A move to extend the film tax credit out to 2028 was rejected by the House and appears likely to be dead for the session. Opponents, hoping to see the program sunset in 2025, lambasted the bill on the House floor calling the 180 million dollars handed out yearly misplaced priorities, but supporters like Columbia Representative Neil Riser tout numbers from the Lt. Governor showing the credit has a 1.3 billion dollar annual tourism impact.

Cut 8 (10) “…came there.” 

Business lobbyists are blaming the state’s labor crunch on the Governor’s decision to continue accepting federally enhanced unemployment benefits. In response Edwards says he’s tasked an economist with studying the issue, but notes the over 8 billion in federal benefits have really helped out local economies…

Cut 11 (11) “…meeting.”

Two men were struck and killed while changing a tire on the shoulder of I-10 westbound in St. James Parish on Thursday afternoon. State Trooper Taylor Scrantz says 33-year-old Jermaine Irvine of St. Francisville’s vehicle veered off the roadway as 33-year-old Daniel Thomas was assisting 50-year-old James Breaux of Donaldsonville with a flat tire…

Cut 12 (6) “…killing em both”

Scrantz says Breaux and Thomas were pronounced dead at the scene and toxicology samples have been taken from all three parties.

A flash flood watch is in effect this weekend across south Louisiana.  Assistant Professor of Research at LSU Dr. Vinny Brown says we just can’t shake this rainy pattern

Cut 15 (11) “…southern Louisiana.” 

An effort to extend the state’s 180-million-dollar film tax credit program into 2028 was rejected by the House and appears unlikely to pass by the end of the session next week. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.” 

Louisiana Tech announces the Ruston Regional has sold out of its entire inventory of all-session tickets available to the general public. It’s the first time the Bulldogs are hosting a regional in baseball. LA Tech will host Rider tonight at 6 PM. North Carolina State and Alabama are also playing in the NCAA Regional.

The Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone” is expected to cover an area of almost 5,000 square miles this summer ranging from Louisiana to Texas. That’s according to LSU scientist Dr. Nancy Rabalais. The low oxygen conditions began 50 years ago due to agricultural practices in the Midwest. Rabalais says the dead zone also has an economic side effect.

Cut 5  (11) “…low oxygen increases”

After receiving several letters and complaints from numerous business groups and owners to end the federally enhanced unemployment benefits before they expire in September, Governor John Bel Edwards says he asked for a study on the issue, but he does know that Louisiana is heavily dependent on tourism.

Cut 10 (09) “…not jobs”

The extra $300 weekly benefit is set to expire on Labor Day.

After receiving several letters and complaints from numerous business groups and owners to end the federally enhanced unemployment benefits before they expire in September, Governor John Bel Edwards says he wants to make an informed decision before reacting.

Cut 9 (11) “…or not.”

Economist Jim Richardson served on the Revenue Estimating Conference for the state for three decades.

The Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone” is expected to cover an area over 4,700 square miles this summer from Louisiana to Texas. That’s according to LSU scientist Dr. Nancy Rabalais who says the area is about 500 square miles less than previous years but still a disappointing number.

Cut 3 (7) “…might come through”

The House rejected an attempt to extend the state’s 180 million dollar film tax credit out to 2028 from its current sunset date of 2025. The bill began as an effort to incentivize companies to do more productions outside of New Orleans but evenly grew into a generalized extension of the program. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson hammered the bill, saying we can only afford a meager 800 dollar teacher pay raise for 60 million dollars while giving Hollywood 180 million a year. He adds…

Cut 6, 12 seconds, system

supporters of the tax credit argue it has a billion-dollar plus yearly impact on state tourism.

Those who’ve been vaccinated will be able to visit Louisiana’s 21 state parks and 18 historic sites for free through July 31st.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

Two Louisiana men are facing contest fraud after the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries investigated tips the men caught bass fish before the tournament started. Hunter Moss of Mooringsport and Phillip Purcell of Oil City admitted to retrieving three bass and kept them alive in a basket off a dock in Caddo Parish. Contest fraud brings a $3,000 fine and one year in jail.

With just shy of a week left in the legislative session there are still a few loose ends to tie up. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says lawmakers still have some major gaming-related bills to finish.

Cut 5 (09)”…betting.”

The Slidell casino vote recently escaped a Senate committee it had been stuck in for weeks and is headed to the Senate floor.

A Baton Rouge nurse is on a mission to vaccinate two thousand people by July 4th. Carla Brown’s husband died from the virus last year after she unknowingly brought COVID into her home. Brown says so far, she’s vaccinated nearly one-thousand people…

Cut 14 (11) “…not available.”

Only 32-percent of Louisianans are fully vaccinated, one of the lowest percentages in the country

With less than a week left in the legislative session and while the budget is completed, there’s still a few things left to debate before 6 PM on June 10^th.  Lawmakers need to pass the taxation portion of legislation that allows the use and sale of the raw form of medical marijuana, but it’s been amended to include an infrastructure-related tax proposal.

Cut 6 (09)”…passing.”

A Bill to make kindergarten mandatory at age 5 passed in the house on a 59-31 vote. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes says it’s time to make an investment in the future of children in the state.

Cut 12 (12) “…sense.”

The amended bill now returns to the Senate. If passed would go into effect fall of 2022.

A Baton Rouge nurse began a door-to-door campaign earlier this year to educate and vaccinate people for COVID. Carla Brown lost her husband to COVID after she exposed him to the virus, a man who survived a gunshot wound to the head as a child and cancer twice, only to succumb to the virus.

Cut 13 (13) “…in vain.”

Brown has vaccinated just shy of a thousand residents. Her goal is to reach two thousand by the 4^th of July.

Governor Edwards announces that vaccinated individuals can now gain free entry into all Louisiana State Parks and historic sites through July 31^st. Edwards says it doesn’t matter when you got your shot, if you have proof, you get in free.

Cut 7 (11)  “…state parks.”

If you are vaccinated against COVID-19, the state is offering free admission at any of its 21 state parks through July 31st as a perk for those who rolled up their sleeves and got the shot. Edwards says there’s also the shot for a shot campaign. He says if you show your vaccination card you can get a free drink at participating establishments…
cut 9 (10) “…future”
Only 32 percent of Louisianans are fully vaccinated.

Baton Rouge hospice nurse Carla Brown has set the goal of vaccinating two thousand people by July 4th. Brown has already administered the vaccine to nearly one-thousand people in honor of her husband who died alone last year from COVID-19…
cut 15 (08) “….one lives”
Brown says she unknowingly brought COVID home into her household because of the work she does as a nurse.

A bill to make kindergarten mandatory beginning at age five passed in the House on a 59-31 vote. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes presented the bill to the lower chamber and says he’s tired of Louisiana consistently being ranked towards the bottom of the list in education.
Cut 10 (08) “…our kids.”
Opponents say parents should decide if their child attends kindergarten at five, because some children might not be ready at that age.

Next Thursday the 2021 legislative session will come to a close. There are still a few hot topics left to debate. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the budget has been sent to the governor, but the tax reform bills are still not through the legislative process…
cut 4 (08) “….weekend
Final legislative passage occurred for the legislation that would centralize the state’s sales tax collections. It still needs voter approval in October.

Governor John Bel Edwards says if you are vaccinated against COVID-19 you can visit a state park or a historic site through July 31st for free. Edwards says many of these facilities got overhauls and renovations over the course of the last year and are more family-friendly than ever before.
Cut 8 (09) “…sites.”
The state has vaccinated 32-percent of its population.

Legislation to make kindergarten mandatory for five-year-olds is closing in on final legislative passage after it received House approval yesterday. Houma Representative Beryl Amedee voted against it. She believes the mandatory age to start school should be seven and kindergarten a choice…
cut 11 (10) “…parental rights”

The 2021 regular legislative session will be over by this time next week and while there are still a few issues left most of the heavy lifting is done. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The NCAA Baseball Tournament gets underway today. LSU faces Gonzaga in Oregon at 9 PM. Louisiana Tech hosts a Regional for the first time ever and will match-up with Rider at 6 PM. McNeese is at TCU and Southern plays Texas in Austin this afternoon.

Those who are vaccinated against COVID-19 can visit Louisiana’s 21 state parks and 18 historic sites for free through July 31st. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor Edwards has announced the state has hired economist Jim Richardson to study whether Louisiana will opt-out of the extra 300-dollars the federal government is making available to unemployed workers. Business groups say employers are struggling to find workers, because of the enhanced unemployment benefits.

State lawmakers have returned to their districts as there is no legislative activity at the capitol today. The legislative session ends next Thursday and LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says tax reform and gaming bills still need final legislative approval…
cut 5 (09) “….betting”
A senate bill that sets up the protocols and oversight for sports gambling is nearing final legislative passage after the House voted for it yesterday.

A Baton Rouge nurse is on a mission to vaccinate two thousand people by July 4th. Carla Brown’s husband died from the virus last year after she unknowingly brought COVID into her home. Brown says so far she’s vaccinated nearly one-thousand people…
cut 14 (11) “…not available”
Only 32-percent of Louisianans are fully vaccinated, one of the lowest percentages in the country.