Tort reform supporters are taking a victory lap today after yesterday’s bipartisan passage of legislation aimed at lowering auto insurance rates by changing the way lawsuits are handled. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat calls it a historic achievement in what had become one of the most prominent political issues in the state.
Cut 3 (11) ”…insurance  
Governor Edwards indicated he supports the legislation.

The Legislature approved a 34 billion dollar operating budget for the fiscal year that starts today, one that looks fairly similar to the on Governor Edwards proposed. Despite the influx of hundreds of millions of dollars in CARES Act money, Edwards warns there will still have to be some cuts due to COVID-related revenue shortfalls.

Cut 13 (11) “amounts” 

Southern University unveils its line of THC-based medical marijuana products known as AYO (I-O).  The launch sees the release of six different products including tinctures for use under the tongue.  Southern University President Ray Belton says the products have the ability to contribute to the health and welfare of the state and so much more.

Cut 7 (10) “…on the economy.”

Southern becomes the first HBCU to have THC and CBD product lines.

The Louisiana Department of Veteran’s Affairs is asking citizens to participate in a letter-writing campaign to show support to those in veteran’s homes. Currently, there are more than 600 residents living in five veteran’s homes across the state. Visitation has been limited due to COVID-19 and LDVA Director of Communications Brandee Patrick says you can find a listing of addresses at VetAffairs.LA.Gov.

Cut 10 (10) “…addresses.”

Louisiana reports over 2,000 new COVID-19 cases, the 3^rd largest single-day increase since the pandemic began and the highest since April 4^th, the peak of the pandemic. We now have over 60,000 positive tests since March. 14 more people have been hospitalized as well, along with 17 new deaths. Orleans and Jefferson Parish have already begun mandating mask usage while inside all businesses as a result of the new spike.

Southern University unveils its line of THC-based medical marijuana products known as AYO (I-O).  The launch sees the release of six different products including tinctures for use under the tongues.  CEO of Ilera Holistic Healthcare Dr. Chanda Mecias they are also rolling out topical solutions.

Cut 6 (08) “…just the beginning.”

Louisiana law prohibits medical marijuana to be used in a smokable form.

The Louisiana Department of Veteran’s Affairs is asking citizens to participate in a letter-writing campaign to show support to those in veteran’s homes. Visitation has been limited due to COVID-19 and Louisiana Department of Veteran’s Affairs Director of Communications Brandee Patrick says they wanted to boost morale.

9 (08) “…praying for them.”

Currently, there are more than 600 residents living in five veteran’s homes across the state. You can also call the LDVA at 225-219-5000 for more information about Project LOVE.

Civil lawsuit reform legislation is headed to the Governor’s desk that supporters say may lower auto insurance rates. The bill was passed on veto-proof lines but is less expansive than previous tort legislation that was shot down by the Governor. Crowley Representative John Stefanski calls it an important step forward.
Cut 4 (11)_ “…rates.”
The bill passed with a few hours left in the special session.

The Legislature approves a 34 billion dollar operating budget for the fiscal year that starts today, one that looks fairly similar to the on Governor Edwards proposed. The Legislature also approved a series of tax breaks for COVID-impacted businesses. Edwards says he has his concerns with passing tax breaks at a time when revenue is already suffering.
Cut 14 (09) “…go back”

Senator Bill Cassidy says he expects another federal stimulus package to be passed sometime in late July. Cassidy aims to have CARES 4.0 focused on covering the estimated 500 billion dollars of lost revenue for local governments nationwide.When asked how big the next stimulus might be Cassidy expressed concern that about 50 percent of the money allocated for COVID recovery hasn’t even been spent yet.

Cut 9 (07) “…resources”

The Louisiana National Guard will be performing more hospital flyovers today honoring first responders and frontline healthcare workers.  Several months ago, flyovers were performed, but they didn’t hit every hospital in the state. Louisiana’s Army aviation commander Col. John Plunkett says the routing of these flights should hit Slidell, Hammond, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Alexandria, Shreveport, and Monroe.

Cut 11 (09) “…will see us.”

Civil lawsuit reform legislation is headed to the Governor’s desk that supporters say may lower auto insurance rates. The bill was passed on veto-proof lines but is less expansive than previous tort legislation that was shot down by the Governor. Crowley Representative John Stefanski calls it an important step forward…
Cut 4 (11)_ “…rates.”
The bill passed with a few hours left in the special session.
The Legislature approves a 34-billion-dollar operating budget for the fiscal year that starts today, one that looks fairly similar to the one Governor Edwards proposed. However, Edwards was not pleased with the Legislature’s decision to pause a scheduled pay raise for state employees that would have cost about 60 million dollars.
Cut 15 (09) “…available”

Senator Bill Cassidy says he expects another federal stimulus package to be passed sometime in late July. Cassidy aims to have CARES 4.0 focused on covering the estimated 500 billion dollars of lost revenue for local governments nationwide. He says the cancellation of spring south Louisiana festivals has already left a mark, and…
Cut 7 (10) “…festival.”
The 500 billion dollars includes funds already lost, and estimated losses moving into 2021.

On the final day of the special session, the Legislature approves a 34-billion-dollar budget. Matt Doyle has the Governor’s reaction…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

In East Feliciana the parish police jury will decide next week whether to dismantle a statue of a confederate soldier from the courthouse lawn which has stood there since 1909. Calls to remove the statue have escalated in the past few weeks while protests have broken out across the county and Louisiana.

Civil lawsuit reform legislation is headed to the Governor’s desk that supporters say may lower auto insurance rates by changing the way auto accident lawsuits are handled.
Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud celebrated the bill’s passage, saying it would help fix the ongoing crisis in commercial auto insurance markets.
Cut 6 (09) “…the books”
Governor Edwards applauded this version of the bill, which was a compromise between earlier GOP efforts and the Governor’s past preferred policy.
The Louisiana National Guard will be performing more hospital flyovers today honoring first responders and frontline healthcare workers. Louisiana’s Army aviation commander Col. John Plunkett says
Several months ago, flyovers were performed, but they didn’t hit every hospital in the state. He says Today’s routing of these flights should hit Slidell, Hammond, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Alexandria, Shreveport, and Monroe.
Cut 11 (09) “…will see us.”

The Legislature approves a 34-billion-dollar operating budget for the fiscal year that starts today, one that looks fairly like the one Governor Edwards proposed. Despite the influx of hundreds of millions of dollars in CARES Act money, Edwards warns there will still have to be some cuts due to COVID-related revenue shortfalls.
Cut 13 (11) “amounts”

Civil lawsuit reform legislation is headed to the Governor’s desk that supporters say may lower auto insurance rates. The bill passed with a few hours left in the special session. It promotes more jury trials and opens the door for additional information available to a jury. Baton Rouge Representative C. Denise Marcelle asked the question on everyone’s mind…
Cut 5 (07) “…insurance”
But ultimately, she voted for it alongside several other Democrats who had previously opposed it.

The Louisiana National Guard will be performing more hospital flyovers today honoring first responders and frontline healthcare workers. Louisiana’s Army aviation commander Col. John Plunkett says two teams of four Black Hawk helicopters will lift off around 11 am, one group from Hammond, the other from Pineville.
Cut 10 (09) “…very easily seen.”

YouTube has shut down the channels of six well known white supremacists including former Louisiana House member David Duke. A YouTube spokeswoman says Due and others “repeatedly or egregiously” violated the hate-speech policies. Duke says he does not like being banned by YouTube but he added he expected it. The former KKK grand wizard turns 70 today.

Senator Bill Cassidy says he expects another federal stimulus package to be passed sometime in late July.
Cassidy aims to have CARES 4.0 focused on covering the estimated 500 billion dollars of lost revenue for local governments nationwide. The 500 billion includes funds already lost, and estimated losses moving into 2021.
Cassidy says Senators are evaluating whether they will maintain federal unemployment assistance set to expire July 31st…He feels it won’t be necessary if economies can reopen.
Cut 8 (11) “…assistance.”

In East Feliciana, the parish police jury will decide next week whether to dismantle a statue of a confederate soldier from the courthouse lawn which has stood there since 1909. Calls to remove the statue have escalated in the past few weeks while protests have broken out across the county and Louisiana.

On the last day of the special session, the Legislature passes a tort reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance rates. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Former New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma will be back in the NFL but this time he will be in a Fox broadcast booth. Vilma accepted an in-game analyst position with Fox earlier this summer.

Civil lawsuit reform legislation is headed to the Governor’s desk that supporters say may lower auto insurance rates.
The bill was passed on veto-proof lines but is less expansive than previous tort legislation that was shot down by the Governor. Crowley Representative John Stefanski calls it an important step forward…
Cut 4 (11)_ “…rates.”
The bill passed with a few hours left in the special session.The bill sets the jury trial threshold at 10,000 dollars, limits when insurance company’s names can be mentioned in court, removes a ban on mentioning a crash victim’s seatbelt status, and make other adjustments to collateral source.

Senator Bill Cassidy says he expects another federal stimulus package to be passed sometime in late July.
Cassidy aims to have CARES 4.0 focused on covering the estimated 500 billion dollars of lost revenue for local governments nationwide. He says the cancellation of spring south Louisiana festivals has already left a mark, and…
Cut 7 (10) “…festival.”
The 500 billion dollars includes funds already lost, and estimated losses moving into 2021.
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The Louisiana National Guard will honor first responders and frontline healthcare workers by performing flyovers over hospitals today. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The special session has concluded and many tort reform advocates are celebrating a deal cut in the final few hours of the session that led to the passage of a reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance rates.

The bill sets the jury trial threshold at 10,000 dollars, limits when insurance company’s names can be mentioned in court, removes a ban on mentioning a crash victim’s seatbelt status, and make other adjustments to collateral source, which appeared to be the biggest stumbling block in negotiations between the GOP and Governor

Crowley Representative John Stefanski calls it an important step forward…

Cut 4 (11)_ “…rates.”

But Baton Rouge Representative C. Denise Marcelle asked the question on everyone’s mind…

Cut 5 (07)  “…insurance”

Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud celebrated the bill’s passage, saying it would help fix the ongoing crisis in commercial auto insurance markets.

Cut 6 (09) “…the books”

Edwards signaled his approval of the legislation, complementing Republicans for compromising.

Legislation blocking civil suits against schools for COVID outbreaks also passed and Governor Edwards says he intends to sign it.

The Legislature wrapped up work on the 34 billion dollar budget. Despite the influx of hundreds of millions of dollars in CARES Act money Edwards warns there will still have to be some cuts due to COVID-related revenue shortfalls.

Cut 13 (11) “amounts” 

Edwards indicated he is concerned about the revenue impact of a series of tax cuts for businesses that passed…

Cut 14 (09) “…go back”

The special session has wrapped up.  Legislation passed with a veto-proof majority aimed at lower auto insurance rates, but there is no guarantee of a price break as the bill does not promise lower rates within an allotted time.  It’s less expansive than a previous tort reform bill vetoed by the Governor earlier this month.

Jefferson Parish will join Orleans in requiring people to put on a mask before entering a business. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

The state reported one-thousand new cases today as the state’s total case number surpassed 58-thousand. Governor John Bel Edwards’ next COVID-19 press briefing is tomorrow. Edwards has said he’s looking for more compliance from businesses. Assistant State Health Officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says the governor would rather see everyone do more when it comes to spread mitigation efforts, than returning the state to Phase one coronavirus restrictions…

Cut 13 (10) “…our reopening” 

According to the state health department, only 59% of those who tested positive from COVID-19 since mid-May have responded to phone calls from contact tracers and only one-third are answering calls within the crucial first 24 hours after the test results.  State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says there has been an uptick in the number of people paying attention to the advice of health officials with the recent upswing in cases.

Cut 7 (08) “…are going back up.”