A New Orleans lawmaker files a bill to help legalize recreational marijuana….:

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 
The National Weather Service is surveying damage today in Tangipahoa Parish which was hit by a tornado on Wednesday. Multiple mobile homes were reportedly hit, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office says a family was able to escape one of the homes without serious injury. Entergy says about 300 residents are without power as nine poles were downed and 20 spans of wire were damaged.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (Buddha-judge) will be in Lake Charles this afternoon to celebrate the $150 million grant to help replace the Calcasieu River Bridge. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says it was almost two years ago when President Biden visited to promote his infrastructure bill.

Cut 15 (11)  “…exists today.”

Treasurer John Schroder officially launches his gubernatorial campaign tonight with a fundraiser in his home parish of St. Tammany. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says with Attorney General Jeff Landry already having the support of the state GOP Schroder and others will need to raise big money and fast.

Cut 8 (11)  “…up to do.”

In addition to Schroder and Landry, two other Republicans, two independents, and one Democrat have announced their candidacy for governor.

Treasurer John Schroder is holding a fundraiser tonight in his bid for governor, and one political analyst says the other GOP candidates have a long way to go to catch up to Jeff Landry’s war chest…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

A suspected tornado did significant damage in Tangipahoa after a line of severe storms moved through the state Wednesday. Officials say at least three mobile homes were damaged in the Village of Tangipahoa, and assessment of damages was hindered by several downed trees and debris in the area. The National Weather Service is surveying the damage today.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy will try again today to secure Louisiana a greater share of offshore oil & gas royalties, with the re-introduction of his 2022 RISE (say “rise”) Act. The bill would mean a roughly 20-percent yearly increase in offshore energy money for Louisiana’s coastal restoration efforts. Cassidy says the bill passed a senate committee last year, but fell to the wayside amid a backlog of legislation…:
Cut 4 (12) “last Congress”
He says conservatives in Congress are concerned with how the bill would be funded, so he and his staff are working to tweak the measure to win their support

Posts are going viral on social media over a sign in Amite that says the town is the home of Governor John Bel Edwards — and governor is misspelled. Some people thought it was funny and others were outraged by the typo. Officials said the Chamber of Commerce in Amite was in charge of the sign, and members are reportedly working with the company to get a new one made soon. The sign is currently covered with a tarp.

US Senator Bill Cassidy is poised to re-introduce his RISE Act, which would bring Louisiana increased revenues from offshore oil & gas.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Jimmy Travis confirmed the touchdown of a tornado in the Village of Tangipahoa. He said numerous homes were damaged, and trees and powerlines were downed. 3 non-life threatening injuries were reported. The National Weather service says a tornado likely caused the damage and they are out to survey the damage today to get official confirmation.

Could recreational marijuana soon become legal in Louisiana? A New Orleans lawmaker has filed the first in a package of bills for lawmakers to discuss the matter in the April Legislative session. District 99 Democrat Rep. Candace Newell (pronounced “new-ELL”) says other states are seeing revenue windfalls after legalizing recreational cannabis…:
Cut 11 (09) “regulation bill passed”
Louisiana has already legalized medicinal cannabis and has expanded the program to cover a number of ailments, and Newell says this is the next logical step.

This afternoon State Officials will be in Lake Charles to celebrate the $150 million dollar grant to replace the Calcasieu River Bridge. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says the US Department of Transportation will announce the approval of $1.5 Billion in private activity bonds that will help lower the cost of the project to the developer…:
Cut 14 (05) “lots of good news”
The funding is part of the Infrastructure Act.

State Treasurer John Schroder will officially kick off his campaign for governor tonight in Mandeville. Attorney General Jeff Landry is also running in 2023 and Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the other Republican candidates have some catching up to do in terms of fundraising
CUT 7 (08) “ballpark”
Schroder and other GOP candidates are millions behind Landry due to holding off their campaigns before US Senator John Kennedy decided whether or not he’d run.

Governor Edwards and DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson will be joined by the U.S. Transportation Secretary in Lake Charles this afternoon to celebrate the $150 million grant to help replace the Calcasieu River Bridge. Wilson says the funding is part of the Infrastructure Act….:
Cut 13 (07) “the entire country”

A New Orleans lawmaker files a bill to help legalize recreational marijuana….:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

The National Weather Service is surveying damage today in Tangipahoa Parish which was hit by a tornado on Wednesday. Multiple mobile homes were reportedly hit, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office says a family was able to escape one of the homes without serious injury. Entergy says about 300 residents are without power as nine poles were downed and 20 spans of wire were damaged.

Mandeville Republican Representative Richard Nelson says he’ll try again this year to pass a bill that would hold back third graders who fail a literacy test. Nelson has filed House Bill 12 again this year, and says it almost passed in the last regular session, it passed the House but was shy of votes in the Senate…:

Cut 3 (10) “…educate people more.” 

Once again, Louisiana leads the nation for the highest average combined state and local sales tax rate at 9.55 percent. New Mexico is the only state to reduce its state sales tax rate in the last five years and Janelle Fritts with the Tax Foundation explains why state lawmakers are not willing to reduce sales tax rates…

Cut 13 (10) “…in the past.” 
Louisiana’s state sales tax rate is set to lower to four percent in 2025.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso announces he will not seek a sixth term in office and will retire in 2024. Mancuso has been the sheriff of Calcasieu since 2004…

Cut 10 (12) “…whole time.” 

An LSU pitcher has decided to use the money he’s received from a NIL to help feed the hungry in Baton Rouge. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (25)  “….I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

In Washington DC, Senator Bill Cassidy is poised to re-introduce his RISE Act, which would bring Louisiana increased revenues from offshore oil & gas. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Treasurer John Schroder is holding a fundraiser tonight in his bid for governor. And with Jeff Landry far ahead of his competitors in raising money, one political analyst says Schroder and others need to make bank.

Cut 2 (29)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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A New Orleans lawmaker files a bill to help legalize recreational marijuana. Kevin Gallagher has the story…:

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

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U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy will try again today to secure Louisiana a greater share of offshore oil & gas royalties, with the re-introduction of his 2022 RISE (say “rise”) Act. An acronym for Reinvesting In Shoreline Economies & Ecosystems, the bill would mean a roughly 20-percent yearly increase in offshore energy money for Louisiana’s coastal restoration efforts. Cassidy says the bill passed a senate committee last year, but fell to the wayside amid a backlog of legislation…:

Cut 4 (12)  “…last Congress.”

Cassidy says his bill is bipartisan, with Rhode Island Democrat Senator Sheldon Whitehouse co-sponsoring. He says the RISE Act would lift a limitation on what coastal states can receive from offshore energy – currently at $375-million yearly…:

Cut 5 (06) “…if you will.”

Cassidy says passing the RISE Act would mean a substantial flow of money into Louisiana, and Gulf Coast neighbors, to restore eroded coastlines and shore up against future hurricanes. He says conservatives in Congress – especially in the U.S. House – are concerned with how the bill would be funded. He says he and his staff are working to tweak the bill to win their support…:

Cut 6 (12)  “…working on right now.” 

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Treasurer John Schroder officially launches his gubernatorial campaign tonight with a fundraiser in his home parish of St. Tammany. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says with Attorney General Jeff Landry already having the support of the Republican Party and far ahead in raising campaign funds, Schroder will have to raise millions to catch up.

Cut 7 (09) “…in the ballpark.”

Pinsonat says Landry has been actively fundraising since last fall and Schroder like other Republicans now in the race, put their campaigns on hold until Senator John Kennedy made his decision not to run.

Pinsonat says Schroder and others will need to raise big money and fast.

Cut 8 (11)  “…up to do.”

The last governor’s race that pitted Republicans, Congressman Ralph Abraham and Businessman Eddie Rispone against incumbent John Bel Edwards, proved the importance of campaign dollars versus holding office. Pinsonat says Abraham trailed Rispone and it was a matter of campaign funds.

Cut 9 (12)  “… about money.”

In addition to Schroder and Landry, two other Republicans, two independents, and one Democrat have announced their candidacy for governor.

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A New Orleans lawmaker files the first in a package of bills meant to make recreational marijuana use legal in Louisiana. District 99 Democrat Rep. Candace Newell (pronounced “new-ELL”) says her House Bill 17 applies to state regulation of cultivating cannabis for recreational use…:

Cut 10 (08)  “…in your back yard.”

Newell’s bill would authorize the Department of Agriculture to create & issue up to ten cannabis production facility licenses, require applicants to undergo criminal background checks and establish fees for production permits. She says other states are seeing revenue windfalls after legalizing recreational cannabis…:

Cut 11 (09)  “…regulation bill passed.”

HB12 is one of a three-bill package Newell says she will file…:

Cut 12 (09) “…does its own thing.”

Louisiana has already legalized medicinal cannabis and has expanded the program to allow more treatment options, smokable cannabis flowers (instead of cannabis edibles and oils) and to allow more cannabis “pharmacies” to operate. Newell says this is the next logical step for Louisiana.

______________________________________________

Governor Edwards along with DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson will be joined by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (Buddha-judge) in Lake Charles this afternoon to celebrate the $150 million grant to help replace the Calcasieu River Bridge. Wilson says the funding is part of the Infrastructure Act.

Cut 13 (07)  “…the entire country.”

Wilson says this project is one of a few that received the special allocation of funds to help reduce the cost to the state and taxpayers of the Calcasieu River Bridge.

And Wilson says the U.S. Department of Transportation will announce the approval of $1.5 Billion in private activity bonds that will help lower the cost of the project to the developer.

Cut 14 (05)  “…lots of good news.”

It was almost two years ago when President Biden visited Lake Charles with the Calcasieu River Bridge as a backdrop as an example of what the Infrastructure Act could improve. Wilson says the bridge was created to handle 37,000 crossings a day but now has more than 80,000 daily crossings.

Cut 15 (11)  “…exists today.”

And Wilson says they will also be breaking ground on the Nelson Road Bridge in Calcasieu Parish. He says it’s a $101-million dollar project that involves relocating rail to get to the Port of Lake Charles and it will also connect south Lake Charles with the other side of the Contraband Bayou to get closer to downtown.

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The Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball team is at Southern Miss tonight. The winner will be in first place in the Sun Belt. Both teams are tied for first entering tonight with 10-and-2 league records. U-L Lafayette Coach Bob Marlin expects a hostile crowd in Hattiesburg

Cut  16 (14)  “…N-I-T.” 

The Cajuns started their 10-game winning streak with a 75-61 win over the Golden Eagles in Lafayette on January 5th. Southern Miss was led by six-foot-eight senior forward Deandre Pinckney had 21 points. Marlin says Pinckney is a big guy who can shoot the three…

Cut 17 (15) “…good to them” 

Tip-off is at 7:30.

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ULM is home tonight to host Appalachian State. The Warhawks are in fifth place in the Sun Belt with a 7-and-5 record. The Mountaineers are 6-and-6. ULM Coach Keith Richard says they are trying to finish in the top four in the league standings to earn a double bye in the conference tournament in March…

Cut 18 (16) “…on Thursday” 

Louisiana Tech, who is in 5th in Conference USA with a 6-and-6 league record, begins a difficult road trip tonight as they visit F-I-U. Bulldogs Coach Talvin Hester says no lead is safe against the Panthers, who also has six league victories…
Cut 19 (15) “…their own.”

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Cut 20 (17)  “…national title.” 

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A Mandeville state lawmaker says he’ll try again this year to pass a bill that would hold back certain public school students who are way behind in reading. Republican Richard Nelson’s House Bill 12 would affect third graders who fail a standard federal literacy test, then fail again – even after remedial study help. He says these kids need to receive additional teaching in reading, so they can go on the better learning outcomes…:

CUT 05(09)      “…held back.”

Nelson says Mississippi passed a similar law in 2013 and their literacy rate has grown in leaps and bounds.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso, who’s in his fifth term, says he will not seek re-election. Mancuso, whose law-enforcement career spans four decades, made the emotional announcement this morning with his family by his side…:

CUT 09(11)      “…of my life.”

Mancuso will step down June 30th of next year.

Once again, Louisiana leads the nation for the highest state and local sales tax rates. Tax Foundation policy analyst Janelle Fritts says Louisiana has the highest average combined state and local sales tax rate at 9.55 percent…:

CUT 12(08)      “…very, very high.”

The average local sales tax rate in Louisiana is 5.1-percent and the statewide sales tax rate is 4.45 percent. Conversely, we have the country’s 3^rd-lowest property insurance. So there’s that…

After nearly 50 years, the very popular Tangipahoa Parish campground, Jellystone Park, will change its name and end its affiliation with the cartoon character Yogi Bear and the fictional park in which he resides. The owners say the park will be rebranded as Tangi Pines Family Campground, ending decades of royalties paid to use the Yogi name image and likeness. They say virtually nothing but the name will change.