A New Orleans lawmaker says he’s received threats over his bill to purge two Louisiana state Confederate holidays. Representative Matthew Willard says authorities are investigating a voicemail, left on his office number…:

CUT 06  (07)        “…and executed.”

His bill has passed the House and a Senate committee; heading now for the Senate floor. Some feel Confederate Memorial Day and Robert E. Lee’s Birthday are part of Louisiana history. Willard says they honor those who fought to preserve slavery, and they need to go.

A Shreveport woman who attacked a couple with a lawnmower blade back in July 2019 has been convicted of aggravated 2^nd-degree battery. 44-year-old Juana Wilson could get up to 15 years in prison when she’s sentenced next month.

A Baton Rouge man is in jail for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl and recording it on his cellphone. 51-year-old Ronald Thibodeaux is behind bars. No bail has been set.

A St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputy was shot early this morning by a suspect who is only 13-years-old. In an interview with WWL TV, St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith says Deputy Kenneth Doby was on patrol at around 3 this morning, when he answered a call of a suspected burglary. He spied a suspect, they struggled and he was shot in the back. He says Doby was treated at a Covington hospital…:

CUT 04(11)      “…for us.”

The suspect, who is only 13, is now in custody.

Marijuana law reform bills move forward through the legislature. One bill, by Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover, would decriminalize possessing weed-related paraphernalia (like a pipe); making that penalty similar to one passed last year for being caught with a tiny amount of cannabis…:

CUT 13(10)      “…$50 fine or less.”

The full Senate will debate the bills next.

A St. Tammany Parish Sheriff was shot in the back early this morning and the suspect is 13 years old. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The southern half of the state including the Alexandria area is under a flash flood watch through tomorrow morning. The National Weather Service says rainfall of one to four inches is likely and local amounts could exceed five inches. A severe thunderstorm watch for portions of southeast Louisiana is in effect until five o’ clock today.

A House backed measure that would remove Robert E Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day as official state holidays is moving closer to final legislative passage. New Orleans Representative Matthew Williard says even though the days are not observed, they should not be recognized because it represents a dark time in the nation’s history…
cut 8 (07) “….that around”
Willard’s bill heads to the Senate floor. He told a Senate Committee he’s received a death threat for authoring the bill.

Multiple bills aimed at reducing criminal penalties for marijuana possession have advanced to the full Senate. One of the bills by Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover would allow those previously convicted of possession to expunge their records six months after conviction, instead of five years as currently written.
Cut 12 (12) “…at this point.”
Glover also has a bill that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana-related paraphernalia.

A St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputy was shot this morning and the suspect is 13-years old. In an interview with WWL TV, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith says Deputy Kenneth Doby was on patrol when he answered a call of a suspected burglary around 3 this morning.

Cut 3 (10) “..in the back.”

The suspect was apprehended.

Just after midnight, Monroe Police responded to the Swanson Correctional Center for Youth in reference to a disturbance. Sgt Mike Fendall with Monroe PD says a fight broke out among several inmates and they barricaded doors and even held a correction officer captive. Three of the inmates were over the age of 18.

Cut 10 (11) ” ….weapon.” 

The four other juveniles remain at the Swanson facility.

A New Orleans lawmaker tells a Senate Committee he’s receiving death threats over his legislation to remove Robert E Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day as official holidays…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith says one of his deputies is recovering after he was shot in the back by an armed 13-year-old burglary suspect. Deputy Kenneth Doby was patrolling an area in Waldheim after getting a call of a burglary and he observed a teenager walking in the area who fired his weapon when the deputy got out of his vehicle. Doby is expected to make a full recovery and the 13-year-old is in custody.

US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm toured the Bayou State Tuesday to see how the state is a major contributor to energy. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Legislation to remove two Confederate-themed holidays continues to advance at the state legislature. New Orleans Representative Matthew Williard’s bill removes Confederate Memorial Day and General Robert E Lee Day as official state holidays. The two holidays have not been observed for years but Minden Senator Robert Mills doesn’t see a reason to remove them…
cut 7 (08) “…me a bit”
But Williard says the two holidays pay homage to what he believes is the darkest time in our nation’s history. The bill is heading to the Senate floor for more discussion.

Monroe Police arrested seven inmates at the Swanson Correctional Center for Youth after a large fight broke out inside one of the dorms during the overnight hours that caused 35-thousand dollars worth of damage. Monroe Police Sergeant Mike Fendall says during the fight, they barricaded the doors preventing officers from entering…
cut 9 (11) “….be harmed”
Fendall says with assistance from Ouachita Parish Sheriff deputies they gained control of the dorm and seven inmates were taken into custody.

New Orleans Representative Matthew Williard says he’s receiving death threats over his legislation to remove Robert E Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day as legal holidays in Louisiana. Willard says authorities are investigating a voice mail his office received…

Cut 6  (07) “…executed” 

Williard made that statement minutes before a Senate committee approved his legislation, sending the House-backed measure to the Senate floor.

A St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputy was shot this morning and the suspect is 13-years old. Officials says Deputy Kenneth Doby was on patrol when he answered a call of a suspected burglary. Doby was shot as he exited his unit by the teen who he believed was the suspect. Before Doby was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, he was able to apprehend the suspect.

Ochsner Baton Rouge adds to its list of innovative procedures with a new method for repairing a torn ACL.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

There’s now a program through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security so individuals can sponsor a Ukrainian that’s been displaced. David Aguillard with Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Baton Rouge says while it’s a rewarding experience it comes with a big responsibility.

Cut 12 (05) “…help Ukraine.” 

Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website for more information.

A Senate-passed bill to roll back Louisiana’s 2016 “Raise the Age” law clears another legislative hurdle. On Tuesday, Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey’s bill won approval from the House Criminal Justice Committee. He says he brought the bill at the request of local district attorneys…:

Cut 8 (15)  “…committing these crimes.”

The bill now heads to the House.

Congressman Troy Carter accompanied the US Secretary of Energy on her trip to Louisiana Tuesday, the tour included GE’s Wind Turbine facility at the Michoud Assembly in New Orleans. Carter says it’s important to show how Louisiana is using resources to create green energy.

Cut 4 (12)  “…the White House.”

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many have expressed interest in assisting those displaced by the war. A recently approved $40-billion aid package will allow Americans to sponsor a Ukrainian family through the “Uniting Ukraine” program. David Aguillard with Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Baton Rouge says this is a unique opportunity.

Cut 10 (07) “…experience.”

Potential sponsors must apply to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

An innovative new surgery for repairing a torn ACL, has come to Louisiana. Ochsner Baton Rouge Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Dr. Jeremy Burnham, the first surgeon in the region to perform the less-invasive procedure, says it has produced very exciting results.

Cut 14 (07)  “…long term outcomes.”

Roughly 400-thousand ACL injuries occur annually in the US.

New Orleans Representative Matthew Williard says he’s receiving death threats over his legislation to remove Robert E Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day as legal holidays in Louisiana. Willard says authorities are investigating a voice mail his office received…
cut 6 (07) “…executed”
Williard made that statement minutes before a Senate committee approved his legislation, sending the House-backed measure to the Senate floor.

The House Criminal Justice Committee has voted for a bill that would result in violent 17-year-old offenders being housed at adult prisons instead of a juvenile detention center. Ouachita Parish Senator Stewart Cathey says the problem of teens committing serious crimes knows no political favoritism, with Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry and a Democrat DA supporting the bill…
cut 9 (14) “….out of this committee”

U-S Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm toured a Strategic Petroleum Reserve site in Iberville Parish yesterday. Congressman Troy Carter accompanied the energy secretary as there’s been a lot of focus on petroleum reserve sites with record-high prices at the pump. Carter says the tour was illuminating…
cut 5 (10) “….professionals”

Louisiana families interested in helping Ukraine refugees can now do so through the “Uniting Ukraine” program. David Aguillard with Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Baton Rouge says sponsors will help families or individuals acclimate to the community and teach them things like how to shop at Walmart, how to enroll in school, or make doctor appointments.
Cut 11 (10) “…adequate housing.”
For more information go to U-S-C-I-S-dot-gov-slash ukraine.

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff deputy Kenneth Doby is hospitalized after he was shot overnight while patrolling in the area of Highway 21 and Highway 1083 in Waldheim. Sheriff Randy Smith says a 13-year-old male suspect is in custody. Deputy Kenneth Doby was in the area after a call came in for a suspected burglary at a business.

The Senate-approved bill that would allow the state to put violent 17-year-old criminals in with adult prisoners clears another legislative hurdle. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

U-S Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm visited a Strategic Petroleum Reserve site in Iberville Parish and General Electric’s wind blade testing plant at the Michoud facility in New Orleans east. Louisiana Congressman Troy Carter says Louisiana is poised to be a leader in wind turbine energy with the plant strategically located near major ports and just offshore from a proposed wind farm in the Gulf.
Cut 6 (09) “…green source.”

A new way to repair a torn A-C-L in a person’s knee is being performed at Ochsner medical facilities in south Louisiana. Instead of using a tendon from the patient’s own body to replace the torn ligament, Ochsner Baton Rouge Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Doctor Jeremy Burnham is using bioengineered material that provides an environment for the torn ligament ends to reattach themselves…
cut 15 (12) “…really promising”
The new procedure is still in clinical trials.

A Senate-passed bill to roll back Louisiana’s 2016 “Raise the age” law clears another legislative hurdle. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey’s bill won approval from the House Criminal Justice Committee. He says his legislation would only apply to youthful offenders who commit violent crimes, like murder, assault, battery rape and armed robbery…:
Cut 7 (06) “…within 24 hours.”
The “Raise the Age” law passed in 2016; keeps 17-year-old offenders from being imprisoned with adult inmates. Cathey’s bill calls for an evaluation of 17-year-old offenders to see if they need to be in juvenile detention, or sent to the adult population.

An innovative new surgery for repairing a torn anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, has come to Louisiana. Ochsner Baton Rouge Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Dr. Jeremy Burnham says this method heals the ligament rather than replacing it.
Cut 13 (10) “…with something new.”
Burnham is the first surgeon in the region to utilize the Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair Implant, known as BEAR.

US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm was in the Bayou State yesterday to see how Louisiana is a major contributor to energy.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A Senate committee approved a House-backed measure Tuesday to allow non-felons over the age of 21 years to conceal carry a weapon without needing a permit or the training to obtain a permit. Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed a similar bill last year and Tom Costanza, executive director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops also opposes it…

Cut 9 (09) “…workplaces.”

But Louisiana Shooting Association President Dan Zelenka says allowing for concealed carry without a permit will not lead to more gun violence…

Cut 10 (10) ” ….few issues” 

A bill to remove Confederate Memorial Day and Robert E. Lee days from the list of state holidays in Louisiana is expected to pass in the Senate, after approval in the House. While the holidays have not been observed in years but are still on the books.

House Bill 1083, also known as the CROWN Act, is on its way to the Senate after receiving overwhelming passage in the House. The bill, authored by New Orleans Representative Candace Newell, prohibits discrimination on the basis of hair texture, natural hairstyles, and protective hairstyles. It passed after no debate on a 74-24 vote.

Cut 12 (10) “…beyond excited.”  

After years of presenting legislation to ban handheld cellphone use, Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill is finally closer to becoming law.  House Bill 376 passed in the House on a 55 to 38 vote. Huval says a number of lawmakers helped amend the legislation, which makes it a better bill, for example…

Cut 6  (11) “…goes away.”