The lawmakers prioritized education funding this year dedicating $84 million for early childhood education. Libbie Sonnier, Executive Director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children says $40 million will go to the Early Childhood Education Fund and the remainder to childcare assistance for low-income and working families and the LA-4 program.

Cut 6 (11)  “…people in Louisiana.”

Higher education leaders are also happy with the state budget. University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson says there were a lot of fiscal resources available to legislators, but when you have a lot of available resources…:

Cut 10 (11) “…this investment.”

A House-passed bill that would allow adults over 21 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit is scheduled for Senate Committee tomorrow. Bill author, Oil City Representative Danny McCormick stresses passing the bill will not end Concealed Carry permitting and classes, but it will make that process an option…:

Cut 14 (11)  “…legal right to carry.”

The bill passed in the House 64 to 27.

The click it or ticket campaign is underway today, and that means extra law enforcement is out looking for drivers and passengers who aren’t buckled up.  Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lamber says the campaign is not about issuing tickets, but about saving lives.

Cut 9 (11)  “…in a crash.”

A first offense is $50.

The recently passed state budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st gets a big “thumbs up” from college and university leaders. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The budget also contains 84-million dollars for early childhood education. Executive Director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Libbie Sonnier says that’s a historic investment for early childhood education…
cut 5 (11) “….that we spend”

There are two weeks left in the legislative session and Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is looking to get his bill approved that would allow non-felons over the age of 21 to conceal carry a weapon without a permit. It has passed the House and it will be heard by a Senate Committee tomorrow…
cut 15 (05) “….on the Senate”
Governor Edwards opposes the bill because he doesn’t want to see the training component go away, which is what’s needed in order to obtain a permit.

Louisiana law enforcement starts its click it or ticket safety campaign today. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says according to the latest data, only 86-percent of the drivers and passengers wear a seat belt in Louisiana, which is below the national average of 90-percent…
cut 8 (09) “….their seatbelts”

The budget lawmakers sent to the governor’s desk contains 84-million dollars in early childhood education…
cut 1 (29) “….I’m David Grubb”

Lafayette Police have arrested a 14-year-old boy for fatally shooting a 16-year-old girl. Authorities say the victim and the 14-year-old male were sitting inside a parked vehicle when the 14-year-old shot the girl in the chest. The 14-year-old male suspect was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and law enforcement agencies across the state begin their Click it or Ticket campaign today. Louisiana saw a 14 percent increase in traffic fatalities in 2020 and preliminary figures for last year show that tragic trend continuing. Spokesperson Mark Lambert says reckless behavior among drivers is on the rise…
Cut 7 (10) “…a dangerous combination.”
To help put extra officers on the roads, the LHSC has provided grant money to Louisiana law enforcement agencies.

A House-passed bill that would allow adults over 21 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit is scheduled for Senate Committee review tomorrow. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is the bill’s author. His bill passed in the House with 64 “yes” votes to 27 “no’s”. He says he expects it WILL pass committee muster…:
Cut 13 (10) “…have Constitutional Carry.”
Similiar legislation was vetoed by the governor last year.

The Louisiana Legislature has prioritized education funding during this year’s session, including an $84-million investment in early childhood education. The money is contained in the state budget that has been sent to the governor. Libbie Sonnier is the Executive Director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children,
Cut 4 (09) “…$84-million.”
Sonnier says the money will help local school districts invest in pre-K programs and dollars will also be used to help low-income and working families participate in the L-A four program.

U-L System President Doctor Jim Henderson says the operating and capital outlay budgets also contain the largest investment in their schools in more than 15 years. Henderson says the way the Legislature allocated dollars gives him hope, the funding levels will remain high in future years…
cut 12 (11) “….budget”

Driving without a seat belt can cost you your life, or at the very least a $50 fine. David Grubb has more…
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.”

The budget lawmakers sent to the governor’s desk contains 84-million dollars for early childhood education. David Grubb has the details on how it can pay off…
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m David Grubb.”

Today is the final day of the college baseball regular season and several Louisiana teams are looking to finish strong. LSU, U-L Lafayette, La Tech, ULM, UNO, Southeastern Louisiana and McNeese all won. The McNeese softball team defeated Notre Dame 11 to 1 in NCAA Regional action, while the Lady Tigers and Cajuns lost.

The baby formula shortage is causing headaches for many families and lawmakers on Capitol Hill are demanding answers. Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow had a chance to question FDA Commissioner Robert Califf during a Congressional hearing…
cut 12 (13) “…24 and 7”
And the U-S Air Force is bringing in baby formula from other countries this weekend and into next week.

Afternoon thunderstorms are expected to pop up today. LRN Meteorologist John Wetherbee says there’s also a cold front coming
Cut 14 (11) “…of the state”

Rain chances go even up more tomorrow and we get a break from the heat.

State higher education leaders are giving the “thumbs up” to the state budget passed last week at the Capitol. University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson says lawmakers did ‘amazing work” on crafting a budget that fully funds schools under his banner. He says there were a lot of fiscal resources available to legislators, but when you have a lot of available resources…:
Cut 10 (11) “…this investment.”
The budget still needs the governor’s signature.

Meanwhile, on capitol hill, Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow had the opportunity to question FDA Commissioner Robert Califf about the nationwide baby formula shortage…
cut 13 (11) “…is distibuting”
The Biden administration has invoked the Defense Production Act to speed up the production of infant formula.

The Senate Education Committee approves a House-backed measure that would hold back third-graders from advancing to the fourth grade if they score poorly multiple times on a literacy test…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

Authorities in Hammond say they continue to search for others who were involved in Thursday night’s shooting on Southeastern Louisiana University’s campus that injured four. Detectives say it was gang-related. So far 20-year-old Trent Thomas of Hammond was arrested. The people injured were on campus for Hammond High’s graduation ceremonies suffered non-life-threatening injuries

A House-approved bill that would hold back third-graders who score in the bottom tier in state reading assessments continues to move through the Legislature. The Senate Education Committee approved Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s bill and an amendment was added that would give a student three tries to pass a literacy test before it’s determined the student must repeat the third grade….
Cut 4 (08) “…as well.”
An estimated 45-hundred students could be held back and the legislation would go into effect for the 2023-24 school year.

There’s a chance for rain today and rain chances are even higher tomorrow as a result of a cold front. LRN meteorologist John Wetherbee…
cut 15 (09) “…rainfall”
The good news is the rain will bring an end to the 90-degree temperatures we’ve been seeing. .

Authorities believe the shooting that took place on Southeastern Louisiana’s campus on Thursday night was gang-related. Three people were shot. The victims were innocent bystanders. Hammond Police Cheif Edwin Bergeron says they’ve arrested 20-year-old Trent Thomas of Hammond…
cut 10 (11) “….person of interest”
None of the injuries sustained in the shooting are considered life-threatening.

Two arrests made in a 7-year-old murder & kidnapping case in Terrebonne Parish. 56-year-old Pamela Johnson was murdered in 2015. Sheriff Tim Soignet says his office worked hard to find Johnson’s killers, as they thought about her nieces who were kidnapped on December 1 2015 and found in a car registered to Johnson….
CUT 07(06) “needed that closure.”
33-year-old George Earl Robinson Jr. and 40-year-old Shannon Robinson have been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping.

The Senate Education Committee approves a House-backed measure that would hold back third-graders from advancing to the fourth grade if they score poorly multiple times on a literacy test. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

—

Seven years after a woman was killed and her two nieces kidnapped, two arrests have been made. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Tim Soignet says new evidence led them to make the arrests in connection with the murder of 56-year-old Pamela Johnson.

Cut 6 (07) “…on this.”

—

Three people were shot Thursday night while attending Hammond High School’s graduation ceremonies, and a man has been arrested for it. Southeastern University Police Chief Michael Beckner says the event was held at SLU’s University Center…:

Cut 9 (14) “…justice.”

Thomas is being held in the Amite jail. A fourth person was taken to the hospital due to injuries from fleeing the incident. One shooting victim remains hospitalized.

—

Louisiana will get a break from the recent heat as a result of a cold front that will bring cloud cover and rain. LRN Meteorologist John Wetherbee says showers and thunderstorms will develop along the coast on Saturday spreading into southeast Louisiana and there’s also a cold front coming

Cut 14 (11)  “…of the state”

One man is in custody and more arrests are anticipated after three people were shot during Hammond High School’s Graduation Thursday night. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02         (35)    “…Brooke Thorington.”

A Guatemalan national who entered the U.S. illegally was arrested in Baton Rouge today on charges tied to an out-of-state child sex trafficking ring. Federal agents took 36-year-old Belter Arana Bautista without violent incident.

Louisianans – along with everyone else in America – are clamoring to find baby formula, but finding it is a REAL problem. Monroe area Congresswoman Julia Letlow wants some answers as to why and when relief may come from FDA commissioner Robert Califf. He had very few…:

CUT 13         (11)    “…is distribution.”

Our state will get a break from the recent heat, as a cold front will move through bringing clouds and rain. LRN Meteorologist John Wetherbee says showers and thunderstorms will develop along the coast on Saturday, spreading into southeast Louisiana…:

CUT 14         (11)    “…of then state.”

He says there is a fair chance some of those showers could be severe, with possible locally heavy downpours.

As the shortage of infant formula throughout the country continues, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are demanding answers to how we got here, and when we’ll be out of this crisis. Leading the charge is District 5 Congresswoman Julia Letlow, who was quite direct in questioning FDA commissioner Robert Califf…:

CUT 12(13)      “…24 by 7”

When pressed for an answer to WHEN consumer relief may come, Califf had no answers.

LRN meteorologist John Wetherbee says a cool front will move through; bringing us rain showers Saturday and Sunday…:

CUT 15(09)      “…locally heavy rainfall.”

The good news is the rain brings a break from the afternoon heat.

Lawmen in Hammond say they had a suspect in custody within a matter of minutes, for last night’s shooting at the Hammond High commencement ceremonies. 20-year-old Trent Thomas was involved in some “beef” with a juvenile male and shots were fired amongst a crowd outside the event; held at SLU’s University Center. Three people shot and hurt; a fourth injured trying to get away. Hammond Police Chief Ed Bergeron says this is a lousy memory for high school graduates…:

CUT 11(11)      “…situation like this.”

Thomas is in jail. More arrests in the shootout are expected.

Two arrests made in a 7-year-old murder & kidnapping case in Terrebonne Parish. 56-year-old Pamela Johnson was murdered in 2015. Sheriff Tim Soignet says new evidence led to the persons who did that and abducted two young girls, who were later found in Houma sitting in an abandoned car…:

CUT 07(06)      “needed that closure.”