Governor John Bel Edwards has expanded the criteria for the Restore Louisiana Program where thousands of additional households could be eligible for disaster assistance. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

If you needed to go to the Office of Motor Vehicles, you’re out of luck. There’s a statewide network outage that’s impacting all of the field offices today. when things will be restored is not known at this time. You can visit expresslane.org for an update.

The Louisiana House passes a bill to lower the threshold of signatures required in order to trigger a recall election. Bill sponsor and Covington Representative Paul Hollis says other states have passed similar legislation so citizens can feel they have more control when they grow dissatisfied with elected leaders…:

Cut 12 (06)    “…on board this year.” 

The bill advances to a Senate committee.

It seems like alligator sightings at the beach are becoming the norm, but LDWF Alligator Program Manager Jeb Linscombe says it’s mating season and so they tend to roam. Just be aware of your surroundings and if you do encounter one, make sure you, children, the elderly, and pets are taken out of harm’s way.

Cut 6 (06)  “…the animal.”

He says never feed one because then they will think it’s ok to approach you and that they are more afraid of you than you are of them.

This is the time of year when you see lots of movement among alligators, and Recent sightings have many wondering if they’ll be sharing their vacation with a reptile. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Alligator Program Manager Jeb Linscombe says that the air temperature is higher than the water is one reason you’ll see them on land, to warm up because they are cold-blooded animals.

Cut 5 (11)   “…time of the year.”

If it’s an urban area where you encounter a gator, Linscombe says contact wildlife agents so they can remove the reptile.

The National Institute of Health has selected LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center as a research site for one of the largest research efforts to find out why diets work for some and not for others. Associate Executive Director for Clinical Science Dr. Eric Ravussin says the results may help to offer personalized guidance to improve overall health.

Cut 9 (12)  “…you live.”

The study will last approximately 2 weeks and participants will be compensated $300. Learn more about enrolling at www.joinallofus.org.

Legislation that would lower the threshold of signatures required in order to recall an elected official was passed by the Louisiana House. Covington Representative Paul Hollis – the bill’s author – says, under current law it is very difficult to recall an elected official….:

Cut 11 (08)  “…smaller districts.”

Hollis’s bill heading to the Senate would require signatures from 50 percent of the number of people who voted in the election for that office. By a vote of 71-to-29, the bill clears the House and will move to the Senate.

Governor John Bel Edwards announced the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program is expanding the criteria for homeowners that sustained damage from disasters in 2020 and 2021 to qualify for assistance. Executive Director for the LA Office of Community Development Pat Forbes says HUD has allocated funding and monies are available.

Cut 14 (13)  “…is eligible.”

To complete a brief survey visit restore.la.gov or call 866-735-2001.

A bill to lower the number of voter signatures needed to recall a public official wins passage in the House. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

There is video of Congressman Clay Higgins physically removing an activist from a press conference after asking Congresswoman Lauren Boebert about her divorce. Higgins then grabbed the man and escorted him away…
cut 29 (10) “…
Higgins says he had to escort the activist away because it was a disturbance by a mental person.

The state says there are about 60-thousand homeowners who are eligible for financial assistance through the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program that have yet to apply for assistance. Restore Louisiana provides grant dollars to repair homes damaged during the 2020-21 hurricane season…
cut 15 (12) “….hurricane damage”
That’s Pat Forbes with the Office of Community Development. For more information go to restore-dot-la-dot-gov.

There are viral photos and videos’ of alligators sunning on the beaches in Mississippi and Alabama. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Alligator Program Manager Jeb Linscombe says gators are just like every other species of wild animals…
Cut 4 (12) “…like a beach.”
But he says they do eventually return to their usual habitat. Alligators nest in freshwater.

The House Criminal Justice Committee sends a bill to the House floor that would allow adults over 18 without a criminal background to conceal carry a firearm without a permit.
Cut 29 (30) “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

The Louisiana House has approved legislation that would require public schools to provide free menstrual products to students in public schools. Funding for the program would come from the state’s general fund. A similar bill failed to receive approval from the Senate last year.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center has been selected as a site by the National Institute of Health for the largest research effort to eliminate the one size fits all diet. Associate Executive Director for Clinical Science Dr. Eric Razussin says the goal is to personalize diets that address health disparities.
Cut 7 (11) “…fits all.”
LSU Health Sciences New Orleans is also participating.

The damage threshold has been lowered for those eligible for financial assistance from the 2020 -21 hurricanes. Executive Director of the Louisiana Office of Community Development Pat Forbes says the FEMA-determined damage threshold has been lowered from five thousand dollars to three-thousand dollars. He says that means more households can receive grant dollars from the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program….
cut 13 (11) “…eligible”
If you suffered damage during the 2020-21 hurricanes go to restore-dot-la-dot-gov.

The Louisiana House has passed a bill that would lower the threshold of signatures required in order to trigger a recall election. Bill sponsor and Covington Representative Paul Hollis took questions from Baton Rouge Rep. Denise Marcelle about the numbers of registered voters that would be required to sign a recall petition, based on city, parish, or district population…:
Cut 10 (09) “…25 and 20.”
Hollis’s bill heading to the Senate would require signatures from 50 percent of the number of people who voted in the election for that office.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is participating in a national study that’s trying to determine why some diets work for some and do not work for others. Associate Executive Director for Clinical Science Doctor Eric Razussin says they will look at a range of factors, including genes and lifestyle…
cut 8 (11) “….such diets”

After all the recent sightings, Brooke Thorington talks to a wildlife expert to find out if an alligator might crash your next beach trip.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The House Governmental Affairs Committee rejected a proposal that would set up a process for citizens to be able to put an issue on the ballot for a statewide vote. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey voted against it over concerns of putting an issue before voters that is not vetted by state lawmakers.

Cut 14 (12)  “…certain decision.”

New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry authored the legislation. She believes her ballot initiative process would give voters an opportunity to put important issues up for a referendum vote.

Cut 15 (06) “…on the ballot”

Defeated by the committee, that bill is seemingly done for this year.

The Republican-controlled House approved a bill that would prohibit doctors from performing gender transition procedures on minors. Pollock Representative Gabe Firment says several surrounding states have passed similar bans and several European countries also restrict gender-affirming care for minors…

Cut 3 (12) “…surgeries”

But the American Academy of Pediatrics supports gender-affirming healthcare.

A bill aimed at giving women who are imprisoned for murdering their alleged abuser a chance to be released was heavily amended in the Senate. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow opposed the amendment to her bill that removed the retroactive relief for those serving prison terms…

Cut 13 (09) “…this point.” 

The bill, once amended, passed unopposed and heads to the House.

At the Capitol, the House approves legislation to ban gender reassignment procedures for minors…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

Shreveport Police seek your help finding a runaway teen; 17-year-old Madalyn Reiland who was last seen May 12^th at her home. She is Caucasian, 5’ 3”, 180 pounds, with long brown hair. If you think you’ve seen her call SPD at 318-673-73-hundred.

Also at the Capitol, a bill aimed at giving women who are imprisoned for murdering their alleged abuser a chance to be released passes the full Senate. Baton Rouge senator Franklin Foil offered an amendment to clear up some tricky language concerning retroaction. He says a prisoner COULD say they were abused as a child…:

CUT 12(08)      “…overturned.”

As amended the bill passed and moves now to the House.

A House committee moves forward a bill setting up a process by which CITIZENS could get an initiative on a ballot, despite concerns from Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey…who worries about making laws without elected officials input…:

CUT 16(11)      “…should maintain.”

Lawmakers must wrap up their business this year by June 8^th.

The House Governmental Affairs Committee rejected a proposal that would set up process for citizens to be able to put an issue on the ballot for a statewide vote. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey voted against it over concerns of putting an issue before voters that is not vetted by state lawmakers…:

CUT 14(12)      “…certain decision.”

New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry authored the legislation. She believes her ballot initiative process would give voters an opportunity to put important issues up for a referendum vote…:

CUT 15(06)      “…on the ballot.”

Defeated by the committee, that bill is seemingly done for this year.

New Orleans Police are struggling with an explosion of car thefts and carjackings; nearly 3000 so far this year. That’s nearly 1 every hour. The thefts are driving up auto insurance rates for everyone, and often the perpetrators are never caught.

The House Criminal Justice Committee sends a bill to the House floor that would allow adults over 18 without a criminal background to conceal carry a firearm without a permit or training…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Teiko Foxx.”

The New Orleans Saints have finalized their pre-season schedule. It features just three games; Kansas City in the Dome on August 13^th, IN L.A. against the Chargers on August 290^th and wrapping up with Houston in the Caesar’s Superdome on August 27^th.

The so-called “Constitutional Carry” bill wins approval in the House Criminal Justice Committee. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s bill would allow anyone over 18 with a clean criminal record to conceal a weapon without getting a permit or the training required to have one. 25 other states have similar laws, and McCormick says he has no issue with weapons training, but what kind of training is the question…:

CUT 10  (10)        “…to carry.”

Opponents say it will lead to more gun violence. A similar bill reached the Governor’s desk in 2021, and he vetoed it.

A bill that would assure churches are never forced to close due to a health emergency – as they were ordered to during the pandemic – has cleared a Senate committee and will be debated soon on the Senate floor. An East Baton Rouge pastor was jailed for having services, and later released and exonerated. If approved it will appear on a fall ballot as a Constitutional Amendment.

The House approves a bill to prohibit doctors from performing gender reassignment surgeries on minors. Opposing the bill, New Orleans Democrat Rep. Mandie Landry says the procedures can be life-saving for persons with gender dysphoria…:

CUT 04  (06)        “…you know that?”

Bill sponsor and Pollock Republican Gabe Firment counters they can also lead to premature sterility and loss of sexual function…:

CUT 05  (07)        “…experimental procedures.”

The bill passes by a 71-24 vote and heads over to the Senate for committee review.

The New Iberia Arby’s employee found dead last Thursday in a walk-in freezer has been identified as 63-year-old Nguyet Le of Texas. No other information was provided by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. Police do not suspect foul play in her death.

The Louisiana House approves legislation to ban gender affirming medical care for minors. Jeff Palermo has the story…
cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo

The Arby’s employee found dead last Thursday in a walk-in freezer has been identified, 63-year-old Nguyet Le of Texas. No other information was provided by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. Police said that foul play is not suspected in his death.

A bill aimed at giving women who are imprisoned for murdering their alleged abuser a chance to be released was heavily amended in the Senate. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the bill provides a justification defense for victims who end up killing their abuser, either through domestic violence, sexual abuse, or trafficking.
Cut 11 (12) “…to a judge.”
The amended bill removes the possibility of retroactive relief for those who are serving a prison sentence.

The House Criminal Justice Committee approved legislation that would allow those 18 and older to conceal carry without the need of a permit. The Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police and the Louisiana Municipal Association spoke against it. Karen White with the L-M-A says the legislation could lead to increased violence…
cut 9 (13) “…..nine percent”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.