Early Childhood Education Advocates are urging the Louisiana Senate to spend more dollars on the Child Care Assistance Program. Sean Richardson reports the Louisiana House’s proposed budget keeps funding at the same level as this year…

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

And state lawmakers now have an additional 139-million dollars to spend next fiscal year. The Revenue Estimating Conference recognized the additional cash after hearing from economists who project the amount of revenue the state will collect after July 1^st. Senate President Cameron Henry says the additional dollars could fund more criminal justice improvements, economic development initiatives and some lawmakers want to see the state spend 30-million dollars to keep a high-dosage tutoring program going.

Livingston Parish once again teamed up with former Dateline NBC correspondent Chris Hansen in an online sex sting. This time, nine men were arrested, including two registered sex offenders and one man who brought a loaded gun to the sting house. Sheriff Jason Ard says the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force set up the operation in March and April, creating a fake social media profile.

Cut 13 (11)  “…an undercover deputy.”

An LSU student and an alleged gang member were among the nine people arrested.

At the end of the month, Louisiana’s Treasurer’s Office will send out 143-thousand unclaimed property checks totaling over 34 million dollars. State Treasurer John Fleming says there are about 25-hundred people receiving unclaimed property that’s higher than their maximum for an automatic check…

Cut 8 (11) “…verifying their identity”

The unclaimed property checks are blue and it will have a logo that says Your Money…Claim It.

Early Childhood Education Advocates are urging the Louisiana Senate to spend more dollars on the Child Care Assistance Program. Sean Richardson reports the Louisiana House’s proposed budget keeps funding at the same level as this year…

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Approximately 143-thousand unclaimed property checks, totaling over 34-million-dollars, will be mailed next Friday. Sean Richardson has more

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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A Senate bill heading to the House floor would prohibit schools that receive state funding from serving lunches with ultra-processed foods. Andrew Greenstein has more…

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Revenue Estimating Conference has recognized an additional 139-million-dollars in funding, which means the state will have more available dollars to plug into next fiscal year’s budget.  Louisiana Policy Institute for Children CEO Libbie Sonnier is urging legislators to use some of the additional revenue to increase funding for early childhood education…

Cut 4 (11) “…child care assistance.”

The Louisiana House approved a budget that contained nearly 78-million-dollars for the Child Care Assistance Program.  Sonnier says they would like to see funding return to the 2023-24 level, which was 87-million-dollars.

Cut 5 (08) “…young children thrive.”

Louisiana spends around one-percent of its state budget on early childhood education, and Sonnier says investing in early childhood education is a two generation approach with parents able to work and contribute to the state economy…

Cut 6 (12) “…learn and excel.”

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State Treasurer John Fleming announced that approximately 143-thousand unclaimed property checks, totaling over 34-million dollars, will be mailed next Friday. This follows a data match with the Louisiana Department of Revenue with updated addresses.

Cut 7 (09) “…land next month.”

This is the largest batch of checks mailed since 2018, reaching residents in every parish. Fleming says 25-hundred claims exceed the automatic check limit will receive claim forms with instructions on how to complete the process.

Cut 8 (11) “…verifying their identity.”

Fleming says the blue colored checks, featuring the Treasury’s logo, are legitimate and urged recipients to cash them and no one can cash these checks or deposit them but you…

Cut 9 (08)  “…will claim it.”

You can visit L-A-Cash-Claim-dot-org to see if you have any unclaimed property.

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A Senate bill that would prohibit schools that receive state funding from serving ultra-processed foods at lunch is now heading to the House floor after no one voted against the bill in House Health and Welfare. The bill’s author, Covington Senator Patrick McMath, says Louisiana is one of several states considering similar legislation and the goal is…

Cut 10 (10) “…alter the ingredients.”

The MAHA bill advanced to the House floor without objection. Committee member and Slidell Representative Stephanie Berault:

Cut 11 (11) “…have it now.”

McMath’s bill incentivizes food makers to eliminate toxins from school lunches. The legislation also requires a warning label on foods containing artificial colors, additives or banned chemicals. And it requires restaurants to notify customers if they cook or prepare foods using seed oils.

During testimony of the bill, opposition came from those who do not like that artificial sweeteners are banned from being served in school lunches. Lobbyist Alton Ashy represents the Calorie Control Council and he says artificial sweeteners can help with weight management

Cut 12 (13) “…in their diet.”

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Livingston Parish once again teamed up with former Dateline NBC correspondent Chris Hansen in an online sex sting. This time, nine men were arrested, including two registered sex offenders and one man who brought a loaded gun to the sting house. Sheriff Jason Ard says the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force set up the operation in March and April, creating a fake social media profile.

Cut 13 (11)  “…an undercover deputy.”

Sheriff Ard reiterates that it’s always the suspect who initiates the conversation, and not the other way around.

Cut 14 (06) “…right through that.”

The conversation escalates to the point that the suspect is given an address to a house to meet up with who he thought was a 12-year-old girl or a 14-year-old boy. Also among the suspects are two foreign nationals – one who’s been studying at LSU for several years and one with ties to a human trafficking gang. Ard says this underscores the importance of monitoring your kids’ online activities at all times.

Cut 15 (11) “…prey right then.”

Some of the cases will be featured on “Takedown With Chris Hansen,” which is streaming on the TruBlu streaming network.

The Revenue Estimating Conference recognizes an additional 139-million-dollars in funding. Louisiana Policy Institute for Children CEO Libbie Sonnier is urging legislators to use some of that additional revenue to increase funding for early childhood education.

Cut 4 (12) “…child care assistance.”

A Senate bill that would prohibit schools that receive state funding from serving ultra-processed foods at lunch is now heading to the House floor after no one voted against it in House Health and Welfare. The bill’s author, Covington Senator Patrick McMath, says Louisiana is one of several states considering similar legislation and the goal is…

Cut 10 (10) “…alter the ingredients.”

Online sportsbooks could soon be paying additional state taxes if a certain bill makes it onto Governor Landry’s desk. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Marrero Representative Kyle Green is arrested following a single-vehicle crash early Wednesday morning. State Police Trooper Jacob Pucheu (POO-show):

Cut 11 (10) “…with him, though.”

Five inmates from last Friday’s jailbreak at the Orleans Parish jail have been captured and five of them remain on the run. And State Police announced this afternoon that two people have been arrested for allegedly assisting some of the fugitives. The individuals arrested have been identified as 32-year-old Cortnie Harris of New Orleans and 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptist of Slidell..

Meanwhile, the calls are growing for the Orleans sheriff to resign…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein”

The Louisiana House has approved legislation that would increase the tax on online sports betting operators like Draft Kings and Fan Duel. The tax would increase from 15-percent to 21.5 percent and Division one college athletic programs would receive some of the revenue, two million dollars for each school. Piper Hutchinson with the Louisiana Illuminator says the bill’s author, Columbia Representative Neil Riser, originally proposed a higher tax…

Cut 14 (09) “….their lobbying efforts”

The measure heads to the Senate for more discussion.

The Jimmie Davis Bridge Construction project has hit the one-year mark. DOTD spokesperson Erin Buchannan says the contractor continues to make progress with building the foundations of the new four-lane bridge in Bossier and Caddo Parishes and significant work is underway to realign and widen LA 511 on both sides of the river…

Cut 5 (09) “…two years from now”

As the search for the five remaining Orleans Parish Jail escapees continues, calls grow for the sheriff to step down. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Online sportsbooks could soon be paying additional state taxes if a certain bill makes it onto Governor Landry’s desk. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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It’s been one year since construction began on a new 360-million-dollar Jimmie Davis Bridge in Bossier and Caddo parishes.  State Transportation spokesperson Erin Buchanan says the new four-lane bridge will replace the existing two-lane structure….

Cut 3 (08) “…in those areas.”

Construction of the bridge’s foundations is advancing, aided by two temporary trestle bridges. Buchanan says significant work is also underway to realign and widen LA 511, including a raised median to enhance traffic flow.

Cut 4 (08) “…things like that.”

Buchanan says the project is set to open in early to mid 2027 and will serve over 30-thousand vehicles daily.

Cut 5 (09) “…two years from now.”

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Five down, five to go – Five inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center last Friday have been recaptured, and five remain on the loose. As the search for the remaining at-large escapees continues, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson continues to come under fire – so much so that she has temporarily suspended her re-election bid. Hutson told the New Orleans City Council that the jailbreak is very troubling.

Cut 6 (09) “…urgency and transparency.”

But Sheriff Hutson deflected some of the blame, saying that the city has not provided her office the necessary resources to properly operate the jail and prevent incidents like this.

Cut 7 (14) “…match our needs”

A pair of House Democrats who represent New Orleans are calling for Hutson not only to drop her re-election bid, but also to step down immediately. Among them is Jason Hughes.

Cut 8 (08) “…down to leadership.”

Another House member feeling the same way is Aimee Adatto Freeman.

Cut 9 (10)  “…from these criminals.”

The total reward money for each remaining fugitive is 20-thousand dollars – 10-thousand from the FBI and the rest from ATF and Crime Stoppers.

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A state representative is charged with DWI and child endangerment after he was involved in a single vehicle wreck early this morning. Three children in the vehicle. State Police Trooper Jacob Pucheu (POO-show) says troopers arrested Marrero Democrat Kyle Green.

Cut 10 (07) “…placed under arrest.”

Troopers transported Green, who was uninjured in the crash, to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, where he refused to provide a breath sample. Trooper Pucheu says the crash happened at around 2:30 this morning on  U.S. 90-B in Jefferson Parish and the crash was minor in nature.

Cut 11 (10) “…with him, though.”

Pucheu says troopers at the scene noticed signs of impairment and conducted a series of field sobriety tests…

Cut 12 (08) “…injury or death.”

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Online sportsbooks could soon be paying additional state taxes if a certain bill makes it onto Governor Landry’s desk. Piper Hutchinson with the Louisiana Illuminator says 25-percent of that added revenue would go to a new college sports fund.

Cut 13 (06)  “…One athletic programs.”

The legislature is betting on that added revenue adding about two-million dollars to each Division One college’s athletic program. While that may be a drop in the bucket for LSU, that would mean the world to smaller schools like ULM. Hutchinson says Columbia Republican Representative Neil Riser’s bill originally called for the tax rate to increase to 32.5-percent. But then, the sports betting lobbyists got involved.

Cut 14 (09) “…their lobbying efforts.”

Fiscal analysts had said that the state would have been able to parlay the original rate hike into almost 200-million dollars in annual sports betting tax collections. But with the scaled-back rate, the revenue estimate is less clear. Hutchinson says the state has nothing to lose by raising the online sports betting tax rate.

Cut 15 (11) “…not the same.”

The bill passed the House and is now in the Senate, where Hutchinson expects it to pass. Governor Landry has come out in favor of it. The tax rate for brick-and-mortar sports betting in Louisiana would remain unchanged at ten-percent.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson says she takes full responsibility for last Friday’s jailbreak, in which ten inmates escaped. However, she also deflected some of the blame, telling the New Orleans City Council that the city has not provided her office the necessary resources to properly operate the jail and prevent incidents like this.

Cut 7 (14) “…match our needs”

Hutson has temporarily suspended her re-election campaign. But a growing number of state lawmakers, including Aimee Freeman, want her to end her bid altogether and step down immediately.

Cut 9 (10)  “…from these criminals.”

State Police, meanwhile, have arrested two women for allegedly helping some of the escapees following the jailbreak.

If you like to hop on your cell phone and bet on your favorite team, it could soon cost you more money to do so. The legislature is poised to increase the tax rate for online sports betting from 15-percent to 21.5-percent. Piper Hutchinson with the Louisiana Illuminator says 25-percent of that added revenue would go to a new college sports fund.

Cut 13 (06)  “…One athletic programs.”

The legislature is betting on that added revenue adding about two-million dollars to each Division One college’s athletic program.

Construction on the new 360-million-dollar Jimmie Davis Bridge along L-A 511 in Bossier and Caddo parishes has entered its second year. DOTD spokeswoman Erin Buchanan says work is also underway to realign and widen the roadway including a raised median to enhance traffic flow.

Cut 4 (08) “…things like that.”

The project is set to be completed in the middle of 2027.

It’s been one year since construction began on a new 360-million-dollar Jimmie Davis Bridge in Bossier and Caddo parishes. Construction of the bridge’s foundations is advancing, aided by two temporary trestle bridges. DOTD Spokesperson Erin Buchanan says significant work is also underway to realign and widen LA 511, including a raised median to enhance traffic flow.

Cut 4 (08) “…things like that.”

A state representative is charged with DWI and child endangerment after he was involved in a single vehicle wreck early this morning. Three children in the vehicle. State Police Trooper Jacob Pucheu (POO-show) says troopers arrested Marrero Democrat Kyle Green.

Cut 10 (07) “…placed under arrest.”

Five down, five to go – Five inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center last Friday have been recaptured, and five remain on the loose. As the search for the remaining at-large escapees continues, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson continues to come under fire – so much so that she has temporarily suspended her re-election bid. Hutson told the New Orleans City Council that the jailbreak is very troubling.

Cut 6 (09) “…urgency and transparency.”

A pair of House Democrats who represent New Orleans are calling for Hutson not only to drop her re-election bid, but also to step down immediately. Among them is Jason Hughes.

Cut 8 (08) “…down to leadership.”

The search continues for five of the ten inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish jail last Friday. State Representative Aimee Freeman has called for Orleans Sheriff Susan Hutson to resign…

Cut 9 (10) “…these criminals”

Hutson told the New Orleans City Council that she takes full accountability for this failure. But Hutson also told the council she does not have enough funding…

Cut 7 (14) “…our needs”

Hutson is up for re-election in October. She has suspended her campaign and she was already facing two challengers before the jail break.

State Police have charged state representative Kyle Green with a DWI and child endangerment after he was involved in a single vehicle wreck in Jefferson Parish during the middle of the night. The wreck happened at around 2:30 in the morning and no one was injured, including the three children he had in his vehicle. State Trooper Jacob Pucheu says troopers at the scene noticed signs of impairment and conducted a series of field sobriety tests..

Cut 12 (08) “….or death”

The children in the vehicle were released to a family member.

The Jimmie Davis Bridge Construction project has hit the one-year mark. DOTD spokesperson Erin Buchannan says the contractor continues to make progress with building the foundations of the new four-lane bridge in Bossier and Caddo Parishes and significant work is underway to realign and widen LA 511 on both sides of the river…

Cut 5 (09) “…two years from now”

As the search for the five remaining Orleans Parish Jail escapees continues, calls grow for the sheriff to step down. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that wounded four people. It happened last night in Rayville at the Richland Apartments. Deputies say three of the victims were sent to the hospital and one of the individuals declined medical treatment. Investigators believe gunfire erupted as a result of a physical altercation.

A bill that would make the Insurance Commissioner an appointed position in state government rather than an elected position appears to be dead for the legislative session. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis is author of the bill as part of an effort to lower insurance rates. He received push back fellow senators during the debate on the Senate floor. Bossier City Republican Adam Bass questioned Duplessis…

Cut 14 (15) “…finding another solution”

Duplessis tabled a vote as it appears he does not have the votes for it to pass.

It’s been one year since construction began on a new 360-million-dollar Jimmie Davis Bridge in Bossier and Caddo Parishes.  State Transportation spokesperson Erin Buchanan says the new 4-lane bridge will replace the existing 2-lane structure….

Cut 3 (08) “…in those areas.”

The new four-lane bridge will open in 2027.