LRN PM Newscall

Ochsner Health is in the process of laying off 770 employees across its system. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Crawfish prices are heating up just in time for you to say ‘I love you Mom’ with a crawfish boil the weekend. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

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Bills targeting the LGBTQ community are advancing in the Louisiana Legislature. Governor John Bel Edwards was asked about the legislation, and he says it worries him because of the increased likelihood of the trans population committing suicide.

Cut 3 (07) “…to be worse.”

Among the bills is one prohibiting public-school teachers from discussing sexuality and gender identity, another forbidding gender-affirming health care for transgender minors, and restricting the use of certain pronouns in public schools.

Similar legislation is also being considered or has been enacted in other conservative states. Edwards was asked if he plans to veto any of the bills. Because the bills could still be amended, he says he’ll address it when and if they cross his desk.

Cut 4 (06)  “…damaging.” 

When he travels the state and talks to individuals, Edwards says it’s not about LGBTQ issues. Edwards says it’s not a problem and he’s frustrated lawmakers are not focusing on topics to grow the state’s economy and improve education instead.

Cut 5 (06) “…focused on.”

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If you’re a working mom, Louisiana ranked the worst state to live in, according to WalletHub’s 2023 Best & Worst States for Working Mom report.  WalletHub Analyst Jill Gonzales says Louisiana failed in a number of categories.

Cut 6 (12)  “…on yet.” 

The report looked at 17 metrics to generate rankings across three categories: childcare, professional opportunities, and work-life balance. 50% of single-mom families in the state live in poverty. Women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, and 73 percent of moms with children under age 18 were working in 2022. Gonzales says in order for the metrics to teeter in the state’s favor… major changes would have to take place

Cut 7 (09)  “…bottom up.” 

The state ranked 22nd in female unemployment rate and 35th in median women’s salary. Gonzales says there is major employment and work balance gap between working moms and men.

Cut 8 (13)  “…dads are.” 

West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina were also ranked “the worst” in many categories. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were among the top ten.

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An employee at an Arby’s in New Iberia was found dead in the fast food restaurant’s freezer. New Iberia Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Daneisha Hughes says officers were called to the scene shortly before 6:30 last night…..

Cut 9 (05) “…freezer.”

Hughes says the deceased individual is a female and a preliminary autopsy found no obvious signs of trauma…

Cut 10 (04) “…of foul play” 

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A Denham Springs Police Officer is fighting for his life after he was shot multiple times during a shootout yesterday afternoon in the parking lot of a shopping center. Denham Springs Police Chief  Rodney Walker says his officers responded to a call of a man and woman arguing….

Cut 11 (09)  “…officers down”

Corporal Shawn Kelly is in critical condition. The man who allegedly shot Kelly, 30-year-old Justin Roberts, was fatally shot by Livingston Sheriff Deputies.

Corporal Kelly has been a certified police officer since 1997 and he was hired by Denham Springs police in 2019.  Kelly has received multiple commendations for his generous ways and positive attitude. Chief Walker says Kelly can use your prayers…

Cut 12 (11) “…to us” 

Officers and the public have participated in a blood drive today. Another one is scheduled for Monday. Tomorrow there will be a prayer vigil in the parking lot where Kelly was shot.

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Mother’s Day is one of the busiest weekends of the crawfish season and retailers are dropping prices in an effort to get your business. That’s according to Crawfish App Co-Founder Laney King who says this may be the last big weekend of the crawfish season

Cut 13 (13) “…you can.” 

According to crawfish pricing data compiled from over 1,650 vendors on The Crawfish App, crawfish prices are the same this Mother’s Day weekend in 2023 compared to Mother’s Day weekend last year. A sack of live medium crawfish will run between $2.00-$2.23 per pound. Laney says live crawfish are reasonably priced.

Cut 14 (12)  “…or so.”

 King says fishermen are not dropping prices but retailers across the state are dropping prices for Mother’s Day gatherings.

Cut 15 (07) “…a pound”

The Crawfish App compares prices from more than 16 hundred vendors in Louisiana.