LSU introduces its new athletics director at a noon press conference today. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Connor Ferrill”

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Louisiana has now added jobs over the year for 13 straight months according to the latest jobs report. Matt Doyle also reports the state’s unemployment rate has hit an 11-year low

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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A bill to allow parish voters to legalize sports betting will be heard Tuesday. Matt Doyle has reactions from both sides of the debate.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Scott Woodward will be introduced as LSU’s athletic director today at noon. Woodward leaves Texas A&M after the Aggies won nine SEC titles over four years under his leadership. Commissioner of Administration and longtime friend of Woodward, Jay Dardenne, says the Baton Rouge native won’t need much of an introduction…

Cut 4 (12) “…LSU graduate.”

Dardenne says he doesn’t suspect lots of coaching changes immediately but the Will Wade saga may be Woodward’s first test as AD…

Cut 5 (12) “…next season.”

Woodward and Ed Orgeron are the first all Louisiana AD-football coach tandem since 1955. Dardenne says having local Louisianan’s running the show in athletics could bring a bright future…

Cut 6 (12) “…this program.”

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Louisiana extends it’s streak of over the year job gains to 13 consecutive months. The state’s Workforce Commission Director Ava Dejoie says since March of 2018, the education/healthcare super-sector has led the way with an additional 7,400 jobs.

Cut 7 (12) “…people.”

But nearly all of the year to year job gains were powered by hiring in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette.

North Louisiana is still struggling, with Shreveport in particular down 1,700 jobs over the last year. Dejoie says to counteract this, they’re training up workers for jobs that start at 40,000 a year.

Cut 8 (09) “…CDL.”

The National Governor’s Association will also meet in Shreveport to discuss the possibility of turning the town into a cyber security hub.

Houma continues to see it’s economy slip, as it lost 2,100 job from last year in a city of roughly 34,000. Dejoie says she’s hopeful that rising oil prices can stem the losses.

Cut 9 (09) “…those.″

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A Senate Judiciary Committee will take up a proposal to allow voters to legalize sports betting at casinos and race tracks in their parishes today.

Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills opposes the legislation, and says any revenue generated would be offset by the social damage caused by increased gambling.

Cut 10 (12) “…a wash.”

Mills says a UL study indicated there were nearly 200,000 problem gamblers in the state.

But bill sponsor, Metairie Senator Danny Martiny, says there’s already an active sports betting black market, and while the law may increase the overall amount of gaming in the state…

Cut 11 (06) “…market.”

Martiny is pushing to direct any revenue generated directly from sports betting activities into early childhood education. The Senator says it’s a worthy cause, and will help the legislation pass, but Mills says the two causes should not be tied together.

Cut 12 (11) “…merit.”

The Metairie Republican says estimates show sports betting itself will not generate a substantial amount of tax revenue, and that the activity could be worth about 20-50 million dollars a year.

Martiny warned that not passing the legislation will result in depressed revenues for Louisiana casinos who will lose business to other states, and drive away new potential gaming investors.

Cut 13 (10) “again.”

If passed locally the activity would be limited to the physical premises of Riverboats, Tracks, and Land-Based Casinos.

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A constitutional amendment to exempt diapers and feminine products from the state sales tax unanimously cleared it’s first committee, and is on it’s way to Senate Finance, where it has previously died. Amendment sponsor New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says there’s precedent for the exemption…

Cut 14 (12) “…them”

If passed local municipalities would have the option of exempting the items from local sales tax as well.
The constitution calls for the exemption of necessities, and Morrell says for women and parents, having these products isn’t just some luxury, and the costs can add up for working class moms.
Cut 15 (08) “…items.”

The proposal comes with a roughly nine million dollar price tag. Morrell says it might be a little pricey, but most of that money will work it’s way right back into the economy.

Cut 16  (11) “…economy” 

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The 14th LSU baseball team looks to win a midweek game for the first time since April 3rd when they host Lamar tonight. The Cardinals are 12 games under the .500 mark and then after tonight’s home game, LSU visits Alabama, who is in last place in the SEC West. Coach Paul Mainieri wants his team to build on its current two game winning streak

 cut 17 (16)   “.week for us” 

LSU right-hander Cole Henry was named SEC Baseball Co-Freshman of the Week. The Alabama native struck out a career-high 12 Florida hitters in Friday night’s 13-1 win over the Gators. Henry says it’s a great honor…

Henry’s 12 strikeouts were the most since Alex Lange struck out 13 in a game in 2015. Henry says its not his goal to strike out hitters…

Cut 19 (18)    in games”

With the Louisiana Radio Network Legislative Report, I’m Connor Ferrill
A bill to allow parish voters to legalize sports betting will be heard Tuesday. Matt Doyle has reactions from both sides of the debate.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”
A constitutional amendment to exempt diapers and feminine products from the state sales tax cleared it’s first committee, and is on it’s way to Senate Finance, where it has previously died. The proposal comes with a 10 million dollar price tag, and it being brought by New Orleans Senator JP Morrell.
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Hammond Representative Nicky Muscarello has legislation that would conceal the identities of companies that sell lethal injection drugs or equipment to the state. Louisiana has not performed an execution since 2010, and Muscarello says a big reason why is drug companies fear retaliation from anti-death penalty consumers.
Cut 10 AM (11) “…them private.”
The legislation is similar to that which is in place in neighboring states like Arkansas and Texas.
A House committee approves legislation to create a Team Gleason specialty license plate in honor of former Saints star and now ALS advocate. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says Gleason, who was diagnosed with A-L-S in 2011, says his work to help people with wheelchair bound disabilities is courageous
Cut 12 (12) “…devastating disease”

A national reporter is criticizing LSU for a billboard that congratulates the school’s gymnastics team for finishing as national runner ups. Sports Business Reporter for the Action Network Darren Rovell appeared on ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge, Alexandria and New Orleans said you shouldn’t celebrate a second place finish…

Cut 6 (08) “…to go”

Law enforcement agencies participate this week in the “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign, an effort to get more drivers and passengers in pickup trucks to wear seat belts. Deputy Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Dortha Cummins says 89-percent of drivers and passengers in passenger vehicles follow the state’s seat belt laws, but the percentage drops to 81-percent for pickup truck drivers and passengers

Cut 4 (12) “usage rate”

A House committee approves legislation to create a Team Gleason specialty license plate in honor of former Saints star and now ALS advocate. The House Transportation Committee gave the Team Gleason specialty license plate unanimous approval and New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says if it becomes law, it can also help in the fight against A-L-S…

Cut 14 (11) “…they do”

The state hopes to get more students involved in the Ag industry by letting eligible two-year college grads transfer directly to LSU’s College of Ag and start as a junior. Louisiana Community and Technical College President Monty Sullivan says 2+2 is an economic program that gets kids out of college in four years with a lower debt load and bright prospects for a high paying job in a vital field.

Cut 11 (09)   “…of college”

Should LSU promote a second place finish? A national sports reporter doesn’t think so. Jeff Palermo has more..
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Two people died early Sunday when their vehicle hit a deer while traveling on Highway 821 in Lincoln Parish. State Police say after the Chevy Tahoe hit the deer, the vehicle struck several trees, killing 29-year-old Christopher Brady of Choudrant, and his passenger, 27-year-old Savannah Holden of Ruston.

A House committee approves legislation to give drivers a chance to purchase a Team Gleason Foundation license plate with the proceeds going towards the fight against A-L-S. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says the license plate is in honor of former Saint Steve Gleason, who has worked tirelessly to help those with neromuscular diseases or injuries…
cut 13 (11) “…independent lives”

Law enforcement agencies are participating this week in the “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign, an effort to get more drivers and passengers in pickup trucks to wear seat belts. Deputy Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Dortha Cummins says the campaign means state troopers, deputies and police officers will increase their efforts to make sure those in a pickup truck are buckled up…
Cut 5 (07) “…through awareness”
Cummins says pick up truck passengers are less compliant of seat belt laws than passenger vehicles.

LSU fans are upset with national sports reporter Darren Rovell after he said on Twitter that you should not put up a billboard celebrating second place. A billboard is up in Baton Rouge congratulating the LSU gymnastics team for finishing as runner ups at the national championships. Rovell did not back down from that tweet when he appeared on “Off the Bench” which is heard on ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Alexandria…
cut 7 (07) “….of time”
LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette tweeted back to Rovell that the billboard helps promote the LSU brand.

Law enforcement agencies participate this week in the “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign. Deputy Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Dortha Cummins says pick up truck riders are less compliant of seat belt laws
Cut 3 (06) “…a crash ”
Cummins says the goal of the week is not just to write tickets, but raise awareness of the issue.

The House Transportation Committee has approved legislation to create a Team Gleason specialty license plate in honor of former Saints player and now A-L-S advocate. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says Gleason, who was diagnosed with A-L-S in 2011, says his work to help those suffering with wheelchair bound disabilities is courageous…
cut 12 (12) “…devastating disease”
Gleason is set to receive the Congressional Gold Medal this year.

A bill waiting to be heard in the legislative session is a measure that would allow juniors and seniors at public high schools to take two college courses in high school for free….
cut 15 (08) “…very important”
That’s Higher Ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed and the bill has the governor’s support.

Community college students are being given a pathway to a career in agriculture with a new program that lets them transfer two years of credits to LSU Ag. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

New LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward is set to be introduced tomorrow at noon. The former LSU graduate has served as the Athletic Director for Texas A&M for the past four years with the sports program winning nine SEC titles.

A national reporter is criticizing LSU for a billboard that congratulates the school’s gymnastics team for finishing as national runner ups. Sports Business Reporter for the Action Network Darren Rovell tweeted on Sunday that a school should not put up a billboard for coming in second.

LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette tweeted back to Rovell and said the billboard recognizing LSU’s second-place finish helps promote the brand. But Rovell says his message on the billboard would have said something different…

Cut 8 (10) “…runners up”

Law enforcement agencies participate this week in the “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign, an effort to get more drivers and passengers in pickup trucks to wear seat belts. Deputy Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Dortha Cummins says the campaign means state troopers, deputies and police officers will increase their efforts to make sure those in a pickup truck are buckled up…

Cut 5 (07) “…through awareness”

The state is hoping to get more students involved in the Ag industry by letting eligable two year college grads transfer directly to LSU’s College of Ag, and start as a junior. Louisiana Community and Technical College President Monty Sullivan says while any student is eligible for the program…
Cut 10 (12) “…economy.”
Students looking to make the jump to LSU Ag for their last two years need to have a 2.5 GPA, and an associate degree in certain fields of study.
Hammond Representative Nicky Muscarello has legislation that would conceal the identities of companies that sell lethal injection drugs or equipment to the state. Louisiana has not performed an execution since 2010, and Muscarello says a big reason why is drug companies fear retaliation from anti-death penalty consumers.
Cut 10AM (11) “…them private.”

Should LSU promote a second place finish? A national sports reporter doesn’t think so. Jeff Palermo has more..

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

New LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward is set to be introduced tomorrow at 12pm.

Law enforcement agencies participate this week in the “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign, an effort to get more drivers and passengers in pick up trucks to wear seat belts. Deputy Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Dortha Cummins says pickup truck drivers are particularly prone to not buckling up.
Cut 4 (12) “ usage rate”
Pickup trucks make up a quarter of the vehicles on Louisiana roadways.
A national reporter is criticizing LSU for a billboard that congratulates the school’s gymnastics team for finishing as national runner ups. Sports Business Reporter for the Action Network Darren Rovell tweeted strong words opposing the billboard, and did not back down when pressed about it on a Baton Rouge morning show…
Cut 7 (07) “…of time.”
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The state is hoping to get more students involved in the Ag industry by letting eligable two year college grads transfer directly to LSU’s College of Ag, and start as a junior. Louisiana Community and Technical College President Monty Sullivan says the 2+2 program will help get a wider range of skilled workers into the industry…
Cut 9, 11 seconds, a science
Students need to have a 2.5 GPA, and an associate degree in certain fields of study.
A Senate Bill up consideration in the legislative session would allowing every junior and senior public high school students to take two college courses free of charge starting next school year. It’s an effort that has the support of Gov. John Bel Edwards. Higher Ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says accsess can be scattershot…
Cut 13 (10) “dual enrollment courses.”

A national reporter is criticizing LSU for a billboard that congratulates the school’s gymnastics team for finishing as national runner ups. Sports Business Reporter for the Action Network Darren Rovell appeared on ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge, Alexandria and New Orleans said you shouldn’t celebrate a second place finish…
cut 6 (08) “….way to go”
Rovell tweeted on Sunday that a school should not put up a billboard for coming in second, which resulted in over one-thousand comments, many from LSU fans who disagreed with Rovell’s take.

A bill is expected to be heard in a Senate committee today that would exempt feminine hygiene products and diapers from the state sales tax. Louisiana Budget Project Director Jan Moller says the precedent is already there, as the state constitution exempts “necessities” like groceries, prescriptions, and utilities.

Governor Edwards says if it reaches his desk, he would sign legislation concealing the identity of companies that sell the state lethal injection chemicals. Matt Doyle spoke to the bill’s sponsor…
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Two people died early Sunday when their vehicle hit a deer while traveling on Highway 821 in Lincoln Parish. State Police say after the Chevy Tahoe hit the deer, the vehicle struck several trees, killing 29-year-old Christopher Brady of Choudrant, and his passenger, 27-year-old Savannah Holden of Ruston.

Hammond Representative Nicky Muscarello has legislation that would conceal the identities of companies that sell lethal injection drugs or equipment to the state. Louisiana has not performed an execution since 2010, and Muscarello says a big reason why is drug companies fear retaliation from anti-death penalty consumers.
Cut 10 (11) “…them private.”
Arkansas and Texas have a similar law in place.

Another bill waiting for a hearing in the legislative session is a measure that would allow juniors and seniors at public high schools to take up two college courses for free. Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed is behind the proposal…
cut 14 (06) “….support that”
The bill will get its first hearing in a Senate Education committee soon.

A ten-million dollar proposal to exempt feminine products and diapers from the state sales tax will be heard in a Senate committee today. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Law enforcement agencies are participating this week in the “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign, an effort to get more drivers and passengers in pick up trucks to wear seat belts. Deputy Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Dortha Cummins says pick up truck passengers are less compliant of the state’s seat belt laws….
cut 3 (06) “…a crash”