Among bills passed last week, is a measure to give a $500 tax credit to Louisiana gun owners for purchases of safes, locks, and other gun storage devices.  New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry hopes her bill provides a layer of safety

Cut 4 (12)  “…all times.” 

The bill awaits the governor’s signature.

Fort Polk – in Vernon Parish – officially changes its name today to Fort Johnson. The Army base is named after World War One hero Henry Johnson. A soldier who fought in France in 1918-19. Brigadier General David Gardner says Sgt. Johnson embodied the warrior spirit.

Cut 9 (09) “…every day.”

House and Senate leaders are facing criticism for cutting 100-million dollars from the Louisiana Department of Health’s budget. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says L-D-H’s budget is over 15-billion dollars and a majority of the Legislature believes they can handle this cut. But Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the 100-million-dollar cut will be impactful…

Cut 7 (08)  “…to the department” 

Dardenne says the governor is looking at using his line-item veto power to remove the budget cut language from the budget.

Next January, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources will change its name to the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources. DNR spokesperson Patrick Courreges says the name change reflects how the agency’s role has expanded over the years. He says they oversee much more than oil and gas now.

Cut 12 (10) “…Halo group.” 

The department also oversees solar and wind energy projects.

In the chaotic final day of the 2023 legislative session 140 million dollars in funding was removed for the construction of a new Jimmie Davis Bridge over the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier. But Shreveport Representative Thomas Pressly says there’s enough funding to begin construction…
cut 15 (11) “…in next year”
Construction is set to start in early 2024.

There’s also plenty of grumbling about the 100-million dollar cut made to the Louisiana Department of Health’s budget. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says based on what they see, they believe the state agency can handle the reduction in state funds, but Zeringue also expects the governor to use his line item veto power and remove the cut from the budget bill…
cut 8 (09) “…address that”

State lawmakers approved legislation that would provide a $500 tax break to gun owners toward purchases of gun-safe storage devices. Teiko Foxx has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

House and Senate leaders are facing criticism for cutting 100-million dollars from the Louisiana Department of Health’s budget. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says L-D-H’s budget is over 15-billion dollars and a majority of the Legislature believes they can handle the cut.

Cut 6 (14)  “…of the funding” 

Among bills passed last week, was a measure to give a $500 tax credit to Louisiana gun owners toward purchases of safes, locks, and other gun storage devices. Bill author, New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry says her legislation mirrors a Virginia bill passed earlier this year.

Cut 3 (12) “…as well.”

Gun owners should keep receipts of their purchase to receive a tax credit through the Department of Revenue.

The Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) releases its assessment of the 2023 state legislative. PAR  President Steven Procopio says overall lawmakers did a responsible job with $2-billion in surplus but what was accomplished may be overshadowed by the chaotic ending of the session over the state’s budget.

Cut 6 (12)  “…problem for transparency.”

Legislation to remove application fees and improve communication between various agencies when one applies for expungement passed in the session. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis says once upgrades to computer systems are complete it will streamline the process.

Cut 10 (11) “…of itself.”

Duplessis expects the process with be up and running in 18 months.

The Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) releases its assessment of the 2023 legislative session.  PAR President Steven Procopio says the end of the session got ugly with a last-minute budget cut of about $100-million from the Department of Health. He says no one understands the huge cut and it seems odd…

Cut 5 (12)   “…at the end.”

The Louisiana Department of Education has a dashboard on its website Louisiana-believes-dot-com that gives citizens an easier way to view K-through-12 academic progress. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley…

Cut 8 (10) “…local communities’”

The dashboard also provides a summary on how school systems have spent pandemic relief funds.

Louisiana has one of the costliest and most cumbersome expungement processes in the US, and it inspired legislation to remove application fees and improve communication between various agencies. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis says an individual who’s seeking an expungement is not a person who’s looking to commit another crime.

Cut 12 (09)    “…entitled to.” 

The revised process should be available in 18 months.

Shreveport Representative Thomas Pressly is concerned after the Legislature approved a construction budget that reduced funding for a new four-lane Jimmie Davis Bridge by 140-million dollars. Pressly says there’s enough funding available to start the five-year, 362 million dollar project, but lawmakers will have to address the rest of the funding next year…

Cut 14 (11)  “…during next session.”
 

The Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) releases its assessment of the 2023 state legislative session and what was accomplished. PAR Louisiana President Steven Procopio says, overall, lawmakers did a responsible job of spending and investing $ 2 billion in surplus revenue…:

Cut 4 (12)  “…retirement debt.’”

He says what was accomplished may be overshadowed by the chaotic ending of the session and the final budget deal…:

Lawmen seek the public’s help in gathering information on the alleged sex crimes of well-known Baptist leader Darry Stagg, of Polluck, who was arrested last week for numerous crimes against minors. Rapides Parish Sheriff Mark Wood says they’re building their case against Stagg and encourage any other victims to come forward…

Cut 21 (09) “…for you.”

Contact the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office, they are lead agency.

Louisiana Department of Education boosts its accountability and transparency through a new EPIC (Education Progress and Investment Charts) dashboard. The new tool gives citizens an easier way to view K-12 education progress and finances. Superintendent Cade Brumley encourages Louisianans to visit the website and understand how schools operate.

Cut 9 (11)  “…resources.”

EPIC also gives visitors options to share feedback and download data.

Because Louisiana has one of the costliest and most cumbersome expungement processes in the US, it inspired legislation to remove application fees and improve communication between various agencies. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis says once upgrades to computer systems are complete it will streamline the process.

Cut 10 (11) “…of itself.”

Duplessis says he’s hopeful that once Sheriff’s Offices, Clerks of Courts, District Attorney Offices and State Police will be able to share information with each other that the expungement process will eventually become automatic.

Louisiana’s largest military base in Vernon Parish undergoes a name change today. Fort Polk will now be known as Fort Johnson in honor of World War one hero Sergeant William Johnson. Johnson served in an all-black National Guard Unit that was ordered into battle in France in 1918.

The Public Affairs Research Council says the 2023 legislative session had some good, bad and ugly…:
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

In the chaotic final day of the 2023 legislative session 140 million dollars in funding was removed for the construction of a new Jimmie Davis Bridge over the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier. But Shreveport Representative Thomas Pressly says there’s enough funding to begin construction…
cut 15 (11) “…in next year”
Construction is set to start in early 2024.

The Louisiana Department of Education has a dashboard on its website louisiana-believes-dot-com that gives citizens an easier way to view K-through-12 academic progress. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley…
cut 8 (10) :,,,local communities”
The dashboard also provides a summary on how school systems have spent pandemic relief funds.

Waiting for the governor’s signature is a bill that will make the process of applying for expungement much easier and should be online in 18 months. Brooke Thorington has more…
cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

A well-known New Orleans chef, Demietriek Scott, was feared dead after he went missing for two weeks, but he surprised mourners outside of his home yesterday when he finally showed up alive and well. Scott’s family thought a body found in the Ninth Ward was his, but it turns out it’s not. Scott told WWL-TV he just needed a couple of weeks to himself.

Shreveport Representative Thomas Pressly is concerned after the Legislature approved a construction budget that reduced funding for a new four-lane Jimmie Davis Bridge by 140-million dollars. Pressly says there’s enough funding available to start the five-year, 362 million dollar project, but lawmakers will have to address the rest of the funding next year…
cut 14 (11) “….next session”
Some lawmakers believe the funding was removed because legislators in that area voted against raising the spending cap.

If you go to Louisiana-believes dot-com, the state department of education has produced a dashboard that gives the public the opportunity to see how academic goals are being achieved and financial data
cut 7 (08) “….the public”
The new dashboard is called EPIC which stands for Education Progress and Investment Charts.

The last-minute removal of funding for a new Jimmie Davis Bridge over the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier will NOT delay the start of construction. In the final moments of the legislative session, lawmakers removed $140-million for the Davis Bridge from HB2, the budget for annual state facilities and construction expenses. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says funding for the earliest phase of the project is secure, but House & Senate members must revisit the subject next spring…:
Cut 13 (09) “…4-to-5 year project.”

The Legislature passed a bill that New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis says will streamline the process of getting a non-violent crime expunged. Duplessis says the legislation will benefit one-point-three million Louisiana citizens, but eligibility requirements will not change….
cut 11 (08) “….are eligible”
Duplessis says the goal is to get more people to work, reduce recidivism and improve quality of life.

Louisiana Department of Education is enhancing transparency and accountability by launching a new EPIC (Education Progress and Investment Charts) dashboard to allow citizens to view education outcomes and funding. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”