A legislative committee created to investigate how State Police handled the 2019 death of Black motorist Ronald Greene meets for the first time today. Greene’s family says L-S-P tried to keep quiet the details of Greene’s death who was beaten and tased by arresting troopers. Speaker Pro Tem Tanner Magee is chairing the committee and he wants to know why some leaders for State Police reportedly had their phones cleaned after Greene’s death…
cut 27 (12) “…bottom of it”
The meeting begins at 1:30.

Triple-A says gas prices are up another seven cents in Louisiana today to a statewide average of $3.95 a gallon for regular gasoline, which is six cents shy of a record high set in 2008. The price of gas has risen 75-cents in the last month.

Louisiana Department of Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc tells the Senate Finance Committee there are more than 300 guard positions currently unfilled at the Angola state penitentiary, a facility that houses over five-thousand inmates.
Cut 6 (08) “…our top challenge.”
LeBlanc says the work environment is difficult for someone working 15-dollars an hour and the state’s prisons are not air-conditioned, something lawmakers say they will look at funding to help with guard retention.

A lucky crawfish was officially pardoned by Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser in Baton Rouge this morning. For the last six years on the first Tuesday after Mardi Gras, the state officially pardons one crustacean to celebrate the mudbug season. Nungesser says the pardoned crawfish will enjoy the rest of his days at Tickfaw State Park.
Cut 9 (08) “…good deal.”
This year’s pardoned crawfish is named Arrigeaux, after retiring Visit Baton Rouge President Paul Arrigo.