In preparation for Love the Boot Week, Brooke Thorington is talking trash with Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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T-Mobile has completed its 290-million-dollar upgrade and expansion in Louisiana, bringing high-speed connectivity to previously underserved areas of the state. Colleen Crain has more…
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Colleen Crain.”
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A south Louisiana lawmaker believes teachers should have the option to possess a gun in the classroom. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
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“Love the Boot Week” kicks off today and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says there are more than 600 clean-up and beautification events planned in all 64 parishes aimed at cleaning up litter in Louisiana, April 20th through the 28th.
Cut 4 (13) “…great state.”
You can sign up to get involved at KeepLouisianaBeautiful-dot-org and even if you can’t participate next week, Nungesser says any day of the year you can do your part by picking up litter.
Cut 5 (13) “…do that.”
Last year almost 13-thousand individuals participated in “Love the Boot Week” and collected 313 tons of litter in every corner of the state. And it’s not just litter removal, participants also planted trees and refurbished gardens.
Nungesser says having a clean state goes far beyond beautification, it impacts tourism and economic development. More than 20 years ago, Nungesser says Louisiana was being considered as the site for a Nissan plant and litter trashed the opportunity.
Cut 6 (12) “…this dirty.”
Nungesser says it’s only about 25-percent of the population that litter and if you go out and pick up trash for a day you’re 80-percent less likely to litter in the future.
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Faster internet has arrived for rural and smaller Louisiana towns. T-Mobile announces the completion of a 290-million-dollar upgrade and expansion. Senior Vice President Jennifer Silveira….
Cut 7 (09) “…the state.”
The investment also includes a 50 million dollar upgrade in the Greater New Orleans area.
92% of Louisiana Parishes now have access to mid-band ultra capacity 5-G. Silveira says T-Mobile’s recent upgrades bring improved services across the board…
Cut 8 (11) “…our network.”
Silveria says T-Mobile invests in Louisiana communities with their Hometown Grants program that provided $50,000 to Chappapeela (Chap uh peel uh) Sports park for a public address system for emergency communication. And Project Ten Million provides connectivity to some school students…
Cut 9 (09) “…stay connected.”
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Waiting for a hearing in the House Criminal Justice Committee is a bill that would allow administrators and certified teachers to possess a gun inside a school. Greenwell Representative Lauren Ventrella says armed teachers would be required to have a concealed carry permit and take active shooter and de-escalation courses
Cut 10 (06) “…the weapon.”
Teacher unions oppose the legislation. But Ventrella says she’s also heard from educators who would feel safer if they were armed…
Cut 11 (13) “…is necessary.”
Opponents are also concerned about allowing guns in a firearm-free zone. But Ventrella says gun-free zones do not matter to someone who wants to kill multiple people…
Cut 12 (13) “…when called.”
There have been attempts in the past to arm teachers, but previous state legislative bodies have voted against those proposals.
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The Louisiana Department of Health has released updated mercury and fish advisories for ten bodies of water and it’s issued a new warning for Lake Maurepas in southeast Louisiana. L-D-H Environmental Health section chief Shannon Soileau says because of mercury contamination, there are now fish consumption advisories for 51 waterways in Louisiana…
Cut 13 (08) “…slight modifications.”
Black Bayou Lake, Caddo Lake, and Toledo Bend Reservoir are among the ten bodies of water that have updated advisories. Soileau says the state issues precautionary advisories when unacceptable levels of mercury are detected in fish or shellfish…
Cut 14 (10) “…general population.”
Soileau says the advisories are posted with signage at public boat launches, information can also be found on L-D-H’s website and D-E-Q has an app that contains specific fish and consumption recommendations.
Soileau says the new advisory for Lake Maurepas is only for women of childbearing age and children younger than seven
Cut 15 (13) “…warmouth.”
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It’s win or go home for the Pelicans tonight as they host Sacramento in an elimination play-in game. New Orleans needs to beat the Kings in order to advance into the Western Conference playoffs as the eighth seed and play Oklahoma City. The Pels will have to do it without Zion Williamson, who is sidelined by a hamstring injury. Host of the Locked on Pelicans podcast, Jake Madison, says the Pelicans other two big stars, Brandon Ingram and C-J McCollum need to play well tonight…
Cut 16 (15) “…on Sunday.”
Tip-off at the Smoothie King Center is at 8:30. But they’ve struggled at home this season, with a 21-19 record, while going 28-14 on the road. Madison says it’s strange to have a better record on the road than at home…
Cut 17 (20) “…baffling.”
Sacramento’s best player is De’Arron Fox, who is averaging 27 points a game. Madison says the Kings have won every game this season against the Kings and they’ve done a good job defending Fox…
Cut 18 (20) “…to win.”
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Cut 19 (18) “…finishing it.”
Cut 20 (20) “…position.”