ULM received a $750 thousand grant over three years from the state’s Entertainment Development Fund. Sean Richardson has the story.
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2023 was predicted to be the highest job growth in 25 years for Louisiana, it ended up just average. Brooke Thorington has more.
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The legislative session comes to an end today and it was a good one for Governor Jeff Landry. Colleen Crain explains…
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The University of Louisiana at Monroe received the state’s Entertainment Development Fund of $750 thousand grant over three years to create opportunities for students looking for a career in the film industry. Associate Professor of Communication, Dr. Chris Mapp
The grant allows ULM to do several things by crating a film and media arts concentration, establishing an in-hour motion picture studio on the Clark M. Williams Innovation Campus and host filmmaking summer camps for high school students across the region.
Mapp says this grant will not just be beneficial for students.
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ULM will acquire state-of-the-art equipment that gives students hands-on experience from ADR editing suites, studio sound stages and professional office spaces. All to support workforce training and help attract film projects. Mapp says when it comes to the potential of the new program, the skies the limit.
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Mapp says this is a rare opportunity to not just make movies but to make a difference.
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Last year it was predicted Louisiana would see a job growth of 40,000, the highest increase in 25 years. But ULL Acadiana Business Economist Gary Wagner says that the forecast has since been revised and the state only gained close to 10,000 jobs.
So, while the gains were only a fourth of what was predicted, Wagner says Louisiana had an average year for job growth, which is still better than job losses.
As to why the numbers were so far off, Wagner says the figures are derived from 160,000 businesses nationwide. When the more accurate data is gathered nine to 12 months later, Wagner says the actual numbers are from Louisiana businesses.
He says it’s a good lesson not to put too much stock into job forecasts.
Wagner says seeing as Louisiana only experienced a fourth of the predicted job gain, it’s not necessarily a poor reflection of the state’s overall economy.
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The 2024 regular legislative session ends today and La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the biggest piece of legislation approved is the Gator Scholarship Program. Alford says it brings Education Savings Accounts to Louisiana, allowing families to access public dollars to pay for private school tuition….
The Gator Scholarship Program will not start until the 2025-26 school year and it still remains to be seen how much funding will be available for vouchers and who will be eligible and how much will families receive.
The biggest item not to pass is the bill that would have enabled a constitutional convention to take place in August. Alford says it’s a blow to the governor and because it was assumed there would be a convention, many big picture ideas were put on hold in this session.
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Alford says an interesting dynamic developed during this session and that is the Louisiana Senate did not go along with everything the governor wants
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LSU Baseball won two games Sunday and they are one win away from hosting a Super Regional Series. The Tigers defeated Wofford 13-6 in an elimination game yesterday and defeated North Carolina eight to four last night to force a winner take all game today against the Tar Heels. Josh Pearson hit home runs in both games and says this team is always in the fight
Johnson says you can never count out a team with talent and experience…
Thatcher Hurd was the big story. The right-hander has struggled this season, but had his best outing of the year against the Tar Heels, giving up just two runs and striking out six. Hurd says Coach Johnson gave the entire team confidence they could win two games yesterday
Johnson on the decision to start Hurd against U-N-C…
It remains to be seen who will start tonight. The Regional Championship game is tonight at 5 PM.