Responses from teachers unions to the governor’s call for a 1,000 dollar pay raise were mixed. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”
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The Bayou Bridge Pipeline is facing another setback, this time in St. Martinville after agreeing to cease construction on private property after the owner alleged the company was there illegally. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (31) ”I’m Matt Doyle”
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Walker High School has accepted the resignations of head football coach Lester Ricard and defensive coordinator Marcus Brown, as two are reportedly under investigation by school officials for alleged misconduct. Kevin Barnhart has more
Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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The state’s two largest teachers unions are responding to Governor Edwards’ push for a 1,000 dollar pay raise for teachers, and a 500 dollar pay raise for support personnel. But one group says it’s not enough. Louisiana Federation of Teachers spokesperson Les Landon says it would take a 1,850 dollar raise to get Bayou educators back to the regional average, but the regional average is also too low.
Cut 4 (12) “…the conversation.”
A 1,850 dollar raise, or 3.65 percent, would cost the state 105 million dollars a year. Including all support personnel such as cafeteria workers and principles would jack the price up to 170 million a year.
Landon says while 1,000 dollars would be appreciated, it wouldn’t be enough to substantially effect teacher’s quality of life. He says teacher’s chronically low pay is the reason why the state is facing a budding educator shortage.
Cut 5 (08) “…of teachers”
Landon says a recent survey of his organization indicated widespread support for a potential strike if teachers do not receive an adequate pay bump, and increased funding for public schools.
Louisiana Association of Educators President Debbie Meaux says her organization is seeking a 1,200 dollar a year raise for teachers, as well the establishment of living wages for support personnel. Meaux says the decade long decline in teacher quality of life has many looking to leave the profession.
Cut 6 (11) “…eroded away.”
The state says average teacher pay in Louisiana is 49,800 dollars. The national average is 58,000.
Meaux says they’ve been in active conversations with the governor’s office about getting that raise, but notes they’re looking for more than just a pay bump. She says they’re also demanding an increase for public school funding.
Cut 7 (09) “…ten years.”
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A section of Bayou Bridge Pipeline construction has been put on hold after another legal setback. This time the pipeline was paused after parent company ETP agreed to cease construction on private property in St. Martinville after the land’s owner alleged the company was building there illegally. Louisiana Bucket Bridge Director Anne Rolfes says ETP did not get eminent domain for the land.
Cut 8 (12) “…pipeline.”
Rolfes says pipeline workers have cleared trees and dug up land over the last 60 days since entering the 32 acre property.
St. Martinville has been the site of increased tensions between environmental activists and local Sherriff’s deputies and ETP security personnel. Clashes between the two groups on the private land has led to arrests and felony charges for several activists, But Rolfes says those activists were invited by the property owner…
Cut 9 (10) “in handcuffs.”
The environmental protesters were charged under a law passed last spring that made it a felony to trespass on critical infrastructure such as pipelines.
The pipeline is currently more than 85 percent complete and was on track to finish construction by October, at which point it would begin sending crude oil from Lake Charles to St. James Parish. Rolfes says the decision will, at a minimum, delay the project by nearly three months until the two groups get a hearing.
Cut 10 (08) “…in state.“
Entergy Transfer Partners responded saying “This does not have any impact to our construction schedule or timing of our project completion.” The company will seek to have the expropriation of the tract completed.
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Walker High’s head football coach, Lester Ricard, along with an assistant coach Marcus Brown, have resigned. The resignations come days after the announcement the two had been suspended. The question of “Why?” remains. Prep writer for The Advocate, Robin Fambrough, says Ricard, a former quarterback at Tulane, had the program heading in the right direction.
Cut 11 (08) “…disappointed”
Fambrough says the situation is a huge deal to the school’s football program.
Cut 12 (07) “…for the program.”
Fambrough says it’s important to not jump to conclusions on the nature of the investigation.
Cut 13 (10) “…there’s something out there.”
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Two games into the season and LSU is already ranked dead last in the SEC in total offense, averaging just 316 yards a game. The Tigers are second to last in pass offense. Coach Ed Orgeron has said the offensive line needs to get better, but that’s not the only group struggling
Cut 14 (11) “…do that”
Two games into the season and LSU is already ranked dead last in the SEC in total offense, averaging just 316 yards a game. The Tigers are second to last in pass offense. Coach Ed Orgeron has said the offensive line needs to get better, but that’s not the only group struggling
Cut 15 (10) “football player”
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The Saints are eager to put behind Sunday’s bad performance in the upset loss to Tampa Bay behind them. Linebacker Demario Davis says it was humbling to watch the tape of Bucs Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing for 417 yards on just 21 completions…
Cut 16 (10) “ get it fixed”
Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins says the mistakes made are fixable…
Cut 17 (14) “next Sunday”
The Saints host Cleveland this Sunday. The Browns have an 18-game winless streak. Rankins says they can’t worry about Cleveland’s past
Cut 18 (13) “…win a game”