News for Friday 052314

By Dave Graichen

 

In the past, Governor Bobby  Jindal  was  an active supporter of the Common  Core  Education  curriculum.   But  not  anymore. In a statement sent out by Governor Bobby Jindal, he compares Common Core  to  centralized  planning in Russia.  Jindal says the feds are taking over the new academic  standards  for public schools and adds that education is best left to local control.   BESE  President Chas Roemer  says  Common  Core  is  not a federally run program  and  it provides  freedom to local educators  to  decide  on  how  and  what they'll teach  kids.   He says the  governor's statement is all about presidential politics.

 

Memorial Day weekend is the official kickoff to the summer travel  season and according to AAA between Thursday through Monday a  projected 36 million Americans will be hitting the road. American  Automobile Association spokesperson Don Redman says this is the most  people traveling for the Holiday weekend since the start of the recession.

 

The big Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge kicks off tonight with  mega stars Reba Mcentire and George Strait hitting the stage in Tiger  Stadium.  The massive country music festival also features performances this weekend by Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line and Eric

Church. The Holiday  weekend festival now spans three days and has become a major economic boost for Baton Rouge.

 

Legislation that would allow domestic violence situations be grounds for  an immediate divorce has won final legislative approval.  New Orleans  Senator J.P. Morrell's bill now heads to the Governor's desk.   The bill would waive the waiting period for divorce where a spouse or  child has been abused by the other spouse and when a protective order or  injunction has been issued against the other spouse.  It passed 35 to nothing.

 

NOAA's  Climate  Prediction Center is predicting a 50 percent chance of a below-normal  Atlantic  Hurricane Season this year.  Their 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook  calls for a 70 percent likelihood of   8  to 13 named storms, 3 to 6 hurricanes,  and  1  to  2  major hurricanes.

 

All  eyes  on  the  governor's desk for the signing of the Optometry bill that got final legislative  approval  Wednesday.  The bill that is  widely  opposed by the medical community passed  on  the  Senate Floor 25-12.

 

Legislation  that  would  mandate  the  LHSAA  to  use  third  party arbitration  when  settling player eligibility disputes has passed on the House floor.   The  Senate  bill is inspired by a 19-year-old

Episcopal student from a "hardship" situation who is too old to play football   his  senior  year. The measure narrowly advanced on a 54-38 vote  and has to go back to the Senate for amendment considerations.

 

A bill that would require homeowners’ insurance firms to disclose their annual losses and premiums by ZIP code won final legislative approval Thursday. The House voted 83-0 to go along with Senate changes to the House-passed bill, which was the final legislative step. The bill would require the state Department of Insurance to compile the data and post the totals online.

 

Well the LSU did it again, in game 2 of the SEC tournament . The tigers defeated Arkansas 7 to 2.  The Tigers will have the day off today and return to face the winner of Florida and Ole Miss on Saturday at noon in a single elimination game. An interesting stat: LSU has now outscored its opponents 74-7 over the past six games.