed as Chairman of the House Education Committee following a controversy stretching back to last month involving his comments about slavery. LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says this racial tension has been brewing since last year when police reform proposals brought in the wake of the George Floyd murder were rejected. That tension continued this year.

Cut 5  (10)  “…term.”

Legislation mandating the National Anthem be palyed before all athletic events at taxpayer-supported venues in the state passes the House. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman was concerned about the bill and questioned Albany Representative Sherman Mack about what determines a taxpayer facility.

Cut 10 (09) “…one dollar.”

Legislation allowing college student-athletes to profit off of their name, image, and likeness received unanimous approval in a House committee and is headed to the House floor. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick…

Cut 6 (13) “..both parties”

The bill would allow athletes to make money by signing autographs, getting endorsement deals, and even profiting from their social media following.

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo has been formally removed as Chairman of the House Education Committee following a controversy stretching back to last month involving his comments about slavery. LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says this wasn’t an easy decision for House Speaker Clay Schexnayder who was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Cut 3 (12)  “…removed” 

As pool season kicks off this Memorial Day weekend, the state health department wants to remind you to pay attention to children around the water, especially after the state reports a staggering increase in child drownings. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” AM

A hearing on Legislation that would allow college student athletes to do paid endorsements, gets delayed a week due to an unrelated controversy in House Education.

The controversy involves embattled House Ed Chairman Ray Garofalo, whose comments about slavery late last month led to calls from the Black Caucus for his removal. Garofalo says he didn’t know if he was still Chairman or not so this morning he spoke with Speaker Clay Schexnayder who assured him he hadn’t been removed. Garofalo says after being told he was still chairman he informed the Speaker he would be chairing today’s meeting, and that’s when Schexnayder said no you’re not.

Cut 11 (11) “…duty”

Garofalo then showed up at the meeting to find only one other member in attendance for its scheduled start, and the meeting was called off…

Cut 12 (12)    “…for that” 

A House committee blocks an effort to prohibit state facilities from denying entry to individuals who are not vaccinated on a narrow 7-6 vote. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey says his bill was an effort to protect individuals who have decided not to get vaccinated.

Cut 4 (12) “..is wrong.” 

While this bill was killed, a similar bill by Gonzales Representative Kathy Edmonston has already passed the House and awaits a Senate hearing.

The House approves policing reform legislation by Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields that covers a lot of bases from no-knock warrants to body camera usage. Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says his organization EPU ran a 1,200 person survey showing there’s widespread support for policing reform in the post-George Floyd era…

Cut 13 (07)“…supervision.”

Fields bill heads back to the Senate.

The ongoing controversy involving House Education Chairman Ray Garofalo, whose comments about slavery ignited a firestorm, results in today’s meeting of his committee being called off. Garofalo says this morning Speaker Clay Schexnayder told him he was still Chairman, but when he told Shexnayder he was going to chair today’s meeting, Schexnayder said no you’re not.

Cut 10 (12) “…to”

Garofalo ultimately went to chair the meeting, but it was called off after 45 minutes when only one member showed up.

Governor Edwards says video of the Ronald Greene arrest shows State Police troopers acting unprofessionally and not conducting themselves as law enforcement officers should…

Cut 7 (11) “…they should.”

A House bill to study domestic violence fatalities in Louisiana is set to be heard today on the House floor. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”