State Health Officials and Pediatricians are encouraging parents to have their children ages 12 and up vaccinated for COVID. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”
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The House passes a tax reform constitutional amendment that many Republicans feel is the signature bill of the session. Matt Doyle has the story.
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A bill to increase the weekly unemployment benefit amount beginning next year fails in the house after being attacked by lawmakers on both sides. Brooke Thorington explains.
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Boating season is getting started with Safe Boating Week beginning Saturday and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has some reminders for eager boaters.
LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck says you must have enough personal flotation devices for everyone aboard. Even if you think you are a strong swimmer…
Cut 4 (10)“…afloat.”
Anyone 16 or younger must wear their flotation device at all times in vessels shorter than 26 feet.
Einck says another thing to note is that if you get caught drinking and driving your boat you will face the same penalties that you’d face if you got caught driving drunk on the road.
Cut 5 (08)”… that boat.”
Louisiana saw 24 boating fatalities last year and nine so far this year.
A lot of folks got cabin fever last year and bought their first boat but Einck says if you’re a millennial you need to complete a NASBLA boating education course before piloting.
Cut 6 (10) “..1984.”
This only applies to motorboats with 10 or more horsepower.
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The Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and others are urging parents to have children ages 12 and up to be vaccinated for COVID. Since the CDC’s approval to have 12- to 15-year-old vaccinated last week, Governor Edwards says more than five thousand in that age range have received one shot of the Pfizer vaccine in Louisiana.
Cut 7 (07) “…their age.”
Edwards says he’s considering possible incentives to get more Louisianans vaccinated. To date, only 30% of the state’s eligible population is fully vaccinated.
While children are less likely to contract COVID compared to adults they are still suspectable for the virus, Our Lady of the Lake Pediatric Immunologist Dr. Theron McCormick says in the U-S of the 3.9-million children who’ve had COVID, 300 have died as a result.
Cut 8 (07) “…big deal.”
State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter and McCormick encouraged parents to speak with their pediatrician if they have any questions about the vaccine for their child. McCormick says children might experience side effects from the vaccine, like the ones they have when being immunized, low-grade fever, and tiredness.
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McCormick says trials indicate the Pfizer vaccine is 100-percent effective for ages 12 to 15. You can call the Vaccine Hotline at 1-855-453-0774 to make an appointment and/or to answer questions about the vaccine.
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The House passes a constitutional amendment that would lower state personal income tax rates in exchange for eliminating the ability to deduct federal income taxes.
Lafayette Representative Stuart Bishop thanked House members for passing his bill, saying Louisiana lawmakers have tried to do this for decades.
Cut 10 (08) “…tax reform.”
The bill needed 70 votes to pass and ultimately won 98 just a day after it fell four votes shy amidst a Democratic blockade.
At one point the bill was at risk of sinking due to an unrelated controversy involving former Chairman of House Education Ray Garofalo…
Cut 11 (07) “….passing this.”
After Garofalo made a controversial comment about slavery in committee the Legislative Black Caucus threatened to withhold support for the tax reform effort unless he was removed as chairman. Garofalo was removed or stepped down, depending on who you ask earlier this week.
If approved by the Senate Louisianans will have a chance to vote on it on the November 2022 ballot. This is what the language will say…
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The amendment would lower the state personal income tax rate on your first 12,500 dollars by point one five percent, half a percent on the next 37,500 dollars, and one and three-quarters percent for income over 50,000 dollars. Proponents say the tax swap is close to revenue-neutral and if approved by voters would kick in in 2023.
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A bill to increase the unemployment weekly benefit by $28 beginning in 2022 fails in the House. The bill came under bipartisan assault especially after a hiring bonus was added. Bill author Harvey Democrat Representative Rodney Lyons says the original intent was to increase the weekly amount, an initiative that began before the pandemic.
Cut 13 (07) “…benefits.”
Louisiana has the 49th lowest unemployment weekly benefit in the nation.
A hiring bonus of up to $1,000 was added to the bill to entice those on unemployment to return to work, Bossier City Republican Representative Raymond Crews was one of the lawmakers that submitted the bonus amendment.
Cut 14 (07) “…this helps.”
But Lyons says accepting the bonus came with a caveat of forfeiting unemployment for six months even if you lose your job again.
Albany Republican Representative Sherman Mack questioned Lyons on why the state doesn’t go after those who received $400-million in benefits they weren’t entitled to in order to finance the weekly increase and hiring bonus.
Cut 15 (12)“…correct you don’t.”
The bill failed on 44-54 vote.
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The NCAA Baton Rouge Softball Regional gets underway today at Tiger Park as top-seeded LSU will host fourth-seeded McNeese at 3 o’clock, while second-seeded U-L Lafayette will take on third-seeded George Washington at 5:30 PM. Tigers Coach Beth Torina is excited to see the best that the Bayou State has to offer
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LSU is 32-and-19 on the season and received a seven national seed. Torina says she’s counting on their defense to keep them in games
Cut 17 (17) “..some runs.”
The Cajuns bring a 44-and-10 record to the Baton Rouge Regional. Coach Gerry Glasco’s team has won nine of its last ten…
Cut 18 (16)”…absolutely amazing.”