The Senate Health and Welfare Committee has advanced Houma Republican Mike Fesi’s bill that would ban fluoride in drinking water. Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham says excessive levels of fluoride have been shown to lower IQs in babies. He says it’s an issue of freedom of choice.

Cut 13 (10)  “…as a physician.”

Annette Droddy, who represents the Louisiana Dental Association’s 19-hundred dentists, says when cities remove fluoride from their drinking water, tooth decay goes up.

Cut 15 (09) “…removal of fluoride.”

The vote was 6-to-3, along party lines.

Thanks to a 35-3 vote by the Senate, a bill cracking down on “left-lane camping” is zooming over to the House. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Louisiana lawmakers are advancing a bill to increase teacher salaries.  Lafayette Representative Josh Carlson’s bill would require districts to use savings from eliminating three state trust funds to provide $2,000 raises for teachers and $1,000 for support staff. A companion bill from Carencro representative Julie Emerson was designed to simplify the proposal in response to the recent voter defeat of Amendment 2 which was said to be too complex.

Cut 4 (09) “…teacher pay raise there.”

A bill to ban fluoride in drinking water advances to the full Senate. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Too much water fell from the sky during the overnight hours in the Lafayette area resulting in closed roads and high-water rescues. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says some areas got a half a foot of rain in a three to four period, in particular the Youngsville area.

Less than a month after voters rejected a constitutional amendment that included permanent teacher pay raises, Louisiana lawmakers are advancing a bill to increase teacher salaries.  Lafayette Representative Josh Carlson’s bill would require school districts to use savings from eliminating three state trust funds to provide $2,000 raises for teachers and $1,000 for support staff.

Cut 3 (10) “…able to do it.”

The measure received approval from the House Education Committee, if it receives full legislative approval, voters will have to approve it, but this time the constitutional amendment will only focus on teacher pay.

Have you seen what the LSU-Shreveport Baseball team has done? They’ve won their first 44 games of the season, setting a new NAIA record. Pilots Coach Brad Neffendorf says his team is loaded with talent, especially the versatile Josh Gibson…

Cut 8 (12) “…high caliber athlete”

The Pilots close out the regular season this weekend against Jarvis Christian.

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee has advanced a bill that would ban fluoride in drinking water. The bill was written by Houma Republican Mike Fesi, who echoed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in saying that fluoride is poison.

Cut 12 (12) “…into our water.”

Opponents, however, say fluoride has proven to be beneficial when used at the right concentration. Baton Rouge pediatric dentist Dr. Robert Delarosa says when fluoride is added to drinking water at the recommended limit of point-seven milligrams per liter, it is an important tool to fight tooth decay.

Cut 14 (17) “…special needs.”

The vote was six to three in favor of the bill and heads to the Senate floor for more discussion.

The full Senate has approved legislation cracking down on “left-lane camping,” the act of lingering in the passing lane.  Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau hailed it as “the most important bill of the session,” asserting it would ease traffic flow and reduce road rage.

Cut 9 (13)  “…kind of stuff.”

The Senate approved the bill on a 35-3 vote. It now heads to the House for further consideration.

The state’s largest music festival is underway. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival runs from today through Sunday this week and next week. Producer and Director Quint Davis says it’s a never-ending celebration of music.

Cut 4 (08) “…all the bands.”

This year, Louisiana residents get a discount on their admission tickets.

The biggest music festival in Louisiana opens today. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 1 (37) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

A one-year-old child is in DCFS custody after being found alone inside a Baton Rouge motel room. A housekeeper at the American Inn found the baby late yesterday morning and called police. So far, the baby’s parents have not been located; they haven’t even been identified. 

It’s a big day for former LSU star Will Campbell, as he will become the second Tiger offensive lineman ever to be taken in the first round of tonight’s NFL Draft. Several mock drafts have the Monroe native going to the New England Patriots. The cold can be jarring – but Campbell tells KNOE-TV sports he’s ready.

Cut 11 (14) “…get to work.”

LSU Shreveport baseball is invincible – literally. 44 games, 44 wins – and many by lopsided scores. Head Coach Brad Neffendorf says his team has really gelled this year.

Cut 6 (14) “…pretty well together.”

Leaders for a Better Louisiana’s first quarter 2025 Economic Dashboard shows the state has more jobs than it did before the COVID-19 pandemic…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Numerous roads are closed in the Lafayette area because of flash flooding. A half-foot of rain fell in the Youngsville area and Lafayette recorded about four inches of rain in less than six hours, causing damage to tents set up for Festival International.

The House Civil Law Committee advanced a bill that would cap lawyer contingency fees to ten-percent of the first 15-thousand dollars in damages in a lawsuit. Lafayette Senator Troy Hebert says his motivation stemmed from when his daughter was involved in a minor crash that resulted in no injuries and almost no property damage, but a year later was hit with a lawsuit seeking 15-thousand dollars in damages. Hebert says it was nothing but a get-rich-quick scheme by the other driver’s attorney, and his bill would put a stop to that.

Cut 14 (12) “…a small sum.”

The measure heads to the full House.

Former LSU football star Will Campbell is expected to hear his name called early in the first round of tonight’s NFL draft. Campbell told KNOE-TV sports  he’s eager to find out where he’ll start his pro career.

Cut 10 (08) “…for it.”

Several mock drafts have the Patriots selecting Campbell with the fourth overall pick.

The NFL draft is tonight, and former LSU and Neville football star Will Campbell is expected to be one of the first names called…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The chancellor at LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport, David Guzick, has resigned. Last September, LSU board member Esperanza Moran called for his dismissal at a board meeting, which raises speculation he could lose his job, despite having the support of LSU System president William Tate, who praised Guzick for getting the medical school removed from probation.

A new report says Louisiana has fully regained the jobs it lost from the COVID-19 pandemic. That is from the Leaders for a Better Louisiana and their First Quarter 2025 Economic Dashboard. CEO of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, Adam Knapp, says they have seen a growth in jobs in healthcare, education, and government, but slower expansion in high growth sectors like logistics, finance and technology. He says Louisiana continues to lag behind most Southern states in long-term job growth and new business formation…

Cut 8 (08) “…after those”

Jazz Fest gets underway today at the Fairgrounds Racecourse in New Orleans. Jazz Fest Producer and Director Quint Davis says it’s not just about the music at Jazz Fest, it’s also about the food…

Cut 6 (09) “….a buttered bun”

Leaders for Better Louisiana say the state has finally recovered all the jobs it lost from the COVID-pandemic. That’s according to their First Quarter 2025 Economic Dashboard. And Leaders for Better Louisiana CEO Adam Knapp says the state has also reversed years of population decline, buoyed by a surge in international migration. He attributes this to Louisiana’s lower cost of living…

Cut 9 (08) “….dollar spends further”

Tonight is the NFL draft, and several mock drafts have the New England Patriots selecting former LSU and Neville football star Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick. The Monroe native told KNOE-TV sports he has no problem with re-locating to the northeast.

Cut 11 (14) “…get to work.”

The Saints have the ninth overall pick in tonight’s draft.

The biggest music festival in Louisiana opens today. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 1 (37) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

And there’s also Festival International in downtown Lafayette. The five-day festival got underway yesterday. But Lafayette has been hit with heavy rainfall this morning. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says more than half a foot of rain fell in a number of spots and high-water retrievals are being reported in multiple parishes.

A new report shows Louisiana has more jobs than it did before the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s according to the First Quarter 2025 Economic Dashboard by Leaders for a Better Louisiana. CEO Adam Knapp says the report notes a 1.1-percent increase in jobs over the past year and a 2.2-percent rise over two years, with 41-hundred more jobs than in February 2020.

Cut 7 (05) “…what we lost.”

Knapp says the growth in jobs can be found in healthcare, education and government.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival gets underway today at the Fair Grounds Race Course. Jazz Fest producer Quint Davis says the festival has something for everyone’s musical tastes…

Cut 5 (12) “…you can get”

Jazz Fest runs this weekend and next weekend too.

The House Civil Law Committee has approved legislation that would limit contingency fees, which is the money a lawyer can make from lawsuits. Under Lafayette Republican Troy Hebert’s proposal, the contingency fees would be limited to 10-percent on the first 15-thousand dollars in damages, if the lawyer wins the case. Greenwell Springs Republican Lauren Ventrella expressed some reservations but ultimately voted in favor.

Cut 15 (07) “…free-market economy.

The measure passed on a 10 to 2 vote and heads to the full house for more consideration.

The 2025 NFL draft is tonight, and former LSU and Neville High football star Will Campbell is in Green Bay to hear his name called early in the first round…

Cut 12 (09) “…be there”

That audio is courtesy of KNOE-TV sports. Campbell was a dominant offensive tackle for the Tigers and several mock drafts have the Patriots taking Campbell with the fourth overall pick.

A new report says Louisiana has fully regained the jobs it lost from the COVID-19 pandemic. That is from the Leaders for a Better Louisiana and their First Quarter 2025 Economic Dashboard. CEO of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, Adam Knapp, says they have seen a growth in jobs in healthcare, education, and government, but slower expansion in high growth sectors like logistics, finance and technology. He says Louisiana continues to lag behind most Southern states in long-term job growth and new business formation…

Cut 8 (08) “…after those”

Knapp says the 2025 legislative session can provide further momentum for the state.

Former LSU and Neville High football star Will Campbell will find out where he will be working tonight for possibly the next decade as he’s expected to hear his name called in the first round of tonight’s NFL draft. Campbell told KNOE-TV sports that he’s eager to find out where he’ll start his professional career.

Cut 10 (08) “…for it.”

Several mock drafts have the Patriots selecting Campbell with the fourth overall pick.

The House Civil Law Committee advanced a bill that would cap lawyer contingency fees to ten-percent of the first 15-thousand dollars in damages in a lawsuit. Lafayette Republican Troy Hebert is sponsoring the bill.

Cut 13 (05)  “…first 15-thousand.”

Hebert says he filed the bill after his daughter was involved in a minor crash that resulted in no injuries and almost no property damage. But a year later he was hit with a lawsuit seeking 15-thousand dollars in damages. Hebert says a limit on legal fees would discourage lawyers from pushing to get quick settlements.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis did not provide much of an update on quarterback Derek Carr’s situation when he met with the media yesterday. Loomis says they are still trying to determine the significance of Carr’s shoulder injury.

Cut 18 (09)  “…to you.”

The Saints have the ninth overall pick in tonight’s draft. They are not expected to select a quarterback with that pick, but they could make a trade to get a second first round pick and that’s when they’ll select a quarterback.

The biggest music festival in Louisiana opens today. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 1 (37) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

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Leaders for a Better Louisiana’s first quarter 2025 Economic Dashboard shows the state has more jobs than it did before the COVID-19 pandemic. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

____________________________________________

The NFL draft is tonight, and former LSU and Neville football star Will Campbell is expected to be one of the first names called. Andrew Greenstein has the story…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

______________________________________________________

The biggest musical festival in the state opens today. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival runs from Thursday through Sunday this week and next week. Producer and Director Quint Davis says it’s a never-ending celebration of Louisiana music.

Cut 4 (08) “…all the bands.”

Davis says while the festival celebrates Louisiana jazz music, the music is by no means limited to jazz.

Cut 5 (12) “…you can get.”

Other big-name artists taking the stage during the eight-day festival include the Dave Matthews Band, Santana and John Fogerty. Davis says, of course, no festival in New Orleans would ever be complete without some world-class Louisiana cuisine.

Cut 6 (13) “…a buttered bun.”

This year, Louisiana residents get a discount on their admission tickets. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course. It runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

______________________________________________________

For the first time in five years, Louisiana has more jobs than it did before the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s according to the First Quarter 2025 Economic Dashboard by Leaders for a Better Louisiana. CEO Adam Knapp says the report notes a 1.1-percent increase in jobs over the past year and a 2.2-percent rise over two years, with 41-hundred more jobs than in February 2020.

Cut 7 (05) “…what we lost.”

Wages have risen 19-percent in four years, slightly below the Southern average. Better Louisiana calls this a major milestone, though Knapp stresses that the state still trails most Southern states in long-term job growth.  Knapp says Louisiana created a new strategic plan for each sector in the state.

Cut 8 (08) “…go after those.”

Business growth and residential construction lag behind regional averages, but population growth returned in 2024, especially in Baton Rouge and Lafayette.  Knapp attributes this to Louisiana’s lower cost of living.

Cut 9 (08)  “…dollar spends further.”

_____________________________________________________

Former LSU and Neville High football star Will Campbell will become the second Tiger offensive lineman to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft tonight. Campbell was a three-year starter at left tackle for LSU and he told KNOE-TV sports that he’s eager to find out where he’ll start his professional career.

Cut 10 (08) “…for it.”

Alan Faneca is the only other former LSU offensive lineman selected in the first round when he was the 26^th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Several mock drafts have the New England Patriots selecting Campbell with the fourth overall pick. The Monroe native told KNOE-TV sports he has no problem re-locating to the northeast.

Cut 11 (14) “…get to work.”

The NFL draft will begin at 7 tonight, and it’s taking place in Green Bay. Campbell is one of 12 potential first round picks who are at the draft and will likely get a hug from Commissioner Roger Goodell after he’s selected.

Cut 12 (10) “…going to be there.”

The audio is from KNOE-TV sports.

________________________________________________________

The House Civil Law Committee advanced a bill that would cap lawyer contingency fees to ten-percent of the first 15-thousand dollars in damages in a lawsuit. Lafayette Republican Troy Hebert is sponsoring the bill.

Cut 13 (05)  “…first 15-thousand.”

Hebert says his motivation stemmed from when his daughter was involved in a minor crash that resulted in no injuries and almost no property damage, but a year later was hit with a lawsuit seeking 15-thousand dollars in damages. Despite trying to convince his insurer to fight the claim, he ultimately chose to pay the 15-thousand dollars to settle the case. Hebert says it was nothing but a get-rich-quick scheme by the other driver’s attorney, and his bill would put a stop to that.

Cut 14 (12) “…a small sum.”

Greenwell Spring Republican Lauren Ventrella expressed some reservations but ultimately voted in favor.

Cut 15 (07) “…free-market economy.”

Any amounts above 15-thousand would not be regulated. The vote was ten-to-two, along party lines.

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Several LSU Tigers are expected to be selected during the seven-round draft. Draft expert and WWL Sports Talk Show Mike Detillier expects former St. James star and Tigers edge rusher Sai’vion Jones will be a mid round selection.

Cut 16 (16) “…fourth round selection.”

Jones had solid senior season at LSU with 40 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks.

Mason Taylor played for three seasons at LSU and left Baton Rouge as the Tigers all-time leading receiver for a tight end in receptions and yards. Detillier says Taylor is an excellent pass catcher and still has to work on his blocking.

Cut 17 (18)  “…second round pick.”

__________________________________________________________

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis did not provide much of an update on quarterback Derek Carr’s situation when he met with the media yesterday. Loomis says they are still trying to determine the significance of Carr’s shoulder injury.

Cut 18 (09)  “…to you.”

The Saints have the ninth overall pick and could take a quarterback at that time or early in second round, since Carr’s future with the organization appears to be cloudy. But Loomis says Carr’s injury does not impact their draft strategy.

Cut 19 (19) “…our roster.”

The Saints are expected to take an offensive or defensive linemen with the ninth overall pick. Loomis would not show his cards when he met with reporters yesterday, only to say…

Cut 20 (20) “….8 to 10 years.”