Lumber prices are down over 40 percent from May, a historic drop off after the commodity hit historic highs earlier last month. Matt Doyle has more.
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Beginning in July of 2022, wrongfully convicted individuals who are exonerated will be eligible for more money, to compensate them for each year they spent behind bars. Brooke Thorington has more
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Senate Education Chairman Cleo Fields will be visiting a few schools across the state today and tomorrow to explain his recently signed legislation mandating kindergarten att3endance for five-year-olds. Matt Doyle has more.
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The price of lumber has dropped precipitously after hitting a record high early last month.
President of the Louisiana Homebuilders Association Tommy Pinion says the price is down about 45 percent in just over a month, great news for first-time homebuyers.
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Lumber peaked at 1,686 per thousand feet.
Despite that drop in lumber prices, Pinion does not expect the historically hot housing market to cool off too much in the near future.
Cut 5 (08) “…down.”
Pinion says one thing is clear, there is a real housing bubble building and he isn’t sure what will happen when it pops.
Cut 6 (09) “…here.”
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Compensation to those who have been wrongfully convicted and faced jail time in Louisiana will increase beginning July of next year. Gretna Representative Joe Marino’s bill boosting the annual amount from $25,000 to $40,000 received near-unanimous support.
Cut 7 (11) “…away from them.”
Marino says the hurdle he encountered during the session was explaining to lawmakers that you are not automatically entitled to the funds once you are exonerated. He says you must have a second hearing.
Cut 8 (09) “…compensation.”
For example, if you were wrongfully incarcerated for three years you’d receive $120,00. The maximum one can receive is $400-thousand spread across 10 years or a lump sum of $250,000.
Cut 9 (09) “…prior to this.”
Marino says the Innocence Project who advocates on behalf of wrongly convicted individuals, asked him to increase the compensation. He says Innocence Project attorneys, who help exonerate individuals do so free of charge.
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Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields will be speaking at a few schools across the state Tuesday and Wednesday about his recently signed bill mandating Kindergarten for five-year-olds.
Fields wants to explain the new law to parents. He says the concept is pretty simple; if your kid turns five by September 30th next year they must be enrolled in kindergarten.
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The law will kick in for the start of the 2022-2023 school year next fall.
Fields says he expects to get quite a few questions from parents who’d rather homeschool their five-year-olds. He says they’ll have two options for homeschooling…
Cut 11 (09)”….curriculum”
Fields says following the state curriculum will make your child TOPS eligible.
Fields says he’s excited to have the state become the 13th in the nation to adopt this requirement that five-year-olds go to kindergarten.
Cut 12 (08) “…education.”
Fields will visit Capitol Elementary in Baton Rouge and JB Nachman Elementary in Alexandria Tuesday, and Shreve Island Elementary in Shreveport Wednesday.
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The father of an LSU baseball pitcher died in a water accident on Father’s Day in Livingston Parish. Shortly after what started as a family outing tubing on the Amite River, Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard says it was near the Watson area that 53-year-old Keith Hillard went under the water and never came up.
Cut 13 (11) “…able to.”
Hilliard was the father of senior baseball player Ma’Khail Hillard. Ard says boaters nearby were able to pull his body from the river.
The Upper Amite River as Ard says it’s known, is unpredictable and he cautions anyone in the water to pay attention and always wear protective life gear.
Cut 14 (07) “…unforgiving river.”
Ard extended his thoughts and prayers to the Hillard family and says while any drowning is tragic, the timing of this one is especially difficult to lose a father on Father’s Day.
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A routine autopsy will be performed but Ard believes the cause of death will be ruled an accidental drowning.
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The search for LSU’s next head baseball coach continues as reports have surfaced that Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco has removed his name as a possible candidate and signed an extension with Ole Miss. LSU beat reporter with the USA Today Network Glen Guilbeau says could not wait around for an offer.
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With Bianco no longer a candidate, Guilbeau says LSU has now shifted its focus to three coaches in the College World Series.
Cut 17 (16) …keep Vitello.”
It certainly seems like LSU is swinging for the fences but Guilbeau believes Corbin could be tough to get.
Cut 18 (16)”..situation there.”