Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh’s amendment to remove traffic cameras except for school zones and to mandate clearer signage passes the Senate and moves to the House. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Pediatric patients in New Orleans will soon have a hospital to call their own. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approves a bill that would prohibit SNAP recipients from purchasing soft drinks with SNAP benefits. Sean Richardson has the story.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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The Louisiana Senate has approved legislation that seeks to eliminate enforcement cameras that issue tickets to motorists for traveling too fast or running a red light. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey’s legislation would charge public officials with malfeasance in office if unmanned traffic cameras issue citations by mail. Before sending the bill to the House, Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh added amendment that would allow mobile speed cameras in school zones, but signage needs to be posted notifying the public that red light cameras are in operation

Cut 4 (09) “…not following the law.”

Seabaugh emphasized that violations will be treated as civil fines, not criminal offenses, and cities cannot report unpaid tickets to credit bureaus or place liens. He warned local governments against expanding cameras outside school zones, as doing so could result in malfeasance charges.

Cut 5 (04) “…outside the school zones.”

Seabaugh noted strong public opposition to traffic cameras, especially in areas where abuses have occurred. Although still favoring a full ban, Seabaugh sees this legislation as meaningful reform and a step toward greater fairness and transparency.

Cut 6 (12) “…just school zones.”

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Congressman Troy Carter will be announcing the relaunch of a bipartisan Men’s Health Caucus for the 119th Congress this morning. The Democrat from New Orleans says it’s a way for Republicans and Democrats to come together to encourage men to pay attention to their health.

Cut 7 (10) “…more purposeful lives.”

Congressman Carter says men need to take care of their bodies the same way as they meticulously care for their most prized possessions.

Cut 8 (13) “…in their bodies.”

Carter says when it comes to taking care of their health, men can look to women for inspiration, since he says women have historically been more proactive in controlling their health.

Cut 9 (07)  “…for preventive measures.”

Carter and others will announce the bipartisan caucus at ten Central time this morning.

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Construction is underway on the new Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Dr. Butch Adolph, the chief medical officer for Ochsner Children’s Hospital, says the new facility will be five stories tall, totaling more than 340-thousand square feet, with a lot of dedicated pediatric space.

Cut 10 (14) “…in one place.”

Dr. Adolph says this new facility will give pediatric patients a healthcare facility of their own.

Cut 11 (14) “…into one facility.”

To mark the milestone, Ochsner and Benson have announced a new partnership with Make-A-Wish Louisiana. Adolph says there are many Make-A-Wish kids waiting for their wishes to come true.

Cut 12 (08) “…backlog over time.”

The new Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital is slated to open in early 2028.

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The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approves a bill that would ban schools that receive state funding from serving lunches that contain ultra-processed foods. Covington Republican Patrick McMath says obesity is a real problem in the state, and this legislation is step towards a healthier Louisiana.

Cut 13 (11)  “…synthetic ingredients”

McMath’s measure also prohibits SNAP recipients from using their benefits to purchase soft drinks.

Cut 14 (07) “…not nutritious.”

Democrats on the Senate Health and Welfare Committee have a problem with McMath’s bill dictating what low-income individuals can’t purchase with their SNAP benefits. Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews was the first one to speak out.

Cut 15 (06) “…for their children.”

McMath’s bill prohibits schools from serving school lunches that contain specific artificial colors and additives. Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau questioned why single out school lunches; why not include sugary alcoholic drinks that adults consume?

Cut 16 (12) “…those things.”

The measure heads to the Senate floor.

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approves a comprehensive nutrition bill that would ban schools from serving lunches that contain ultra-processed foods. Covington Senator Patrick McMath says child obesity is a real problem, and the state needs to do a better job in prioritizing health…

Cut 13 (12)  “…synthetic ingredients”

Much of the discussion on McMath’s bill was on a provision that prohibits SNAP recipients from using their benefits to purchase soft drinks…

Democrats on the Senate Health and Welfare Committee say McMath’s bill dictates what low-income parents can purchase with their SNAP benefits. Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews was the first one to speak out…

Cut 15 (06) “…for their children.”

The measure passed on a four to three vote and heads to the Senate floor for more discussion.

A Senate committee approves legislation that provides a new legal remedy for people incarcerated under non-unanimous jury verdicts.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved a bill today to make it a crime to wager on the outcomes of elections. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says Louisiana already has some of the most secure elections in the state, and she wants to keep it that way.

Cut 5 (06) “…to stay there.”

TOPS acceptance rates have been on the decline since 2018. In 2023, only 81-percent of eligible students accepted their awards, a ten-year low. Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says there are a couple of reasons for fewer TOPS recipients…

Cut 10 (12) “…to be eligible”

Reed says there’s an effort in the legislative session to increase the amount of TOPS awards.

Baton Rouge Police have charged 18-year-old Karl Nash has been charged with the murder of 21-year-old Daylon Anthony, who was fatally shot outside of an Amazon distribution facility. Sergeant Darren Ahmed says the two men were involved in a verbal and physical altercation. Anthony was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cut 7 (07) “…December 2024.”

State Senator Royce Duplessis has a bill that aims to provide a new legal remedy for people incarcerated under non-unanimous jury verdicts, which were allowed to happen prior to the passage of a Constitutional Amendment in 2018. The bill passed a Senate committee on a 5-1 vote. Promise of Justice initiative Attorney Claude Michael Comeau says it would allow individuals convicted by non-unanimous juries to seek post-conviction relief.

Cut 12 (05) “…a new trial.”

Lafourche Parish District Attorney Kristine Russell focused on Child Abuse cases for 20 years and says when she looks at her non-unanimous verdicts it wasn’t a question of guilt.

Cut 14 (14) “…not guilty.”

Russell is concerned how this proposed law will impact victims, because if there’s a new trial, it will mean they’ll have to face their offender again in court. The bill heads to the full Senate for more debate.

A measure aiming to provide a new legal remedy for people incarcerated under non-unanimous jury verdicts – also known as Jim Crow juries – is headed to the full Senate. Promise of Justice initiative Attorney Claude Michael Comeau says S-B 218 is a necessary step to address historic injustices and to ensure fair trials for all Louisianians.

Cut 13 (10)  “…doing the right thing.”

Lafourche Parish District Attorney Kristine Russell testified against the bill. She noted that she has been focusing on child abuse cases for 20 years and says the conversation needs to continue because this bill is not the answer.

Cut 15 (10) “…at the time.”

The vote in Senate Judiciary Committee B was bipartisan – five to one.

The number of students accepting TOPS funding is on the decline. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed says the trend started taking a U-turn a few years ago.

Cut 11 (09) “…program has declined.”

Reed notes that there are bills in the legislature designed to make Louisiana a more competitive state for college-bound students and to ensure an affordable path to higher education.

A teenager is under arrest for the murder of a man outside an Amazon distribution center in Baton Rouge. Homicide detectives arrested 18-year-old Karl Nash in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Daylon Anthony. BRPD Sergeant Darren Ahmed says Nash turned himself in.

Cut 6 (05) “…violent crimes unit office.”

Investigators say the two men were involved in a verbal and physical altercation outside the distribution center Monday night. Nash has been charged with Second Degree Murder and Illegal Use of a Weapon.

A bill that would ban wagering on the outcomes of elections advances to the full Senate. Secretary of State Nancy Landry testified in support of the bill, noting that such a rule already exists for election staff.

Cut 4 (12) “…should apply statewide.”

The vote in the Governmental Affairs Committee was unanimous, increasing its odds of eventually ending up on Governor Landry’s desk.

The number of students accepting TOPS funding has been going down for a few years. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed says one reason is that some students decide not to continue their education beyond high school.

Cut 10 (12) “…to be eligible.”

A bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee B aims to provide a new legal remedy for people incarcerated under non-unanimous jury verdicts. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

A new exhibit opens next Friday in New Orleans, honoring the women who played an essential role in making Mardi Gras what it is today. The Pioneers of Women’s Carnival will feature costumes, photos, ball favors and parade throws. It will be on display at the Presbytere on Jackson Square beginning May 9th.

A bill introduced by Senator Royce Duplessis aims to provide a new legal remedy for people incarcerated under non-unanimous jury verdicts, also known as Jim Crow juries. The bill passed a Senate committee with bipartisan support in a 5-1 vote and now heads to the full Senate. Promise of Justice initiative Attorney Claude Michael Comeau testified in favor of the bill, saying it would allow those convicted by non-unanimous juries to seek post-conviction relief.

Cut 12 (05) “…a new trial.”

Lafourche Parish District Attorney Kristine Russell has been focusing on Child Abuse cases for 20 years. She testified against the bill, saying when she looks at her non-unanimous verdicts, there’s no question of guilt.

Cut 14 (14) “…not guilty.”

The number of students accepting TOPS funding has been going down for a few years. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed says one requirement is that students attend a college within the state of Louisiana, and many students are being lured to other states.

Cut 9 (09)  “…now for students.”

Amtrak will launch a new twice-daily service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross says the goal is to launch the new Mardi Gras line by mid-July.

Cut 16 (12) “…piece of track.”

The Mardi Gras line will also have four stops in Mississippi — Bay Saint Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. Ross says the next phase is to connect New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

Australian-based Woodside Energy is investing 17 and a half billion dollars to build a liquified natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish. Senator Bill Cassidy says this is the first greenfield LNG export facility to move forward since President Trump rolled back the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permits.

Cut 13 (14)  “…celebrate 100 days.”

Baton Rouge Police say 18-year-old Carlgene Nash is facing charges of second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon after he allegedly fatally shot 21-year-old Daylon Anthony outside an Amazon distribution facility. Sergeant Darren Ahmed says the investigation is ongoing…

Cut 8 (11) “….as we speak”

Another election integrity bill is making its way through the legislature; and given the lack of opposition in committee, the odds are pretty good that it will end up on the governor’s desk. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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Australian-based Woodside Energy Group has announced a 17-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment building a greenfield liquified natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish. It’s the fourth multi-billion dollar economic development project announced by Governor Landry in the last five months. Senator Bill Cassidy

Cut 12 (11) “…can be brighter.”

A bill that would ban wagering on the outcomes of elections advances to the full senate; and given the unanimous vote in the Governmental Affairs Committee, the odds are strong that it could end up on Governor Landry’s desk. Secretary of State Nancy Landry testified in support of the bill…

Cut 3 (10) “…of an election.”

Landry says Louisiana already has some of the most secure elections in the state, and she wants to keep it that way.

A first-degree murder conviction against a death-row inmate has been thrown out. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A federal judge has sentenced 33-year-old Kenneth Leblanc of Lake Charles to 15 years in prison for hiding a cell phone in a bathroom so he can capture an eleven year-old girl undressing. Prosecutors say the phone was positioned to capture someone getting in and out of the shower. Leblanc pleaded guilty to one count of attempted transportation of child pornography.