UL System President Jim Henderson calls the budget for the fiscal year starting in July the biggest investment in higher education the state has seen in 13 years. The 38-billion-dollar spending plan is headed to the Governor’s desk. Henderson says it features a faculty pay raise that breaks down to about a two to two and a half percent increase.

Cut 3 (10)  “…for us.”

Hurricane season starts tomorrow, and Louisiana residents know all too well about storm preparedness.  David Maurstad, the head of the National Flood Insurance Program with FEMA, says every homeowner should have a flood insurance policy.

Cut 9 (13) “…you need.” 

It’s been a good day for baseball fans in the state with four Louisiana schools heading to the NCAA baseball tournament. LSU, Southern, McNeese, and LA Tech will continue their season in the NCAA regionals. LSU will face Gonzaga in Eugene, Oregon. Southern will play Texas in the Austin regional, McNeese will play TCU in the Fort Worth regional, and the Bulldogs will play in the Ruston regional and face off with Rider University. North Carolina State and Alabama will be playing in the Ruston regional also.

The highways and waterways are crowded this Memorial Day.  Sea Tow President Kristen Frohnhoefer (Frone – hoffer) says due to the recent flooding in Louisiana there’s more debris in the water this holiday. She recommends assigning someone to serve as a lookout when cruising.

Cut 8 (10) “…the water.”

She says there’s been an increase of new boaters since the pandemic, and they’ve seen an uptick in service calls to assist boaters.

Higher education officials are celebrating the 38-billion-dollar budget approved by the Legislature. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The LSU Tigers are in the NCAA Baseball Tournament, The Bayou Bengals will compete in the Eugene, Oregon Regional and take on Gonzaga. Louisiana Tech is hosting a regional for the first time in school history and the Bulldogs will host Rider University. The other two teams in the Ruston Regional are North Carolina State and Alabama.  McNeese is heading to the Fort Worth Regional and Southern to the Austin regional.

Not only are there more drivers on the road for Memorial Day this year, but according to a Sea Tow Services survey, 52-percent of the boaters say they plan to spend more time on the water this year compared to 2020. Sea Tow President Kristen Frohnhoefer (Frone – hoffer) says expect waterways to be crowded.

Cut 6 (11)”…with it.”

Frohnhoefer says a majority of their calls today will be for groundings and lack of fuel.

Hurricane season starts tomorrow, and Louisiana residents know all too well about storm preparedness.  David Maurstad, the head of the National Flood Insurance Program with FEMA

Louisiana residents experienced an unprecedented flood back in 2016 due to a variety of reasons and the NFIP policy protects from all types of flooding.

Cut 11 (07) “…policy.”

Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Colonel Joey Strickland says today is a day to remember the tens of thousands of Louisianans who died while serving their country. There’s some debate as to what the current total of Louisianans who’ve died while in the military is, but ultimately…

Cut 14 (06) “…sacrifice.”

Higher Ed leaders cheered last week’s passage of the 38 billion dollar state spending plan for the fiscal year starting in July. UL System President Jim Henderson says the faculty pay raises and general formula increase is the biggest investment in higher ed in 13 years, but despite the big increase we still haven’t made up for the steep budget cuts enacted during the Jindal Administration.

Cut 5 (06)”…Legislators.”

Previously up to 70 percent of college budgets were state-funded, now 75 percent of college budgets are sustained by student tuition and fees.

If you’re thinking of taking the boat out today as a novice helmsman Sea Tow President Kristen Frohnhoefer (Frone – hoffer) says make sure you are properly trained before leaving the dock. Frohnhoefer (Frone – hoffer) says new navigators are 142-percent more likely to need ungrounding services.

Cut 7 (11)  “…courteous boater.”

Hurricane season starts tomorrow and before this above average season kicks off you need to make sure you either have flood insurance, or make sure that your coverage has not lapsed. David Maurstad, the head of the National Flood Insurance Program with FEMA, says There’s no way to completely eliminate flood damage but a good policy can help with the recovery process.

Cut 10 (12) “…policy.”

Higher ed leaders are celebrating the 38 billion dollar budget for next year that’s headed to the Governor’s desk. Contained within is a roughly two and a half percent average pay raise for higher ed faculty, and a few other items that UL System President Jim Henderson calls transformative…

Cut 4 (09)”…higher education”

TOPs is fully funded and Go Grants have also been expanded.

Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Colonel Joey Strickland asks you to take a moment out of your day today to pay respects to those who died serving the United States. He says Memorial Day is most importantly about those who fell but is also an opportunity to remember those who are still serving, like our National Guardsmen who are overseas…

Cut 13 (07) “…are”

Hurricane season starts tomorrow so check your flood insurance renewal status.

If you’re hitting the waterways you are not alone on this Memorial Day. A boat towing company says to expect a jump in the number of boaters and new navigators. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

We’ll find out whether or not LSU makes it into the NCAA tournament today at 11 AM. The team had a disappointing 13 and 17 SEC record but their chances could be buoyed by coach Paul Mainieri’s retirement announcement. In other college baseball news Tech will be hosting a regional.

Americans observe Memorial Day today, remembering those who died serving our country. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Colonel Joey Strickland says today is partially about remembering those who have served in the military, but…

Cut 12 (12) “…forgotten”

UL System President Jim Henderson calls the budget for the fiscal year starting in July the biggest investment in higher education the state has seen in 13 years. The 38 billion dollar spending plan is headed to the Governor’s desk. Henderson says it features a faculty pay raise that breaks down to about a two to two and a half percent increase.

Cut 3 (10)  “…for us.”

Henderson says this raise gets faculty a quarter of the way to the southern regional average.

Not only are there more drivers on the road for Memorial Day this year, but according to a Sea Tow Services survey, 52-percent of the boaters say they plan to spend more time on the water this year compared to 2020. Sea Tow President Kristen Frohnhoefer (Frone – hoffer) says expect waterways to be crowded.

Cut 6 (11)”…with it.”

Hurricane season starts tomorrow and Louisiana residents know all too well about storm preparedness.  David Maurstad, the head of the National Flood Insurance Program with FEMA, says every homeowner should have a flood insurance policy

Cut 9 (13) “…you need.” 

There are less than two weeks to go in the legislative session and lawmakers have already approved a record 38 billion dollar spending plan for the fiscal year starting in July. Senate President Page Cortez highlights a few of the major investments thanks to federal coronavirus aid…
Cut 23 (11)“..lines”

Also included was an 800 dollar teacher pay raise and a roughly two and a half percent higher education faculty pay raise.

U-L System President Jim Henderson says faculty at their schools are still about 8,000 to 10,000 dollars a year behind the southern regional average and this increase gets them about a quarter of the way there. Henderson says the budget fully funds TOPS and even increases the size of the Go Grant program.
Cut 4 (09)”…educators”
Despite the big increase in higher ed investment this year, Henderson says the state still hasn’t made up for the steep budget cuts enacted during the Jindal Administration.
Cut 5 (06)”…Legislators.”
A House committee has rejected an effort to give 1,500 Louisiana inmates convicted on non-unanimous verdicts another chance at another trial. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri has announced his retirement after 39 seasons as a college coach, the last 15 have been for the Tigers. Mainieri is 63-years-old, but he says a painful neck injury that’s already been operated on twice has made it difficult for him to function the last few years…
cut 20 (20) “…the time”
Mainieri could still have a few games to coach. The Tigers could still receive an invite to the NCAA Tournament.

State highway officials are asking motorists to be aware and stay focused on the road this holiday weekend. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett…
cut 6 (08) “…they’re used to”
Mallet says 330 people have lost their lives in fatal crashes this year in Louisiana.

Cameron Parish authorities say a tip from a local woman helped them identify a human skull found off a highway in 2018. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington”

Lafayette Police say two pedestrians from Opelousas were killed early Friday morning when they were struck by a vehicle on Evangeline Thruway. The victims have been identified as 18-year-old Ashanti Granger of Opelousas and 26-year-old Odis King of Opelousas. Detectives do not know why they entered the roadway.

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri is retiring from coaching after 39 seasons in dugouts across America. He’s spent the last 15 seasons as the Fighting Tigers head coach…
cut 30 (10) “…my best”
Mainieri won one national championship in 2009 and nearly won another one in 2017. The 63-year-old says despite two surgeries on his neck, he remains in pain, which has affected his ability to coach.

There are less than two weeks to go in the legislative session and lawmakers have already approved a record 38 billion dollar spending plan for the fiscal year starting in July. Senate President Page Cortez highlights a few of the major investments thanks to federal coronavirus aid…
Cut 13 (11)“..lines”
The unemployment trust fund will also be replenished with 490 million dollars.

If you’re hitting the waterways you are not alone this Memorial Day weekend, a boat towing company says to expect a jump in the number of boaters and new navigators this year.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

State Police and local law enforcement agencies are urging motorists to buckle up this Memorial Day weekend as they will be writing tickets for failing to wear a seat belt as part of the click it or ticket campaign. The most recent study from the Louisiana Highway Safety found only 68-percent of vehicle occupants in Louisiana wore a seat belt in the back seat. State law requires everyone in a vehicle is properly restrained.

College baseball is dominating the news. Paul Mainieri has announced his retirement after 15 seasons as the coach of the LSU Tigers. Louisiana Tech and Tulane need to win twice today to stay alive in their conference baseball tournaments. A win for the Ragin Cajuns and they advance to the Sun Belt Tournament championship game and McNeese is a win away from a Southland Tournament championship.

The state legislature has sent a 38-billion dollar spending plan to Governor Edwards’ desk, a record amount buoyed by federal coronavirus aid….
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A human skull found in Cameron Parish more than three years ago has been identified as 58-year-old Sally Hines of San Antonio. Cameron Parish Sheriff Ron Johnson says it was a local woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, saw a computer-generated image of what the skull would resemble in person that connected the dots.
Cut 10 (11) “…at zero.
San Antonio Police is handling the investigation into Hines’ disappearance and death.

State highway officials are urging motorists to pay attention and don’t speed this Memorial Day Weekend holiday. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says 330 people have died in fatal car crashes in Louisiana this year after over 800 died last year. Mallett hopes they do not surpass that number this year…
Cut 7 (9) “…that trend downward”

A Scott man was arrested for allegedly fatally shooting his dog and posting video of the shooting on Snapchat. The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office says 23-year old Issac Gotreaux was arrested Tuesday and faces charges of cruelty to animals and unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety or publicity

The Legislature sends a 38-billion-dollar spending plan to Governor Edwards’ desk, a record amount buoyed by federal coronavirus aid.  Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

A human skull found in Cameron Parish more than three years ago has been identified as 58-year-old Sally Hines of San Antonio. Cameron Parish Sheriff Ron Johnson says it was a local woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, saw a computer-generated image of what the skull would resemble in person that connected the dots.

Cut 10 (11) “…at zero.

After 15 seasons and one national championship at LSU, Paul Mainieri has announced he’s retiring as a college baseball coach. The Tigers had a rough year and are on the NCAA tournament bubble but Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says  Mainieri’s announcement might give the selection committee another reason to put the Tigers in a regional.

Cut 5  (10)  “…deserve that”