Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the opening of the state legislative session.
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Fiscal Cliff, Gun Violence in Schools, Sexual Harassment in State Government, Admissions Exceptions, Blanco Public Policy Center
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Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser provides an update on state tourism initiatives.
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Smarter and Safer: Offender Intervention in Louisiana
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Common Sense Isn't Common Anymore - Understanding the Learned Behaviors of Differing Socio-Economic Classes
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Kim Hunter Reed, Ph.D. is Louisiana’s Commissioner of Higher Education. Her appointment in April of 2018 made Reed the only female in the country currently serving as a state higher education lead who has led higher ed in more than one state. She presented the "Master Plan for Higher Ed."
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Lack of Civility in Today's Politics | Henson Moore | 04/24/19 | Newsmakers
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Data, Dashboards and Determination; A Perspective on Inner City Baton Rouge
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Racheal Hebert, LCSW is the founder, president & chief operating officer of Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response, or STAR, a non-profit organization that provides support to survivors of sexual trauma, improves systems response and creates social change to end sexual violence. Since 2012, Racheal has served as the CEO of STAR, where she grew the organization from a small operation with two employees in Baton Rouge to a multi-branch agency with 39 full and part time staff. STAR currently has offices in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and New Roads.
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Past Baton Rouge Rotary Club President Albert Fraenkel comes back to the Baton Rouge Rotary Club to share “Every Important Thing I Have Learned in 91 Years in 15 Minutes”
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Brandon Landry, CEO of Walk-On’s Bar & Bistreaux, got his start on the hardwood floors of LSU’s Pete Maravich Assembly Center where he was a walk-on for the LSU Tigers’ basketball team. As Brandon traveled with the team he noticed the lack of good family-friendly sports bars across the nation. That realization sparked a vision, which led Brandon to open the first Walk-On’s in Baton Rouge, at the South Gates of LSU, in 2003.
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Stephen Street, Louisiana's Inspector General since January of 2008, speaks on "Fighting Corruption -- Successes and Challenges."
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Christopher J. Tyson is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority where he leads Baton Rouge’s land development and blight elimination efforts. He is currently on leave from his position as the Newman Trowbridge Distinguished Professor of Law at the LSU Law Center. As a noted local government law scholar, Chris has published numerous articles, book chapters and editorials, including an internationally syndicated New York Times op-ed on the Alton Sterling shooting. He has previously worked at Accenture, Jones Walker and in the Washington, DC Office of Senator Mary Landrieu. Chris earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree with honors from Howard University, his Master of Public Policy degree from the Harvard Kennedy School, and his Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.
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Dr. Christopher Zambakari is a South Sudanese-American, who immigrated to the United States in 2001 as a refugee from South Sudan.
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Senator Dan Claitor spoke to the Baton Rouge Rotary Club on Criminal Justice Reinvestment.
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Food personality, radio host, teacher and author, Poppy Tooker is passionate about food and the people who bring it to the table. Poppy brings all of these elements together in her weekly NPR affiliated radio show, ***Louisiana Eats!
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Matt Saurage, fourth-generation owner of Community Coffee Company, currently serves as the Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors. Matt has been involved with the family business since 1995 in a variety of roles including; coffee selection and roasting, brand marketing, coffeehouse operations, and new product development.
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Sharon Weston Broome is a firm believer in achieving unity and equality through her dedication to public service. During her time in office, Broome has placed a heavy focus on improving the quality of life within the citizenry. Her areas of focus are specifically in developing areas such as infrastructure, public safety, economic growth, and education, among many other areas. Before becoming the first female to hold the position of Mayor-President of the City of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish, Broome served as a Baton Rouge Metro City Council Member, a Louisiana State Representative, and a Louisiana State Senator.
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East Baton Rouge Councilwoman Tara Wicker will be today’s speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge. She will discuss a proposed ordinance on short-term property rentals across the parish. The discussion started with Spanish Town and now is expected to include the entire city-parish.
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Jim Henderson, president of the University of Louisiana System, spoke at Press Club of Baton Rouge addressing the state of higher education and efforts to boost graduation rates in Louisiana, where fewer than one in four adults has a college degree.
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Pollster and data analyst John Couvillon spoke at today’s Press Club of Baton Rouge luncheon meeting. His topic is the 2019 Louisiana election and how candidates can use data to help them win.
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Brace B. "Trey" Godfrey III, executive director of the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, will speak at the Press Club of Baton Rouge today about the group’s programs and services and how they are making an impact on the success of black men and boys and the community at large.
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Louisiana State Treasurer John Schroder speaks about the state’s finances and legislation to protect “unclaimed property."
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Dr. Alexander Billioux, assistant secretary for Louisiana’s Office of Public Health, speaks about vaccines and immunizations and explain how the Department of Health is working to prevent outbreaks of measles and other preventable diseases in Louisiana.
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State Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish, chair of the Senate Education Committee, speaks on legislative bills pertaining to education filed this session.
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Edgar Cage and the Rev. Lee Wesley, both representing Together Louisiana/Together Baton Rouge, will be the guest speakers at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, April 22. Cage is a community activist, and Wesley is pastor at the Community Bible Baptist Church. Their topic is “keep it local.”
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Erich Ponti, president of the Louisiana Coalition to Fix Our Roads, will be the speaker at today’s Press Club to push his organization’s plan for incremental 6-cent increases in gasoline taxes to fund road improvements. A former legislator, he is also executive director of the Louisiana Asphalt Pavement Association.
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State Senator Eddie Lambert of Prairieville spoke to the Press Club. As vice chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, he discussed the state’s master plan for flood control and coastal restoration. Because of the historic flooding along the Mississippi River, Sen. Lambert is working with state officials to review options to lessen the growing danger and repeat occurrences of high water in Louisiana.
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Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn Wilson will speak to the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, March 18. He will discuss statewide infrastructure and ongoing projects. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. Parking is free in the garage off Mayflower Street. Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.
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Barry Erwin, President and CEO of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL), was guest speaker at the Press Club. He discussed the 2019 state elections and a first-time collaboration between CABL, the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) and the Committee of 100 to develop and promote a shared agenda for use by those running for office. They will also establish a vision for the future in critical issue areas, along with a resource center for candidates.
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Daniel Erspamer, Chief Executive Officer of the Pelican Institute, was guest speaker at the Press Club. He discussed how the New Orleans-based think tank is preparing for the 2019 Legislative Session and reviewed the impact of criminal justice reform, which passed with the assistance of his group. He addressed such issues as the budget, criminal reform, complicated tax issues, and certification of many jobs that are not certified in other states.
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John White, superintendent of the Louisiana Department of Education, was guest speaker at the Press. He discussed the upcoming legislative session.
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Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education, Kim Hunter Reed, was guest speaker at the Press Club. She provided an update on her first seven months on the job and describe ongoing efforts to update the Master Plan for Higher Education in the state, which outlines minimum admissions requirements for students and serves as a visionary document for colleges and universities across Louisiana.
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He will discuss the key issues his organization wants addressed in the upcoming Louisiana Legislative session.
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Stephen Waguespack, president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), spoke about the Industrial Tax Exemption Program, known as ITEP.
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Adam Knapp, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, spoke to the Press Club about “Thinking Bigger in 2019." A new Mississippi River Bridge and improving community relations are this year’s major priorities for the Chamber. He also addressed the pending layoffs by Georgia-Pacific, BASF and Thompson Pipe Group, suggesting that people should regard the situation as a regional problem.
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This week, Adam Knapp, CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber spoke to the Baton Rouge Press Club.
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Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser addressed the Press Club. He spoke about the many efforts that the Louisiana Office of Recreation and Tourism have worked on to bring more visitors to our state.
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Gov. John Bel Edwards addressed the Press Club. He discussed highlights from 2018 and what to expect in 2019 as he enters his last year of his term and a heated battle for re-election. He discussed his goals of teacher and school support pay, increasing the minimum wage, equal pay for equal work, and protection of the current healthcare system.
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Teacher pay raises. A boost to the minimum wage. Legalizing sports betting. Advancing or abolishing Louisiana’s death penalty? These were some of the major issues considered over the course of the legislature’s 2019 Regular Session that began in April. For the first four months of the year, Louisiana Public Square thoroughly examined these topics through thoughtful conversation among stakeholders on both sides. This month, Louisiana Public Square takes a look back at the issues that made headlines and how each fared at the state capitol.
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Many scientists argue we are nearing a tipping point to save the coast, which demands “connecting the dots,” significant investment and a change in priorities. Louisiana Public Square, in partnership with public radio station WWNO, brings together coastal stakeholders, NGOs, researchers and industry leaders to explore strategies that reduce coastal land loss and protect lives. This program is made possible in part through funding from WNET and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
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Louisiana Public Square brings together proponents and opponents of capital punishment to explore the debate.
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Last May, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a law prohibiting sports betting in all states but Nevada. Efforts in the legislature to allow sports gaming in Louisiana failed in 2018. This session will see a renewed push by lawmakers to allow sports betting with some supporting dedicating proceeds to early childhood education. What are the pros and cons of legalizing sports gaming? How would it be implemented in Louisiana? How much revenue could state government hope to see? And what are the challenges of dedicating another revenue stream? Louisiana Public Square looks for answers to these questions and more on “What are the Odds? Sports Betting in Louisiana” airing Wednesday, March 27 at 7pm on LPB and in New Orleans on WLAE.
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Louisiana has the third highest poverty rate in the country. This year Governor John Bel Edwards will attempt once again to raise the minimum wage for Louisiana workers. His goal is $8.50 an hour phased in over two years. But is raising the minimum wage the answer to helping Louisiana residents get out of poverty? Or does the solution involve something more? Large numbers of high wage jobs go unfilled because employers can’t find qualified applicants. Nearly 55% of Louisiana adults lack a college degree or postsecondary credential. What is the state doing to train and further educate its citizens to obtain the skills to get a well-paying job? What programs are working and what challenges remain? Louisiana Public Square looks for answers on “Beyond the Minimum Wage” Wednesday, February 27 at 7 p.m. on LPB HD.
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Louisiana public school teachers returning to the classroom in January, may see a pay increase on the horizon. Governor John Bel Edwards says his top priority for the 2019 legislative session is funding a teacher pay raise. Educators in the South earn an average of $50,955 annually, In Louisiana, the average is $49,745. But, some teacher advocates already are complaining that the Governor’s proposed $1,000 bump in pay is too low. So, what is an adequate raise? How will a salary increase and teacher retirement costs be funded? Should support staff be included in the mix? And what can local communities expect in exchange for higher teacher pay? Louisiana Public Square looks for answers to these questions and more on “The Value of Teachers” Wednesday, January 23 at 7pm on LPB and in New Orleans on WLAE. (Program recording Wednesday, January 16.) The panelists are: - Sen. Conrad Appel, R-Metairie; Senate Education Committee - Michael Faulk, Louisiana Association of School Superintendents - Debbie Meaux, Louisiana Association of Educators - Donald Songy, Senior Policy Advisor to Governor John Bel Edwards Beth Courtney, LPB CEO, and Barry Erwin, president of the Council for A Better Louisiana, will host.
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