Legislation that would lower the age from 18 to 17 at which a person charged with a felony could be charged as an adult successfully cleared the Senate in a 30-9 vote. Turkey Creek Senator Heather Cloud says an increase in crime including deadly shootings, home invasions and carjackings was the motivation behind the bill. She says the state has suffered from high crime rate and the current system for juvenile offenders is broken.

Cut 5 (12) “…not working.”

New Orleans Democratic Senator Royce Duplessis says from 2017-2020 the number of under 18 crimes decreased from 6400 to 3700. He says putting juveniles in adult jails isn’t going to solve the problem.

Cut 6  (10) “…begin with.” 

The measure heads to the House for more discussion.

The Louisiana House has approved legislation that expands the methods by which the state can carry out an execution. Hammond Representative Nicholas Muscarello’s bill provides penalties for anyone that would publicize where the state obtained the drugs for an execution….

Cut 15 (10) “…novel concept”

Early Literacy Matters ranks Louisiana for its comprehensive literacy policy for kindergarten through third grade students. Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Jenna Chaisson says the most impactful policy requires kindergarten through third grade teachers and school leaders to undergo a science of reading training. She says getting rid of the three-cuing systems has also provided positive results.

Cut 11 (11) “…been eliminated.”

The Louisiana House has approved a measure that expands the methods to carry out a death penalty and also puts penalties in place for releasing information on drugs used for a lethal injection. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (35)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Legislation that would lower the age from 18 to 17 at which a person charged with a felony could be charged as an adult successfully cleared the Senate. New Orleans Democratic Senator Royce Duplessis says putting juveniles in adult court and correctional systems is not the answer.

Cut 3 (13) “…these facilities.”  

A bill that would raise the minimum prison sentence from two to five years for carjackings and from 10 to 20 years for carjackings that result in serious injury is headed to a senate committee for debate after passing the full house. New Orleans Democrat Matthew Williard asked bill sponsor Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel if doubling the sentences would reduce the number of carjackings.

Cut 8 (12) “…our laws.” 

Louisiana is leading the way with common sense reading reforms says Department of Education says Deputy Superintendent Jenna Chaisson. Reforms include parental notification of students with reading difficulties. She says kindergarten through third grade students are at critical ages when it comes to learning how to read.

Cut 12 (13)  “…a difference.”  

The Louisiana House has approved legislation that expands the methods the state can carry out an execution. Hammond Representative Nicholas Muscarello’s measure would give the state the option to use the electric chair or nitrogen to end the life of a death row inmate…

Cut 13 (13) “…to want.”  

The House voted 71 to 29 in favor of the legislation and heads to the Senate for further debate.

Early Literacy Matters ranks Louisiana for its comprehensive policy for kindergarten through third grade students. Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Jenna Chaisson says the state was recognized for implementing a universal reading screener for students having trouble reading.

Cut 10 (13) “…reading plan.”

Education Recovery Scorecard found Louisiana is one of only three states where average reading achievement in 2023 was above levels in 2019.

A bill to double the minimum prison sentence for carjackings received full passage in the House. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

In an unanimous vote, the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System has named Dr. Martin Lemelle as the next president of Grambling State University. Lemelle is an alum of Grambling and served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Grambling. He will serve as Grambling’s 11^th president.

Legislation to lower the age from 18 to 17 at which a person charged with a felony could be considered an adult successfully cleared the Senate in a 30-9 vote. Turkey Creek Senator Heather Cloud says an increase in crime including deadly shootings, home invasions and carjackings was the motivation for the bill. She says the state has suffered enough and the current system for juvenile offenders is broken.

Cut 5 (12) “…not working.”

New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis says from 2017-2020 the number of juvenile crimes decreased from 6400 to 3700 and putting juveniles in adult jails isn’t going to solve the problem.

Cut 6  (10) “…begin with.” 

The measure heads to a House committee for more discussion.

A bill to double the minimum prison sentence for carjackings receives full passage in the House. Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel was questioned by New Orleans Democrat Matthew Williard if the state can handle an influx of prisoners with new laws passed in the crime special session.

Cut 7 (12) “…to jail.”  

The bill passed on an 89-15 vote and heads to a Senate committee for debate.

And a Baton Rouge judge has ruled against a temporary restraining order filed on behalf of advocacy groups who say limiting public input on laws debated in the crime special session is unlawful.

A bill allowing non felon adults to conceal carry a gun without a permit or training is headed to the House after passing the Senate 28-10. The bill’s author is New Iberia Senator Blake Miguez…
Cut 13 (08) “…equal footing.”
Governor Jeff Landry has said he’ll sign this bill when it reaches his desk.

It’s that time of year where you’ll see crane flies hanging around lights and getting inside your home. They look like large mosquitos. LSU Ag Center Entomologist Doctor Aaron Ashbrook says they are harmless and don’t bite, but they can be a nuisance especially when you open your door and they fly into your house…
cut 12 (11) “…crane flies”

Legislation that would lower the age from 18 to 17 at which a person charged with a felony could be charged as an adult successfully cleared the Senate in a 30-9 vote. New Orleans Democratic Senator Royce Duplessis says putting juveniles in adult court and correctional systems is not the answer.
Cut 3 (13) “…these facilities.”
The bill would “Repeal the Raise the Age Act” approved in 2017. Its resulted in many 17 year old offenders being charged as juveniles for crime. West Monroe Republican Senator Jay Morris says having 17-year-olds in juvenile justice facilities is not working…
Cut 4 (10) “…corrections officer.”
The measure heads to the House for more discussion.

The Louisiana Senate has approved a bill that would allow nonfelon adults to conceal carry a gun without a permit or training. Democrats voted against the legislation. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis shared a letter from the Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police who opposes the bill then questioned how permit-less conceal carry helps police…
Cut 14 (10) “…God-given right.”
West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says the Fraternal Order of Police is a labor union and doesn’t represent all law enforcement. Quoting from a letter received from Retired West Monroe Police Chief, Jeff Terrell, he says the Founders made it clear that restrictions hurt law-biding citizens…
Cut 15 (07) “…or cannot.”
The measure heads to the House for more debate.

The Promise Justice Initiative has filed for a temporary restraining order against the legislature because public input on the crime special session bills has been limited. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

It’s that time of the year when crane flys are fluttering around and making their way inside your home. LSU Ag Center entomologist Doctor Aaron Ashbrook says February and March are their primary months as adult males only live a week or two…
cut 11 (05) “…are dying”

The Louisiana Senate has approved legislation that would allow non-felon adults to carry a concealed handgun without training or a state-issued a permit. New Iberia Senator Blake Miguez says his bill empowers law-abiding citizens, but New Orleans Democrat Royce Duplessis says it’s one of the most dangerous pieces of legislation to ever pass out of the Senate…
cut 16 (07) “…community safer”
The House hears the bill next.

A hearing is underway in a Baton Rouge courtroom over a temporary restraining order filed by advocates who claim the Legislature is not devoting enough time to hear public input on the criminal justice proposals moving through the legislative process. Erica Navalance is with the Promise Justice Initiative…
cut 9 (10) “….make laws”
Governor Jeff Landry has sent a letter to the USDA requesting aid for Louisiana’s crawfish industry. Teiko Foxx spoke with a crawfish farmer about much-needed assistance…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

The body of a female woman found in a wooded area north of Marksville last October has been identified. A forensics lab in Baton Rouge and the State Police Crime Lab have been able to determine its 38-year-old Ashley Beauclair of Marksville and her death has been ruled a homicide. The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

A bill allowing nonfelon adults to conceal carry a gun without a permit is headed to the House after passing the Senate 28-10…
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The Louisiana Senate has left town for a couple of days, but the House will be working on this Friday. On the agenda, is a bill that would eliminate parole in most cases. Another bill would make all state prisoners serve 85-percent of their sentences before their eligible for early release as a reward for good behavior.

The Promise Justice Initiative has filed for a temporary restraining order against the Legislature because public input on bills has been limited to an hour in committee meetings. Erica Navalance with PJI says lawmakers are trying to rush through sweeping monumental changes to state laws…
Cut 7 (09) “…represent.”
Navalance says the state constitution demands a process that allows for full and meaningful participation by the public.

The public is demanding crawfish, but there’s not a lot of mudbugs to be had as this is a historically bad season as a result of last year’s drought. Chairman of the Crawfish Promotion and Research Board David Savoy says production will be an ongoing issue for the next three to four years because…
cut 6 (11) “…seed that”
Governor Landry sent a letter to the USDA requesting federal aid for crawfish farmers.

Governor Jeff Landry signs an executive order that keeps a big property tax break in place for manufacturers, but it removes a job creation requirement put in place by former Governor John Bel Edwards. Together Louisiana says the change to the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program is a gift for corporations. But Landry says removing the job requirement is about capital investment…
Cut 18 (08) “…retaining jobs.”

A bill allowing non felon adults to conceal carry a gun without a permit or training is headed to the House after passing the Senate 28-10. The bill’s author is New Iberia Senator Blake Miguez…
Cut 13 (08) “…equal footing.”
Governor Jeff Landry has said he’ll sign this bill when it reaches his desk.

Governor Landry has sent a letter to USDA asking for much-needed federal assistance for Louisiana’s crawfish industry which is struggling to harvest mudbugs because of last summer’s drought. Chairman of the Crawfish Promotion and Research Board David Savoy says crawfish farmers have invested thousands of dollars and are not seeing great results.
Cut 4 (10) “…electric bills.”
LSU’s Ag Center estimates the potential losses to be nearly $140 million due to the combined drought and a freeze in mid January.

A hearing takes place this morning in a Baton Rouge courtroom regarding a temporary restraining order filed by a couple of groups who say the Louisiana Legislature is not devoting enough time to public input during the crime special session. Erica Navalance with Promise Justice Initiative says the House Criminal Justice Committee has restricted each person to just three minutes and each side gets one hour…
cut 8 (13) “…all of us”
Legislative committees will often limit public testimony when considering bills.

The first week of the special session on crime is wrapping up and Governor Jeff Landry’s tough on crime proposals continue to advance. The Senate has approved a bill that requires 17 year olds accused of a felony to be charged as adults. The House has approved a bill that would result in a longer sentence for carjackers.

The Promise Justice Initiative has filed for a temporary restraining order against the Legislature claiming public input on the crime special session bills has been limited. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Governor Jeff Landry has sent a letter to the USDA requesting federal dollars for crawfish farmers who are having a difficult time harvesting mudbugs because of the 2023 drought. Chairman of the Crawfish Promotion and Research Board David Savoy says a few farmers are having some good days, but for a vast majority it’s a struggle…
cut 5 (10) “….little production”
Savoy says there are more than 100-thousand acres of crawfish ponds, but a third of them are not producing any crawfish this year.

It’s that time of year for crane flies. They look like giant mosquitoes. Assistant Professor in Urban Entomology at the LSU Ag Center Dr. Aaron Ashbrook says the long-winged insect may be a nuisance but they play an important role in our ecosystem.
Cut 10 (13) “…the environment.”
Ashbrook says the Bayou State typically sees large emergences of crane flies, known as mosquito hawks, in February and March. Most adults are typically attracted to light and water.