Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says it would be illegal for LSU to mandate COVID vaccines for students to attend the university. The LSU Faculty Senate made that request and Tulane, Dilliard, Xavier, and Loyola Universities have adopted the vaccinate mandates. Landry believes that’s illegal as well…
cut 11 (10) “…University receives”

Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says over 200-thousand students will attend summer school at public schools to help make up for learning loss during the pandemic. Brumley says if your child is not attending summer school then you need to engage them with some kind of continuing education to keep them up to speed.
Cut 6 (07)”…in summer.”

Besides the vaccines for COVID, there is also a clinical trial underway for a nasal spray to prevent you from catching the virus. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

State Police confirm their troopers fatally shot a man wanted for injuring two Mississippi sheriff’s deputies. LSP says 29-year-old Michael Jackson of Vicksburg, Mississippi was fatally shot after a long standoff. Law enforcement surrounded Jackson after he crashed his car in Madison Parish and according to a release, troopers shot Jackson as he approached a safety perimeter and attempted to draw his handgun.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says it’s illegal for LSU to mandate vaccines for students to attend school this fall. The university’s faculty senate says the only way to ensure a safe normal semester to mandate vaccination, but Landry says if the faculty wants to be safe they should get vaccinated themselves…
cut 12 (08) “….disappointing”
An LSU spokesperson says they are looking at other options and alternatives to mandating the vaccine.

A clinical trial is underway to see if a special nasal spray can prevent a person from getting COVID-19. Baton Rouge General rhinologist Henry Barham says the spray is not a substitute for the vaccine, instead a compliment. Barham says the spray is targeted to one part of the body as opposed to entering the bloodstream.
Cut 15 (06)“…super exciting.”

Louisiana K-12 schools will educate over 200,000 students for summer school after a year where most students spent a lot of time out of the classroom and in front of screens. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says they managed to have 70 percent of students back in the classroom by the end of the school year, but many still need help before the next school year…
Cut 4 (07)”…I know.”
Brumley says to incentivize more summer school attendance they’ve encouraged school systems to use federal funds to create more of a summer camp, and not a traditional summer school experience.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries confirms a red piranha, which is a species native to South America was caught in the University Lakes near LSU. Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator Robert Bourgeois on how it got into the lakes…
cut 8 (08) “….the lake”
Bourgeois says they hope it was the only piranha in the lake because they will go after dead or dying prey.

Attorney General Jeff Landry blasts the LSU Faculty Senate’s request that the school adopts a mandate requiring students be vaccinated to attend classes in the fall. LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan says he’s “reviewing” the request, but Landry says there’s nothing to review and the mandate would be illegal.
Cut 10 (08) “…right now.”
LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard says the school does not believe they can mandate vaccines on campus.

A clinical trial is underway in Louisiana to test an at-home nasal spray’s effectiveness at preventing people from getting COVID-19. Baton Rouge General Rhinologist Doctor Henry Barham says they are following participants for six weeks after use of the nasal spray…
cut 14 (07) “…spray”
Barham says the spray is not necessarily a substitute for the vaccine, but instead a complement to the vaccine.

Over 200,000 kids are expected to attend summer school for what the Superintendent of Education calls the most important summer school in modern history. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Over 200,000 kids are expected to attend summer school for what the Superintendent of Education calls the most important summer school in modern history. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Attorney General Jeff Landry says a college vaccine mandate, such as the one being requested by the LSU Faculty Senate, would be illegal. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Besides the vaccines for COVID, there is also a clinical trial underway for a nasal spray to prevent you from catching the virus. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Louisiana K-12 schools are preparing to educate over 200,000 students for summer school after a year where most students spent a lot of time out of the classroom and in front of screens.

Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says they managed to have 70 percent of students back in the classroom by the end of the recent spring semester, but many still need help before the fall starts.

Cut 4 (07)”…I know.”

Brumley says to incentivize more summer school attendance they’ve encouraged school systems to use federal funds to create more of a summer camp, and not a summer school experience.

Cut 5 (12)”…social studies.”

Brumley says if your child is not attending summer school then you need to engage them with some kind of continuing education to keep them up to speed.

Cut 6 (07)”…in summer.”

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries confirms that a single Red Piranha was caught at University Lakes in Baton Rouge last week. Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator Robert Bourgeois says the South American native fish with teeth can throw things out of balance in our ecosystem here in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (11)  “…all young.”

As for how the invasive species made its way to the lakes on LSU’s campus, Bourgeois has a theory.

Cut 8 (08) “…the lake.”

Bourgeois says so far only one piranha has been discovered, but they continue to check the University Lake system and take samples.

Cut 9 (08) “…winter temperatures.” 

All piranha species are illegal to possess or sell in Louisiana.

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Attorney General Jeff Landry blasts the LSU Faculty Senate’s request that the school adopt a mandate requiring students be vaccinated to attend classes in the fall.

LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan says he will once again “review” the request, but Landry says there’s nothing to review and the mandate would be illegal.

Cut 10 (08) “…right now.”

LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard says while they are reviewing the request “we do not believe we will be able to mandate vaccines on campus.”

Tulane, Dillard, and Xavier have announced that they will be adopting vaccine mandates. Landry says he believes that decision is illegal as well.

Cut 11 (10) “…University receives.”

Chronicle of Higher Education Data shows more than 400 colleges nationwide have adopted vaccine mandates. The UL System will not mandate the vaccination for the fall semester.

The Faculty Senate says the only way to ensure a safe, normal semester is to mandate vaccination, but Landry says if the faculty wants to be safe they should just get vaccinated themselves.

Cut 12 (08) “…disappointing.”

Landry says also impacting the legality of such mandates is the fact that the vaccines are still under emergency use authorization. A reported 77 percent of LSU employees were vaccinated as of the end of May, but only 21 percent of Louisianans ages 18 to 29 have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine.

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A nasal spray clinical trial is underway to prevent COVID-19. Baton Rouge Rhinologist Dr. Henry Barham is overseeing the trial in Louisiana and says the spray works differently from the vaccine. The vaccine helps you build up antibodies to fight off the virus when you contract it.

Cut 13 (08) “…first place.”

Clinical trial participants must be 18 and older and not have been diagnosed with COVID, but you can still participate if you been vaccinated. Barham says they are following participants for six weeks after use of the nasal spray and checking to see if the medication remains in your nose and isn’t absorbed elsewhere in the body.

Cut 14 (07) “…the spray.”

Barham says the spray is not necessarily a substitute for the vaccine, he says the spray compliments the vaccine. He says the spray is targeted to one part of the body as opposed to entering the bloodstream.

Cut 15 (06)“…super exciting.”

Barham says they are looking for around 90 additional participants for the study.

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Louisiana Tech will begin its run through the NCAA Tournament on Friday night at J-C Love Field at Pat Patterson Park when they host Rider at 6 PM. Bulldogs Coach Lan Burroughs says his message to the team is to play loose, just like in the Conference USA Tournament

Cut 16 (17) “…trouble winning.”

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The LSU Tigers are looking to give retiring baseball coach Paul Mainieri a second national championship as they leave today for Oregon to play in the Eugene Regional this weekend. Starting pitcher Landon Marceaux says he was stunned when Mainieri told the team that this is his last season

Cut 17 (17) “…out on top.”

Left fielder Gavin Dugas will be forever grateful to Mainieri…

Cut  18 (17)”…appreciative of that.”

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One of the best stories in the NCAA Baseball Tournament is the McNeese Cowboys. The team has overcome a devastating hurricane, a paralyzing winter storm, and historic floods at the end of the season to earn a spot at the Fort Worth regional along with TCU, Oregon State, and Dallas Baptist.  Pokes Head Coach Justin Hill says his team is here due to his players’ positive mindset.

Cut 19 (14) “…baseball things.” 

The Cowboys will take on TCU at 6 PM Friday on ESPN 3.  While Hill doesn’t know the pitching rotation yet, he knows he’ll rely on ace Will Dion, who has a 2.81 ERA this season after starting two games last week in the Southland Tournament…

Cut 20 (15)  “…the game.” 

We’re in the last two weeks of the session and lawmakers are scrambling to wrap up their business before the June 10^th finish.

One of the big ticket items left to consider has now been scheduled to be heard Wednesday in Senate Finance. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward’s bill would turn point four five percent of the state’s sale tax that is expiring in 2025 into a long-term infrastructure dedication. If approved it would generate about 350 to 380 million dollars a year for roads and bridges.

Cut 13 (10) “…infrastructure.”

House approved legislation upping hunting and fishing license costs is headed to the Senate floor. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says his bill is the only way to save LDWF’s budget…

Cut 11 (12) “…purposes.”

The average sportsman’s license would go up 10 bucks.

Legislation by West Monroe Senator Jay Morris that does away with the need for folks 21 and older to have a license or training to concealed carry receives final legislative passage and is headed to the Governor’s desk where he is expected to veto it.

A nearly identical bill by Thibodaux Representative Bryan Fontenot is also nearing final passage after passing Judiciary B Tuesday on a 3-1 vote. The lone dissenter, Shreveport Senator Greg Tarver had some choice words for the proposal…

Cut 13 (07)“..business.”

But Fontenot countered that he’s researched the results of passing constitutional carry in other states and found no conclusive evidence it leads to more crime.

Cut 14

As the 2021 hurricane season begins approximately four thousand remain displaced from the 2020 hurricanes in Louisiana. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Brian Abshire they could be living in another home or apartment, with family, or even in a trailer on their property but they remain displaced.

Cut 5  (12)  “…individual to individual.”

He says several residents are still trying to settle insurance claims, nine months later.

Senate Judiciary Committee B approves legislation allowing those 21 and older to carry a concealed handgun without needing a permit or training. Democratic Shreveport Senator Greg Tarver lambasted the bill saying this will lead to more gun violence.

Cut 13 (07)“..business.”

The proposal is opposed by both the Chiefs of Police Association and Governor Edwards.

Republican US Senator John Kennedy says he’s running for reelection in 2022. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

Governor Edwards requests Federal Disaster Declaration for five parishes in the state impacted by flash flooding two weeks ago. The request is for FEMA Individual Assistance for Ascension, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, and Lafayette parishes. So far 2,700 homes reported damage, including six that were noted as destroyed. To report damage, go to damage.la.gov.

Another bill that would do away with the need for those 21 and older to get a license and training to carry a concealed weapon is gliding through the legislative process. Thibodaux Republican Representative Bryan Fontenot’s bill was lambasted by another committee member who called it dangerous, but Fontenot argues there’s just no data to back up that claim…

Cut 14 (10) “…table.” 

A nearly identical bill by West Monroe Senator Jay Morris passed both the House and Senate.

The 2021 hurricane season may have officially begun today but many folks out in Southwest Louisiana still aren’t recovered from the brutal 2020 season. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Brian Abshire says they could use a break this year…

Cut 3 (09)  “…I suppose.” 

Zachary native US Senator John Kennedy says he’s running for a second term in the Senate in 2022. The Mississippi-born former State Treasurer says it’s been an honor to serve the state in D.C but he’s not done yet…

Cut 6 (11) “..again.”

Kennedy won the 2016 US Senate election defeating Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell 61 to 39 percent. Kennedy took first place in the jungle primary that proceeded it with 25 percent, with Republican former Congressman Charles Boustany coming in third with 15 percent.

UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the only opponent who could give Kennedy a run for his money next year would be Governor John Bel Edwards, but with Edwards seemingly set on finishing out his term…

Cut 8 (7) “…at least.”