The Louisiana Gator Scholarship Program bill, also known as Education Savings Accounts, goes before House Appropriations today. Brooke Thorington has more.
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Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell filed proposed legislation that aims at regulating five-day school weeks statewide. After receiving pushback, Mizell intends to explore amendments to the bill. Teiko Foxx explains….
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Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes got the best of the LSU Lady Tigers last night in a rematch of last year’s national championship game. Jeff Palermo has a recap…
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April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission has launched the “Buckle Up, Phone Down,” campaign. Spokesperson Greg Fisher says when you reach for your phone you take your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel and your mind off driving.
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Louisiana’s current law prohibits writing, sending, or reading text messages on a hand-held device while driving and in an active school zone you’re also not allowed to talk on a hand-held phone.
And distractions are not limited to just cell phones. Fischer says activities such as eating, drinking, using a GPS, and even talking with passengers can divert a driver’s attention.
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Fisher says their latest research finds that almost a third of drivers in Louisiana engage in some sort of distracted driving, so he’s urging motorists to make a pledge…
Cut 6 (07) “…phone down.”
According to the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU, in 2022, distracted drivers in the state were involved in more than two-thousand crashes that hurt or killed someone.
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The Louisiana Gator Scholarship Program bill, also known as Education Savings Accounts, goes before House Appropriations today. How much it will cost the state to fund and implement the program is a concern. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio estimates it will eventually cost $520-million annually.
Cut 7 (08) “…up too.”
While the program has plenty of Republican support, Procopio says lawmakers need to consider a temporary sales tax that will expire in 2025, which is estimated to create a $400 to $500 million fiscal cliff as they consider funding the ESA program.
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He says even if the bill passes in the legislature in its current form there’s a year of planning before it’s implemented.
Cut 9 (06) “…aren’t acceptable.”
Thirteen other states have some form ESAs, which include the neighboring states of Arkansas and Mississippi.
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A south Louisiana lawmaker believes students should attend school five days a week. Nine school systems in Louisiana have some or all their schools with four-day weeks. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell has filed a bill that would mandate a five-day school week because she’s concerned about children at home without adult supervision one day a week
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Acadia, Cameron, Evangeline, Grant, LaSalle, Avoyelles, Caldwell, Beauregard, Franklin, and Bogalusa operate under four-day school weeks. They attend school longer to make up for the instructional time missed on Fridays.
Supporters of a four-day week say a condensed schedule helps with teacher recruitment, and retention, and doesn’t impede student learning. Mizell questions what happens when more schools attract teachers with a four-day week.
Cut 11 (11) “…teacher recruitment.”
Mizell says she is listening to opposition to her bill and considering amending the bill. She says one option is to mandate schools provide additional assistance to struggling students on non-class days. The second option…
Cut 12 (10) “…(x2) school week.”
The bill is scheduled to be heard in Senate Education.
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Iowa got the best of LSU this time. After losing to the Lady Tigers last year in the national championship game, the Hawkeyes defeated LSU 94 to 87 last night. Caitlin Clark was sensational, scoring 41 points. LSU’s Angel Reese had 20 points and 17 rebounds. Reese says it was a great run, despite not getting back to the Final Four
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Flau’jae Johnson was outstanding during the NCAA Tournament and had another great game last night, scoring 23 points and six rebounds. During the postgame press conference, Johnson spoke out against the people who have shown hate towards Reese…
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Reese says her life has not been easy since winning the national championship…
Cut 15 (13) “…every single time.”
This was likely Reese’s final game at LSU. She says she’ll make a decision on her future when she’s ready. Reese is expected to be a top ten pick in the WNBA draft.
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The Ragin Cajuns win streak is now up to 11 after sweeping Texas State. At his weekly Monday press conference, Coach Matt Deggs talked about what’s led to the team’s best start in Sun Belt play since 2014
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The Cajuns open a nine-game homestand tonight against Nicholls. Deggs can feel the community getting behind this team…
Cut 17 (21) “…gets fun.”
Deggs says the winning streak is a reward for the team’s hard work…
Cut 18 (14) “…in our favor.”