A “mayday” has been called at the St. Tammany Parish’s no-kill animal shelter due to extreme overcrowding, Sean Richardson has more.
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Insurance reform will be the biggest issue in the legislative session that begins Monday, and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has unveiled the bills he supports in that quest. Andrew Greenstein is in Ascension Parish, where Temple held a news conference this morning.
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House Bill 279, known as the Caleb Wilson Act, has been filed for the upcoming legislative session. Sponsored by New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd, the bill requires college students joining an organization to complete one-credit-hour anti-hazing course within their first two semesters of membership.
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Boyd says the bill was introduced after20-year-old Caleb Wilson died after he was punched multiple times in the chest while pledging Omega Psi Phi fraternity at Southern University in February. Three men were arrested, with one facing a manslaughter charge.
Cut 4 (12) “…join those organizations.”
The proposed law expands on current requirements by formalizing hazing prevention education. It is compared to the 2018 Max Gruver Law, which increased criminal penalties for hazing, but the Caleb Wilson Act focuses more on education and prevention rather than punishment. Boyd says this is a bipartisan “feel-good” bill.
Cut 5 (08) “…party does not matter.”
It will take effect in the fall of 2025 if passed.
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There is a concern public school teachers could see a drop in pay, because Constitutional Amendment Two did not pass. Passage of that amendment would have made a two-thousand dollar stipend for teachers permanent. Governor Jeff Landry says because the amendment failed, the state currently does not have the money to keep paying that two-thousand dollars…
It’s unclear if the state will continue to pay teachers at its current level. If Constitutional Amendment two had passed, it would have allowed the state to pay down high-interest pension debt. Landry says that would have freed up dollars to make two-thousand-dollar stipends that teachers first received in 2022 –permanent…
Cut 7 (13) “…to accomplish that.”
In a letter to teachers, Landry says it’s back to drawing board, because no alternative recurring resources exist to fund the permanent salary increase teachers deserve. Senate President Cameron Henry says he’s hopeful that as the budget makes it way through legislative process dollars will emerge to keep teacher pay at its current level…
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St. Tammany Parish’s no-kill animal shelter is in “mayday” mode due to extreme overcrowding, currently operating at 70-percent more than it was designed to house. Animal Shelter Director Rob Bremer says the shelter is waiving adoption fees for dogs that have been there over six months.
Cut 9 (10) “…their forever home”
Bremer stressed the urgency, saying that overcrowding could lead to dog fights, disease, and compromised animal welfare.
Bremer emphasized that the shelter cannot maintain a no-kill status without community support. All adopted animals are vaccinated and microchipped…
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The public is encouraged to adopt, while understanding the responsibilities involved. The shelter, located in Lacombe, is open Monday through Saturday. More information and adoptable animals are available at St-Tammany-dot-gov-slash-pets
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Insurance reform will be the overwhelming biggest issue in the legislative session that begins Monday. And Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple announced his plan for lowering vehicle insurance premiums in the state. In a news conference in Ascension Parish, Temple announced his support for 20 bills, all filed by Republicans, aimed at addressing the biggest drivers of high premiums in the state.
Cut 12 (14) “…families and businesses.”
Temple says several of the bills he’s supporting deal with frivolous lawsuits that he says are forcing insurance companies to charge high premiums
Cut 13 (08) “…twice to litigate.”
Yesterday, Governor Landry unveiled his own insurance reform plan, but Temple says a couple things he pointed out are not true, including Landry’s claim that Temple does not have the authority to deny a rate increase.
Temple also said Landry’s claim that insurers can conceal information that he needs to regulate them is also wrong.