The final hour of the legislative session was chaotic and filled with grumbling as lawmakers rushed to approve a budget. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (37)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Governor John Bel Edwards plans to veto three bills that target the LGBTQ+ community. The Republican-controlled Legislature has the vetoes to override his veto.

Everyone is allowed to fish without a license during Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries annual free fishing weekend on Saturday and Sunday. LDWF Spokesperson Rene Lebreton says LDWF has also stacked adult-sized catfish and rainbow trout at 17 pounds across the state as a part of the Get Out and Fish Program.

Cut 8 (12) “…their freezer.”

Fishing regulations including size, season, catch limits, and gear restrictions will remain in effect this weekend.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser leaves tomorrow to visit Australia to promote Louisiana as a tourist destination. Nungesser says he will not just market Louisiana as a destination for tourists.

He says Louisiana is one of three states to receive a grant for $300,000 for the next three years from the International Commerce Department to market international travel to the U-S.

Cut 15 (09)  “…more money.”

Nungesser says there are several reasons why Aussies would like to visit Louisiana.

The 2023 legislative session came to a chaotic close yesterday as lawmakers scrambled to pass a budget for next fiscal year and other spending bills before a 6 PM deadline. The Legislature ended up agreeing to a 100-million dollar cut to the Louisiana Department of Health, despite a huge surplus and teachers will receive a two-thousand dollar salary increase, but it’s not permanent. Governor Edwards is disappointed by this development…
cut 11 (11) “…in the south”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser leaves Louisiana tomorrow for Australia as he’s visiting the land down under to promote Louisiana as a place to visit. Nungesser says there are several reasons why Aussies would love the Bayou State…
cut 16 (12) “…with us”

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling Alabama’s congressional map unconstitutional, might pave the way for a second majority-black voting district in Louisiana.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

On Saturday and Sunday, anyone can fish without a license as part of the state’s annual free fishing weekend. LDWF spokesperson Rene Lebreton says the goal is to introduce new people to the great sport of fishing…
cut 7 (09) “….historical levels”

The 2023 legislative session ended with a wild finish as state lawmakers scrambled to approve a budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. Even Governor John Bel Edwards does not know the specific details. But he knows the spending plan approved contains a 100-million dollar cut to the Louisiana Department of Health…
Cut 10 (09) “…down stairs”
The 100-million dollar cut to LDH could multiply if what’s cut is tied to federal matching dollars.

Denham Springs Senator and former Livingston Parish School Superintendent Rogers Pope pleaded with his colleagues to reject the budget proposal because a two-thousand dollar teacher pay raise is not permanent and not enough…
Cut 13 (08) “…we need to do”
Despite Pope’s argument, the main budget bill passed overwhelmingly in both chambers.

Voting rights activists are encouraged by the U-S Supreme Court ordering the state of Alabam to redraw its congressional district map, because the nation’s highest court has determined that state should have two majority-minority districts…
cut 5 (06) “….in Louisiana”
Urban League of Louisiana Vice President of Policy Tyrone Walker is hopeful the U-S Supreme Court will also order Louisiana to redo its map. Republican lawmakers in Louisiana remain confident the map they drew passes constitutional muster.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is encouraging residents to take advantage of the annual Free Fishing weekend on Saturday and Sunday. It’s an opportunity to fish without the need of a license and L-D-W-F spokesperson Rene Lebreton says you also do not need a boat, there are plenty of places you can drive to and just drop a line…
cut 9 (10) “….interactive map”
Fishing regulations including size, season, catch limits, and gear restrictions will remain in effect this weekend.

State lawmakers approved a package of budget bills in the final minutes of the 2023 legislative session that left some legislators angry. Senators were surprised to see the final budget deal result in a 100-million dollar cut to the Louisiana Department of Health. Senate Health and Welfare Chairman Fred Mills…
cut 12 (08) “…for that”
Also, teachers will get a two-thousand dollar increase in pay, but the bump in salary is not permanent.

Louisiana’s current Congressional map may not last after the U-S Supreme Court ruled Alabama’s congressional map is unconstitutional, because it has one majority-minority district. The same legal argument is made about Louisiana’s map..
cut 4 (12) “…as well”
That’s the Urban League of Louisiana Vice President of policy Tyrone Walker. Republicans who drew the map will wait to see what the nation’s highest court will say about Louisiana’s map.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser leaves tomorrow for a trip to Australia for an international mission to promote Louisiana as a tourist destination.
Cut 14 (13) “from Australia.”
Nungesser will also visit New Zealand.

LSU is two wins away from getting back to the College World Series in Omaha. Standing in the Tigers way is Kentucky, who battled back from the loser’s bracket to win the Lexington Regional. The Wildcats like to play small ball and LSU second baseman Gavin Dugas says they’ll be ready…
Cut 17 (11) “…keep it simple.”
First pitch on Saturday is at 2 PM.

5:30 (17) 8:30 (20)

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of Black voters in Alabama’s congressional districts map case has advocates in Louisiana who believe the state should have two Black-majority congressional districts. Urban League of Louisiana Vice President of Policy Tyrone Walker…

Cut 5 (06)   “…in Louisiana.”

Slidell Republican Sharon Hewitt is quoted in The Advocate that it’s not a final ruling regarding the congressional maps in Louisiana.”

Waiting for the governor’s signature is a bill that would phase out the corporate franchise tax. Tax expert Jason Decuir says it’s a tax that business lobbyists have tried to do away with for years…

Cut 12 (10) “…being taxed” 

The Legislative Fiscal Office says phasing out the tax would cost the state up to 163 million dollars per year over the four-year phase-out.

Upon the final passage of legislation requiring “In God, We Trust” signs in Louisiana classrooms, a political activist who donated signs in Texas is making the same offer in Louisiana. Signs from Artist Activist Chaz Stevens have a variety of options, they can be in Arabic, Spanish, and even have rainbow-colored backgrounds.

Cut 24 satanic edition. :05

DEQ declares an ozone air quality action day for people sensitive to the health effects of air pollutants in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lake Charles, and Monroe. Air Planning and Assessment Division Administrator Jason Meyers the warning in Monroe is due to the Canadian Wildfires. He says to pay attention to how your body responds.

Cut 8 (09)  “… their activities.” 

Lawmakers have sent a bill to the governor that phases out the corporate franchise tax. Some call it the worst tax in Louisiana because of how it hampers companies that have headquarters outside of the state. Tax consultant Jason Decuir says the phase-out only happens if certain conditions are met.

Cut 13 (12) “…25 percent.” 

The Legislative Fiscal Office says phasing out the tax would cost the state up to 163 million dollars per year over the four-year phase-out.

The U-S Supreme Court has ruled Alabama is violating the Voting Rights Act by only having one majority-minority Congressional district. Louisiana’s Congressional District map is also facing a legal challenge, so based on the Alabama ruling, Louisiana may have to redraw its map with a second majority-minority district because more than 30 percent of the state’s population is Black.

Upon the final passage of legislation requiring “In God, We Trust” signs in Louisiana classrooms, a political activist who donated signs in Texas is making the same offer in Louisiana. Artist Activist Chaz Stevens is offering options in French, Mandarin, and more…

Cut 10 (10) “…with them.”

To donate to defer the costs of the signs or to view them visit chazstevens-dot-store.

DEQ declares an ozone air quality action day for people sensitive to health effects of air pollutants in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lake Charles, and Monroe. Air Planning and Assessment Division Administrator Jason Meyers says elevated ozone paired with smoke from Canadian wildfires is responsible. He says some activities should be limited to after-daylight hours…

Cut 7 (13)  “…small engine.” 

Sensitive health groups should limit outdoor activities today in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lake Charles, and Monroe due to ozone air quality. Teiko Foxx has more from DEQ…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

The Supreme Court has ordered Alabama lawmakers to redraw its Congressional Map and add another majority-minority district. Louisiana may have to do the same as Louisiana’s current Congressional map is facing a legal challenge, because it only has one majority minority district.

Louisiana lawmakers have passed legislation requiring all public school classrooms from kindergarten to college must display the motto In God We Trust. An activist has signs ready to donate to Louisiana. Chaz Stevens says he has plenty of options, some are written in Arabic, Spanish and even rainbow-colored backgrounds…
cut 9 (09) “….come through”
The In God We Trust legislation is still awaiting the governor’s signature.

LDWF has confirmed two Northern Snakehead fish, native to Asia, were caught in Concordia Parish. There’s video taken by the fishermen on Old River of their unusual catch. Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Rob Bourgeois says they could impact our native fisheries.
Cut 3 (10) “…the concern.”
Bourgeois says they likely migrated from Mississippi or Arkansas.

State lawmakers approved legislation requiring public schools to have “In God, We Trust” displayed in the classroom. Brooke Thorington reports an activist is ready to donate signs
Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Brooke Thorington. ”

The U-S Supreme Court has ruled Alabama is violating the Voting Rights Act by only having one majority-minority Congressional district. Louisiana’s Congressional District map is also facing a legal challenge, so based on the Alabama ruling, Louisiana my have to redraw its map with a second majority minority district.

DEQ declares an ozone air quality action day for people sensitive to health effects of air pollutants in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lake Charles, and Monroe. Air Planning and Assessment Division Administrator Jason Meyers says elevated ozone and smoke from wildfires in Canada are causing hazardous air quality.
Cut 6 (11) “…activities outdoors.”
For south Louisiana it’s a standard ozone action day alert, but northeast Louisiana is feeling the effects of the Canadian wildfires.

Lawmakers have sent a bill to the governor that phases out the corporate franchise tax. Some call it the worst tax in Louisiana because of how it hampers companies who have headquarters outside of the state. Tax consultant Jason Decuir says to help offset the revenue loss, the Quality Jobs Program will be reduced by 50-percent…
cut 14 (10) “….that out”

Waiting for the governor’s signature is a bill that would phase out the corporate franchise tax. Tax expert Jason Decuir says it’s a tax that business lobbyists have tried to do away with for years…

Cut 12 (10) “…being taxed” 

The Legislative Fiscal Office says phasing out the tax would cost the state up to 163 million dollars per year over the four-year phase-out.

The US Supreme Court ruled in favor of Black voters over majority-Black congressional districts in Alabama, which means Alabama will have to create another majority-Black congressional district. A similar case against Louisiana’s congressional maps was pending the ruling in Alabama. The ruling was a surprise in which Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh ruled with the court’s three liberal judges.

Since the final passage of legislation requiring “In God, We Trust” signs in Louisiana classrooms, artist activist Chaz Stevens has a variety of options for the signs to be donated, options in Arabic, Spanish, and even rainbow-colored backgrounds. You can view the signs at chazstevens-dot-store.

Cut 11 (10)  “…in this case.”

Stevens says he’ll send 2,500 signs to Louisiana.

Wildlife officials have confirmed two Northern Snakehead fish, native to Asia, were spotted in a video taken in Old River in Concordia Parish. Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Rob Bourgeois says they can grow up to 3 feet in length and they’re safe to eat.

Cut 5 (07)  “…there too.

He says fishers are asked not to return the species to water because they are an invasive species.

Upon the final passage of legislation requiring “In God, We Trust” signs in Louisiana classrooms, a political activist who donated signs in Texas is making the same offer in Louisiana. Artist Activist Chaz Stevens is offering options in french, mandarin, and more…

Cut 10 (10) “…with them.”

To donate to help defer the cost of the signs or to view them visit chazstevens-dot-store.

A recent survey by the American Medical Association shows one in five doctors plan to leave the practice in the next two years. Interim Dean of the LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Dr. Richard DiCarlo says for many physicians it’s retirement and more than 60 percent of doctors report burnout.

Cut 7 (08) “…for that.”

DiCarlo says it could be as high as 100,000 or even more in the next decade. DiCarlo says mid-level physicians, like nurse practitioners and physician assistants, are capable of providing care for a wider range of patients.

LDWF verifies two Northern Snakehead fish, native to Asia, were seen in a video that was taken in Old River in Concordia Parish. Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Rob Bourgeois says they likely migrated from Mississippi or Arkansas.

Cut 4 (12)  “…were at.” 

Bourgeois urges fishers not to return the species to the water. It is illegal to possess, sell or transport live snakeheads in Louisiana.

Saturday and Sunday is a free fishing weekend in Louisiana. That means a fishing license in not required to drop a line in the water.