State lawmakers return to the capitol a week from today to begin a three-month-long legislative session. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says passing a budget and spending two-point-eight billion dollars in federal Covid relief dollars and surplus money will be a major priority. But legislators will also debate social issues like critical race theory, transgender athletes, vaccines, and abortions…
cut 4 (09) “…for sure”
Last year, Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields passed a bill that mandated kindergarten. Fields has legislation this year that would require public school systems to provide pre-K education. But are there enough teachers???
cut 9 (08) “…national problem”

A new bill seeks to keep Louisiana college athletics competitive in the world of Name Image and Likeness. David Grubb has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m David Grubb.”

LSU football has signed a quarterback out of the transfer portal. Former Arizona State Quarterback Jayden Daniels is coming to Baton Rouge after starting for three seasons with the Sun Devils. He’ll provide some major competition to Myles Brennan for starting Q-B next season.

The 2022 legislative session begins a week from today and nearly 12-hundred bills have been filed. La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says there are a wide variety of topics for legislators to debate…
cut 3 (11) “…college campuses”

Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley has a bill that would allow for more access to medical marijuana by increasing the number of licensed pharmacies that distribute cannabis from 10 to 20 in Louisiana. Bagley says a main reason for legalizing medical cannabis was to reduce opioid addiction.
Cut 13 (10) “…need it.”
Currently, only 9 pharmacies are licensed, and the 10th license is not in use. Bagley wants that to be addressed also.

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields was successful in his legislation last year mandating kindergarten, this year Fields has a bill that would require public school systems to offer full-day pre-kindergarten, even in charter schools. Fields says he’s waiting on a cost estimate…
cut 8 (11) “…jails and prisons”
Having enough qualified pre-K teachers could be another stumbling block.

Marrero Senator Patrick Connick authored the legislation last year that gave student-athletes the ability to profit off of their name, image and likeness. Connick has another N-I-L bill this year that would give athletic boosters broader freedoms when it comes to paying student-athletes and it would also allow university employees to arrange N-I-L deals…
cut 5 (11) “….to benefit both”

72-year-old David Gullat of Ruston is no longer listed as a Lincoln Parish School Board member following his arrest on Friday on drug and obscenity charges. Ruston Police says they apprehended Gullatt after receiving a complaint about a nude man performing a lewd act in the parking lot of a shopping center. Gullat is also a former dean of the college of education at La Tech.

A Baton Rouge lawmaker has filed a bill that would require public elementary schools to offer pre-k education…
cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Name, image, and likeness is changing college athletics and Marrero Senator Patrick Connick has filed a bill for the upcoming session that would make Louisiana more competitive with other SEC states…
Cut 4 (09) “…NIL thing.”
Marrero’s measure would end the ban on boosters using an NIL deal to entice an athlete to attend a specific school, also college and university employees can arrange NIL deals.

Governor John Bel Edwards has proclaimed March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Louisiana Department of Health Manager Robert Henson is spreading the word about warning signs…
cut 10 (12) “….of the signs”
Henson says now that sports wagering and mobile sports betting are easily available in Louisiana, L-D-H is concerned about a rise in problem gamblers.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to send gas prices towards record highs. According to Triple-A, the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $3.87 after rising a nickel from yesterday. The record is 4.01 set in 2008.

Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley is proposing legislation to make legalized medical cannabis more accessible.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

There’s talk LSU is behind other SEC schools when it comes to benefiting from the new era of Name, Image, and Likeness in college athletics. College athletes were allowed to be paid for their endorsements starting last July and Marrero Senator Patrick Connick has filed legislation to help out LSU and other Louisiana schools…
cut 6 (11) “…to correct that”

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month and with sports betting now available at many casinos or on your phone, the Louisiana Department of Health is concerned about a rise in problem gamblers…
cut 11 (12) “,,,national average”
That’s Robert Henson with L-D-H who says there is a Louisiana Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-877-770-STOP.

Pre-K education is currently a state-funded option for local school districts. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says his Senate Bill 47 would make pre-K classes a requirement. He says it’s a logical step in moving education forward…:
Cut 7 (10) “…a centerpiece.”
Money and qualified pre-K teachers are the major obstacles to this legislation.

Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley has filed legislation that would double the number of licensed medical marijuana pharmacies in Louisiana from ten to 20. Bagley says he has a relative who can walk after using medical marijuana for back pain that left her immobile.
Cut 15 (10) “…doing a mile.”

A new bill seeks to keep Louisiana college athletics competitive in the world of Name Image and Likeness. David Grubb has more.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m David Grubb.”

The Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball team is one win away from an automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament as U-L Lafayette has advanced to tonight’s Sun Belt Tournament title game where they’ll play Georgia State. It’s an emotional time for the team as Coach Bob Marlin’s mother passed away on Saturday.

The statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline rose by another nickel today to $3.87. That’s 50-cents more than this time last week. Diesel is up to 4.41 a gallon. The record for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is 4.01, set in 2008.

A Baton Rouge lawmaker’s proposed bill would mandate pre-kindergarten classes for all public schools. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

When lawmakers convene for the 2022 regular session next week, medical marijuana will be heavily discussed. Desoto Parish Republican Larry Bagley has a bill that would double the number of licensed pharmacies from 10 to 20. Bagley lives in Stonewall and he says residents in his hometown have to drive at least 90-minutes to the nearest medical marijuana pharmacy…
cut 14 (12) “….transportation”

Governor Edwards has proclaimed March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month and March is also known as March madness the biggest month of the year for college basketball, giving fans plenty of games to bet on. Robert Henson with the Louisiana Department of Health has these tips for bettors to keep them out of danger…
cut 12 (11) “….walk away”

The rising price for gasoline will mean higher prices at the grocery store. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A two -year was tragically killed Friday afternoon in Webster Parish after she entered the road. Authorities say Gracie Dean of Shongaloo was running on private property and entered into the roadway before 1 pm Friday. A 2014 Chevrolet struck the toddler as a family member tried to stop her before entering into traffic. She was pronounced dead on the scene.

New Orleans Representative Matthew Willard files a bill for the next session to remove both Robert E. Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day as legal holidays. Willard says he has other bills that focus on innovation, workforce development, and business recruitment, but this was something he could not ignore.

Cut 11 (11) “…economic development.”

A Marrero lawmaker files a bill to do away with plastic shopping bags. Senator Patrick Connick wants to impose fines of $100 to $500 for using them. He says we should use reusable bags instead. Connick says other states have done this successfully and it’s time for Louisiana to follow suit…:

CUT 14(08)      “…this litter.”

Connick’s bill is one of hundreds lawmakers will consider when the legislature convenes its regular session, starting March 14^th.

Shreveport Police have charged 18-year-old Shamichael Pearson with second-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of 17-year-old Huntington High Student Devin Meyers. Sgt. Angie Willhite says investigators talked with witnesses and obtained surveillance footage quickly after the Thursday shooting. As for a motive, Willhite says investigators say the two had an ongoing dispute.

Cut 7 (11) “…fleeing.” 

Meyers was known as a star athlete at Huntington and a starter for the boys’ basketball team who one last night to enter semifinal play.

Triple-A reports another large jump in gas prices as the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline shot up a dime to $3.73. State Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says not only is the price at the pump skyrocketing so is the cost of fertilizer because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Cut 4 (09) “…challenging times”

New Orleans Representative Matthew Willard was shocked to find out the state still had two officially recognized holidays honoring the Confederacy on the books. So he has introduced a bill for the next session to remove both Robert E. Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day as legal holidays.

Cut 9 (11) “…to remove those.”

If Marrero Senator Patrick Connick has his way, single-use plastic bags at retailers will no longer be allowed in Louisiana in an effort to reduce the ever-growing trash problem. Connick says he’s tired of seeing plastic bags on the side of roads and he’s introduced legislation.

Cut 12 (10) “…if possible”  

Senate Bill 155 would impose a $100 penalty for the first violation, $200 for the second, and $500 for the third and any subsequent violations

Triple-A reports another large jump in gas prices as the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline shot up a dime overnight $3.73 a gallon. The price for a gallon of diesel gasoline has surpassed four dollars. State Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the rising price for fuel will head to higher prices for groceries…

Cut 3 (08) “..from now”

Strain says not only is the price at the pump skyrocketing so is the cost of fertilizer because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Shreveport Police have charged 18-year-old Shamichael Pearson with second-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of 17-year-old Huntington High Student Devin Meyers. Sgt. Angie Willhite says investigators talked with witnesses and obtained surveillance footage quickly after the Thursday shooting.

 Cut 6 (11) “…at $350-thousand.” 

The Huntington High basketball team, where Meyers was a star player, won and go on semifinal play.

New Orleans lawmaker Matthew Willard wants Louisiana to address its past to improve its future.

Cut 2 (34)…I’m David Grubb.”  

A single-vehicle crash in Webster Parish killed a two-year-old, after authorities say the child, Gracie Dean of Shongaloo was running on private property and entered into the roadway before 1 pm Friday. A 2014 Chevrolet struck the toddler as a family member tried to stop her before running into traffic. She was pronounced dead on the scene.

We’re all painfully aware of the rise in prices at the pump. Now get ready for bigger bills at the grocery store too. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Shreveport Police have charged 18-year-old Shamichael Pearson with second-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of 17-year-old Huntington High Student and basketball star Devin Meyers. Sgt. Angie Willhite says the two had an ongoing dispute that tragically ended in violence. She credits the public for their assistance in helping them to make a quick arrest.

Cut 8 (07) “…unspeakable.”

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New Orleans Representative Matthew Willard has introduced a bill for the next session to remove both Robert E. Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day as legal holidays. With all of the major financial, educational, and environmental issues facing the state, why should legislators focus on holidays? Willard believes the Legislature can deal with both. He says he has other bills that focus on innovation, workforce development, and business recruitment, but this was something he could not ignore.

Cut 11 (11) “…economic development.”

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If Marrero Senator Patrick Connick has his way, single-use plastic bags at retailers will no longer be allowed in Louisiana in an effort to reduce the ever-growing trash problem. Connick says he’s tired of seeing plastic bags on the side of roads and he’s introduced legislation.

Cut 12 (10) “…if possible”

The upcoming legislative session begins on March 14th.