Finding qualified employees surpasses inflation as the top concern among small businesses.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Emotional testimony at the state capitol over a bill to add exceptions for rape and incest to the state’s abortion ban. Bill author, New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd…
cut 28 (05) “…with that”
Pro life advocate Woody Jenkins…
cut 29 (03) “…conception”
The bill to make changes to the state’s abortion ban failed.

There was not a dry eye during a legislative hearing as Amy Savoie told the story of her six-year-old daughter who was killed when she was struck by a truck in the parking lot of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Slidell last year…
cut 30 (10) “…be protected”
The House Education Committee sent a bill to the House floor that requires elementary schools to establish carpool and bus line safety policies.

House Education also approved a bill that requires daily recess of at least 15 minutes for public school students between kindergarten and fifth grade. Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says it’s good for a child’s physical and mental health…
cut 11 (11) “…classroom”
Amedee says some schools dropped recess because of the demand on achieving a certain number of hours of instructional time.

Louisiana will continue to have one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation as the House Criminal Justice Committee voted ten to five against a bill to add exceptions for rape and incest. A bill to lessen penalties against doctors who perform abortions and require only one doctor’s opinion instead of two in order to get an abortion because of a futile pregnancy also did not pass.

State Police release body cam video of a fatal Shreveport officer-involved shooting last month. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Labor quality surpassed inflation as the top concern in the latest Small Business Optimism Survey. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says 24 percent of ‘Mom and Pops’ say filling job openings with qualified workers is their top concern followed by inflation at 23 percent.
Cut 13 (08) “…that’s down.”
McVea says finding qualified applicants has been an issue since the pandemic and a good number of small businesses have or plan to increase wages to rectify the problem.

Legislation that would require schools to establish safety policies for carpool and bus lines for K-5th graders was approved by House Education. Slidell Representative Robert Owen authored the bill in response to last year’s death of six-year-old Emma Bell Savoie who was fatally struck by a truck in the parking lot at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Slidell.
Cut 7 (10) “…too many.”
Under Owen’s bill, students must stay behind a barrier before entering the pick-up area and students under the age of 10 must be accompanied by a school employee while walking to and from a vehicle.

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L.R. 5:30 (17) 8:30 (20)

Legislation to add exceptions for rape and incest to the state’s abortion ban failed in the House Criminal Justice Committee this morning. Katie Hunter Lowery with Louisiana Survivors for Reform testified about her own rape that she’s still processing. If she had become pregnant as a result, she said at least then she had the choice.

Cut 11 (14)  “…through violence.”

Lafayette OB/GYN Dr. Damon (cut-ah-hee) Cudihy spoke in opposition to the bill. He said it’s the rapist who should be subjected to the death penalty, not the unborn child, and that abortion doesn’t remove the trauma of rape.

Cut 12 (10) “…an abortion.” 

The state’s abortion bill remains unchanged.

A bill to prohibit the instruction or discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools passed in the House after an hour-long debate. Critics refer to the legislation as the “Don’t Say, Gay Bill.” Former teacher and New Orleans Representative Candace Newell spoke in opposition to the bill. She says merely prohibiting the discussion tells trans and gay students they don’t matter.

Cut 15 (10)  “…against them.”

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo supported the bill and says teachers should only be teaching the basics, reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Cut  16 (12)  “…the students.” 

The bill passed in the House 67 to 28 and advances to the upper chamber.

A bill to add the exceptions of rape and incest to the state’s abortion ban failed in the House Criminal Justice Committee this morning. Bill author New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd told committee members her own mother was raped for years by someone almost twice her age and pregnant at 15…:

CUT 09(10)      “…by a predator.”

Debbie Melvin, of Thibodeaux, spoke in opposition to the bill. She said the act of abortion is yet another trauma rape victims would endure…:

CUT 10(09)      “…to her.”

After lengthy discussion, the committee voted 10-to-5 to halt the bill’s progress; meaning it is likely dead for the remains of the session.

A bill requiring a person found guilty in fatal DUI cases to pay restitution to the surviving children of the victims until they reach 18 was approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee.  Supporting the bill was Shelby Strong, whose husband was killed by an impaired driver. She says there needs to be something in place to compensate families…:

CUT 08(11)      “…and myself.”

That bill proceeds to the House floor.

Gunned down while getting chicken. New Orleans Police say a man was shot while in his car in the parking lot of a Church’s Fried Chicken on St. Claude Avenue; a well-traveled part of town. The yet-un-named victim was taken to a hospital where he died. NOPD is seeking leads in the case.

State Police are investigating a non-fatal officer-involved shooting early this morning in Bunkie. Details are sketchy as yet, but troopers ask that anyone who may have seen what happened or even recorded it contact them right away.

One of the nation’s strictest abortion ban remains in place. Brooke Thorington has more on the attempt to add exceptions in Louisiana…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Thorington.”

A Baton Rouge high school sports coach is under an arrest warrant; accused of sexually assaulting a student in a locker room. 41-year-old Johnnie Butler is also a reserve EBR sheriff’s deputy. He’s been forced from that job and has been on leave from the school ever since the alleged rape was reported. As of airtime, Butler had not been arrested.

A bill requiring a person found guilty in fatal DUI cases to pay restitution to the surviving children of the victim until they reach 18 passed out of the House Criminal Justice Committee. Speaking against the measure was Sarah Whittington of the Justice and Accountability Center of LA, who says this is a judicial matter; not a legislative matter…:

CUT 07(13)      “…would allow.”

The bill moves to the full House for debate.

Already approved by the House, a bill that would let you include your beloved pet’s cremated remains within your own casket moves out of a Senate committee. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey questions bill sponsor and Minden Rep. Wayne McMahen about the need for the bill…:

CUT 14(04)      “…really.”

The bill does not allow for a pet’s actual physical remains; only ashes. It goes now to the Senate floor for what may be final passage.

Legislation that would require a drunk driver convicted of killing a parent to pay restitution to the victim’s child until they reach 18 was approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee today…:

CUT 01  (32)        “…Teiko Foxx.”

State Police are investigating a non-fatal officer-involved shooting early this morning in Bunkie. Details are sketchy as yet, but we do know it happened at around 2 am, and that the suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment. Troopers ask that anyone who may have seen what happened or even recorded it contact them right away.

Legislation banning the use of the social media app TikTok on any state-owned devices and state-owned or leased WIFI networks advances to the House floor. Marksville Representative Daryl Deshotel brings the bill, and says it’s a major security concern and should not be allowed on any phone or computer device at taxpayer expense…:

CUT 05(07)      “…funny video.”

The bill would also apply to state universities and colleges. If it passes, Louisiana will be the 34th state to ban TikTok.

Legislation to allow the cremated remains of a pet to be buried with a deceased person continues to make its way through the legislative process. The Senate Commerce Committee approved Minden Representative Wayne McMahen’s bill today…:

CUT 13(11)      “…buried together.”

Already passed by the House, the bill now heads to the Senate floor for what could be final passage.

Legislation to add exceptions for rape and incest to the state’s abortion ban failed in the House Criminal Justice Committee this morning. Katie Hunter Lowery with Louisiana Survivors for Reform testified about her own rape that she’s still processing. If she had become pregnant as a result, she said at least then she had the choice.

Cut 11 (14)  “…through violence.”

Lafayette OB/GYN Dr. Damon (cut-ah-hee) Cudihy spoke in opposition to the bill. He said it’s the rapist who should be subjected to the death penalty, not the unborn child, and that abortion doesn’t remove the trauma of rape.

Cut 12 (10) “…an abortion.” 

House Bill 346 failed to make it out of committee on a ten to five vote.

A bill requiring a person found guilty in a fatal DUI case to pay restitution to the surviving children of the victims until they reach 18 was approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee. Supporting the bill named in memory of her late husband, Shelby Strong says losing her husband Cody has affected her children

Cut 6 (10)  “…and drive.” 

House Bill 91 advances to the House floor for debate.

And legislation to ban the use of the social media app Tik Tok on any state-owned devices and state networks will advance to the House floor. Marksville Representative Daryl Deshotel says experts have found governmental information can be accessed through the app.

Cut 4 (10)  “…said yes.” 

The bill also would apply to state colleges and universities if the bill is enacted.

A bill to add the exceptions of rape and incest to the state’s abortion ban failed in House Criminal Justice Committee. Before a crowded room, Bill author New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd told committee members her own mother was raped for years by someone almost twice her age and pregnant at 15.

Cut 9 (10) “….predator.”

There was emotional testimony for and against adding exceptions to the state’s abortion ban.

Debbie Melvin spoke in opposition to the bill. She says the act of abortion is yet another trauma rape victims would endure if they choose to end the pregnancy.

Cut 10 (09) “…to her.” 

House Bill 346 bill failed to make it out of committee on a ten to five vote.

A bill that would have barred ANYONE under 21 from entering a bar moves forward but with significant changes. Kevin Gallagher has more…

Cut 1 (34)  “I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Legislation banning the use of the social media app Tik Tok on any state-owned devices and state-owned or leased WIFI networks has advanced to the House floor. Marksville Representative Daryl Deshotel says the app presents real security concerns.

Cut 3 (06) “….national intelligence.”

33 other states have already banned use on government-issued devices.

House Ways and Means approves legislation to increase taxes on vape products and electronic cigarettes, and the first $22 million of the increase will fund state trooper pay raises. The tax would increase from point-zero-5 per milliliter to 15-percent. State Police Superintendent Lamar Davis…

Cut 13 (07) “…them enough.” 

Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell has ditched her effort to pass legislation to prohibit anyone under the age of 21 from entering a bar. Mizell amended her bill so the measure now reads that if an 18 to 20-year-old is served alcohol, an establishment faces fines and could be sued if something tragic happens…

Cut 9 (10) “…do it illegally.”
The measure heads to the Senate floor.

The full House has approved a bill that prohibits the discussion of sexuality and gender identity in public school classrooms. Critics refer to it as the Don’t Say Gay Bill. Chalmette Representative Ray Garolfalo says teachers should only be teaching the basics…

Cut  16 (12) “…the students.” 

The House approved the bill on a 67-28 vote and it heads to the Senate.