The House unanimously approves legislation sending a 250 dollar check to some essential workers. To qualify workers must earn under 50,000 a year. A prior version had the limit at 70,000 a year but bill author Shreveport Representative Sam Jenkins says they needed money to reach more people.

Cut 4, 10 seconds, stores

Governor Edwards signs a gun bill targeting local gun restriction ordinances. The legislation was opposed by the mayors of Baton Rouge and New Orleans who objected to it because it would prohibit local governments from establishing gun-free zones in parks, playgrounds, and other public areas. Edwards doesn’t see the legislation to be controversial…

Cut 7 (10) “…issue”

It was one of three gun rights bills Edwards authorized.

A Senate-approved measure creating a policing policy task force written by Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields clears a House committee and is headed to the House floor.  Law enforcement supports the resolution and Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle took note of that…

Cut 9 (08) “…the nation”

Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says it’s a good first step towards cleaning up police forces…

Cut 11 (12) “…force.”

But the retired deputy did cause a bit of an uproar with one statement…

Cut 10 (12) “…State Capitol.”

A United Way survey breaks down Louisiana residents’ top concerns during the pandemic. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Louisiana House has unanimously approved a bill that will result in the state sending grocery store employees, bus drivers, nurses, EMS workers and other first responders with a 250-dollar check for hazard pay. Those who make less than 50-thousand dollars will be eligible. Federal coronavirus relief aid will pay for the one-time bonus checks for those who were required to work when the COVID crisis began. The measure still needs Senate approval.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed into law three measures from the regular session that have the support of gun rights advocates…
cut 8 (10) “…moderate side”
One of the bills says local municipalities can not prohibit concealed permit holders from bringing a gun into a public building or park.

28-year-old Cordale Richard was arrested today in the shooting deaths of 21-year-old Aliza Gabriel and 20-year-old Tanasa Francis at a large party in Raceland Sunday. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Lt. Brennan Matherne says Richard was involved in a fight at the party, and once the police arrived he allegedly began firing indiscriminately into a crowd.
Cut 14 (09) “…the scene.”
Detectives say Francis and Gabriel were innocent bystanders.

A House committee approves a proposal to create a Police Training, Screening, and De-escalation Task Force. The panel will study police department policies and make recommendations on how they can be improved. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala is a retired deputy and says he supports the resolution and believes the state needs to put a stop to police brutality…
Cut 11 (12) “…force.”
The Senate approved measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.
A survey from the Louisiana Association of United Ways finds that two-thirds of Louisiana residents need help in paying everyday bills during this COVID-19 pandemic. President of the non-profit Sarah Berthelot says when it comes to the top concerns, 12% say it’s housing, 20% says it’s their community and at 32%, the top concern is avoiding the coronavirus.

Cut 5 (12)  “…was contracting COVID-19.”

28-year-old Cordale Richard was arrested today in the shooting deaths of 21-year-old Aliza Gabriel and 20-year-old Tanasa Francis at a large party in Raceland Sunday. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Lt. Brennan Matherne says Richard admitted to the shootings after police tracked him to his home and arrested him without incident.
Cut 15 (11)“ shooting” 
Richard faces two counts of First Degree Murder along with several other charges.

A Calhoun man is in the Ouachita Parish correctional center charged with 400 counts of child porn and 100 counts of sexual abuse of an animal.  40-year-old Keith Taylor is accused of being in possession of, and possibly distributing, inappropriate content online. Trooper Brent Hardy says the allegations have likely shaken the community.

Cut 13 (07) “…knows Mr. Taylor.”  

A Senate-approved resolution that seeks to create a task force to study police law enforcement policies and make recommendations on how to improve receives unanimous support from a House committee. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Border patrol agents seize 2,000 counterfeit designer face masks shipped into the port of New Orleans from China and Vietnam. No information right now as to whether the masks were functional, but they were seized for bearing the counterfeit trademarks of Burberry, Supreme, Gucci, and Chanel on the front of them.

Governor Edwards signs a bill that would allow concealed carry within churches, but only if the administrator of that house of worship allows it. The bill was opposed by the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana and other church representatives testified against it in committee, but Edwards says each church can make their own choice…

Cut 6 (03) “…have it”

Edwards also signed legislation overriding local gun-free zone ordinances that go further than state law.

A Calhoun man is in the Ouachita Parish correctional center charged with 400 counts of child porn and 100 counts of sexual abuse of an animal.  Trooper Brent Hardy says the investigation of 40-year-old Keith Taylor began in April when the Special Victims Unit received information that Taylor in possession of, and possibly distributing, inappropriate content online.

Cut 12 (08) “…children and animals.”

The investigation was conducted with the help of multiple agencies including the FBI, the Louisiana AG’s office, and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s office.

Governor Edwards signs a gun bill targeting local gun restriction ordinances. The legislation was opposed by the mayors of Baton Rouge and New Orleans, as well as the Louisiana Municipal Association who objected to it because it would prohibit local governments from establishing gun-free zones in parks, playgrounds, and other public areas. Edwards doesn’t see the legislation to be controversial…

Cut 7 (10) “…issue”

28-year-old Cordale Richard was arrested today in the shooting deaths of 21-year-old Aliza Gabriel and 20-year-old Tanasa Francis at a large party in Raceland Sunday. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Lt. Brennan Matherne says Richard was involved in a fight at the party, and once the police arrived he allegedly began firing indiscriminately into a crowd.

Cut 14 (09) “…the scene.”

Francis and Gabriel are believed to have been uninvolved bystanders.

A United Way survey breaks down Louisiana residents’ top concerns during the pandemic. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

After about a week of rising COVID-19 case numbers many were eager to see if the trend continued today, but they’ll have to wait as the Department of House says they are reviewing all data they’ve received and will not be releasing a case count today. Governor Edwards may provide additional information on our status at his 2:30 press conference today.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed into law three measures from the regular session that have the support of gun rights advocates…
cut 8 (10) “…moderate side”
One of the bills says local municipalities can not prohibit concealed permit holders from bringing a gun into a public building or park.

A survey from the Louisiana Association of United Ways finds that 47-percent of residents say their child care situation changed after the stay at home order. President of the group Sarah Berthelot says for some individuals the change was so great they had to quit their job…
cut 4 (08) “…work hours”
Half of the respondents also expressed concern about child care availability in the near future.

A House committee supported a resolution today that would create a police training, screening, and De-escalation Task Force that will make recommendations to the legislature on police reform. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields is the author of the resolution and he says recent research shows black men are three times more likely than white men to be killed by police intervention. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala is a retired deputy and made a statement that caused a brief uproar
Cut 10 (12) “…State Capitol.”
Bacala went on to say he supports the resolution and believes the state needs to put a stop to police brutality.

The state health department says it’s reviewing all data and will not be updating coronavirus case count today. Governor Edwards has a COVID-19 briefing at 2:30.

Governor Edwards signs three gun rights bills, one dealing with concealed carry in churches, another targeting local gun restriction ordinances, and the last addressing rights during a public emergency. Edwards says the first bill rewrites Louisiana law to specify that conceal carry is permissible in houses of worship if it is approved by that facility’s administrator.  

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That bill was opposed by the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana and other church representatives testified against it in committee.

A House committee approves a proposal to create a Police Training, Screening, and De-escalation Task Force. The panel will study police department policies and make recommendations on how they can be improved. Law enforcement supports the resolution and Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle took note of that…

Cut 9 (08) “…the nation”

A survey from the Louisiana Association of United Ways finds that two-thirds of Louisiana residents need help in paying everyday bills during this COVID-19 pandemic. President of the non-profit Sarah Berthelot says households with annual incomes less than $35,000 face the most setbacks and challenges.

Cut 3 (10) ”…on low income workers”  

Total new COVID case numbers have jumped pretty significantly over the past week and hospitalizations are up on average of the past four days, but Governor Edwards says despite that increase Louisiana is still nowhere close to where it was in early April according to the data and…

Cut 12 (11) “…state”

Edwards did also note that recent spikes in cases for neighboring states indicate the virus will not be slowed by hot weather.