Louisiana’s film industry is celebrating the four Oscars won by “Sinners.” Andre Champagne reports.
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The Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana is clearing up what it says are misconceptions about Amendment 3, which would give teachers in Louisiana a permanent pay raise. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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Coming soon to a television in Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District — the state’s first 100-percent A-I generated political advertisement. Jeff Palermo has the story.
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Louisiana’s film industry is celebrating after “Sinners,” which was filmed in and around New Orleans, won four Oscars, including Michael B. Jordan for Best Actor. Film Louisiana President Jason Waggenspack says it reinforces the fact that Louisiana is a great place to shoot a major feature film.
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“Sinners” was nominated for 16 Oscars, which is a new record for a single film. Waggenspack says that kind of haul is going to be a major boost to what’s already a very robust film industry in the state.
Waggenspack says winning Oscars is nothing new for Louisiana.
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The Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana, or A+PEL (“AY-pel”), is working to clear up what it says are misconceptions about Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16th ballot. A+PEL Executive Director Dr. Keith Courville says Amendment 3 would pay down debt within the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana to fund permanent pay raises for teachers of at least 2,250 dollars.
There’s been some chatter that some money in the funds that would be retired under this amendment is intended for things like early childhood programs and classroom initiatives. Dr. Courville says that’s not what the money is being used for – in fact, he says that money is currently not being used for anything.
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Courville says passing this amendment will not cost taxpayers a dime.
Cut 9 (05) “…raising any taxes.”
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A political action committee that supports fifth district Republican congressional candidate Rick Edmonds says it’s produced what it claims is the first-ever A-I political ad in the state’s history. Lionel Rainey with The Louisiana First Victory Fund says the commercial features four A-I generated characters that are worried about Edmonds’ conservative platform.
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Edmonds is one of four well-known Republicans competing in the May 16th Republican primary election. Rainey says this 100-percent A-I-generated political advertisement is one of only a handful of such ads to run in a congressional race nationwide; and because it’s so unique, it will get the voters’ attention.
Rainey says A-I-generated political advertisements on television are the wave of the future, because they can cost less than your traditional commercial, and they can be produced faster.
Rainey says while candidates and political action committees are not allowed to misrepresent their opponent using A-I, a regular citizen can, so be aware of that when seeing A-I productions on social media.
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The McNeese men’s basketball team aims for an upset in the NCAA Tournament as it faces fifth-seeded Vanderbilt today at 2:15 p-m. The Cowboys rank second in the nation in turnovers forced, averaging nearly 17 per game, and coach Bill Armstrong says his team will look to frustrate the Commodores on defense.
McNeese is looking to shock the college basketball world this season with a deep run. Senior guard D.J. Richards says the Cowboys are solely focused on surviving and advancing.
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For a Cinderella run, McNeese must take down one of the SEC’s hottest teams in Vanderbilt. History favors the Cowboys, as at least one 12-seed has won a game in 34 of the last 40 tournaments. Senior guard Javohn Garcia says it will be critical for McNeese to start the tournament off hot.
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The LSU baseball team looks to win its first SEC series of the season this weekend as the Tigers host eighth-ranked Oklahoma, starting tonight at 7 p-m. Coach Jay Johnson says LSU’s pitching staff will need to limit long innings against the Sooners’ talented offense.
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LSU’s defense ranks 14th in the SEC out of 16 teams with a .964 fielding percentage. Coach Johnson says the Tigers need to be much more solid on defense, especially this weekend.
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LSU will face a familiar opponent on Thursday, when former Tiger Cam Johnson takes the mound for Oklahoma. Johnson played at LSU as a freshman in 2022 before transferring after the season. Jay Johnson says he’s looking forward to seeing Cam this weekend.
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The Southern women’s basketball team faces Samford tonight at 6 in the First Four in the NCAA Tournament. It marks the Lady Jags’ second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Coach Carlos Funchess attributes the program’s continued success to recruiting the right players.
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If the Lady Jags win, they will be slotted in as the 16th seed in the Sacramento 4 Region and will face top-seeded South Carolina in the First Round Saturday.
Samford sophomore guard Briana Rivera leads the nation with 109 three-pointers this season. Coach Funchess says his squad will need to contest shots from beyond the arc.
Cut 20 (09) “…tough for them.”