Louisiana’s GOP chairman is trying to keep the primary from devolving into another 2015 bloodbath that political analysts say helped put Democrat John Bel Edwards in the governor’s mansion. Matt Doyle has the story.
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House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry is proposing a budget that covers the 1,000 dollar teacher and 500 dollar support staff pay raise sought by Governor Edwards. Matt Doyle has more…
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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says this is the time of year in which people may come into contact with birds that appear to need help. What should you do if that happens? Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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A LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health study finds women in southeast Louisiana exposed to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill continue to experience symptoms of trauma, even nine years following the incident. Lead author Dr. Ed Peters says they studied nearly two-thousand women who live in seven coastal parishes affected by the spill…
Peters says five classes of symptoms were observed in the women who reported being linked indirectly to the oil spill.
Cut 5 (06) “…populations as well.”
Peters says many of the women studied are also not seeking the proper care for their mental health.
Cut 6 (10) “…to seek treatment.”
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Louisiana Republican Party chairman Louis Gervich says he’s making it clear that there will be no negative campaigning between Republicans in this year’s governor’s race. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says four years ago the race was thrown by Republicans, after they let their primary candidates shred front-runner David Vitter like pulled pork.
Vitter came under heavy fire from his fellow Republicans, largely over his part in a Washington D.C. escort scandal.
This reminder was in response to an Advocate article that said some “sniping” had begun between Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone and Congressman Ralph Abraham. Pinsonat says since both have strong followings, the party really can’t risk alienating either by playing favorites.
So now that it’s clear that neither Abraham nor Rispone will be allowed to throw any punches at each other, how do they differentiate themselves from the other and make it to the November run-off? Pinsonat says their best bet is just running a good, clean campaign, and turning their negative attacks to Governor Edwards.
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Budget hearings start next Monday and most state leaders appear to be on-board to give teachers a raise, including Republican House Appropriations Chiarman Cameron Henry who has proposed a budget that includes a $1,000 raise for teachers and an additional 500 bucks for support staff…
Cut 10 (11) “…million dollars”
The raises would cover workers in K-12 education.
Governor Edwards has made the raise the centerpiece of his legislative agenda, and while that looks increasingly likely to pass, his request for 39 million in additional education funding could be in for a rocky ride. Henry says they don’t have the money to pay for it, and he’d rather try to scrounge up some cash for another initiative…
Cut 11 (12) “…childhood development”
Edwards says more money will be available once the Revenue Estimating Conference recognizes additional revenue from an improved economy. That forecast increase has been blocked by Speaker Taylor Barras.
Some Republicans, including gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone, do not back an across-the-board pay hike, instead favoring “merit based” pay hiles that would reward teachers who meet certain performance criteria. Henry backs the across-the-board raise, and says merit based hikes would be very difficult to properly implement.
Henry says the pay raise is being funded by the 108 million dollar revenue increase already in this year’s budget.
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With the arrival of spring and summer approaching, the likelihood of crossing paths with young birds that appear to be in distress rises. While the temptation for some to scoop them up in an effort to assist the animal is there, many times what appears to be trouble is actually quite natural for fledglings. LDWF bird biologist Melissa Collins…
Cut 13 (08) “…orphaned birds undisturbed.”
Collins says Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it’s unlawful to capture, transport, or possess many varieties of birds, even if someone feels they are helping a situation.
Cut 14 (11) “…bird rehabilitation license.”
Collins says those that feel compelled to help quite often make great wildlife rehabilitators.
Cut 15 (07) “…on our website.”
Collins adds if someone still feels that a bird is in trouble, they should contact LDWF before attempting to handle the animal.
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The LSU baseball team has fallen a few spots in the national rankings as a result of losing two of three to Georgia, who is ranked in the top 10 in major polls. LSU won by one run on Friday night and the Tigers lost by two runs in the next two games. Coach Paul Mainieri it was a great series between two evenly matched teams…
Cut 16 (16) “winning the series”
LSU scored just eight runs in the three game series. Mainieri gives a lot of credit to Georgia’s pitching, but admits the Tigers need more thunder from their right handed hitters…
cut 17 (25) “right handed side”
Mainieri is hoping catcher Saul Garza can get it going at the plate.
Meanwhile, Mainieri is feeling good about his weekend rotation, expecially after the performance by Cole Henry in a loss to Georgia on Saturday. Henry struck out eight in 7.1 innings and Mainieri says the sky’s the limit for the Alabama native…