The U.S. Supreme Court ruling Alabama’s congressional map unconstitutional, might pave the way for a second majority-black voting district in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington explains
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The final hour of the legislative session was chaotic and filled with grumbling as lawmakers rushed to approve a budget. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (37) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser leaves tomorrow to visit the land down under for an international mission to promote Louisiana as a tourist destination. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 3 (28) “….I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of Black voters in Alabama’s congressional districts map case has advocates in Louisiana hopeful the nation’s highest court will also rule that the Pelican State should have two Black-majority congressional districts. Urban League of Louisiana Vice President of Policy Tyrone Walker…
Cut 4 (12) “…as well.’”
Thirty-three percent of Louisiana’s population is Black, advocacy groups argue that one majority-Black district out of six is not enough, there should be two.
As to when the high court will rule on Louisiana’s congressional maps, Walker says legal experts agree that the court’s decision in the Alabama case, gives a clear pathway for fair maps in Louisiana.
Cut 5 (06) “…in Louisiana.”
Walker says the Urban League of Louisiana is urging Governor John Bel Edwards to immediately call a special session so the maps can be redrawn.
Cut 6 (09) “…what’s right.”
Slidell Republican, and gubernatorial candidate, Senator Sharon Hewitt, who helped craft the GOP-drawn maps told The Advocate ” While she respects the ruling, it’s not a final ruling regarding the congressional maps in Louisiana.”
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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries encourages you to grab a fishing pole and get hooked during its annual free fishing weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Everyone is allowed to fish without a license. LDWF Spokesperson Rene Lebreton says the goal is to introduce new people to the great sport of fishing…
Cut 7 (09) “…historical levels.”
Lebreton says LDWF has also stacked adult-sized catfish and rainbow trout at 17 pounds across the state as a part of the Get Out and Fish Program.
Cut 8 (12) “…their freezer.”
Gambling-dot-com just ranked Louisiana as the top state for fishing. The Bayou State earned the top spot because of its license cost, water area with 91-hundred square miles and over one-point-nine billion dollars in fishing retail sales.
Lebreton says you do not need a boat to go fishing. He says there are plenty of places you can walk to and drop a line…
Cut 9 (10) “…interactive map.”
Fishing regulations including size, season, catch limits, and gear restrictions will remain in effect this weekend. Anyone who decides to continue fishing for the remainder of the year is required to purchase a state fishing license.
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The 2023 legislative session ended with a wild finish as state lawmakers scrambled to approve a budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. Even Governor John Bel Edwards does not have a complete command of the specifics. But he knows the spending plan approved contains a 100-million dollar cut to the Louisiana Department of Health…
Cut 10 (09) “…down stairs”
The 100-million dollar cut to LDH could multiply if what’s cut is tied to federal matching dollars.
Edwards is also disappointed teachers received a two-thousand dollar pay raise, when he pushed for a three-thousand dollar raise. Also, the two-thousand dollar raise is just a one-time bump, not guaranteed for the following year. He says with a huge surplus of state dollars available, teachers deserve to be compensated well…
Cut 11 (11) “…in the south”
House and Senate leaders spent all day behind closed doors ironing out a final budget agreement before presenting it to the full House and Senate with less than a hour to go before a 6 PM deadline. Chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee Fred Mills also surprised with the cut to LDH…
Cut 12 (08) “…for that.”
Senate President Page Cortez says during the budget negotiations the House wanted reduce LDH funding to pay down more debt. Cortez says lawmakers will make sure health care services will not suffer.
Denham Springs Senator and former Livingston Parish School Superintendent Rogers Pope pleaded with his colleagues to reject the budget proposal because the teacher pay raise is not permanent and not enough…
Cut 13 (08) “…we need to do”
Despite Pope’s argument, the main budget bill passed the Senate 35 to 3 and 95 to 9 in the House.
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Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser leaves tomorrow for a trip to Australia for an international mission to promote Louisiana as a tourist destination. Nungesser says he will not just market Louisiana as a destination for tourists.
Cut 14 (13) “from Australia.”
He also plans to visit New Zealand. Nungesser says he plans to visit other countries in the future He says Louisiana is one of three states to receive a grant for $300,000 for the next three years from the International Commerce Department to market international travel to the U-S.
Cut 15 (09) “…more money.”
Nungesser says there are several reasons why Aussies would like to visit Louisiana.
Cut 16 (12) “…with us.”
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LSU is two wins away from getting back to the College World Series in Omaha. Standing in the Tigers way is Kentucky, who battled back from the loser’s bracket to win the Lexington Regional. The Wildcats are not a home run hitting team, instead they like to put the ball in play and steal bases. LSU second baseman Gavin Dugas they’ll be ready….
Cut 17 (11) “…keep it simple.”
LSU has not been to the College World Series since 2017. Dugas says they know how important playing in the C-W-S is for the fanbase…
Cut 18 (14) “…want to go”
LSU took two of three from Kentucky in a series in Baton Rouge in mid-April. Tigers designated hitter Cade Beloso drove in four runs that weekend…
Cut 19 (15) “…this weekend”
First pitch on Saturday is at 2 PM. There’s a 30-percent chance for an isolated thunderstorm.