After a short break waiting for Cristobal to pass Monday the House got back to work Tuesday pushing a series of tax relief bills for Louisiana businesses worth millions of dollars out of House Ways and Means and onto the House floor.

Chairman of the Louisiana Economic Recovery Task Force Jason Decuir says the state owes it to these businesses to lend a helping hand after many were ordered closed or limited for months.

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Those relief bills took many forms including a suspension of the franchise tax. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson, speaking on behalf of the Edwards Administration, says passing and maintaining these tax cuts could unbalance the state budget for years to come.

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Cities and states nationwide are taking up police reforms in the wake of massive George Floyd protests. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says it’s a bit late for legislators to file new bills with the special session in full swing so he’s aiming to introduce legislation next year or in a potential fall special session using recommendations from a 15-member task force he hopes to have created…

Cut 4 (07) “…so to speak.”

Fields says his legislation will also call for a statewide ban on the use of chokeholds by law enforcement, psychological testing for both prospective and current officers on a routine basis and new regulations for body cameras.

Governor Edwards signs legislation ending the auto insurance “Patriot Penalty” where military who were deployed overseas would return home to higher auto insurance rates. Anyone who is uninsured for six months or more must pay a higher rate upon reinsuring. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says that hammered the armed forces…

Cut 10 (09) “…rates.”

The University of Louisiana Monroe takes action following racist comments made online by faculty members, as a letter of termination has been sent to an instructor, and steps for termination have started with the other individual. ULM didn’t name the employees but according to the Monroe News Star assistant nursing professor, Mary Holmes referred to former President Barack Obama as a monkey and biology instructor Dennis Bell used a racial slur on his Facebook page.

Governor Edwards says Memorial Day weekend did not result in a significant increase in the transmission of COVID-19. Edwards has a few thoughts as to why…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma says a 44-year-old man died of natural causes while in the custody of the Shreveport Police Department on April sixth, but his death could have been preventable. Authorities say police officers used tasers, mace, and nightsticks to control Tommie McGlothen, who also fought with another citizen before law enforcement arrived. Thoma says McGlothen’s death could have possibly prevented, but he was left in the back of a patrol vehicle for 48 minutes…

Cut 4 (10)_ “…medical care”

Accused serial killer Ryan Sharpe will get a new trial as an East Feliciana Parish judge has voided his conviction, because it was not unanimous. Authorities say Sharpe fatally shot three people and injured another person during a 2017 shooting spree. Sharpe’s Attorney Tommy Damico believes Sharpe was insane at the time…
Cut 13 (13) “…insanity”  

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma says a 44-year-old man died of natural causes while in the custody of the Shreveport Police Department on April sixth, but his death could have been preventable. Thoma says Tommie McGlothen Junior died from excited delirium.
Cut 3 (09)  “…stimulant use.”  
Authorities say police officers used tasers, mace, and nightsticks to control McGlothen.
A third person has died from complications of a drowning incident on Grand Isle on Sunday. Over the last two weeks, there have been eleven calls for water rescues. In addition to larger crowds, Grand Isle Police Chief Laine Landry believes there are three other contributing factors to the dangerous conditions.

Cut 7 (12) “…for beach protection.”

It’s been two weeks since Memorial Day weekend and Governor Edwards says he’s heartened to see the state did not experience a significant surge in COVID transmission as a result of the holiday. An LSU poll that showed 62 percent wear a mask always or often when leaving the house, up from just 48 percent in April. Edwards thanked residents for being responsible and masking up…

Cut 11 (07) “…as well.”

The poll indicated that 76 percent of people agree that wearing a mask is the responsible thing to do.

An East Feliciana Parish judge has voided the first-degree murder charge of accused serial killer Ryan Sharpe as the result of a recent US Supreme Court decision that bans non-unanimous convictions. Sharpe’s Attorney Tommy Damico says his client was convicted by jurors 11 to 1 last December…

Cut 12 (12) “motion”

The Caddo Parish coroner rules that a 44-year-old man died of natural causes while in the custody of the Shreveport Police Department, but his death could possibly have been prevented…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

A White Opelousas police officer has been charged with five counts of Malfeasance in Office for an incident where he allegedly entered a black teen’s hospital room and beat him. 49-year-old Sgt. No explanation has been provided as to why Andrepont was in the room.

A third person has died from complications of a drowning incident on Grand Isle on Friday. 33-year-old Terrell Miller of Houma died in a hospital following his attempt to rescue his fiancé’s children, 9-year-old Dalvin Richardson and 8-year-old Davon Richardson. Grand Isle Police Chief Laine Landry says a day of celebration turned tragic in an instant.

Cut 6 (05) “…was Davon’s birthday.”

Over the last two weeks, there have been eleven calls for water rescues, with four fatalities in Grand Isle.

An alleged East Feliciana Parish serial killer has his 2019 1^st degree murder conviction voided by an East Feliciana Parish judge due to it being non-unanimous. Ryan Sharpe is accused of killing three people in 2017 and was convicted in one of the killings 11-1. Sharpe’s Attorney Tommy Damico says non-unanimous jury verdicts are unjust and he’s glad the High Court’s ruling will give his client another chance.

Cut 14 (08) “…justice”

Sharpe still faces charges related to the other alleged murders.

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma says 44-year-old Tommie McGlothen Junior’s death in the back of a Shreveport Police patrol car in April, could have been preventable. McGlothen was involved in a physical altercation with a citizen and police officers, but Thoma says McGlothen ended up dying of excited delirium…
cut 5 (11) “…rapidly fatal”
The four arresting officers have been put on departmental leave.

Accused serial killer Ryan Sharpe will get a new trial as an East Feliciana Parish judge has voided his conviction, because it was not unanimous. Authorities say Sharpe fatally shot three people and injured another person during a 2017 shooting spree. Sharpe’s Attorney Tommy Damico believes Sharpe was insane at the time…
cut 13 (13) “…insanity”

Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas are among 14 states that are reporting their highest-ever seven-day average of coronavirus cases. Louisiana is not one of those 14 states. Governor John Bel Edwards…
cut 10 (10) “…there”
Louisiana reported over 500 new cases today and 13 additional deaths.

Since the Memorial Day weekend, four people have drowned in Grand Isle while swimming just off the beach. Police Chief Laine Landry says they’ve responded to to 11 calls for water rescues over the last two weeks and there are some contributing factors…
cut 7 (12) “….for beach protection”
Landry says they are asking beachgoers to be vigilant about the strong currents.

Governor Edwards says Memorial Day weekend did not result in a significant increase in the transmission of COVID-19. Edwards has a few thoughts as to why…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

Ochsner Baton Rouge recently celebrated 250 hours passing without a COVID-19 positive patient on a ventilator. A statement released from the hospital notes that while they are still treating a handful of cases at the medical facility in Baton Rouge the severity of cases is currently not at critical as the previous wave.

Alleged Capital Region serial killer Ryan Sharpe has his 2019 non-unanimous First Degree Murder charge voided. Sharpe’s conviction came before the US Supreme Court’s April decision that deemed all non-unanimous convictions unconstitutional. Sharpe’s Attorney Tommy Damico says because his client was convicted 11-1…

Cut 12 (12) “motion”

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma says a 44-year-old Tommie McGlothen Junior died of excited delirium while in the custody of the Shreveport Police Department on April sixth. Authorities say police officers used tasers, mace, and nightsticks to control McGlothen, who also fought with another citizen before law enforcement arrived. Thoma says McGlothen’s death could have possibly been prevented, but he was left in the back of a patrol vehicle for 48 minutes…

Cut 4 (10)_ “…medical care”

It’s been two weeks since Memorial Day weekend and Governor John Bel Edwards says he is heartened to see the state did not experience a significant surge in COVID transmission because of the holiday. Edwards says they have a few theories as to why transmissions did not spike…

Cut 9 (11) “…to do.”

A third person has died from complications of a drowning incident on Grand Isle on Friday. 33-year-old Terrell Miller of Houma died in a hospital following his attempt to rescue his fiancé’s children, 9-year-old Dalvin Richardson and 8-year-old Davon Richardson. Grand Isle Police Chief Laine Landry says they are sending a clear message to beachgoers about being vigilant of rough seas and strong currents.

Cut 8 (11) “…public access points.”

The Caddo Parish coroner rules that a 44-year-old man died of natural causes while in the custody of the Shreveport Police Department, but his death could possibly have been prevented. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

COVID-19 numbers released from the state today show an increase in cases by 562 and fatalities increased by 13. Hospitalizations are down by 14 to 568 and vent usage is down by 4 to 67.

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma says a 44-year-old man died of natural causes while in the custody of the Shreveport Police Department on April sixth, but his death could have been preventable. Thoma says Tommie McGlothen Junior died from excited delirium.
Cut 3 (09)  “…stimulant use.”  
Authorities say police officers used tasers, mace, and nightsticks to control McGlothen.
A third person has died from complications of a drowning incident on Grand Isle on Friday. 33-year-old Terrell Miller of Houma died in a hospital following his attempt to rescue 9-year-old Dalvin Richardson and 8-year-old Davon Richardson. Grand Isle Police Chief Laine Landry says a day of celebration turned tragic in an instant.
Cut 6 (05) “…was Davon’s birthday.”
A 12-year-old female relative who was also rescued is expected to make a full recovery.

Governor Edwards says police reforms are needed, but he does not support the movement to redirect tax dollars away from law enforcement agencies and into social services like education…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Shaun Ferguson has apologized for his officers firing so-called rubber bullets at protesters on the Crescent City Connection last week. The chief says their special operations division was not authorized to use the anti-riot rounds and an investigation is underway.

Governor Edwards says Louisiana should consider police reforms in next year’s legislative session. Cities and states across the country are taking up changes to policing policy in the wake of George Floyd protests. Edwards says he spoke with Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields about what could be done in Louisiana.
Cut 7 (11) “…scrutiny.”
Edwards says reforms to the way police interact with their community are needed, and overdue.

The UNO Transportation Institute wants residents to fill out a survey detailing what they would like to see from a hypothetical Baton Rouge to New Orleans passenger rail service. Research Associate Tara (tar-uh) Tolford says their survey asks commuters along the route in Gonzales, LaPlace, and Jefferson Parish how or if they would use the system.
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Rail service between the two locations is highly limited at the moment.

The pace of the special session will accelerate this week. Matt Doyle spoke with LaPolitics.com’s Jeremy Alford…

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Black student leaders met with LSU officials concerning the university’s heavily criticized initial response to an incoming student using a racial slur on video. Initially, LSU’s response to the video made it appear there was no way of holding the potential student accountable, but during the meeting, interim President Thomas Galligan assured students a process is in place for students making blatantly racist remarks.

There’s a growing movement around the country to defund law enforcement and use that money instead on community programs. But Governor John Bel Edwards, who comes from a family of law enforcement officers, says he does not agree with the Defund the Police Movement…
cut 9 (09) “….appropriate”
But Edwards says he could support legislation dealing with the selection of officers, the training and retraining of officers and their supervision.

An LSU survey conducted in late May found that 71-percent of the 757 respondents continued to stay at home instead of going to work, school or other regular activity. That’s down 10-percent from an April survey. LSU Public Policy Research Lab director Michael Henderson…
cut 12 (07) “….across the state”
Over 75-percent of the respondents say they are still uncomfortable getting on an airplane or attending a large sports or entertainment event.

The UNO Transportation Institute is conducting a study that seeks input from individuals who would use a proposed passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Research associate Tara Tolford says they plan to use this data to further refine the concept…
cut 15 (10) “….forward”
The survey can be found on UNO T-I’s Facebook page.

Week two of the special session is underway. The House Ways and Means Committee will discuss several business tax break bills. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says during the special session, legislators will also discuss legislation that would change unemployment qualifications…
cut 5 (07) “….as well”
On Thursday, the full House will debate a spending plan for the next fiscal year.