TRANSCRIPT
INTRO:
Texas families are challenging the state’s new law calling for the 10 Commandments to be posted in every public schoolroom.
As KERA's Bill Zeeble reports, families want to take the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court:
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SOT:
“More than 2 dozen Texas families of various religious backgrounds… want the US Supreme Court to stop the state from posting a Protestant version of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. Families of different faiths and… some who do not practice any faith say they — not politicians — have the right to decide what role religion plays in their lives. not politicians. Sophia Howard, attorney with the ACLU of Texas, said posting the 10 commandments in every classroom violates the separation of church and state. “Public schools are not Sunday schools, and we're hoping that the Supreme court will affirm this.” The request by the families and ACLU of Texas was filed on Monday.”
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INTRO:
A new report finds Louisiana has had the highest rate of decline in film industry jobs since 2024.
Citing numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the report from Giggster says Louisiana's film industry employment declined by more than 32%.
Simonette Berry - with the stage employees union IATSE - says in order to remain competitive in the film arena, Louisiana needs to do what it can to keep pace with the tax credits that other states and countries offer:
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“We need our state program to maintain stability and predictability. That is what productions are looking for. And sometimes they’re planning years in advance.”
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TAG:
The report also found Louisiana had the 4th most industry job losses in the nation.
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INTRO:
Leaders at the Arkansas Department of Human services say they are exploring multiple options to keep the state’s Medicaid expansion program on line.
As Little Rock Public Radio reports, federal officials recently rejected Arkansas’ request to renew the program.
DHS Secretary Janet Mann said the Waiver they submitted did not meet the new rules added under President Trump’s massive tax and spending bill last summer, in which they asked for a 2-year extension before the state’s current waiver expires at the end of the year:
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“I am optimistic that they will grant an extension. I do not feel that people will be going without coverage on January 1.”
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TAG:
Mann added that the department is not considering ending the program which provides health insurance to more than 200,000 Arkansas residents.
If the extension is not approved, Mann said DHS would move AR-Home beneficiaries to a fee-for-service model.
She said the transition would be quick, but likely disruptive.
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INTRO:
For the first time in more than a decade, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association will hold cheer and dance team state championships.
Louisiana Coaches Association Director Jessica Barber says they're excited to be giving cheer and dance teams a chance to compete on a championship stage:
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“I feel like bringing them back under the LHSAA, even though they won’t be considered sanctioned, they’re respectful and the right thing to do.”
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TAG:
The last time the LHSAA organized a cheer and dance championships was 2013.Barber says the 2026 championships will take place November 30th and December 1st at the Lake Charles Event Center.
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FORECAST:
The National Weather Service
in Shreveport is calling for:
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Yet another day under a heat advisory, with sunny, hot and dry conditions and high today near 103and heat index values as high as 109.
Tomorrow: expect the high to stay near 103, before dropping to 101 on Friday and Saturday.. then back up to 102 Sunday and Monday.
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