As things wind down at the State Capitol, lawmakers pass a bill to extend the state’s film & TV tax credits to 2031. Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association President Trey Burvant says the incentives are capped to cost taxpayers no more than $150-million a year, and the six-year extension gives a big boost of confidence for productions that are looking to film in Hollywood on the Bayou…:

CUT 10  (13)        “…very positive.”

This is the first week on the job for new Southeastern Louisiana University president Doctor William Wainwright, whose last gig was chancellor at Northshore Technical Community College. He hopes many of the students attending high schools in the area will give SLU in Hammond a serious look when choosing a college…:

CUT 13(10)      “…at Southeastern.”

Fox 8 in New Orleans reports former Louisiana Congressman and presidential advisor Cedric Richmond was spared a field sobriety test and a traffic citation after he and his son were injured in a single-vehicle crash earlier this year in the Crescent City. New Orleans Police report the incident occurred April 23^rd. They also says the officer on te4h scene reports there was (quote) “no reasonable suspicion of intoxication, nor probable cause to conduct tests for impairment” and a citation was at the officer’s discretion.

Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville takes a big step in making their facility accessible for disabled persons, by offering an all-terrain wheelchair to visitors. Lt. Governor Bill Nungesser, who heads up state parks, says it’s part of the state’s mission to create more accessibility options for visitors…:

CUT 07(13)      “…special needs.”

Call ahead to reserve the chair, at least 48 hours in advance.

The state’s film tax credit will officially be extended to 2031, once Governor Edwards signs House Bill 562. The original bill sought to extend the incentive set to expire in 2025, to 2035. But Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association President Trey Burvant says it’s still a great victory for Louisiana, its residents, and workers in the film industry.

Cut 9 (09) “…did that.”

The film tax credit is capped to cost taxpayers no more than $150-million annually.

This is the first week on the job for the new Southeastern Louisiana University president Doctor William Wainwright. He comes to Southeastern after spending the last 12 years as chancellor of Northshore Technical Community College, so he’s familiar with the S-L-U mission.

Cut 12 (13) “…greatness of Southeastern” 

Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville has all-terrain track wheelchairs available for people with limited mobility, to explore its natural surroundings. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

Baton Rouge Congressman Garrett Graves has endorsed former L-A-B-I present Stephen Waguespack for governor. In a video of the endorsement, Graves says Waguespack is the candidate who can put politics aside and do what’s right. Meanwhile Attorney General Jeff Landry has received endorsements from Congressmen Clay Higgins and Mike Johnson in the governor’s race.

Thanks to the M-J Foster Promise Program, some Louisiana adults can go to community college for free and earn credentials to get a job in a high demand field. Applications are being accepted now at M-J-foster-promise-dot-com…
cut 5 (06) “…the program”
Brittany Theriot says this will be the second year of the M-J Foster Program and six-thousand people applied in the first year.

People with limited mobility can now get out on hiking trails and explore the beach in an all-terrain wheelchair at Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says this will enhance the park’s accessibility for people with disabilities.
Cut 6 (13) “…great outdoors.”
The all-terrain electric-powered chair provides users with the ability to navigate areas of the park not suitable for conventional wheelchairs. Nungesser plans to bring the all-terrain wheelchair to other state parks.

The Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program has set an August 1st deadline to complete a survey for those homeowners who suffered damage from the 2020-21 hurricanes or the May 2021 severe storms. Executive Director of the Louisiana Office of Community Development Pat Forbes says based on the information submitted in that survey, storm victims could be eligible for federal assistance….
cut 29 (13) “….reimburse you”
The survey can be completed online at restore-dot-la-dot-gov.

A trio of anti-LGBTQ bills have passed and are headed to the Governor. Will he sign or veto? Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Also heading to the governor’s desk is a bill that would extend the state’s film tax credit program from 2025 to 2030. No more than 150-million dollars in tax credits would handed out in a given year. Also receiving final passage is a bill where gun owners could receive a 500-dollar tax credit for buying gun safe storage devices.

Local officials along the I-20 corridor will get an update today and tomorrow from Amtrak on efforts to bring passenger rail to north Louisiana. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross says the rail line is already there, owned by Canadian Pacific…
cut 11 (13) “….doing phase”
Amtrak is seeking funding from the federal government through the infrastructure law to provide the dollars to make this happen.

Financial assistance is available for those 21 and older if they want to get the credentials in order to get a job in a high-demand field….
cut 4 (10) “…as well”
That’s Brittany Theriot, with the M-J Foster Promise Program, who says a full-time student can receive three and six-thousand dollars for their education costs. For more information go to m-j-foster-promise-dot-com.

Baton Rouge Police have arrested 48-year-old John Hall after telling a five-year-old to smoke a marijuana cigar in a video posted on social media. Lt. L’Jean McKneely…

Cut 13 (13) “…through Crimestoppers.”  
Hall is reportedly the ex-boyfriend of the child’s grandmother.

The M.J. Foster Promise Program, which provides financial assistance to adults who would like to earn credentials to get a job in a high-demand area is once again accepting applications. Program Specialist Brittany Theriot says the program provides multiple training options.

Cut 3 (12) “…workforce priority.”

Applicants must be adults 21 or older.

A package of anti-LGBTQ bills has reached final passage, but will Governor John Bel Edwards veto them? Republicans have solid majorities in both chambers and have the votes needed to override vetoes, but will they?  LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says it’s an election year, and many may feel the necessity to push the bills into law, to send a message in an election year…:

Cut 9 (10)  “…running for governor.”

The session ends tomorrow night at six PM

The 2023 KIDS COUNT for Louisiana shows significant progress over the years, Director of Data and Research with Agenda for Children Teresa Falgoust Louisiana, is the only state to show an improvement in 4th-grade literacy but she says lawmakers still need to invest more in education.

Cut 6 (11)  “…our state.”

Legislation seeking to allow non-felon adults to conceal carry without a permit is dead for this session. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick decided to pull it from consideration, because of amendments senators were proposing…
Cut 30 (12) “…defer it”
Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau wanted an amendment to make sure training would still be required to conceal carry.

The 2023 KIDS COUNT for Louisiana shows significant progress on some measures of child well being over the past decade. Director of Data and Research with Agenda for Children Teresa Falgoust says reading proficiency among 4th graders has improved and so has high school graduation rates and nearly every child has health insurance
Cut 4 (07) “…the years.’
But Louisiana continues to be weighed down by high child poverty rates, decreases in prenatal care for women and limited early childhood education access.

Legislation that targets the LGBTQ community is heading to the governor’s desk. The package of bills includes a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, Louisiana’s version of the Don’t Say Gay bill and pronoun usage in schools. Governor John Bel Edwards could veto the legislation. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says lawmakers would then have the option to return for an override veto session….
cut 8 (10) “….sort of legislation”

The Southern Rail Commission and Amtrak are meeting with local leaders along the I-20 corridor over the next couple of days to discuss the possibility of passenger rail service through north Louisiana. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross is optimistic…
cut 12 (12) “….from now”
Ross says there are also federal dollars to get this done.

A trio of anti-LGBTQ bills have passed and are headed to the Governor. Will he sign or veto? Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Governor Edwards does not have to worry about vetoing a permitless conceal carry bill like he did in 2021. The legislation that would allow non felon adults to conceal carry without a permit and training is dead for the session after senators threatened to add amendments to the bill that the author, state representative Danny McCormick didn’t want.

Baton Rouge Police have arrested 48-year-old John Hall after he’s seen smoking what appeared to be a marijuana cigar with a five year old on a video posted on social media. Lt. L’Jean McKneely…
cut 13 (13) “….through crimestoppers”
Hall is reportedly the ex-boyfriend of the child’s grandmother.

The Southern Rail Commission and Amtrak will meet with local leaders along the I-20 corridor today and tomorrow to discuss the possibility of passenger rail service through North Louisiana. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross says they have submitted an application of funding to the Federal Railroad Administration…
Cut 10 (10) “…of things.”
Ross says the funding could come from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Local leaders along the I-20 corridor will meet with Amtrak and Southern Rail Commission today and tomorrow to discuss the possibility of passenger rail service through north Louisiana…
Cut 3 (32) “….I’m Teiko Foxx.”

An investigative report by WWL-TV and the Advocate-Times Picayune says, former Congressman and presidential adviser Cedric Richmond was involved in a single vehicle crash in New Orleans on April 23rd with his son in the vehicle. And officers never administered a DWI test even though the police report says he was disoriented and slurring his words. The NOPD only cited 69 drivers for DWI last year.

The Agenda for Children has released a report that shows there are only two parishes in Louisiana, Livingston and Ascension, where the child poverty rate is lower than the national average. And the child poverty rate exceeds 40-percent in six parishes. Director of Data and Research for Agenda for Children, Teresa Falgoust, says over the past decade the state has not improved its child poverty rate…
cut 5 (10) “….to thrive”

Baton Rouge Police have arrested a man seen on cell phone video smoking what appeared to be a marijuana cigar with a five-year-old child. 48-year-old John Hall was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on several charges. Lt. L’Jean McKneely says the child was one of the kids involved in an accidental shooting last month…
cut 14 (12) “….cousin”
The child’s mother was arrested last month on a charge of second-degree cruelty to juveniles and obstruction of justice.

Several anti-LGBTQ bills approved by lawmakers are heading to the governor’s desk. Governor John Bel Edwards has expressed his opposition, so will he get his veto pen out in his last year in office. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan…
cut 7 (12) “….affect him politically”
One of the bills heading to the governor’s desk bans gender affirming care for transgender minors.

Baton Rouge Police say they have arrested 48-year-old John Hall on several charges after they were alerted of cell phone video on social media that shows Hall smoking what appeared to be a marijuana cigar with a five year old. Last month the child’s mother was also arrested and charged with second degree cruelty to juveniles and obstruction of justice. Lt. L’ Jean McKneely says Child Protective Services is involved…
cut 15 (07) “…..look into”
Hall is behind held at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

Louisiana has made significant progress on some measures for children, but many challenges remain. Brooke Thorington has more from the 2023 KIDS COUNT.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Senate has given final approval to a bill that attempts to improve reading scores. The legislation would require third graders to pass a reading test in April in order to be promoted to the fourth grade. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell…
Cut 6 (12) “…be retained.” 
The legislation gives third graders three chances to pass the literacy test. Students diagnosed with dyslexia and kids still learning English could still be promoted to the fourth grade. Gonzales Senator Ed Price voted against the bill as he believes it’s an unfunded mandate…
Cut 7 (07)  “…fund it.” 
Senators still approved the bill on a 28-11 vote. Mississippi has a similar program and they’ve seen an increase in reading scores.

A package of conservative so-called “anti-woke” bills have reached final passage, but will Governor John Bel Edwards sign or veto them? Among them is one that prohibits classroom discussion of one’s gender or sexuality in schools. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says it will be interesting to see what Edwards does…:

Cut 27  (12) “…affect him politically.”

Legislation seeking to allow non-felon adults to conceal carry without a permit is dead this session. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick decided to pull it from consideration, because of amendments senators were proposing to put on the bill…

Cut 15 (12) “…defer it”
Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau wanted to add an amendment to make sure training would still be required to conceal carry.