New data shows nationally, participation in high school athletics has his dipped. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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Money from a federal lawsuit against Volkswagen is being used in Louisiana to help school systems by new, alternative fuel-powered school buses. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”
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The Board of Regents wants 60 percent of working age adults to have a post-secondary education by 2030 in a state where less than half have one currently. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 3 (30) “…Matt Doyle.”
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For the first time in three decades, participation in high school sports has dropped at the national level. The data comes from a study by the National Federation of State High School Associations. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says the national trend is not reflected in Louisiana.
Cut 4 (08) “increase for us.”
The sports that saw the biggest declines were football and basketball.
Among the possible reasons for the decline is the issue of players’ safety, something Bonine says his organization doesn’t take lightly.
Cut 5 (09) “…weather we’re having.”
The numbers are not a disaster for high school sports as the most recent season had the third-highest number of athletes on record. Bonine believes sportsmanship is a contributing factor that keeps the numbers high locally.
Cut 6 (07) “…at our venues.”
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Louisiana schools are using money the state received from a federal lawsuit against Volkswagen to replace old diesel school buses with new alternative fuel buses.
The state got 19.8-million-dollars from the settlement, and Louisiana Clean Fuels co-coordinator Tyler Hermann says the money will subsidize half of the cost of alternative fuel buses for school districts.
Cut 7 (10)“…number”
Schools replacing diesel buses with new “cleaner” burning diesel would only receive a 25 percent subsidy.
In 2017 VW pleaded guilty to installing software on their vehicles that hid their nitrogen oxide emission levels. Hermann says the settlement works towards addressing that environmental damage.
Cut 8 (11) “benefit”
The settlement money was disbursed to states based on the number of VWs sold in each state.
Hermann says the money the state received from the settlement can only be used for a narrow range of projects like purchasing cleaner buses or installing electric charging stations.
Cut 9 (09) “…off-base”
Once the state received the settlement it was divided into thirds, one each going to the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Natural Resources, and DOTD.
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The Board of Regents sets an ambitious goal of making sure 60 percent of all working-age adults in Louisiana have post-secondary education by 2030.
Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed says that would mean more than doubling the number of credentials the state produces annually.
Cut 10 (07) “…an option.”
That comes out to increasing credentials from 40,000 a year to over 85,000 a year.
A recent study showed Louisiana was one of the states most at risk of losing jobs to automation and robotics. Reed says we’re approaching a point where a high school diploma just won’t cut it.
Cut 11 (11) “at that.”
Currently less than half of Louisiana’s working-age population has a post-secondary certification.
Doubling the number of credentials the state puts out every year means you’ll need more teachers, bigger schools, and a lot more money invested into higher ed. Reed says the pieces are in place to pull that off.
Cut 12 (12) “…there.”
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DTOD inspectors say the stretch of the I-10 bridge over the Atchafalaya Basin that recently reopened following a deadly crash appears to be safe. DTOD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says the structure had to undergo a thorough evaluation following the cleanup effort.
Cut 13 (09) “…cause any cracks.”
Mallett says there were some spots in the on the top deck in the concrete that sustained damage, but it is nothing the renders the structure as unsafe.
Cut 14 (09) “…a regular basis.”
Mallett says now that DOTD has done their part in to increase infrastructure safety, they are asking the public to do their part to be safe behind the wheel.
Cut 15 (10) “…we could avoid.”
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Louisiana Tech senior quarterback J’Mar Smith is set to make his 28th collegiate start when leads the Bulldogs into Austin to take on the 10th ranked Texas Longhorns. Smith says he prepared well in the offseason and believes he’s ready to take a big step in his development
Cut 16 (16) “…than ever”
Smith says he feels good after losing ten pounds during the offseason…
cut 17 (20) “…my highest level”
Texas is young in its defensive secondary. Smith says he’s spent a lot of time watching them on film…
Cut 18 (17) “…high level”
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Georgia Southern rolls into Tiger Stadium this Saturday for the first game of the season on the heels of a 10-win season that shows they aren’t just some Sun Belt pushover.
Eagles Coach Chad Lunsford says even though they’ve been labeled the underdogs, they aren’t scared to bring their triple-option attack into Death Valley.
cut 19 (18) “LSU”
The team is led by QB Shai Werts who racked up 987 yards passing and 908 yards rushing with 25 total touchdowns last year.
It’s a much louder environment than they’re used to playing in, and to compensate the team has been giving their players a little taste of what to expect in Baton Rouge.
cut 20 (20) “Offense”
The only team the Eagles played last year with a similar talent level to LSU was Clemson. They lost that game in the other Death Valley 38-7.