A trio of anti-LGBTQ bills have passed and are headed to the Governor. Will he sign or veto? Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Governor Edwards does not have to worry about vetoing a permitless conceal carry bill like he did in 2021. The legislation that would allow non felon adults to conceal carry without a permit and training is dead for the session after senators threatened to add amendments to the bill that the author, state representative Danny McCormick didn’t want.

Baton Rouge Police have arrested 48-year-old John Hall after he’s seen smoking what appeared to be a marijuana cigar with a five year old on a video posted on social media. Lt. L’Jean McKneely…
cut 13 (13) “….through crimestoppers”
Hall is reportedly the ex-boyfriend of the child’s grandmother.

The Southern Rail Commission and Amtrak will meet with local leaders along the I-20 corridor today and tomorrow to discuss the possibility of passenger rail service through North Louisiana. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross says they have submitted an application of funding to the Federal Railroad Administration…
Cut 10 (10) “…of things.”
Ross says the funding could come from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Local leaders along the I-20 corridor will meet with Amtrak and Southern Rail Commission today and tomorrow to discuss the possibility of passenger rail service through north Louisiana…
Cut 3 (32) “….I’m Teiko Foxx.”

An investigative report by WWL-TV and the Advocate-Times Picayune says, former Congressman and presidential adviser Cedric Richmond was involved in a single vehicle crash in New Orleans on April 23rd with his son in the vehicle. And officers never administered a DWI test even though the police report says he was disoriented and slurring his words. The NOPD only cited 69 drivers for DWI last year.

The Agenda for Children has released a report that shows there are only two parishes in Louisiana, Livingston and Ascension, where the child poverty rate is lower than the national average. And the child poverty rate exceeds 40-percent in six parishes. Director of Data and Research for Agenda for Children, Teresa Falgoust, says over the past decade the state has not improved its child poverty rate…
cut 5 (10) “….to thrive”

Baton Rouge Police have arrested a man seen on cell phone video smoking what appeared to be a marijuana cigar with a five-year-old child. 48-year-old John Hall was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on several charges. Lt. L’Jean McKneely says the child was one of the kids involved in an accidental shooting last month…
cut 14 (12) “….cousin”
The child’s mother was arrested last month on a charge of second-degree cruelty to juveniles and obstruction of justice.

Several anti-LGBTQ bills approved by lawmakers are heading to the governor’s desk. Governor John Bel Edwards has expressed his opposition, so will he get his veto pen out in his last year in office. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan…
cut 7 (12) “….affect him politically”
One of the bills heading to the governor’s desk bans gender affirming care for transgender minors.

Baton Rouge Police say they have arrested 48-year-old John Hall on several charges after they were alerted of cell phone video on social media that shows Hall smoking what appeared to be a marijuana cigar with a five year old. Last month the child’s mother was also arrested and charged with second degree cruelty to juveniles and obstruction of justice. Lt. L’ Jean McKneely says Child Protective Services is involved…
cut 15 (07) “…..look into”
Hall is behind held at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

Louisiana has made significant progress on some measures for children, but many challenges remain. Brooke Thorington has more from the 2023 KIDS COUNT.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Senate has given final approval to a bill that attempts to improve reading scores. The legislation would require third graders to pass a reading test in April in order to be promoted to the fourth grade. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell…
Cut 6 (12) “…be retained.” 
The legislation gives third graders three chances to pass the literacy test. Students diagnosed with dyslexia and kids still learning English could still be promoted to the fourth grade. Gonzales Senator Ed Price voted against the bill as he believes it’s an unfunded mandate…
Cut 7 (07)  “…fund it.” 
Senators still approved the bill on a 28-11 vote. Mississippi has a similar program and they’ve seen an increase in reading scores.

A package of conservative so-called “anti-woke” bills have reached final passage, but will Governor John Bel Edwards sign or veto them? Among them is one that prohibits classroom discussion of one’s gender or sexuality in schools. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says it will be interesting to see what Edwards does…:

Cut 27  (12) “…affect him politically.”

Legislation seeking to allow non-felon adults to conceal carry without a permit is dead this session. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick decided to pull it from consideration, because of amendments senators were proposing to put on the bill…

Cut 15 (12) “…defer it”
Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau wanted to add an amendment to make sure training would still be required to conceal carry.

Just hours after releasing a photo of suspects in the Sunday evening fire set inside the Covington Wal-Mart store, two teens are under arrest. Ashley Rodrigue, with the state Fire Marshal, says citizens ID’ed the boys – ages 15 and 17 – pretty quickly. She says parents need to tell their teens fire is NEVER a toy…:

CUT 11(08)      “…out of trouble.”

The store will be closed for weeks while fire damage is repaired.

The bill to let citizens carry a concealed gun without a permit has been stopped for this year. Already passed by the House, the problems arose when Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau sought to amend mandatory training into the bill. He says he’s been told of gun buyers who don’t know how to LOAD the weapon…:

CUT 16(08)      “…what else does.”

The bill’s author chose to voluntarily defer his own bill; killing it.

Restore Louisiana announces homeowners affected by Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Ida and the May 2021 severe storms have until August 1st to complete a survey in order to receive rebuilding grant money. Teiko Foxx has more…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Foxx.”

Game time for the LSU baseball team’s first game in the super regionals is 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon. The fifth-seeded Tigers will play Kentucky in the best-of-three in the super-regional series in Baton Rouge. LSU beat Oregon State 13 to 7 at the Box Monday.

At the Capitol, the Senate gives final approval to a bill aimed at raising literacy by requiring 3^rd graders to pass a reading exam in order to move up to 4^th grade. Senator Beth Mizell of Franklinton spoke for the House bill. She says passing it will lead to better outcomes for kids later in life…:

CUT 08  (09)        “…we see.”

That bill will go to the Governor for his signature.

The federal environmental protection agency grants nearly a half-million buck to the Louisiana Department of Environmental quality to set up air monitoring in St. James Parish. Congressman Troy Carter says much needs to be done to assure the air is safe…:

CUT 05  (09)        “…punish them.”

The grant is part of the Biden Administration’s Investing in America agenda.

The so-called Constitutional Carry bill, which would have allowed citizens over 21 with no criminal record to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, is dead for this year. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick decided to pull his bill – already passed in the House – from consideration, because of amendments senators were sought to tack on the bill…:

CUT 15(12)      “…defer it.”

Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau wanted to add an amendment to make sure training would still be required to conceal carry. McCormick says that defeats much of the purpose of his bill.

Baton Rouge Police arrest a man after video circulates online showing him giving a marijuana cigarette to a toddler. The then-5-year-old takes the joint and smokes it. 48-year-old John Hall’s face is seen in the video, so cops had little trouble rounding him up. He is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. A concerned citizen tipped police off to the video a couple weeks ago.

At the State Capitol, lawmakers give final passage to a bill that would require third graders to pass a reading test to advance to the fourth grade. Jeff Palermo reports…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Palermo.”

Longtime Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says he will run for another term in office, and he now has an announced challenger. That is former Shreveport Police Chief and former State Police superintendent Henry Whitehorn. Prator has been sheriff in Caddo since 2000.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office says two teen boys have been arrested for allegedly starting a fire inside a Covington Wal-Mart store Sunday that did tens of thousands in damage. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the 15-year-old and 17-year-old caused the store to have to be closed for quite some time for repairs…:

CUT 10(10)      “…frequently.”

The boys are in juvenile detention on numerous charges.

The state Office of Community Development has set an August 1 deadline for homeowners hit hard by Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Ida – and the May 2021 severe storms – to complete the initial survey needed to get Restore Louisiana Program relief funds. OCD director Pat Forbes says thousands of homeowners statewide still have not completed the survey…:

CUT 12(13)      “…be elgible.”

Go online to “restore.la.gov.”

Two juveniles have been arrested in connection with the Sunday evening fire at the Covington Walmart. State Fire Marshal Office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says it was the Northshore community that responded quickly after a photo of the suspects was released.

Cut 9 (12) “…from Covington.”

Charges include Aggravated Arson and Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Arson.

Conceal carry legislation is dead for the legislative session. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau wanted to add an amendment for training as a requirement to conceal carry. Luneau says at a gun store in his district, he saw a young man interested in purchasing a handgun, but told the gun shop owner he didn’t know how to load it…

Cut  16 (08)  “…else does”

Oil City Representative Danny McCormick decided to pull his bill from consideration, because of proposed amendments.

Restore Louisiana announces an August 1^st survey deadline for homeowners affected by Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Ida and the May 2021 severe storms.

Cut 2 (33)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx ”  

Game time for the LSU baseball team’s first game in the super regionals is 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon. The fifth-seeded Tigers will play Kentucky in the best-of-three in the super-regional series in Baton Rouge. LSU beat Oregon State 13 to 7 at the Box Monday.

The Senate has given final legislative approval to a bill that attempts to improve reading scores. The legislation would require third graders to pass a reading test in April in order to to be promoted to the fourth grade. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell…
cut 6 (12) “…be retained”
The legislation gives third graders three chances to pass the literacy test. Students diagnosed with dyslexia and kids still learning English could still be promoted to the fourth grade. Gonzales Senator Ed Price voted against the bill as he believes it’s an unfunded mandate…
cut 7 (07) “….fund it”
Senators still approved the bill on a 28-11 vote. Mississippi has a similar program and they’ve seen an increase in reading scores.

Legislation seeking to allow non-felon adults to conceal carry a firearm without a permit is dead for the legislative session. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick decided to pull it from consideration, because of amendments senators were proposing to put on the bill…
cut 15 (12) “….defer it”
That was McCormick speaking before Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau wanted to add an amendment to make sure training would still be required to conceal carry.

The EPA is providing nearly 500-thousand dollars in grant money that will be used to operate an air monitoring site in St. James Parish’s cancer alley. Congressman Troy Carter says they want to make sure the community is safe….
cut 4 (10) “…is safe”
Equipment at the site will produce near-real-time data on certain pollutants affecting air quality.

Legislation to ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth is close to final passage despite efforts by Democrats to stop the bill from heading to the governor’s desk. A Louisiana Department of Health report showed only a few dozen Medicaid-enrolled minors received gender-affirming care between 2017 to 2021. And Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says there have been no surgeries…

Cut 11 (08)  “…heard of it.”
But Republicans say it is happening and this legislation is needed to protect kids from having life-altering procedures that they may regret later in life.

A constitutional amendment that supporters say would make it clear slavery is prohibited did not receive enough votes to pass. Gonzales Senator Eddie Lambert argued the constitution is already clear that slavery is illegal…

Cut 15 (09)  “…than this”
A bill heading to the governor’s desk would result in life in prison for anyone convicted of possessing more than 250 grams of fentanyl. It’s an attempt to slow down the number of fentanyl overdoses, but LSU criminal law professor Doctor Ken Levy is skeptical…

Cut 9 (08)  “…are suffering.”
Levy says poverty and mental health issues are the root causes behind drug use.

EPA announces a $480,000 grant to DEQ to establish an air monitoring site in St. James Parish. Congressman Troy Carter says the people of St. James Parish are impacted by air pollution.

Cut 3 (13) “…and community.”

LDEQ received $450,000 to establish a temporary community air monitoring site targeted toward communities on the west side of the Mississippi River.