Attorney General Jeff Landry promises to crack down on crime in his first campaign ad for Governor of Louisiana. Teiko Foxx has more…:

CUT 01  (28)        “…Foxx.”

Police in Monroe say a local man accused of robbing a convenience store was caught, when he went back to the store a few days later and apologized for it. 27-year-old Ronald Washington allegedly held up the Circle K store April 7^th. While paying for smokes at the same store 12 days later, he said he was sorry for the robbery. He’s been booked with armed robbery.

Legislation to require fathers to pay for half of the out-of-pocket pregnancy-related medical expenses of the mothers of their kids advances to the House floor. Bill author, Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman says dads get off scot-free too often…:

CUT 04(10)      “…more rights.”

Frieman says post-birth expenses fall under child-support laws. Unopposed in the House Civil Law Committee, it moves now to the House floor.

The state’s largest National Guard facility, Camp Beauregard in Pineville, will officially be renamed later this year. It’s new name? The Louisiana National Guard Training Center at Pineville. Catchy, right? LNG’s Lt. Col Noel Collins says the re-naming ends a hundred-year-long reference to a Confederate war hero, and also references Rapides Parish…:

CUT 08(10)      “…that together.”

A renaming ceremony date will be announced soon.

Legislation to require fathers to pay for half of the out-of-pocket pregnancy-related medical expenses advances to the House floor. Bill author, Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman says it’s crucial to have such a law with the state’s abortion ban in place.

Cut 3 (11) “…right direction.”

The bill had no opposition in House Civil Law and will be heard on the House floor.

Attorney General Jeff Landry launched the first 30-second television ad of his gubernatorial campaign today addressing one of the state’s top issues – crime. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Landry’s message is spot on for voters.

Cut 9 (12) “….will do it.”

The multi-market campaign ad will begin in Baton Rouge but expects to spread across the state in the upcoming months.

A measure requiring all schools to have automated external defibrillators –a portable, life-saving device designed to treat people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest- was approved by a Senate Education Committee. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says his legislation also requires every school to have a plan in case a student collapses as a result of a heart issue…

Cut 12 (11) “…response plan” 

Fields’ legislation is called the Jump Start Your Heart Act and also requires schools to have defibrillators present at all sporting events.

Pineville’s Camp Beauregard will be renamed as the Louisiana National Guard Training Center at an official ceremony set for the fall. Lt. Col Noel Collins says they accepted more than 200 name submissions last year from the public and the list was narrowed down.

Cut 7 (08)  “…redesignation.” 

The name choice indicates the installation’s location in Rapides Parish.

Attorney General Jeff Landry’s first television campaign ad for governor hit the airwaves today. The 30-second spot focuses on Landry’s plan to be tough on crime. ULM Political Science Pearson Cross says the next governor will be focused on criminal justice reform…
cut 10 (09) “….a bit”
The ad began airing in Baton Rouge today, but is expected to reach every market in the state in the future.

Camp Beauregard will be officially renamed as the Louisiana National Guard Training Center in Pineville later this year. Lt. Col Noel Collins says through the guidance of the National Defense Authorization Act the training installation was given a new moniker.
Cut 6 (09) “…family members.”
Camp Beauregard was originally named after PGT Beauregard who served as a general in the Confederate army.

The House Civil Law Committee approves legislation that would allow mothers to recuperate half of the out-pocket costs from the father of their child for pregnancy related-medical expenses. Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman says Examples of reimbursable expenses would be insurance co-pays and over-the-counter prenatal vitamins.
Cut 5 (06) “…that back.”
The bill heads to the House floor for more consideration.

Legislation requiring automated external defibrillator at every school in the state and at school sponsored athletic events easily passed out of Senate Education Committee. Cindy Bishop with the Louisiana Orthopaedic Association says A-E-Ds save lives…
cut 13 (12) “…save his life”
The legislation also requires schools to have a plan in place in case a student suddenly has heart trouble.

Legislation to require fathers to pay for half of the out-of-pocket pregnancy-related medical expenses advances from House Civil Law. Bill author, Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman (Freeman) says it’s crucial to have such a law with the state’s abortion ban in place.

Cut 3 (11) “…right direction.”

The Republican’s bill requires proof of paternity and passed in committee without opposition.

Attorney General Jeff Landry launched his first television ad of his gubernatorial campaign addressing the state’s top issue – crime. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says crime is a major concern for Louisianans and with experience in law enforcement, Landry knows what it takes.

Cut 9 (12) “….will do it.”

The Owners of the Belle of Baton Rouge casino plan to conduct 100-million dollars’ worth of renovations on the downtown property. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says the Belle’s sister property Hollywood Baton Rouge casino is also undergoing major renovations and changing its name to The Queen Baton Rouge…

Cut 13 (08) “…gaming market.” 

Republican Tim Temple from Baton Rouge is the only announced candidate for Insurance Commissioner. Temple has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry….

Cut 15 (11)  “…rates down.”
Temple also has about two-million dollars in his campaign warchest. Current Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announced last month he would not seek re-election to the office he’s held since 2006.

Covington Senator Patrick McMath’s bill that restricts the use of social media for minors 16 and younger without parental consent advances from a Senate committee. Former employees of Facebook and Twitter employees have testified about the dangers social media has on minors. Monroe Senator Jay Morris says social media creators have made use of their platforms extremely addictive.

Cut 5 (09) “…start somewhere.”

Larry Murray with Tech Net spoke against the bill and says making these types of changes are not easy, but he is willing to work with lawmakers about the process.

Cut 7 (10) “…a simple bill.”

Senate Bill 162 with amendments passed in committee without opposition and advanced to the Senate floor.

The Belle of Baton Rouge expansion has increased from $35 million to $100 million as the parent company gets approval from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to move the riverboat casino on land.  Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says this is a great win for downtown Baton Rouge

Cut 12 (12)    the casino.” 

The new property is expected to be operational next year.

Deridder native Tim Temple will take another swing for the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner seat and has reported $2 million in his campaign finance report. Temple believes the state needs to deregulate and bring new companies to create a more competitive industry to lower premiums.

Cut  16 (13)  “…lower rates.” 

Temple is currently the only candidate in the race for Louisiana Insurance Commissioner.

A.G. Jeff Landry and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser are currently leading in their prospective bids in this fall election according to a recent poll. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

UL Lafayette Ragin Cajuns launched a pair of two-run homers to upset No. 1 LSU 8-5 in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field last night. David Christie pitched a career-high six innings and limited LSU to one run on three hits and walked four and struck out one. The Cajuns who are 26 and 12 benefited from two LSU errors and two misplayed fly balls by the Tiger’s outfield. Also, Louisiana Tech beat 24th-ranked Southern Miss three to one.

Construction for the Belle of Baton Rouge originally estimated at $35 million is now near $100 million as renovation plans are scheduled to begin. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says the parent company – The Queen Casino & Entertainment – initially planned to open a limited number of hotel rooms and space.

Cut 11 (11)  “…base casino.”

Plans also include moving the 17,000-square-foot gambling floor into the casino atrium.

Insurance Executive Tim Temple is the only candidate running for Insurance Commissioner and has reported $2 million in his campaign finance report. Temple says he’s ready to serve the people of Louisiana and is optimistic about the outcome.

Cut 14 (09)  “…change hands.”

Temple threw his hat in the race after current Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announced would not seek re-election.

Legislation is heading to the Senate floor that would require social media companies to prohibit minors from having an account to their website or apps without parental consent. A Senate committee approved the bill by Covington Senator Patrick McMath, but Larry Murray with Tech Net, says adding age verification is not as simple as one would think…
cut 7 (05) “…a simple bill”

A new poll on the 2023 election in Louisiana shows Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry and Democrat Shawn Wilson with comfortable leads on the rest of the pack. The poll shows 35 percent of those surveyed will vote for Landry, and 25 percent say Wilson is their choice. Political analyst Roy Fletcher says all the other candidates drew single digits…:
Cut 8 (13) “…in this race.”
And Landry’s first campaign TV ad debuts today.

Deridder native and Insurance professional Tim Temple has reported two-million dollars in cash on hand and is the only candidate running for Insurance Commissioner in the upcoming election. Teiko Foxx has more.
Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

The state’s largest National Guard facility is getting a new name. Camp Beauregard, in Pineville, will be officially re-dubbed the Louisiana National Guard Training Center at Pineville at a ceremony in the fall. The renaming is to remove the name of P.G.T. Beauregard, a general in the Confederate Army.

Legislation to require social media companies to require a minor to have parental consent in order to have an account to access a social media site receives approval from a Senate committee. Covington Senator Patrick McMath says former social media employees have testified about the danger of algorithms on juveniles.
Cut 4 (10) “…media yet.”
McMath says the increase in cyberbullying and teen suicides is related to the use of social media. Kouri Marshall with the Chamber of Progress, a trade group that represents technology companies, spoke in opposition because the bill undercuts the privacy of every social media user in an effort to protect children.
Cut 6 (08) “…user online.”
Marshall also says similar legislation passed in other states are being challenged in court.

A poll paid for by Billy Nungesser shows he has a huge lead over his challenger in the Lt. Governor’s race. Forty-two-percent of those surveyed in The WPA Intelligence poll, back Nungesser in the election, while former state senator Elbert Guillory of Opelousas received nine percent. Political consultant Roy Fletcher, says this is Nungesser’s race to lose…
cut 10 (09) “…with those numbers”
The survey also asked respondents who they liked in the governor’s race, 35-percent support Republican Jeff Landry and 25-percent support Democrat Shawn Wilson.

The Owners of the Belle of Baton Rouge casino plans to conduct 100-million dollars worth of renovations on the downtown property. That will include the renovation of 250 hotel rooms. The hotel has been closed since the pandemic. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says the Belle’s sister property Hollywood Baton Rouge casino is also undergoing major renovations and changing its name to The Queen Baton Rouge…
cut 13 (08) “…gaming market”

A bill to require social media companies to verify a user’s age advances to the Senate floor. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A Monroe TV station is reporting a student at Jena High School died after experiencing a cardiac arrest in school. The incident reportedly occurred in a classroom at around 11 AM. School staff and emergency personnel performed CPR and other lifesaving measures, but the student was pronounced dead at LaSalle General Hospital.

A new poll on the governor’s race shows 35-percent of the respondents support Republican Jeff Landry, while 25 percent support Democrat Shawn Wilson. The poll done by WPA Intelligence and paid for by Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser also asked respondents who their second choice would be and 68-percent said they don’t know who their second choice would be. Political consultant Roy Fletcher says that’s because supporters of Landry only support Landry…
cut 9 (05) “….a ripple”

We are six months away from the October primary and Republican Tim Temple from Baton Rouge is the only announced candidate for Insurance Commissioner. Temple has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry….
cut 15 (11) “….rates down”
Temple also has about two-million dollars in his campaign warchest.

Legislation to require social media companies to verify a user’s age advances from a Senate committee. Covington Senator Patrick McMath’s bill would restrict a minor’s use unless there’s parental consent. McMath says former social media employees have testified about the danger of algorithms they once developed have on juveniles.

Cut 4 (10)  “…media yet.”

McMath says the increase in cyberbullying and teen suicides is related to the use of social media.

Kouri Marshall with the Chamber of Progress, a trade group that represents technology companies, spoke in opposition because the bill undercuts the privacy of every social media user in an effort to protect children.

Cut 6 (08)  “…user online.”

Senate Bill 162 with amendments passed in committee without opposition and advances to the Senate floor.

A resolution to create a Task Force to review protocols and safety for officers involved in high-speed police pursuits was approved today by a Senate Committee. Port Allen Senator Caleb Kleinpeter says many law enforcement officers agree guidelines are needed to set policies for chases.

Cut 6 (08)  “…of hand.” 

The resolution is in response to teen teenage girls who were killed during a high speed chase New Year’s Eve.

A Senate committee advances a bill to increase penalties for producing drugs with fentanyl in them. Bill sponsor and Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says harsher punishment will decrease dealership. She says the same thing worked when heroin was a problem decades ago…:

Cut 10 (08) “…someplace else.” 

The bill gives a minimum 10 years for a first conviction. Unopposed in committee, it moves to the Senate floor.