Thanks to a 35-3 vote by the Senate, a bill cracking down on “left-lane camping” is zooming over to the House. Sean Richardson has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”
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A bill to ban fluoride in drinking water advances to the full Senate. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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Less than a month after voters rejected a constitutional amendment that included permanent teacher pay raises, Louisiana lawmakers are advancing a bill to increase teacher salaries. Lafayette Representative Josh Carlson’s bill, approved by the House Education Committee, would require school districts to use savings from eliminating three state trust funds to provide $2,000 raises for teachers and $1,000 for support staff.
These trust fund eliminations would pay off debts in the teacher retirement system, saving districts money. A companion bill from Carencro representative Julie Emerson was designed to simplify the proposal in response to criticism that the prior Amendment 2 was too complex.
Cut 4 (09) “…teacher pay raise there.”
If both bills pass, voters must again approve the change. Concerns remain about whether some districts can afford the raises, but lawmakers have pledged state subsidies for those needing support. Unlike the original amendment, charter school teachers would also be eligible for raises. Laplace Representative Sylvia Taylor supports the bill and says these changes are crucial.
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This season, LSU Shreveport baseball is invincible – literally. 44 games, 44 wins – and many by lopsided scores. Head Coach Brad Neffendorf says his team has really gelled this year.
Cut 6 (14) “…pretty well together.”
Looking at their results, one three-game series really jumps out at you. In late March, the Pilots swept Texas College by the scores of – we’re not making this up – 37-0, 15-0 and 42-4. Never mind home runs, this team scores touchdowns! Neffendorf says one challenge amid such dominance is not to let the team get over-confident.
The Pilots don’t win 44 games in a row without sheer talent, and Coach Neffendorf says his team is loaded with talent, especially Josh Gibson.
Cut 8 (12) “…high-caliber athlete.”
The 44-game winning streak is the longest in NAIA history, and it’s longer than the current NCAA Division One record of 34, set in 1977 by Texas and equaled in 1999 by Florida Atlantic. It matches the Division Three record set by Trinity College of Connecticut in 2008, but it’s two wins shy of the overall four-year collegiate record – Division Two’s Savannah State, which won 46 in a row in 2000. LSU Shreveport can surpass that mark by sweeping Jarvis Christian in Texas this weekend.
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The full Senate has approved legislation cracking down on “left-lane camping,” the act of lingering in the passing lane. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau hailed it as “the most important bill of the session,” asserting it would ease traffic flow and reduce road rage.
During the debate, Sen. Royce Duplessis brought levity to the moment by suggesting a theme song, referencing Ludacris’ famous anthem.
Cut 10 (12) “…fitting for this bill”
Current law says a vehicle can not travel less than 10-miles per hour below the speed limit in the left lane of a four-lane highway. Luneau’s proposal changes current law allowing, police officers to ticket motorists who are traveling at or below the speed limit and not looking to pass vehicles in the right.
First time offenders of the proposed law would face a fine of up to 150-dollars. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey jokingly suggested a harsher punishment.
The full Senate approved the bill on a 35-3 vote. It now heads to the House for further consideration.
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The Senate Health and Welfare Committee has advanced a bill that would ban fluoride in drinking water. The bill was written by Houma Republican Mike Fesi, who echoed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in saying that fluoride is poison.
Cut 12 (12) “…into our water.”
Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham says excessive levels of fluoride have been shown to lower IQs in babies. He calls it an issue of freedom of choice.
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Opponents, however, say fluoride has proven to be beneficial when used at the right concentration. Baton Rouge pediatric dentist Dr. Robert Delarosa says when fluoride is added to drinking water at the recommended limit of point-seven milligrams per liter, it is an important tool to fight tooth decay.
Annette Droddy, who represents the Louisiana Dental Association’s 19-hundred dentists, says when cities remove fluoride from their drinking water, tooth decay goes up.
Cut 15 (09) “…removal of fluoride.”
The vote was 6-to-3, along party lines.