State Police is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that took place in Lafayette during the overnight hours. Very few details are known at this time. The shooting occurred on Paul Breaux Avenue at 2:30 this morning involving a Lafayette Police Officer.

Two bills to ensure the safety of nursing home patients during natural disasters passed unanimously in Senate Health and Welfare. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Port Allen Senator Rick Ward has launched a social media campaign to drum up support to set aside 500-million dollars for the construction of a new I-10 Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. Governor Edwards supports the proposal, but Ward says he’s heard from lawmakers who believe that’s a lot of money to set aside when construction of a new bridge is years away….
cut 5 (12) “….to something else”
Ward has a 30-second commercial running on social media that makes the case to use surplus and federal infrastructure dollars to get the ball rolling on building a new bridge.

Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey Junior has a bill to make the Gulf Fritillary (frit-ah-lar-ee) the state butterfly….
cut 15 (06) “….studies butterflies”
Cathey says the Gulf Fritillary is the state’s only indigenous butterfly and filed the bill at the request of a constituent. The legislation is heading to the Senate floor.

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee has approved two bills that addresses what happened in Tangipahoa Parish when hundreds of nursing home residents were sent to a single facility during Hurricane Ida. One of the measures approved will require the State Fire Marshal to approve nursing home evacuation plans. Covington Senator Patrick McMath…
cut 12 (10) “…State Fire Marshal”
Another bill heading to the Senate floor would require that long-term health care facilities must have generator power.

When Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey, Jr. introduced Senate Bill 93 to members of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, he warned it could metamorphosis into divisive legislation.
Cut 14 (09) “…state butterfly.”
Cathey says the Gulf Fritillary (frit-ah-lar-ee) is the only butterfly indigenous to the Bayou State and he introduced the bill to fulfill a campaign promise.

Loading your Easter basket with Elmer Candy is a longstanding tradition. David Grubb has the latest from the Louisiana confectionary.
cut 2 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.”

Two bills to ensure the safety of nursing home patients during natural disasters pass unanimously in Senate Health and Welfare. Senate Bill 33 requires all long-term care facilities to have generator power. Mark Berger, Executive Director of the Louisiana Nursing Home Association says while most facilities have generators large enough to support their heating and cooling systems…

Cut 10 (07) “…their peers.”

Failure to comply could result in loss of certification.

The second bill would task the State Fire Marshal with inspecting evacuation plans for nursing homes. The legislation was inspired after 15 patients died during a mass evacuation to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida. Covington Senator Patrick McMath applauds the bill.

Cut 12 (07) “…State Fire Marshal.”

Both bills advance to the Senate.

House Governmental Affairs approves legislation to give the Legislature the ability to end certain portions of a governor’s emergency executive order. Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman’s bill is in response to the governor’s public health orders during the pandemic that placed restrictions on businesses…

PM Cut 13 (10) “…end those”

A similar bill was vetoed by Governor John Bel Edwards last year.

Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey, Jr. fulfills a campaign promise made years ago by introducing legislation to make the Gulf Fritillary (frit-ah-lar-ee) the official state butterfly. Cathey says the Gulf Fritillary is the only butterfly indigenous to the Bayou State.

Cut 14 first for me :10

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt along with other members of Senate Governmental Affairs approved the bill and it now advances to the Senate.

In Baton Rouge, a three-year-old boy was killed while sleeping in his bed Tuesday night, after shots were fired outside his home; some penetrating the walls. BRPD Sgt L’Jean McKneely says little Devin Page Jr was killed around 11 last night…:

CUT 03(12)      “…the home.”

Police ask anyone with knowledge of who did the shooting to come forward.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy has raised $5-million in the first quarter of this year, for a total of over $14-million in his warchest. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says add to that national support from GOP members and out-of-state PACs and his campaign cash goes even further…:

CUT 12(11)      “…promoting himself.”

Kennedy has not – so far – drawn a well-funded Democrat opponent, with statewide name recognition.

Is legalized marijuana on the horizon for Louisiana? New poll results may surprise you. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 01(33)      “…David Grubb.”

Today marks one year since the Seacor Power lift boat disaster, in which 6 crewmen died. & 7 are still missing and presumed dead. The crew boat owned by Seacor Marine was hit by a sudden microburst storm packing 70-mile-an-hour winds that capsized the craft in the Gulf south of Port Fourchon.

A House committee approves a bill that would give the Legislature the ability to end certain portions of a governor’s emergency executive order.  The measure is in response to the governor’s public health orders during the COVID pandemic that placed restrictions on businesses. Many of them closed for good. Bill sponsor and Abita Springs Republican Larry Frieman says there needs to be checks and balances in state government…:

CUT 15(11)      “…checks and balances system.”

Opposition to the bill feel it would eliminate separation of powers.

Would lawmakers ever legalize recreational marijuana in the state? Public opinion has shifted on the subject; with almost 60-percent of a UNO survey saying they’d be OK with that, a 22-percent increase from just 54 years ago. A bill decriminalizing weed on a federal level is moving now through Congress.

Today marks one year since the Seacor Power lift boat disaster, in which 6 crewmen died. & 7 are still missing and presumed dead. The crew boat owned by Seacor Marine was hit by a sudden microburst storm packing 70-mile-an-hour winds that capsized the craft in the Gulf south of Port Fourchon.

Senator John Kennedy has raised over $5-million in the first three months of this year; bringing his total re-election funds to something just over $14-million. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Kennedy is heavily predicted to win another term this fall, but he is also smart enough to be prepared given the current political divide in DC…:

CUT 11(09)      “…millions of dollars.”

So far no Democrat with statewide name recognition has announced intent to challenge Kennedy this fall.

A tornado watch is in effect for parishes in northwestern Louisiana until 10 o’clock tonight. Be on alert for any further severe weather notices.

Is legalized marijuana on the horizon for Louisiana? New poll results may surprise you. David Grubb has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m David Grubb.”

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Senator John Kennedy’s re-election campaign reports the St. Tammany Parish Republican has raised five million dollars in the first quarter of 2022 and has 14-million in his war chest

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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A three-year-old was killed while sleeping in his bed Tuesday night after shots were fired outside his home. Baton Rouge Police Sgt L’Jean McKneely says the victim Devin Page Junior was killed around 11 PM in the 5100 block of Fairfields Ave.

Cut 3 (12) “…the home.”

McKneely says the toddler was pronounced dead on the scene and the home where he was sleeping was not the intended target.

Cut 4  (11) “…three-year-old.”

Police are asking for anyone with information to assist with their investigation.

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Many residents in Northwest Louisiana are without power after storms swept through the area Tuesday.  SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says more than 34,000 customers in the Shreveport-Bossier area are without power.

Cut 5  (12) “…and dangerous.”

Sullivan says over 700 linemen and additional crew worked overnight to speed restoration efforts.

Weather-wise however another round of storms is in the forecast today which Sullivan says could hinder restoration efforts.

Cut 6  (10) “…come through.” 

Sullivan says you can visit their website at SWEPCO.com and view their outage map and also sign up to receive text messages with updates on when your power will be restored.

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There’s a shift happening in Louisiana…at least when it comes to supporting the legalization of recreational marijuana. According to results of polling done by the University of New Orleans Survey Research Center, almost 60 percent of registered voters in the state support making cannabis legal. Dr. Ed Chervenak says that’s a 22 percent increase from just four years ago.

Cut 7 (11) “…of doing that.” 

Chervenak says Louisiana’s results mirror what’s happening around the nation as attitudes have evolved based on a number of factors…

Cut 8 (15) “…of tax revenue.” 

A proposal to decriminalize marijuana has moved to the U-S Senate, but what does that mean for Louisiana? Last year House Bill 524 would have done the same; it advanced out of committee before dying on the House floor. Chervenak says the governor has not been a proponent in the past, but now…

Cut 9 (07) “…final decision.”

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Louisiana Senator John Kennedy raised more than $5 million in the first quarter of 2022 for a total of $14 million for his re-election campaign. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the dollar signs are indicative of Kennedy’s ability to raise money.

Cut 10 (10)  “…popular with.”

Pinsonat says while Kennedy is heavily predicted to win re-election the state’s junior senator knows all too well to be extremely prepared given the current stanch political divide in DC.

Cut 11 (09)  “…millions of dollars (x2).”  

And because Kennedy will receive national support from Republicans and out-of-state political action committees, Pinsonat says that means his more than $14 million will go even farther.

Cut 12 (11) “…himself.” 

So far Democrats Gary Chambers and Luke Mixon have announced their intent to run against Kennedy.

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A House committee approves legislation that would give the Legislature the ability to end certain portions of a governor’s emergency executive order. Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman’s measure is in response to the governor’s public health orders during the pandemic that placed restrictions on businesses…

Cut 13 (10) “…end those”

A similar bill was vetoed by Governor John Bel Edwards last year, but today the House  Governmental Affairs approved Frieman’s proposal that would allow a majority vote from the House and Senate to overturn a governor’s emergency order.

New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis voted no because he believes in a separation of powers in state government…

Cut 14 (10)  “…to do that”

But Frieman says there also should be checks and balances in state government…

Cut 15 (11) “…checks and balances system.” 

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Cut  16 (07)  “….judicial restraint“

Police in Baton Rouge seek the person or persons who fired shots into a home Tuesday night; killing a three-year-old child as he slept in his bed. BRPD spokesman Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says little Devin Page Jr. was not the intended target, but lost his life nevertheless…:

CUT 04(11)      “…three-year-old.”

Police ask anyone with knowledge of who did it to contact them.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy has raised more than $5-million in the first quarter of this year, for a total of $14-million in his re-election campaign. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the dollar signs are indicative of Kennedy’s ability to raise money…:

CUT 10(10)      “…he’s very popular with.”

So far Democrats Gary Chambers and Luke Mixon have announced their intent to run against Kennedy.

Is legalized marijuana in Louisiana’s future? Results of new public polling may surprise you. Here’s David Grubb…:

CUT 01(33)      “…David Grubb.”

More than 34-thousand homes & businesses in Shreveport-Bossier are without power after heavy storms hit the area. Here’s SWEPCO’s Carey Sullivan…:

CUT 05(12)      “…and dangerous.”

Most all of northwest Louisiana is under tornado WATCH until 5.