According to a recent poll, Louisianans are swaying more towards pro-choice than pro-life. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (35)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Alexandria Police are investigating a crash involving a 4-wheeler that left two people critically injured Sunday. The investigation revealed the all-terrain vehicle was turning onto Willow Glen Raod From Third Street at a high rate of speed and hit a vehicle. Both riders were thrown off and both sustained serious bodily injuries. The investigation is ongoing.

Governor Edwards delivered his final “State of the State”  today during the first day of the 2023 legislative session. Edwards asked Louisiana lawmakers to vote favorably on a number of measures including increasing the minimum wage and the controversial bill to end corporal punishment.

Cut 7 (08)  “…(applause).” 

Edwards says he’s also supporting paid family and medical leave legislation and equal pay legislation for men and women who do the same work.

State lawmakers returned to the capitol building today to kick off the regular legislative session and there is plenty on the agenda including legislation proposed by Gretna Representative Joe Marino that would increase legislator’s pay from $16,800 annually to $60k allowing candidates other than the wealthy and retired to run for office.

Cut 4 (12)  “…without opposition.” 

Lawmakers have not received an increase in salary since 1980 when Jimmy Carter was President.

Governor John Bel Edwards opened the 2023 legislative session with his last State of the State address; calling for a raise in minimum wage, equal pay for women, rape & incest exceptions in the state’s abortion ban and LGBT rights. He also wants to see real property insurance reforms, and not legislation making it easier for insurers to wear people down…:

CUT 06(11)      “…for everyone.”

A poll done last week, indicates Louisiana voters are for more pro-choice than one might think. Pollster John Couvillon, with JMC Analytics says that’s especially so on the subject of exceptions in the law for rape incest…:

CUT 10(10)      “…that exception.”

Legislation seeking to triple state legislators’ pay to $60-thousand-a-year will be heard in the legislative session that started today…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Foxx.”

A former Alexandria area Salvation Army major. Who was arrested for home invasion in 2020, pleads guilty to a lesser charge. 66-year-old Glenn Riggs copped to a simpler burglary charge & sentenced to 2 years’ probation. He will also be charged with jumping bail, as he moved to Alabama while on bond in Rapides Parish.

As the state Legislature convenes for a fiscal session…a bill set for debate would give members of the House and Senate hefty pay raises. Right now the base is $16,800 plus $161.00-a-day per diem and $500.00-a-month in discretionary income. That’s a little north of $36-thousand. Gretna Rep. Joe Marino says that’s too law, and only the wealthy or self-employed can afford to hold the seats in the Legislature…:

CUT 04(12)      “…without opposition.”

Marino’s bill would raise that base to about $60-k.

State Police are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting at a Lafayette nightclub Sunday evening. Trooper Thomas Gossen says shortly before 11 PM Lafayette Police responded to a shots fired call, in which an off-duty officer working a security detail at the club…:

CUT 12(07)      “…his injuries.”

The names of the victim and the officer involved have not been released.

More Louisianans consider themselves pro-choice than pro-life, that’s according to a poll conducted last week…:

CUT 02(35)      “…Thorington.”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he will once again push for a raise in the state’s minimum wage, plus equal pay for men and women who do the same work. He urges lawmakers to vote for equal pay, NOT because it’s the right thing to do, but because voters want them to.

The 2023 regular session convened at noon today, lawmakers will ahve to decide whether to raise the state’s spending cap. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says it will require a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.
Cut 7 (12) “…in the future.”

Two bills have been filed in the House that would add rape and incest exceptions into the abortion ban. JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon polled one-thousand likely voters last week and 70-percent support exceptions for rape and incest. Couvillon says 39-percent of those surveyed identified themselves as Republicans…
cut 11 (09) “…this year”
The survey was paid for by groups who support pro-choice legislation.

Legislation seeking to triple state legislators’ pay to $60,000 will be heard in the legislative session that is underway. Teiko Foxx has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Former Louisiana Attorney General Richard Ieyoub has passed away at the age of 78. Ieyoub served as the state’s A-G from 1992 to 2004. Ieyoub won a multimillion dollar tobacco settlement for Louisiana that went towards health care costs of smokers. He also created a high-technology unit that targets sexual predators on the Internet.

A mostly fiscal legislative session is underway at the Louisiana capitol. How to spend the state’s money will be a focus of the two month long session.
cut 8 (07) “…..this year”
That’s La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford, who says Gretna lawmaker Joe Marino is proposing to increase legislators’ annual salary from $16,800 to 60-thousand dollars in 2024. Marino says being a legislator is a time consuming job for an annual salary that pays around 17-thousand dollars a year…
cut 5 (11) “…you started”
If approved, the pay raise would go into effect with the new legislative body in 2024. Marino says he is not running for re-election.

A statewide poll of one-thousand likely voters finds that 49-percen describe themselves as pro-choice and 44-percent pro-life. John Couvillon with JMC Analytics says 53 percent of the respondents support a constitutional amendment to establish the right to an abortion. He says after the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v Wade…
Cut 9 (12) “…level of exceptions.”
Several advocacy groups who support a woman’s right to choose commissioned the survey.

There was an officer-involved fatal shooting last night in Lafayette. Officers responded to a shooting at the La Bamba Bar Lounge on Johnston Street and State Police Trooper Thomas Goosen says an officer working detailed responded to the shooting and fired his weapon, killing an unidentified subject….
cut 13 (09) “…the officer was not injured”

State Police are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting at a Lafayette nightclub Sunday evening. Trooper Thomas Gossen says shortly before 11 PM Lafayette Police responded to shots fired in which an off-duty officer working a security detail at the club was involved.

Cut 12 (08) “…not injured.” 

The names of the victim and the Lafayette police officer have not been released.

The 2023 legislative session begins today, and Gretna Representative Joe Marino wants lawmakers to get a pay raise from the current salary of $16,800. Marino says other elected officials have received pay raises but lawmakers are still making what was allotted since 1980.

Cut 3 (04) “…never occurred.”

Marino wants to increase the salary to $60 thousand.

Following the death of LSU student Madison Brooks after a night of underage drinking at a Tigerland bar – Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is hoping to raise the age limit to enter bars from 18 to 21. Mizell says raising the age could help prevent tragedies by making it more difficult for young people to obtain alcohol.

AM Cut 4 (09)  “…a negative.”

And in DC. Congressman Mike Johnson wants to make it a crime to approach a law enforcement officer while he or she is doing their job. Johnson’s bill would create the crime of approaching a law enforcement officer who’s legally engaged in his or her duties. He says he’s spoken with several law enforcement officers who’s had such incidents occur.

AM Cut 13 (09) “…safety issue.” 

A bill that would require a person to be 21 to enter a bar instead of 18 is up for debate in the legislative session that begins today. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 1 (30)  “Michelle Southern reporting.”

A new app released today by President of the Senate Page Cortez and Speaker of the House Clay Schexnayder makes following the Louisiana Legislature easy. The La Lege app helps users navigate the Louisiana State Capitol, learn about legislature members, and watch committee meetings and floor debates. The La Lege app is free and available on Apple or Google Play.

The 2023 legislative session begins today and Louisiana lawmakers will address many bills, including whether to raise the state’s expense limit. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the state can only spend so much money each year and is quickly approaching the spending cap for the current fiscal.

Cut 7 (12) “…in the future.”

Alford says when it comes to money, lawmakers will also debate who should get pay raises and how much.

Recent research of Louisiana voters commissioned by the Justice Action Network shows attitudes changing toward criminal just reform. Baton Rouge pollster John Couvillon, with JMC Analytics, says many respondents feel those with mental health issues deserve treatment instead of jail time but crime is still a concern.

Cut 11 (09)  “…in nature.”

The poll found 77 percent surveyed feel persons charged with misdemeanors or minor offenses – and no danger to others – should remain out of jail, pending trial.

Louisiana lawmakers will hear numerous bills as the 2023 legislative session gets underway today. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Expect an increase at the gas pumps – with the average price at $3.27 a gallon, according to the AAA’s Gas Prices. Last week it was $3.17, up ten cents in less than a few days. One of the reasons you will pay more at the pump is because of supply and demand.

Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell has filed legislation to increase the age limit to enter bars in Louisiana from 18 to 21. The proposed bill also adds the requirement that only a person 21 and older can be employed as a bartender. Mizell expects some resistance from lobbyists who represent bars and nightclubs.

Cut 6 (04)  “…under 21.”

Businesses could face penalties ranging from $50 to $15,000.

A recent survey commissioned by the Justice Action Network shows viewpoints of Louisianans are shifting when it comes to putting criminal offenders in prison. Baton Rouge pollster John Couvillon, with JMC Analytics, says 75 percent of those surveyed say major improvement is needed in the criminal justice system,

Cut 12 (11)  “…of the offense.”

Read the survey report at “WinWithJMC.com”

The 2023 legislative session begins today. Jeremy Alford with La-Politics-dot-com says over the next two months lawmakers will discuss pay raises for teachers and legislators, discuss proposals to improve the state’s property insurance market and since it’s an election year, there will be what he likes to call “bumper sticker issues”….
cut 9 (08) “….transgender issues”
It’s a fiscal session, so lawmakers are only allowed to file up to five non-fiscal bills. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell has a bill that prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from entering a bar or nightclub. Current state law allows 18, 19 and 20 year-olds to enter…
cut 5 (12) “…of situations”
Mizell’s bill is in response to the death of 19-year-old LSU student Madison Brooks who was hit by a car following a night of drinking at a Tigerland bar.

A bill set to be heard in the legislative session would make it a crime to walk up unexpectedly on a cop who’s doing their job.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

One person is dead from an officer involved shooting that took place as officers responded to a shooting at the La Bamba Bar Lounge on Johnston Street in Lafayette. Lafayette Police say one person is in stable condition from the initial shooting and State Police say as cops responded, an officer working security detailed fired his weapon, killing an unidentified subject.