A bill that will increase hunting and fishing licenses awaits the Governor’s signature. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Legislation requiring the Louisiana Legislative Auditor to review local, state, and federal elections has received final legislative passage. Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud says the legislative auditor already reviews numerous other state agencies and departments on how they operate and where they can improve. She says our elections should also undergo an independent review.
Cut 8 (05) “…between parishes.”

A bill to raise the age to vape, smoke, or use any tobacco or nicotine product in Louisiana from 18 to 21 won final passage Tuesday. Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living Associate Director Shawna Shields says this allows the state to have parity with federal law in an effort to deter young people from starting.
Cut 13 (10) “…and under”

Intermittent fasting has become a popular diet, but is it for everyone, and is it sustainable?
LSU nutritionist Elizabeth Gollub says the diet, which allows for 500 calories or fewer to be consumed on certain days, gives dieters more liberties than usual…
Cut 4 (09) “…the other diets.”

Legislation requiring the Louisiana Legislative Auditor to review local, state, and federal elections has received final legislative passage. Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud says her legislation will help bring election integrity.
Cut 7 (11) “…shortfalls here.”

A bill to increase hunting and fishing license fees in the state is on its way to the Governor’s desk. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Undersecretary Bryan McClinton says while license fees will increase, they also add more privileges. For example, a hunting license goes from $29 to $34 but that includes archery and primitive hunting so that will save hunters who use those styles $15 annually.
Cut 10 (10) “…fishermen.”

Legislation to raise the legal age to smoke, vape, or use tobacco in the state to 21 receives final passage. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A bill to increase hunting and fishing license fees is on its way to the Governor’s desk. Undersecretary at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Bryan McClinton while license fees will increase, it will come with more privileges. For example, a hunting license goes from $29 to $34 but that includes archery and primitive hunting so that will save hunters who use those styles $15.
Cut 10 (10) “…fisherman”
McClinton says the restructuring of fees is to help the department become self-sufficient again due to a loss in revenue from oil and gas royalties. Recreational fees have not been raised since 2000 and most commercial licenses have not been increased since 1986.

A bill that would have banned drivers from handling their cell phones while behind the wheel failed by one vote in the Senate. The House-approved measure needed 20 votes, instead, it received 19. Opponents say the legislation is too much of an infringement on personal freedoms. Supporters say the proposed law would cut down on car crashes.

A bill to allow social media users to sue companies like Twitter and Facebook if their posts are censored for religious or political views is dead for the legislative session. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (31) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A bill that would have banned drivers from handling their cell phones while behind the wheel failed by one vote in the Senate. The House-approved measure needed 20 votes to pass the upper chamber, but it received 19. Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock says the legislation is too much of an infringement on personal freedoms.

Cut 3 (11) “…state law”
A bill to allow social media users in the state to sue platforms like Twitter and Facebook if they are blocked for political or religious speech is dead for this legislative session. Republican Monroe Senator Jay Morris asked for the bill to be heard in the House Civil Law Committee and was shocked when it was not placed on the calendar. He then went to the Speaker and the bill was transferred to House Commerce.

Cut 10 (09) “…show up”

The session ends on Thursday.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Canadian-based Canfor Corporation announce a new 160-million-dollar lumber mill will be built in Beauregard Parish near DeRidder. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the mill is expected to create 130 new direct jobs with an average salary of nearly 60-thousand dollars and also 386 new indirect jobs…

Cut 6 (9) “…opportunity for us”

LSU took down Oregon in the Eugene Regional and will now battle it out with Tennessee in Knoxville in the Super Regionals. Gavin Dugas (D00-ghas) was named Regional MVP after helping the Tigers win four straight elimination games to advance.

Cut 12 (06) “…this tournament”

The Tigers will play the Volunteers Saturday at 6 pm.

Legislation that would give St. Tammany Parish voters an opportunity to approve a riverboat casino in Slidell receives final legislative passage after the Senate approved the bill on a 23-14 vote.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jim Shannon.” 

Martha White, the Black woman whose action in 1953 Baton Rouge launched the bus boycott in the capitol city died Saturday at the age of 99. It was that boycott that provided the framework for the famous effort sparked by Rosa Parks that led to a bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Canadian-based Canfor Corporation announce a new 160-million-dollar lumber mill will be built at the Beauregard Regional Airport. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the availability of roads and waterways to supply the product helped Beauregard parish secure the contract…

Cut 7 (9) “…well in advance”

It is expected to create 130 new direct jobs.

A bill to allow social media users in the state to sue platforms like Twitter and Facebook if they are blocked for political or religious speech is dead for this legislative session after the proposal failed to receive a hearing in the House. Republican Monroe Senator Jay Morris believes his bill was deliberately kept from being heard in committee and social media platforms have a chokehold on the flow of information in our country.

Cut 11 (05) “…heard.”

The session ends on Thursday.

There are many tired LSU fans today after watching the Tigers baseball team beat Oregon twice, once on Sunday and then again last night to advance to the Super Regionals. Pitcher Landon Marceaux started Friday’s loss to Gonzaga, but came back last night to get the win in relief….
cut 14 (05) “…to me”
The Tigers will head to Tennessee for a Super Regional Series. Game one versus the Vols is Saturday night.

A bill to ban drivers from holding their cellphones while driving failed by one vote on the Senate floor. Covington Senator Patrick McMath tried to make the case that it would cut down on distracted driving, but Franklin Senator Bret Allain did not buy the argument…
cut 5 (14) “>…out there”
Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval has been trying to get this bill passed for years.

A bill to allow social media users to sue companies like Twitter and Facebook if their posts are censored for religious or political views is dead for the legislative session. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (31) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Speaking of social media, Governor Edwards is now on tik tok….
cut 30 (10) “….
The short video post concludes with a graphic telling Louisiana residents they can call 1-855-453-0774 to make an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

A bill to allow social media users in the state to sue platforms like Twitter and Facebook if they are blocked for political or religious speech is dead for this legislative session after the proposal failed to receive a hearing in the House. Republican Monroe Senator Jay Morris is disappointed and believes social media has too much power.

Cut 9 (11) “…my view.”

A bill that would have banned drivers from handling their cell phones while behind the wheel failed by one vote in the Senate. The House-approved measure needed 20 votes to pass the upper chamber, but it received 19. Franklin Senator Bret Allain sees this as the government interfering with a person’s life…

Cut 4 (05) “…applies here”

Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval has been trying to get this legislation passed for years. The session ends on Thursday.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Canadian-based Canfor Corporation announce a new 160-million-dollar lumber mill will be built in Beauregard Parish near DeRidder. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the location will help pulp and paper production companies in the area…

Cut 8 (8) “… these days” 

The sawmill project will process yellow pine from Louisiana forests with the manufacturing capacity to produce a variety of wood products.

LSU took down Oregon in the Eugene Regional and will now battle it out with Tennessee in Knoxville in the Super Regionals. As LSU keeps winning, coach Paul Mainieri will remain in the dugout until the season ends. Outfielder Gavin Dugas says Mainieri’s retirement announcement gave the team extra motivation.

Cut 13 (10) “…he’s awesome”

A bill that would have banned drivers from handling their cell phones while behind the wheel failed by one vote in the Senate. The House-approved measure needed 20 votes to pass the upper chamber, but it received 19. Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock says the legislation is too much of an infringement on personal freedoms
Cut 3 (11) “…state law”
Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval has been trying to get this legislation passed for years.

For the first time since 1989, LSU baseball won a regional championship on the road and they needed to win four straight elimination games to do so. The Tigers won the Eugene Regional with a nine to eight win over Oregon last night as Gavin Dugas hit two home runs…
cut 12 (06) “…this tournament”
LSU advances to the Super Regionals where they’ll play Tennessee on Thursday.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Canadian-based Canfor Corporation announce a new 160 million dollar lumber mill will be built in Beauregard Parish near DeRidder. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the mill is expected to create 130 new direct jobs with an average salary of nearly 60-thousand dollars and also 386 new indirect jobs…
Cut 6 (9) “…opportunity for us”
Canfor will locate the facility at the Beauregard Regional Airport and start-up is expected to begin late in the third quarter of next year.

Legislation that would give St. Tammany Parish voters an opportunity to approve a riverboat casino in Slidell receives final legislative passage after the Senate approved the bill on a 23-14 vote. Jim Shannon has more…

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jim Shannon” 

LSU advances in the NCAA Baseball Regionals to play Tennessee in Knoxville. It was a late night for Tiger fans as the Bayou Bengals played in Oregon past midnight central standard time last night. First pitch against the Volunteers will be much earlier on Saturday at 6pm.

Ochsner Health has started to enroll five to eleven-year-olds in New Orleans and Shreveport to participate in a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trial. They expect to enroll 75 patients at the two sites. Ochsner Health System Chair of Pediatrics Dr. William Lennarz says to better suit the children the strength of the doses has been changed.

Cut 6 (8) “…doses in use”

Visit Ochsner.org for more information.

State senators are no longer pushing to make a temporary state sales tax permanent to fund highway transportation projects, instead, the Senate approved a bill to take revenue from vehicle sales taxes and spend it on roads. Currently, money from vehicle sales taxes goes to the general fund, but Port Allen Senator Rick Ward’s proposal would use 75-percent of that money on roads and bridges…

Cut 14 (10) “…sub fund.”

It now heads to the House with only three days left in the session.

College athletes in Louisiana would be able to profit from their name, image, and likeness under a bill that is very close to final legislative approval after the House approved the measure on an 88-7 vote. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says once the governor signs the proposed law, it will be effective immediately.
Cut 10 (06) “…football season”

According to the National College Attainment Networks FAFSA Tracker, Louisiana ranks number one in the country in terms of financial aid completion with 33-thousand of Louisiana’s 2021 high school graduates completing their FAFSA. LOSFA Executive Director DR. Sujuan Boutte Students says who have graduated from high school this year have until June 30th, 2022 to complete a FAFSA but the earlier one applies the better.

Cut 9 (11) “…is not complete”

Ochsner Health has started to enroll five to eleven-year-olds in New Orleans and Shreveport to participate in a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trial. Health officials say getting children vaccinated is critical to reaching herd immunity since they make up a third of the population. Ochsner Health System Chair of Pediatrics Dr. William Lennarz says an increase in variants has made it more critical for children to get vaccinated…

Cut 5 (10) “…doesn’t mean none”

Visit ochsner.org for more information.

State senators are no longer pushing to make a temporary state sales tax permanent to fund highway transportation projects, instead, the Senate approved a bill to take revenue from vehicle sales taxes and spend it on roads. But if lawmakers take money away from the general fund that would mean fewer dollars, for higher education, health care and public safety programs. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt still supports the effort.

Cut 15 (05)“…sounds right”