An effort to ban the sale of kratom has cleared its first hurdle. The Senate’s Judiciary C Committee approved Monroe Senator Jay Morris’s bill that would make it a crime to possess and distribute Kratom, which acts like a stimulant in low does and as a sedative in high doses…

Cut 4 (12) “….individuals”

Doctors say you can get addicted to kratom and it can lead to psychotic symptoms. But several people testified against the legislation, including Wednesday ForestBear, who uses kratom to manage pain as she suffers from a spinal disorder that causes excruciating pain…

Cut 6 (06) “…regulate”

There are bills filed in this regular session that seek to regulations on kratom, which is not approved for medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The measure heads to the full senate for more discussion.

A Louisiana death row inmate’s conviction was thrown out last week because a judge in Ouachita Parish has determined Jimmie Duncan’s conviction was based on junk science. Duncan is accused of killing his girlfriend’s 23-month old daughter. A bite mark was the key evidence in Duncan’s conviction. Richard Webster has examined the case as part of a ProPublica investigation and says new evidence led to Ouachita Parish Judge Alvin Sharp reconsidering the conviction…

Cut 9 (18) “…to drown”

Duncan remains behind bars and it will be up to the Ouachita Parish District Attorney to re-try him.

The second ranked LSU baseball team defeated Southeastern Louisiana 15 to 2 last night in seven innings. Northwestern State defeated ULM nine to eight.

The FBI said Tuesday that it continues to believe that the man who slammed a truck into revelers on Bourbon Street New Year’s Day acted alone.  That’s despite new reports that Iraqi officials arrested an alleged ISIS member for inciting the attack. In a statement, the agency said yesterday though the investigation is ongoing, they believe Shamsud Din-Jabbar acted alone in carrying out the attack that left 14 people dead and injured dozens.

A man who has spent more than a quarter century on death row in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s nearly two-year-old daughter has had his first-degree murder conviction thrown out.  Jimmie Duncan was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1993 death of little Haley Oliveaux. Richard Webster, who’s been covering the story for ProPublica, says Duncan’s conviction was due in large part to testimony experts now say is junk science.

Cut 8 (14) “…to Jimmie Duncan.”

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Senator Bill Cassidy is hailing the 17-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment that Woodside Energy Group is making in Louisiana. The Australian-based company announced yesterday that it is putting up a greenfield liquified natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish. Cassidy says this is the first greenfield LNG export facility to advance since President Trump rolled back the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permits.

Cut 13 (14)  “…celebrate 100 days.”

Amtrak will launch a new intercity train service, the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service, this summer, running twice daily between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. The trains will offer scenic travel with morning and evening departures. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross says the service aims to boost tourism, improve regional connectivity, and support local economies.

Cut 15 (12) “…from Baton Rouge.”

Amtrak is getting set to launch the Mardi Gras Service running twice daily between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Senator Bill Cassidy is hailing the 17-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment that Woodside Energy Group is making in Louisiana saying it will bring thousands of new jobs to Calcasieu Parish.

Cut 11 (11) “…year once operational.”

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A bill that would ban the sale of kratom has been approved and moves to the Senate floor. David Lebrano supports the bill and spoke to the dangers of the drug.  Lebrano’s son died from an apparent kratom overdose, and he hopes to prevent others from experiencing this pain.

Cut 5 (11) “…gas station, headshops, anywhere.”

But some critics say the ban will hurt those who use the product medicinally to help manage pain.  Adam Peak who owns Bella Sunrise Smoke Shop, says kratom has been a net positive, helping with overcoming addiction to other drugs and alcohol.

Cut 7 (11) “…an issue of kratom.”

A first-degree murder conviction against a death-row inmate has been thrown out. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The FBI said Tuesday that it continues to believe that the man who slammed a truck into revelers on Bourbon Street New Year’s Day acted alone.  That’s despite new reports that Iraqi officials arrested an alleged ISIS member for inciting the attack. In a statement, the agency said yesterday though the investigation is ongoing, they believe Shamsud Din-Jabbar acted alone in carrying out the attack that left 14 people dead and injured dozens.

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A bill that would ban the sale of kratom was approved and moves to the Senate floor. Senate Bill 154 is authored by Monroe Republican Jay Morris.

Cut 4 (12) “…and to individuals.”

Proponents of the bill say kratom is dangerous and deadly but others say a ban on the drug would hurt others who use the product medicinally and help manage pain.

Australian-based Woodside Energy Group has announced a 17-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment building a greenfield liquified natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish. The news comes as several other major companies have committed to huge Louisiana investments. Senator Bill Cassidy

Cut 12 (11) “…can be brighter.”

A senate committee advances a bill that would ban the sale of kratom. Senate Bill 154 by Monroe Republican Jay Morris seeks to ban kratom entirely.

Cut 4 (12) “…families and to individuals.”

David Lebrano supports the bill and spoke to the dangers of the drug.  Lebrano’s son died from an apparent kratom overdose, and he hopes to prevent others from experiencing this pain.

Cut 5 (11) “…gas station, headshops, anywhere.”

Critics like kratom user and advocate Wednesday Forrest-Bear say the ban would take away from people using the product medically to help manage pain.

Cut 6 (06) “…regulate.”

The House approves measures that seek to lower the payouts car accident victims receive in court. Jeff Palermo reports that supporters say the legal reforms will help drive down auto insurance rates.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Coming up tomorrow, the House is expected to take up a measure giving the insurance commissioner the power to block excessive insurance rate increases. The bill, which Governor Landry supports and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple opposes, was on the House agenda yesterday, but it was pushed back.

The Louisiana House has approved bills regarding lawsuit payouts for car accident victims. One of those measures is a medical transparency bill by Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso that would make medical costs admissible in court, so the judge and jury know exactly how much a person injured in a wreck paid in medical costs…

Cut 14 (07) “…consider it.”

The other bill says if a driver is 51-percent or more at fault for a wreck, they are not entitled to damages. Both bills now head to a Senate committee for further consideration.

More than 30,000 residents in Bossier and Caddo parishes were left without power for six hours on Saturday, prompting Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell to demand answers from SWEPCO and the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). About what happened and who is paying for it.

Cut 3 (11) “…whos gonna pay for that.”

Louisiana is once again participating in the federal SUN Bucks program. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Governor Landry announces yet another major economic development project for Louisiana.

Cut 6 (17) “…their other colleagues.”

Woodside Energy is an Australian based company and their 17-billion-dollar investment in this LNG export facility in Calcasieu Parish is the largest single foreign direct investment in Louisiana history.

A Suspected ISIS member has been arrested in Iraq for his alleged connection to the New Year’s morning terror attack on Bourbon Street that killed 14 people and injured over 50 people. The FBI says they believe Shamsud-Din Jabbar who drove his truck into the crowd, acted alone. The suspect arrested in Iraq was arrested for inciting the Jan. 2025 truck attack in the United States according to Iraqi officials and they say he will be prosecuted in Iraq under their country’s anti-terrorism laws.

The Louisiana House has approved bills that seek to reduce the big payouts car accident victims receive after filing a lawsuit. One of those measures is Baton Rouge Representative Emily Chenevert’s (SHEN-UH-VAIR) bill, which says if a driver is 51-percent or more at fault for a wreck, they are not entitled to damages. She says states with lower insurance rates have this law…

Cut 12 (12) “…claim for damages.”

Woodside Energy Group an Australian-based company announces a huge investment in Calcasieu Parish. The liquefied natural gas export facility is the first greenfield LNG export facility to advance since President Trump rolled back the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permits. Woodside Executive Vice President Daniel Kalms

Cut 7 (13) “…sector this year.”

Louisiana is participating in the federal SUN Bucks program to provide eligible school age children, 120-dollars to use on food during the summer months when they’re out of school. Tim Jenkins with the Department of Children and Family Services, says those participating in certain programs will get a new SUN Bucks card sent to them.

Cut 10 (13) “…the child’s name.”

Australian-based Woodside Energy Group is investing over $17 billion to build a new Liquefied Natural Gas facility in Calcasieu Parish It’s the first greenfield LNG export facility to advance since President Trump rolled back the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permits. Governor Landry says the project will create about 15-thousand jobs during construction and thousands more once the facility is up and running.

Cut 8 (10) “…their incomes raised.”

Louisiana is once again participating in the federal SUN Bucks program providing eligible 120-dollars to use on food during the summer months. Tim Jenkins with the Department of Children and Family Services, says

families have 122 days – about four months – to use the money and it may only be used for certain food items.

Cut 11 (09) “…nothing like that.”

The House has approved measures that seek to lower the payouts car accident victims receive in court. Jeff Palermo reports that supporters say the legal reforms will help drive down auto insurance rates…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

More than 30,000 SWEPCO customers in Bossier and Caddo parishes were left without power for six hours on Saturday. The outage, ordered by Southwest Power Pool to prevent a broader grid failure, came without warning and has raised serious concerns from residents and business owners. SPP President Lanny Nickell…

Cut 4 (13) “…from reoccurring.”

Governor Landry announces yet another major economic development project for Louisiana.

Cut 6 (17) “…their other colleagues.”

Woodside Energy is an Australian based company and their 17 billion dollar investment in this LNG export facility in Calcasieu Parish is the largest single foreign direct investment in Louisiana history.

Thirty-thousand SWEPCO customers in Caddo and Bossier Parishes want to know why their power was turned off for several hours on Saturday. SWEPCO President Brett Matison said at a press conference today that the outage was necessary because of rapidly developing voltage instability involving Southwest Power Pool…

Cut 5 (08) “…specific area”

Mattison says they can’t guarantee this will not happen again during the summer, when temperatures soar above 90-degrees.

Louisiana is once again participating in the federal SUN Bucks program. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

We’ve known for a long time that Louisiana’s energy industry is a major part of the state’s economy. A new study released finds the state’s energy industry generates 25-percent of the state’s economy, 15-percent of state employment and 19-percent of total earnings. The Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association paid for the study to get a pulse on the true value of the state’s energy sector.

Oil and gas has long been a major driver in the state’s economy, and now we know exactly to what extent. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Australian-based Woodside Energy announced today a 17-point-5 billion dollar investment on a new liquified natural gas production and export facility in Calcasieu Parish. It’s the largest foreign investment in state history.

More than 30,000 residents in Bossier and Caddo parishes were left without power for six hours on Saturday, prompting Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell to demand answers from SWEPCO and the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). About what happened and who is paying for it.

Cut 3 (11) “…whos gonna pay for that.”

Balloon releases in Louisiana are one step closer to being illegal. The House passed HB581 by Harahan Republican John Illg, sending it to the Senate. Illg says what goes up must come down; and when those balloons released into the air come down, they could have serious consequences for the environment and wildlife.

Cut 15 (06) “…into the air.”