A Louisiana Federation of Teachers survey indicates that 61 percent of union members support a statewide walkout or strike in order to spark pay raises. LFT president Larry Carter says they’re ready to send a message…
Cut 16 (09) “organized resistance”
59-percent said they would support a mass demonstration at the State Capitol.

The U-S House has approved CongressmanClay Higgins’ School Resource Officer Assessment Act which directs the federal government to compile data on the number of school resource officers assigned to public schools. Higgins is optimistic of Senate approval…
cut 12 (10) “…support”
Higgins says the first step in improving school safety, is to know what assets are on the ground and identify additional resources.

State lawmakers return to the capitol today for their sixth special session in three years. Legislators will be asked to approve tax measures to replace expiring sales taxes that have created a 648-million dollar budget gap. A week ago, the Edwards administration sent a warning letter to Medicaid patients in nursing homes that they could lose their benefits, because of a lack of state funding. House Republican Caucus Chairman Lance Harris….
cut 7 (09) “…cover that”
One possible solution to the fiscal cliff is the renewing of a portion of a temporary one-cent sales tax. The Legislative Black Caucus opposed that idea in the February special session. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James on their current position…
cut 8 (08) “….are funded”

Another special session begins today, giving lawmakers two weeks to solve the 648 million dollar budget shortfall. Don Molino has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Don Molino“

The National Hurricane Center says there’s a 40-percent chance of a tropical depression or storm forming late this week in the central or eastern Gulf of Mexico. If this system approaches Louisiana, it could bring us heavy rains for the weekend, especially along the coast.

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers released a survey of its members that shows 61-percent of them support a statewide walkout or strike, because of low teacher pay. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says average teacher salaries in Louisiana have been below the Southern average since the 2012-13 school year….
cut 18 (06) “….low pay”
59-percent of the respondents said they would support a small state income tax increase to fund raises.

With summer getting underway, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is looking at ways to improve our state parks system. Nungesser says he’s seeking private investment to enhance what state parks can offer…
cut 14 (11) “…new attractions”

The special session kicks off today, giving legislators two weeks to come to an agreement on how to handle a 648 million dollar budget shortfall that threatens to potentially devastate healthcare and higher education. A special session in February failed, and a budget with 648 million in cuts was vetoed, but Governor John Bel Edwards says this session will be different.
Cut 4 (12) “do better”
The Democratic governor has said he can support a proposal to keep up to a half penny of an expiring one-cent sales tax. House Republican Caucus Chairman Lance Harris says if Republicans agree to renew any of the expiring sales taxes, it would most likely be that expiring penny…
cut 6 (06) “…are filed”

A school safety bill by St. Landry Parish Congressman Clay Higgins has cleared the House and heads to the Senate. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) I’m Matt Doyle”

Authorities say a Monroe police officer was killed last night in a single vehicle crash. When more information comes available we will pass it a long.

The special session begins today, giving lawmakers two weeks to solve the 648 million dollar budget shortfall that’s hamstrung the legislative season. Don Molino has more.

Cut 1 (31) “Im Don Molino“

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Congressman Clay Higgins’ school safety bill clears the House and heads to the Senate. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

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A survey by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers shows a clear majority would support a statewide strike for better pay. Michael Farrar has more.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

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The special session kicks off today, giving legislators two weeks to come to an agreement on how to handle a 648 million dollar budget shortfall that threatens to potentially devastate healthcare and higher education. A special session in February failed, and legislative attempts to craft a budget with 648 million in cuts were vetoed, but Governor Edwards says this will be different.

Cut 4  (12) “do better” 

The budget gap, known as the “fiscal cliff” is the result of sales taxes that are set to expire July 1^st.

Democrats and many Republicans agree that at least some of the expiring revenue will need to be replaced, and reports say a consensus may be growing around renewing half of the one penny sales tax that falls off in July. Edwards says it’s a compromise he may have to settle for.

Cut 5  (08)  “nothing else”

And GOP Chairman Lance Harris indicated that if Republicans do agree to renew any of the expiring taxes, it would most likely be some of that expiring penny.

Cut 6 (06) “are filed”

Harris believes Republicans will not push a final budget that resembles a spending plan similar to the one that passed the House that eliminated public-private partnership hospitals and Medicaid programs that pay for nursing homes for the elderly. He says Department of Health funding is not at risk, and chided the governor for sending eviction notice letters to patients whose housing was put at risk.

Cut 7 (09)  “cover that”

Many Democrats, specifically the black caucus, began the legislative season firmly stating that they would not support attempts to keep a portion of the expiring penny sales tax, because it unfairly targets the working class. But Baton Rouge Representative Ted James indicated that the caucus may be open keeping some of that penny if it means fully funding healthcare and higher ed.

Cut 8 (08)  “are funded”

James says he’s open to compromise plans, but will not support any budget that resembles those passed by the Louisiana House and Senate that either slashed healthcare or gutted higher ed and TOPS.

Cut 9 (10)  “do that”

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US Representative Clay Higgins’ bill that would require the US to collect information on how many school resource officers are in place in schools passed the House and is on its way to the Senate. The North Louisianan Congressman says after the Parkland school shooting, he realized DC was lacking critical information on school safety.

Cut 10 (12)   “in america”

The bill is one of two pieces of legislation aimed at improving school safety, the other being an attempt to establish national standards and best practices for responding to school shootings. Higgins says before a comprehensive plan can be created to address school safety, more information is needed.

Cut 11 (08) “across the country”

Higgins says he’s optimistic that the bill will make it to the president’s desk.

Cut 12 (10) “support”

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Overnight facilities at two Louisiana State Parks are reopening after they were damaged by the 2016 floods. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser announced that portions of the Lake Fausse Pointe State Park near St. Martinville opened Monday and newly renovated cabins at Chemin-A-Haut State Park near Bastrop will open Friday

Cut 13 (12)  “have flooded” 

Along with park restorations, Nungesser says his office is focusing on partnerships to improve the parks and bring back lost revenue from the floods.

The U-S is once again reeling from another mass causality fatal shooting at a school. There were several bills in the regular session seeking to place restrictions on gun ownership, but none of them passed. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says for any gun control legislation to gain traction, one organization in particular will have to get behind it….

cut 15 (11) “…lives”

Thibodaux native and former Baton Rouge resident Cynthia Tisdale was one of 10 people killed in the Friday Houston area school shooting.

Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s distracted driving bill found a surprising amount of success, but ultimately failed to cross the finish line. The bill would bar drivers from touching their phone while on the road. Huval says legislators just haven’t warmed up to the idea in the upper chamber.

Cut 10 (07) “you’re driving”

A Louisiana legend has passed away. LSU says Billy Cannon died peacefully Sunday at his St. Francisville home. Cannon led LSU to a national title in 1958 and won the school’s only Heisman Trophy in 1959. When LSU won the national title in 1958, they were picked to finish 8th in the 12 team SEC. But Cannon was so confident they would win the league, he bought a bunch of tickets for his family and friends before the season started…

Cut 5  (09) “be there”

Cannon had a fall from grace in the 1980s,  when he was convicted on counterfeiting charges and served two and a half years in prison. He says he came through the rough period a better person…

Cut 4 (11) “front page”

After his release from prison, Cannon became the Director of Dentistry at the State Penitentiary at Angola. He held that job until his retirement in January.

Louisiana educators are considering a statewide walk-out according to the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. Fifty three percent of educators said low teacher salaries was their top concern in a survey released by the group today. The survey of just over 3 thousand, 8 hundred federation members was not scientific, however, within the survey 61 percent support a statewide strike.
LSU mourns the death of its only Heisman Trophy winner, Billy Cannon, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 80. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s distracted driving bill found a surprising amount of success, but ultimately failed to cross the finish line. The bill would bar drivers from touching their phone while on the road. Huval says the surprising momentum the legislation gained indicates a growing interest in safer roads.

Cut 9 (09) “far also.”
Huval said he intends to reintroduce the bill next year.

The National Hurricane Center is watching a tropical disturbance that’s expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico this week. Forecasters only give the system a 20-percent chance of developing into a depression over the next five days. Danielle Manning in the National Weather Service office in Slidell says it’s still hard to figure out the track with this low pressure.
Cut 12 (11) “wet weekend”

LSU made it official today that former Ohio State quarterback Joe Burrow is transferring in. Burrow spent the past three seasons at Ohio State as a back-up. He graduated, which allows him to play this fall, with two years of eligibility left. Matt Moscona, with ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, says history shows LSU has had some success with transfer quarterbacks, Zach Mettenberger and Danny Etling, are two examples…
Cut 18 (20) “against Miami”
With Burrow on board. That gives LSU four quarterbacks competing for the starting spot. No word on if the other three will leave.

LSU says legendary football player Billy Cannon died peacefully Sunday at his home in St. Francisville. Cannon led LSU to a national championship in 1958 and won the school’s only Heisman Trophy in 1959. Tiger Rag President Jim Engster asked Cannon about winning college football’s most prestigous award…
cut 3 (10) …we did”
Cannon had a fall from grace in the 1980s when he was convicted on counterfeiting charges and served two and a half years in prison. But when he got out of prison, he became the lead dentist at the State Penintentiary in Angola was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

New Orleans has a good shot at landing a Super Bowl in 2024. Saints Owner Gayle Benson will make a presentation to the NFL owners on Wednesday. Under the league’s new bidding process, New Orleans is the only city presenting a bid and the NFL can either accept it or reject it.

A bill that would prohibit Louisiana drivers from handling their phone while behind the wheel did not make it out of the regular legislative session. It received approval from the House, but the Senate did not agree with state Representative Mike Huval’s bill. The Republican from Breaux Bridge plans to try again next year….
cut 11 (10) “….in attentive”
Tomorrow, lawmakers return to the State Capitol for a special session on taxes.

The National Hurricane Center is keeping an eye on a tropical disturbance in the Carribbean Sea that will move into the Gulf of Mexico this week. Danielle Manning is with the National Weather Service in Slidell says there’s a low chance for development and it’s rare to see a named storm before June 1st, the start of hurricane season….
cut 14 (05) “…since 1851”
LSU says legendary football player Billy Cannon died peacefully Sunday at his home in St. Francisville. Cannon led LSU to a national championship in 1958 and won the school’s only Heisman Trophy in 1959. Tiger Rag President Jim Engster asked Cannon about winning college football’s most prestigous award…
cut 3 (10) …we did”
Cannon had a fall from grace in the 1980s when he was convicted on counterfeiting charges and served two and a half years in prison. But when he got out of prison, he became the lead dentist at the State Penintentiary in Angola was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

New Orleans has a good shot at landing a Super Bowl in 2024. Saints Owner Gayle Benson will make a presentation to the NFL owners on Wednesday. Under the league’s new bidding process, New Orleans is the only city presenting a bid and the NFL can either accept it or reject it.

There were several bills in the regular session seeking to place restrictions on gun ownership, but none of them passed. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says for any gun control legislation to gain traction, one organiziation in particular will have to get behind it….
cut 15 (11) “…lives”
Thibodaux native and former Baton Rouge resident Cynthia Tisdale was one of 10 people killed in Friday’s school shooting in Texas.

Louisiana lawmakers did NOT enact legislation to prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones while driving in the just completed legislative session. The House supported the proposal, but Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval says the Senate is not ready to enact the safety measure…
cut 10 (07) “…you’re driving”
Huval says he’ll bring the bill back next year.

LSU is mourning the death of Billy Cannon, the school’s only Heisman Trophy winner died Sunday at age of 80. Cannon won the Heisman in 1959, the year before the Tigers went undefeated to win a national championship. In a 2015 interview with Tiger Rag President Jim Engster, Cannon was so confident they would win the SEC, he bought a bunch of tickets for his family and friends before the season started…
cut 5 (09) “…be there”

Saints Owner Gayle Benson will make an official bid on Wednesday at the NFL owners meeting for New Orleans to host a Super Bowl in 2024.
cut 7 (09) “…Bowl better”
That’s Jay Cicero, president of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, who says New Orleans is the only city that’s been asked to present a bid for that year as part of the league’s new bidding process.