LRN PM Newscall May 13

US News and World Report Best States has Louisiana at 40th in Pre-k through 12th Education. That is the highest the state has ever ranked. Sean Richardson has the story.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Sean Richardson”

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Central and south Louisiana are seeing heavy rounds of rainfall today. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin reports there’s the potential for severe weather and several inches of rain…

Cut 2 (26)  “…I’m Bill Jacquemin” 

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Louisiana Pre-k through 12 education ranked 40th this year in US News and World Report Best States rankings. That is up from 41st in 2023 and jumped up from 46th in 2019. Louisiana State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Cade Brumley said the state is moving in the right direction.

Cut 3 (10) “…rankings improve.” 

Brumley says they are excited about the continued progress but there is room for growth.

Cut 4 (03) “…needs to be done.” 

Brumley says a “Back to the Basics” model for reading and math is key for the state to continue to improve in the years to come.

Cut 5 (03)  “…near future

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Most of the state, south of Interstate 20 is under a flash flood watch until tomorrow morning. Cameron Kowalski with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says some areas have already received two to four inches…

Cut 6  (11) “..flooding ” 

Kowalski says the heaviest rainfall is expected tonight…

Cut 7 (12) “…those hours.”  

For southeast Louisiana, the heaviest downpours will come after 8 PM tonight.

Kowalski says there’s also the possibility for severe storms as a result of this stationary front…

Cut 8 (13)  “…thundershowers.” 

Several schools in southwest Louisiana have dismissed early for the today as a severe thunderstorm watch has been posted for southwest Louisiana until 8 PM tonight. Cameron, Lake Charles, DeRidder and Leesville are inside the the watch box area.

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Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is seeking guidance from the U-S Supreme Court over the recent decision by a three-judge panel that threw out the Congressional map approved by lawmakers earlier this year. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says a federal judge in Baton Rouge also dismissed a map approved in 2021

Cut 9 (07) “…U.S Supreme Court.” 

All of the parties involved have a deadline of today to turn in written briefs into the U-S Supreme Court.

The Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry has said they need an answer on what congressional map will be used for the 2024 election by Wednesday. Ciolino doesn’t expect the nation’s highest court to act that quickly…

Cut 10 (12) “…resolution.” 

The map approved in 2021 has one majority Black district and the map approved in 2023 has two majority Black districts. Ciolino says the state is caught in the middle between the Voting Rights Act and equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment…

Cut 11 (08) ” … May 15th”

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The political action committee, Protect Louisiana Values, has a television commercial running urging the Louisiana Senate to approve the Education Savings Account bill. This would allow families of all income levels to receive state dollars to pay for education expenses, including private school tuition. Governor Jeff Landry explains the situation…

Cut 12 (09) “…that’s wrong.” 

Some lawmakers are concerned about the cost of the E-S-A legislation. The Louisiana Public Affairs Research Council has put the cost at 520-million dollars a year.

Baton Rouge Senator Rick Edmonds’ version of the bill calls for a study to get a better idea on the actual cost. But Landry says in this commercial paid for by Protect Louisiana Values, it’s time for parents to have more control of their child’s education…

Cut 13 (08) “….today”

School choice was one of Governor Landry’s campaign promises.