PM LRN Newscast March 14

Legislators will discuss teacher pay raises again during this legislative and teacher unions will push for more than the proposed $1,500 more for educators. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The 2022 legislative session is underway and a recently elected lawmaker wants to reform the insurance industry. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

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Governor John Bel Edwards is asking lawmakers to approve a $1500 teacher pay raise and $750 increase for support staff, President of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers Larry Carter is hopeful that’s a mere starting point and educators could see even more in their paycheck after this legislative session.

Cut 3 (11) “…support staff.”

Carter is hopeful the raises could go even higher in an effort to attract and keep teachers from leaving the state. Carter says they are asking for even higher raises so Louisiana educators can reach the southern regional average sooner than later.

Cut 4 (12) “…support staff.”

As for feedback from legislators on the pay raises, Carter says it’s mixed, while most support the raises others worry about the sustainability of pay raises in the future. But Carter says not making the investment could be even more costly.

Cut 5 (11) “…right now.”

Rising inflation is another reason Carter urges lawmakers to give teachers and support staff raises to keep them from leaving the profession or state sooner than later.

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Lake Charles Senator Jeremy Stine is pushing the storm victims’ insurance reform package in his first legislative session. Stine says after two active hurricane seasons, many policyholders are just fed up with their insurance providers as they attempt to get money to repair their damaged home

 Cut 6  (12) “… insurance industry” 

Stine says he has bills that increase the penalties for insurance companies who fail to provide payment on a timely basis and double the fine a company could receive if the Insurance Commissioner determines they are acting in bad faith…

Cut 7 (11) “…as a deterrent” 

Insurance industry lobbyist Jeff Albright told the Advocate Newspaper that insurance companies have concerns with several of the bills filed for this legislative session and it’s difficult to pay out thousands of claims quickly after a catastrophe. But Stine calls his legislation a measured, reasonable approach and insurance companies who act in good faith will not be impacted…

 Cut 8 (07) “  intend to do.” 

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LSU basketball has a storied history, but a murky future with major NCAA allegations to face and sanctions likely to follow. LSU alumnus and super fan James Carville believes LSU will survive this latest storm and come out ahead on the other side.

Cut 9 (12) “…they are now.”

The LSU athletic program has taken a number of hits over the past few years, from an ongoing Title IX investigation to these latest problems with the basketball program. Carville says that athletic director Scott Woodward is up to the task of setting things right.

Cut 10 (09)  “…a lot of confidence.”

Whatever the program is going through, Carville doesn’t think it will have any impact on the support the players get as they enter the NCAA tournament, and that the team can overcome this adversity.

Cut 11 (09)  “…really well.”  

The sixth-seeded Tigers will face 11th seed Iowa State Friday at 6:20 pm.

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On this two-year anniversary of the first reported COVID death in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s allowing the current public health emergency order to lapse without extending it. Edwards made the announcement during a joint session of the House and Senate…

Cut 12 (10) “…(applause).” 

The state has reported 16,913 COVID deaths. Edwards says the decision to end COVID-19 emergency declaration was not made lightly…

Cut 13 (12) “…proclamation.”

Edwards says just because the proclamation is expiring doesn’t mean COVID is over…

Cut 14 (12)  “…again.”  

The state reported another 537 new COVID cases today.