If you’ve got some bats on your land, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries wants you to count them. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed the 30-billion dollar budget that lawmakers approved in the recently completed legislative session. Teachers will receive a one-thousand dollar pay raise, school support workers get a five-hundred dollar boost in pay. The budget also contains an additional 39-million dollars in block grant funding for public schools and the budget increases funding so that additional children can attend pre-K education classes
Cut 5 (08) “…get a slot.”

Louisiana continues to be ranked 49th in overall child well-being. KIDS COUNT manager at Agenda for Children Teresa Falgoust says a big factor into the low ranking is that the state ranks 50th in childhood poverty, with 307-thousand children living in poverty, roughly 28% of the state’s child population.
Cut 7 (10) “…basic need met.”

Four people are behind bars, with three charged with human trafficking and the fourth being charged with carnal knowledge after an investigation by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Tony Mancuso says the investigation began in March when a tip was called into authorities alerting them to the location of 14-year-old girl previously reported as a runaway.
The victim indicated she had been forced into sex trafficking since January. Mancuso says combatting sex trafficking is a high priority for his agency and encourages victims to come forward.
Cut 14 (10) “…and we’re not.”