Our state is losing population. Kevin Gallagher reports on new census data showing 27-thousand fewer residents than just one year before…:

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Production gets underway next month in Lafayette for a sci-fi thriller starring an Oscar Award Winning Actor. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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With a growing shortage of teachers, the legislature looks for ways to generate a new wave of educators. David Grubb has the story…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

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Louisiana is losing population in MOST of its parishes. U.S. Census Bureau data shows our state lost over 27-thousand residents between July 2020 and July 2021.  Dr. Allison Plyer is chief demographer with The Data Center in New Orleans. She says the pandemic accounts for some of the diminishing numbers…:

Cut 4 (11)  “…55,000.”

The worst losses were in Cameron and Calcasieu parishes, which both lost over 5% of their people in the one-year period. Plyer says it’s easy to see the negative impacts of two major hurricanes hitting that area in 2020. She says the fact that these parishes have no levee protection is a problem…:

Cut 5 (07) “…safe place to live.”

A few parishes actually did grow a bit.  St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Livingston, Ascension, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana and Lafayette parishes saw population growth of from 1-percent to 2 & ½-percent. Plyer says – for the most part – there is a general lack of people moving INTO the state, while population declines for various reasons…:

Cut 6 (09)  “…decreases in birth rates.”

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In two weeks, the film 57 Seconds starring Oscar winner Morgan Freeman and the Hunger Game’s Josh Hutcherson will begin filming in Lafayette. President of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority Mandi Mitchell says it’s based on E. C. Tubb’s science fiction work Fallen Angel.

Cut 7 (08) “…and morality.”

The production will shoot in multiple locations in Lafayette including the Cajun Dome and is expected to spend $8.5 million in the city and create 500 jobs. Mitchell says $2.7 million will go towards payroll.

Cut 8 (12)  “…productions.”

Mitchell says filming is scheduled to take place for five weeks with 20 weeks of postproductions and there’s plenty of opportunity for those who are looking for work in the industry.

Cut 9 (12)  “…lafayette.org.”

The film is also expected to generate 2,700 room nights at area hotels. Filming begins on April 11th.

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Louisiana lawmakers are looking for solutions to the state’s growing teacher shortage. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says currently there are approximately 2500 unfilled positions in the classroom.

Cut 10 (10) “…are being impacted.”

Brumley says the Department of Education has seen some success in reaching out to high schoolers to encourage them to become teachers and would like to bolster those efforts with the creation of the Geaux Teach Fund.

Cut  11 (10)  “…career in education.”  

The Geaux Teach Fund bill is sponsored by Delhi Representative Francis Thompson and would provide scholarships annually for students to pursue careers in education and would be administered through the Department of Education…

Cut 12 (09) “…number of teachers.”

The legislation is heading to the House floor. The goal is to create the Geaux Teach Fund through legislation and then allocate dollars to it.

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We are expecting to learn this morning that state lawmakers will hold another veto session as they will attempt to override the governor’s veto of the Congressional district map approved by the Republican-led Legislature last month. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says it will take 70 votes in the House and 20 votes in the Senate to override the veto and there are 68 Republicans in the House

Cut 13 (12) “..Congressional map “

The veto session would begin Wednesday and the regular session would be temporarily halted.

The Republican-led Legislature attempted to override the governor’s vetoes in the last regular session and failed. Alford says John Bel Edwards is ready to defend his veto of the Congressional map that features one majority Black district…..

Cut 14 (07)  “..want and see”

Edwards believes the Congressional district map should feature two majority Black districts because the African American voting population has grown since the last Census. Republicans still believe there should be one and Alford says if the veto override attempts fails, it’s doubtful Republicans will send a map to the governor that has an additional Black voting district…

Cut 15 (10)  “..the courts”

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Spring practice is just underway for the LSU football Tigers who held their second practice on Saturday. Quarterback Myles Brennan says the attitude is completely different than when LSU ended the season against Kansas State in the Texas Bowl…

Cut 16 (20)  “..has been awesome.”

Brennan is in competition with Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels for starting quarterback. Myles says battling for playing time is nothing new for him….

Cut 17 (19) “ competition as well.” 

Accountability and attention to detail are the two big buzzwords during spring camp. Sophomore wide receiver Jack Bech…

Cut 18 (19) “ …get our degree.” 

Louisiana is nearing a settlement on a 100-million dollar class-action lawsuit that dates back to 1983. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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One lawmaker wants parents who are found guilty of murdering their own child to be eligible for the death penalty. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (32)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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Louisiana is closing in on reaching a 100-million dollar settlement on a class-action lawsuit that dates back to 1983 when 12-hundred home and business owners in Tangipahoa Parish sued the state over flooding caused by the construction of I-12. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne…

Cut 3 (13) “…this to rest”

The state already has 21-million dollars set aside to pay for the settlement and Dardenne says they need the Legislature to allocate 45-million dollars this year and another 35-million dollars next year to satisfy the settlement…

Cut 4 (11) “…with this.”

About a third of the 12-hundred plaintiffs in the class action have died waiting for this lawsuit to be resolved. Dardenne says the money will go to their heirs…

Cut 5 (11) “…be involved.”

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Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Carpenter wants parents convicted of killing their minor children to be added to the list of first-degree murder thus making them eligible for the death penalty.

 Cut 6  (11) “…these babies.” 

Carpenter says the murder of a two-year-old in Baton Rouge last fall whose body was taken to Mississippi to be buried inspired the legislation.

Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle spoke in opposition and says many adults who kill their children suffer from mental illness. She also opposes the death penalty.

Cut 7 (10) “…to death.” 

Currently, the law includes all minors under the age of 12 on the list of victims for whom killers can receive the death penalty. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson asked why victims ages 12 to 19 would be added in cases where the victim is the child of the offender.

Cut 8 (087 “…that distinction.” 

The bill cleared committee with two votes in opposition and now goes to the House.

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Louisiana is getting back to work, so says data released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Adjusted nonfarm employment figures are at their highest in two years, and this past February the state posted an unemployment rate of 4.3%, the third-best February since 1976 says LWC spokesperson Chris Fiore.

Cut 9 (12) “…COVID-19.”

An estimated 25-hundred jobs were gained from January to February. While certain industries, like hospitality and professional services, did better than others, there were across-the-board rises. Fiore says the rise in Louisianans getting back to work hasn’t been limited to any particular region either.

Cut 10 (08)  “…adding jobs.”

Fiore says those looking for their next opportunity should visit louisianaworks-dot-net to see more than 30-thousand available jobs and to utilize other programs with the LWC for training and certification.

Cut 11 (10)  “…but a career.”  

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State lawmakers have until midnight tonight to decide if they want to hold a veto override session to override Governor John Bel Edwards’ rejection of the Congressional district map approved by the Republican-led Legislature last month. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford believes the veto session will happen

Cut 12 (08) “…out there.” 

It takes a majority vote in either the House or Senate to cancel the session. Alford says since Republicans have strong majorities in both chambers, the veto session will likely happen.

Cut 13 (12) “…regular session”

It would take 70 votes in the House and 20 in the Senate to override the governor. Alford says there are 68 Republicans in the House and a couple of them have not committed to voting for the override…

Cut 14 (05)  “..the governor”  

House GOP Caucus chairman Blake Miguez has yet to decide on how he would vote on a veto overturn because he doesn’t support the Congressional map approved. His reasoning is it splits St. Martin and St. Mary parishes between two congressional districts.