A fifth body has been recovered at the site of where a lift boat capsized off the coast of Port Fourchon. Authorities say the body was found on the second floor of the vessel. Eight crew members are still unaccounted for.

The state’s unemployment rate is now the lowest it’s been since the start of the pandemic, but new job growth remains a bit sluggish…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

We are waiting on more information from Shreveport Police about what they describe as a gunfight in the parking lot of a pediatric clinic last night that resulted in at least five people suffering from gunshot wounds.

Today begins the second week of the legislative session and there’s a bill awaiting debate in House Transportation that would require first-time DWI offenders to install an interlock device system in their vehicle for at least 180 days. Covington Representative Mark Wright says his legislation could reduce repeated drunk driving offenses by up to 70-percent…
cut 5 (09) “….death”

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon warns folks not to fall for social media fake news about COVID-19 vaccines and life insurance. There are rumors floating around that people who get vaccinated lose life insurance coverage. Donelon says that could not be farther from the truth…
Cut 10 (10) “..vaccination.”
And Donelon says rumors suggesting that life insurance policies do not cover a death due to COVID-19 are also untrue.

Louisiana’s unemployment rate fell slightly to 7.3 percent in March, the lowest number since the start of the pandemic. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says despite the high unemployment figure there are a lot of jobs out there to be had.
Cut 13 (11) “…to”
Dejoie says their HiRE site currently has tens of thousands of job openings.

Covington Representative Mark Wright is working with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to pass a bill that would require drivers convicted of a first-offense DUI to install an in-car interlock device system in their vehicle for at least 180 days. Wright says the interlock device will not let the car start unless it knows the driver is sober.
Cut 4 (10)“….the car”
Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia already have this law on their books.

A fifth body from the Seacor Power lift boat that capsized seven miles from the coast of Port Fourchon last week was reportedly recovered last night. Eight remain missing. Family members and friends have used social media to express frustration that the missing workers are not out of the water yet. The weather has been a factor in search efforts.

Law enforcement will spend more time this week focusing on whether individuals in pick-up trucks are properly restrained as part of Buckle Up in Your Truck Week. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert…
cut 8 (110 “…75-dollar fine”
According to the 2019 Louisiana Seat Belt Observation Survey, occupants in a pickup truck are 9-percent less likely to wear their seat belts.

There’s strong early momentum in the Legislature for the legalization and taxation of raw, smoke-able medical marijuana in Louisiana. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle”

Covington Representative Mark Wright is working with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to pass a bill that would require drivers convicted of a first-offense DUI to install an in-car interlock device system in their vehicle for at least 180 days. Wright says the interlock device will not let the car start unless it knows the driver is sober.
Cut 4 (10)“….the car”
Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia already have this law on their books.

Lawmakers are happy to hear that the state added 35-hundred indviduals to the state’s workforce from February to March and the unemployment rate has dropped slightly to seven-point-three percent, the lowest rate since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Louisiana Workforce Commisson Secretary Ava Dejoie says nearly 130-thousand people have returned to work as the state nears the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 impact on the workforce and their Hire Site has tens of thousands of job openings…
cut 14 (07) “…market”
18-hundred leisure and hospitality jobs were added from February to March.

Six people have been rescued and four bodies have been recovered of crew members from the Seacor Power, which capsized on Tuesday due to hurricane-force winds.  One of the bodies was that of of 63-year-old David Ledet, the captain of the lift boat, along with 69-year-old Ernest Williams.  There are nine crew members that remain missing, search and rescue efforts are still ongoing.

There’s strong early momentum in the Legislature for the legalization and taxation of raw, smoke-able medical marijuana in Louisiana. Matt Doyle has more

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The first of three major SWEPCO wind projects is underway to deliver low-cost renewable energy for their customers in northwest and central Louisiana. SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says this is the largest renewable energy project ever for a Louisiana utility and will impact 225,000 customers.

Cut 6 (06) “facilities”

The projects are actually in north-central Oklahoma and the windmills are connected to the power grid for Louisiana.

Two bills aimed at lowering drug prices authored by Senator Bill Cassidy are set to be signed into law by President Biden.  The first bill provides educational material to doctors and patients educating them about “biosimilar” alternatives to expensive name-brand treatments.  The second bill counters a recent court ruling that would have made it harder for much cheaper generic medications to be created after patents on expensive name brands lapse…

Cut 10 (08) “fall”

The bodies of four members of the Seacor Power have been recovered and six of members have been rescued.  The Seacor Power capsized on Tuesday due to hurricane-force wind.  Two of the bodies have been identified as captain David Ledet of Thibodaux and 69-year-old Ernest Williams.  Nine crew members still remain missing as search and rescue efforts continue.

The state’s unemployment rate is now the lowest it’s been since the start of the pandemic, but new job growth remains a bit sluggish. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Covington Representative Mark Wright is working with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to pass a bill that would require drivers convicted of a first-offense DUI to install an in-car interlock device system in their vehicle for at least 180 days. Wright says the interlock device will not let the car start unless it knows the driver is sober.

Cut 4 (10) “the car”

Legislation setting up a tax structure for “raw” smoke-able medical marijuana gets unanimous approval from House Ways and Means.  Houma Representative Tanner Magee says there’s been a big shift in public perception of pot and while he doesn’t expect to see recreational marijuana legalized this year, he thinks it will happen soon.

Cut 14 (06) “Louisiana”

Six people have been rescued and four bodies have been recovered of crew members from the Seacor Power, which capsized on Tuesday due to hurricane-force winds.  One of the bodies was that of of 63-year-old David Ledet, the captain of the lift boat, along with 69-year-old Ernest Williams.  There are nine crew members that remain missing, search and rescue efforts are still ongoing.

There’s strong early momentum in the Legislature for the legalization and taxation of raw, smoke-able medical marijuana in Louisiana. Matt Doyle has more

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The first of three major SWEPCO wind projects is underway to deliver low-cost renewable energy for their customers in northwest and central Louisiana. SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says this is the largest renewable energy project ever for a Louisiana utility and will impact 225,000 customers.

Cut 6 (06) “facilities”

The projects are actually in north-central Oklahoma and the windmills are connected to the power grid for Louisiana.

Two bills aimed at lowering drug prices authored by Senator Bill Cassidy are set to be signed into law by President Biden.  The first bill provides educational material to doctors and patients educating them about “biosimilar” alternatives to expensive name-brand treatments.  The second bill counters a recent court ruling that would have made it harder for much cheaper generic medications to be created after patents on expensive name brands lapse…

Cut 10 (08) “fall”

Search and rescue efforts continue for missing crew members of the Seacor Power, a lift boat that capsized when hurricane-force winds struck the vessel in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.  Six people have been rescued and four bodies have been recovered so far. One of the bodies is that of 63-year-old David Ledet of Thibodaux, he was the captain of the Seacor Power. Nine crew members still remain missing.

The first of three renewable energy projects are underway for SWEPCO customers, Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Legislation setting up a tax structure for “raw” smoke-able medical marijuana gets unanimous approval from House Ways and Means. The bill, by Houma Representative Tanner Magee, is part of a two-piece legislative effort to allow the sale of raw medical marijuana in Louisiana.

Cut 12 (10) “Mississippi”

Two bills aimed at lowering drug prices authored by Senator Bill Cassidy are set to be signed into law by President Biden. The first bill provides educational material to doctors and patients educating them about “biosimilar” alternatives to expensive name-brand treatments. Cassidy says they do the same thing at a fraction of the cost…

Cut 9 (09) “thing”

Cassidy says his next healthcare affordability push will focus on Medicare drug prices.

The Coast Guard continues to oversee efforts to rescue the remaining passengers of a SeaCor lift boat that capsized Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico. Several family members are at the Port Fourchon firehouse anxiously awaiting answers. Marion Cuyler, the fiancée of one of the missing men, says they are trying to keep the faith…

Cut 5  (07)  “…for them.”

Two bills aimed at lowering drug prices authored by Senator Bill Cassidy are set to be signed into law by President Biden. One of the two bills counters a recent court ruling that would have made it harder for much cheaper generic medications to be created after patents on expensive name brands lapse…

Cut 10 (08) “…fall” 

Cassidy says his next healthcare affordability push will focus on Medicare drug prices and deductibles.

Legislation setting up a tax structure for “raw” smoke-able medical marijuana gets unanimous approval from House Ways and Means. The bill, by Houma Representative Tanner Magee would tax raw medical marijuana at the state sales tax level of 4.45 percent. Magee says other forms of medical marijuana aren’t subject to the tax, but they’re also much more expensive…

Cut 13 (08)“….on it”

The tax would be dedicated to a road and bridge construction sub-fund.

The first of three major SWEPCO windmill projects under construction to deliver low-cost renewable energy. SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says the projects are in north-central Oklahoma and the windmills are connected to the power grid, which will also serve customers in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (10) “…than 500.”

Efforts continue in the search for the missing crewmembers of a SeaCor lift boat that capsized seven miles off the coast of Port Fourchon. Six people have been rescued so far.  Marion Cuyler, the fiancée of Chase Morales, who remains missing hasn’t given up…

Cut 4 (05) “…faith alive.” 

The first of three major SWEPCO wind projects is underway to deliver low-cost renewable energy for their customers in northwest and central Louisiana. SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says this is the largest renewable energy project ever for a Louisiana utility and will impact 225,000 customers.

Cut 6 (06) “…facilities.”

The windmills will contain the newest technology including a cold weather package which Sullivan says will ensure operation during the coldest parts of the year for the windmills.

Legislation setting up a tax structure for “raw” smoke-able medical marijuana gets unanimous approval from House Ways and Means. The bill, by Houma Representative Tanner Magee, is part of a two-piece legislative effort to allow the sale of raw medical marijuana in Louisiana.

Cut 12 (10)   “…Mississippi” 

Two bills aimed at lowering drug prices authored by Senator Bill Cassidy are set to be signed into law by President Biden. The bills are some of the few pieces of bipartisan legislation to make it through Congress since the start of the Biden Administration…

Cut 11 (07) “..issue”

Cassidy says his next healthcare affordability push will focus on Medicare drug prices and deductibles.

A second body was recovered today from the Seacor power lift vessel that capsized Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico. The Coast Guard says the body was located approximately 33 miles from where the boat is partially submerged. The identity of the second passenger has not been released and the search continues for 11 others missing.

There’s strong early momentum in the Legislature for the legalization and taxation of raw, smoke-able medical marijuana in Louisiana. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

Two bills aimed at lowering drug prices authored by Senator Bill Cassidy are set to be signed into law by President Biden. One bill provides educational material to doctors and patients educating them about “biosimilar” alternatives to expensive name-brand treatments. Cassidy says they do the same thing at a fraction of the cost…

Cut 9 (09) “…thing.”

The other bill counters a recent court ruling that made it harder to create generics.

The largest renewable energy project for a Louisiana utility provider is underway creating a windmill farm. The project is part of SEWPCO’s parent company, American Electric Power’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 80-percent by 2030. SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says they will also be adding more forms of low-cost renewable energy.

Cut 8 (07) “…in Louisiana”