Cleanup continues in northwest Louisiana from a tornado that claimed three lives over the weekend. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”
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It was Inauguration Day today at the Capitol…
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In Northwest Louisiana, power is being restored and clean up crews have moved in after an EF-2 tornado swept through the area around 2 am Saturday morning. Lt Bill Davis with the Bossier Parish Sheriff office says Swepco has restored power to most of the area.
79-year old Jerry Franks, and 65-year-old Mary Sue Franks were killed in Haughton and in Caddo Parish 75-year-old Raymond Holden was killed in Oil City during the storm.
In addition to lives lost, Davis says at least 50 homes have been destroyed in the Bossier Parish area.
In Benton, the middle school was heavily damaged and classes are canceled today. Crews are cleaning up debris and students are expected to attend class tomorrow. Davis describes the scene at Benton Middle School
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Gonzales Republican Representative Clay Schexnayder wins the Speaker vote 60-45 over Albany Republican Sherman Mack.
Schexnayder was backed by a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans, and is thought to be a more friendly choice for Governor Edwards, but says the People’s House will speak for itself…
Lafayette Senator Page Cortez was named Senate President.
The new Speaker laid out his priorities for the next term, likely trying to assuage concerns from the chamber’s conservatives…
Schexnayder was handed the gavel by the previous Speaker, Taylor Barras.
Senator John Kennedy and AG Jeff Landry pushed Republicans to unify behind whoever received the most Republican support, but that didn’t happen, and Schexnayder won with a majority of his votes coming from Democrats…
The House is two members shy of a Republican Supermajority.
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Governor Edwards was sworn in today for a second time and highlighted his three biggest focuses for the upcoming term.
His first and biggest focus for the next four years is education. He highlighted increased classroom funding, more teacher pay raises, and early childhood education.
Early childhood education advocates are calling for an 80 million dollar upfront investment, with increased yearly funding for the policy to achieve universal access.
His second focus was workforce development…
He touched on equal pay for equal work, increased funding for higher ed, and a goal for 60 percent of Louisiana workers to have a degree or credential by 2030.
Finally, the Governor noted that coastal restoration will be a continuing focus for his administration. He says the state is finally starting to get ahead of our decades of losses…
Cut 11 (09) “…to lose”
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Lafayette Senator Page Cortez is unanimously elected Senate President for the next four-year term.
Cortez reportedly wrapped up the job handily late last year and is set to lead the Upper Chamber’s new, more conservative disposition.
Senators Sharon Hewitt of Slidell and Rick Ward of Iberville were reportedly in the running or considering running for the position. Cortez thanked his competitors in the race, and looked ahead…
Cortez replaces John Alario, who was term-limited out of the Senate and chose not to run for election in the House after a 48-year Legislative career.
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LSU’s record-breaking offense gets its biggest challenge yet tonight going up Clemson’s stingy defense in tonight’s national championship game. Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables is one of the best in the nation. LSU Quarterback Joe Burrow….
LSU has the highest-scoring offense in the country at 49 points per game. But Clemson is right up there, averaging 45 a contest. Tigers linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson says Clemson has great skill position players
The Tigers are 14-0 for the first time ever, but LSU Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire says the job is not done…