The state House is set to debate and vote on House Bill 1 today, the proposed 46-billion state budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says it may not be everything Governor Edwards asked for, but the spending plan is fiscally responsible:
Cut 7 (10) “…expenditure limit.”
As it stands now, the proposed spending plan does not contain money for the governor’s proposed two-thousand dollar teacher pay raise.

UL Lafayette and Ochsner General have created an accelerated bachelor of science of nursing program in an effort to get more nurses in the workforce. Dean of the University’s College Nursing and Health Sciences, Doctor Lisa Broussard, says if you have a bachelor’s degree. you can get a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 15 months and tuition would be free…
cut 12 (07) “…come back”
Registration is open now.

The world’s first RSV vaccine would lower the risk for adults 60 and older has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Teiko Foxx has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Ruth’s Chris Steak House has been bought for 715-million dollars by Darden Restaurants, which also owns Olive Garden and LongHorn SteakHouse. The original Chris Steak House opened in New Orleans in 1927 and now has 154 locations worldwide, including New Orleans, Metairie, Baton Rouge and Lafayette.

The full House is scheduled to debate the proposed $46-billion state budget bill today…
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

One day after one House committee approved a pay raise for state lawmakers that would more than double their annual salary, another House committee rejected a proposal to increase the minimum wage in Louisiana from $7.25 to ten-dollars an hour. Opponents say a higher minimum wage would mean less jobs for low earning workers.

Bossier City authorities credit a hotel manger for helping them apprehend a man who was on a killing spree. Police spokesperson Louis Johnson says 50-year-old Cortrell Burks fled to a nearby hotel after fatally shooting two people during an armed robbery Tuesday morning at a gas station off of I-20…
Cut 13 (12) “…further harm.”
Burks is also charged in the stabbing death of a 40-year-old woman in Birmingham, Alabama.

The FDA has approved the world’s first RSV vaccine by pharmaceutical giant GSK. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Fred Lopez says the vaccine would target adults who are 60 and older….
Cut 4 (12) “…important advancement.”
The CDC still has to give approval, which is expected next month.

Today the Louisiana House will debate the proposed budget for next fiscal year. The spending plan put together by House Republicans does not include the two-thousand dollar teacher pay raise Governor Edwards is proposing. Instead, House Appropriations Chair Jerome Zeringue says his colleagues are proposing to pay down debt of the state’s teacher retirement system…
cut 8 (06) “….and institutions”
The debate on the House floor will begin at 9 AM.

The University of Louisiana and Ochsner Lafayette General have created an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program to meet the growing need for nurses. Dean of the University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor Lisa Broussard says students who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field can earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 15 months and tuition will be free…
cut 11 (08) “….upon graduation”
The program’s first nursing courses will begin in May 2024.

A Bossier City Police officer continues to recover from a mass shooting at a gas station off of Interstate 20. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

An East Baton Rouge grand jury has indicted the driver of a vehicle where 19-year-old LSU student Madison Brooks was allegedly raped before she was struck and killed by a car on Burbank Drive last January. Authorities say Brooks blood-alcohol level was nearly four times the legal driving limit. Casen Carver was indicted on one count each of first-degree and third degree rape.

A bill that would raise the statewide minimum wage to $10 an hour failed in House Labor Committee on a 9-5 vote. President of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry Jim Patterson opposed the bill he says there are very few non-government workers making less than 10-dollars an hour…

Cut 11 (12)  “…not necessary”

Thirty out of fifty states have a minimum wage greater than the federal minimum wage. Bill author, Alexandria Representative Ed Larvadain (Larva-dane), says lower wages are contributing to the state’s depopulation.

Cut 12 (06) “…other locations.” 

The last federal wage increase was in 2009. Arkansas raised its minimum wage to eleven dollars an hour this year. The minimum wage in Louisiana remains $7.25 an hour.

House Education approves legislation requiring high school students to take a financial literacy class to graduate. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the course will provide students with life skills to understand economics…

Cut 14 (09)  “…day-to-day basis”

The course would be given in 11th and 12^th grade and the bill heads to the House floor for debate.

Minden Rep Wayne McMahen bill to make it legal to have your pet’s cremated remains to be buried with you passed unanimously in the House. Amite Representative Robby Carter questioned if the size of one’s pet is an issue.

Cut 24 (13)  “…about a pound.”

House Bill 248 passed in the House 98-0 and heads to a Senate committee.

At the State Capitol, a bill that would raise the statewide minimum wage to $10 failed in the House Labor Committee by a 9-5 vote. The bill’s author, Alexandria Representative Ed Larvadain says citizens are struggling to survive and lawmakers must step up…:

CUT 09(09)      “…in unacceptable.”

Thirty out of fifty states have a minimum wage greater than the federal minimum. Neighboring states like Arkansas and Missouri have done so (at $11 and $12 respectively). National Federation of Independent Business State Director Dawn McVea advocated for small businesses; saying they just can’t afford it…:

CUT 10(12)      “…number of employees.”

The last time the feds raised the minimum was 2009. Opponents said it would cause more job losses than anything else. The bill was voted down and appears dead again this year.

The House Education Committee approves legislation requiring high school students to pass a financial literacy class to graduate. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says he hears from parents who say public school students should be educated on how to handle their finances…:

CUT 13(12)      “…have to make.”

That bill heads to the House floor.

The man arrested for Monday’s fatal double shooting outside a Minden truck stop is also the suspect in a stabbing and shooting in Alabama. Bossier City PD say the initial call came in as an armed robbery with shots fired.

CUT 23(12)      “…no further harm.”

50-year-old Cortrell Burks is also wanted in Jefferson County, Alabama for murder and attempted murder.

A bill to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana above the current $7.25-an-hour…rejected by the House Labor Committee. Jeff Palermo has more…:

CUT 02  (31)        “…Palermo.”

The full House passes a bill that would give a life sentence to persons convicted of distributing an ounce or more of fentanyl. This comes amid a statewide rash of fentanyl overdose deaths; some of which took the lives of kids. That bill now moves to the Senate for committee review.

A man wanted for a deadly stabbing and shooting in Alabama is identified as the suspect in Monday’s double murder at a Minden truck stop. Bossier City Police spokesman Louis Johnson says he has heard those reports, but BCPD has not released any information…:

CUT 03  (08)        “…two fatalities”

A police officer was also shot and wounded. 50-year-old Cortrell Burks has been booked for the crimes.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the Louisiana Department of Health is promoting the use of 988, a 24/7 suicide and crisis call line. Karen Stubbs, with the Office of Behavioral Health, says they’ve also launched a dashboard to provide transparency of 988 to include call volume, demographics, and what people are using the line for and it will be updated monthly…:

CUT 07(11)      “…conversation again.”

Find it online at “ldh.la.gov/crisis”

The man who allegedly shot and killed two people and wounded a Bossier City cop during a shootout at an I-20 truck stop in Minden is reportedly also the suspect in a fatal stabbing in Alabama…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Teiko Foxx.”

A Rayville man is under arrest for shooting a teen who was pranking him by ringing the doorbell and running away. Richland Parish deputies say Michael Duckworth chased the group of teens and shot at them; hitting one. He’s charged with 2^nd-degree battery and held pending bond. The teen is expected to recover.

At the State Capitol, a House committee advances a bill requiring high school kids take a financial literacy class in order to get their diploma. State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley supports the measure. He says the course would be for 11^th and 12^th graders…:

CUT 15(10)      “…some replacement.”

That bill is scheduled for House floor debate next.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the Louisiana Department of Health is promoting the use of 988, a 24/7 suicide and crisis call line. Karen Stubbs, with the Office of Behavioral Health, says, in addition to receiving council by calling 988, you can also get help via text and live chat. You can find the dashboard and more information at “ldh.la.gov/crisis”…:

CUT 08(10)      “…their families.”

The man who allegedly killed two people and injured two others, in a shootout in Bossier City Tuesday at Valero gas station is in custody. Media reports indicate the suspect is 50-year-old Cortell Burks, who’s also suspected of shooting a woman and injuring four others in Alabama on Sunday.

Bossier City Spokesperson Louis Johnson…

Cut 5 (12) “…that situation.”

Among the injured in Bossier City is a police officer.

Demaris Quentall Jenks of Baton Rouge pled guilty to manslaughter today in the 2021 shooting death of his girlfriend in front of their child. Jenks accepted a plea deal from prosecutors who offered him 30 years instead of a life sentence for second-degree murder. Initially, Jenks told police he thought she was an intruder.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the Louisiana Department of Health is promoting the use of 988, a 24/7 suicide and crisis call line. Karen Stubbs, Assistant Secretary in the Office of Behavioral Health, says 988 launched in July and they want more people to know help is available and it’s only three digits away.

Cut 6 (10)  “…anniversary.” 

Visit ldh.la.gov/crisis for more info.

House Education approves legislation requiring high school students to take a financial literacy class to graduate. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the course will provide students with life skills to understand economics…

Cut 14 (09)  “…day-to-day basis”

The course would be given in 11th and 12^th grade and the bill heads to the House floor for debate.

Bossier City authorities plan to announce more information about on the armed gunman who murdered two people and injured two more including a police officer at a Valero gas station yesterday. Spokesperson Louis Johnson says officers responded to an armed robbery call in the 3800 block of Industrial Drive.

Cut 4 (07)  “…a clerk.” 

The officer who was shot is listed in stable condition and the other victim is in critical condition.

A proposed bill to prohibit third graders who cannot read proficiently from going into the 4^th was approved by House Education on a 7 – 3 vote. Bill sponsor Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson was questioned by Shreveport Representative Tammy Phelps about the legislation.

Cut 6 (12)  “…we have.”

The bill heads to the House floor.

A bill to give cops the right to tell you “stay back” while they do their jobs advances out of a House Committee. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Legislation to ban gender-affirming healthcare for minors advances from the House Health and Welfare Committee. Bill author Pollock Representative Gabe Firment says several European nations that pioneered gender reassignment surgery have reversed course.

Cut 10 (09) “… and surgeries.” 

New Orleans Pediatric Psychologist Clifton Mixon testified in opposition to the bill. He says healthcare professionals try every alternative possible before performing such procedures and prohibiting them will have dire consequences.

Cut 11 (10)  “…your hands.”

Cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers and surgery on minors would be banned under the legislation.  The bill passed in committee on a 14 to 3 vote and advances to the full House.

The House Education Committee approves legislation requiring high school students to take a financial literacy class to graduate. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says he hears from parents who say public school students should be educated on how to handle their finances…

Cut 13 (12) “…going to make.” 

The measure heads to the House floor.

Bossier City authorities arrested and charged an armed gunman who murdered two people and injured two more including a police officer at a Valero gas station yesterday. Spokesperson Louis Johnson says the scene was chaotic upon arrival.

Cut 3 (08) “….two fatalities.”

The victims’ names have not been released and the third victim is ilisted n critical condition.