The House Education Committee passes a bill that would require universities to offer a privacy waiver to students that would allow the schools to contact their parents during a mental health crisis. Sean Richardson has testimony from the bill’s author, New Orleans Democrat Delisha Boyd.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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The House Education Committee advances a resolution discouraging LSU home football games in September before six p-m. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A proposal to prohibit insurance companies from using a person’s credit score to determine their auto insurance rate fails to get out of the House Insurance Committee. Andrew Greenstein has more.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The House Education Committee approves a bill that would allow colleges and universities to contact parents or designated individuals if a student experiences a mental health crisis. New Orleans Democrat Delisha Boyd says currently schools are not allowed to contact parents about their child’s mental health.

Cut 4 (10) “…paying for it all.”

The bill requires schools to offer students an optional privacy waiver, enabling communication with a trusted contact in emergencies. Boyd says there’s a need for this measure, citing a recent suicide at Xavier University.

Cut 5 (07) “…a different way.”

Legislators on the committee supported the bill as a “fail safe.” Boyd noted that early intervention, prompted by behavioral changes, might prevent tragic outcomes.

Cut 6 (12) “…it’s too late.”

The bill advances to the full House.

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The House Education Committee advances a resolution asking the SEC not to schedule LSU home football games in September before six p-m. It’s being proposed by Harahan Republican John Illg, who noted that last season, they made LSU play a game at 2:30 in the afternoon last September 21st, with a gametime temperature of 90 degrees.

Cut 7 (05) “…be treated medically.”

Illg noted that many fans in the east stands, which get the most direct sunlight that time of day, were not around to see LSU pull away for the 34-to-17 win.

Cut 8 (06) “…it to halftime.”

While Illg’s resolution singles out LSU, he would hope that other schools in Louisiana would follow suit in asking that their home games in September not be scheduled for afternoons.

Cut 9 (10)  “…month of September.”

Last year, a new TV contract began between the SEC and ESPN that’s worth three-billion dollars. Ultimately, it’s up to ESPN to decide when kickoff times are scheduled.

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A bill that would prohibit insurance companies from using credit score as a factor in determining insurance rates fails to get out of the House Insurance Committee by one vote. In Louisiana, drivers who have a poor or fair credit score pay higher premiums than drivers with very good or excellent credit scores. Baton Rouge Representative Edmond Jordan says a credit score doesn’t determine a person’s driving ability…

Cut 10 (07) “…bad credit.”

The vote on Jordan’s bill was nine to nine, which means it does not advance to the House floor, unless another vote is taken, which is unlikely. House Insurance Chairman Gabe Firment raised concerns that by reducing the insurance premiums for drivers with low credit scores, it will raise premiums for drivers with a high credit rating…

Cut 11 (14) “…make that projection”

Firment asked that question to Peter Robins-Brown, the executive director of the Louisiana Progress.

Firment asked Jordan if his bill passed, when would drivers with poor credit actually see lower auto insurance rates.

Cut 12 (07) “…40 years.”

Opponents of the legislation also say drivers with low credit scores are more likely to sue in the hopes of getting a big settlement because of their financial situation.

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If you use your driver’s license as your main form of identification to board a commercial flight, it now has to be REAL ID compliant. But if you haven’t gotten your REAL ID yet, there’s no need to worry. Matt Boudreaux with the Office of Motor Vehicles says you have alternatives at the TSA checkpoint.

Cut 13 (13)  “…REAL ID compliant.”

Boudreaux says while a driver’s license without the gold star in the upper right-hand corner will no longer be enough to seamlessly get through TSA, you can use it for just about everything else.

Cut 14 (06) “…changes on that.”

Boudreaux says certain federal offices will also require REAL IDs.

Cut 15 (12) “…before you visit.”

Boudreaux says for the time being, you can actually still get through TSA with a driver’s license that’s not REAL ID compliant; you’ll be subjected to a lot more scrutiny.

The House has passed a bill that would ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving, except in emergencies. The vote on Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso’s bill was 71-to-28. Glorioso’s bill has the support of several Democrats, including Jason Hughes of New Orleans.

Cut 13 (09)  “…they were distracted.”

Not all of Glorioso’s fellow Republicans are on board with his bill, however. Mike Bayham of Chalmette says a hand-held cell phone ban will disproportionately affect a certain group of people.

Cut 14 (12) “…don’t have Bluetooth.”

Last year, a similar bill failed by almost the exact same margin, 71-to-22. The bill now moves to the Senate.

The House Education Committee advances a bill to allow colleges and universities to contact parents or designated individuals if a student experiences a mental health crisis or poses a risk to themselves or others. New Orleans Democrat Delisha Boyd says currently schools are not allowed to contact parents about their child’s mental health.

Cut 4 (10) “…paying for it all.”

Earlier in the meeting, the committee advanced a resolution asking the SEC not to schedule LSU home football games in September before six p-m. It’s being proposed by Harahan Republican John Illg, who noted that last September 21st, LSU had to play a home game at 2:30 in the afternoon, with a gametime temperature of 90 degrees.

Cut 7 (05) “…be treated medically.”

If your car does not have Bluetooth, you might want to invest in an FM transmitter soon. The House has advanced a bill that would make hand-held cell phone use while driving illegal except in emergencies. The bill’s author, Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso, says distracted driving is a huge problem in the state, and it’s one of the reasons that auto insurance rates in Louisiana are so high.

Cut 12 (11) “…distracted driving.”

Fellow Republican Mike Bayham of Chalmette is against it. He says a hand-held cell phone ban would not instantly make bad drivers better.

Cut 15 (06) “…car or not.”

A similar bill last year failed in the House, 71-to-22. It was almost the complete opposite this year, with the House passing it by a vote of 71-to-28. It now moves to the Senate.

National Democrats are encouraging former Governor John Bel Edwards to run for Senate in 2026. The New York Times reports Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has spoken with Edwards about the race, but Edwards has not confirmed his interest. Even though Republican incumbent Bill Cassidy is facing a challenge in the state’s newly-closed primary, Democrats expect him to survive. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the big question will be how the closed primary will affect Cassidy.

Cut 10 (12) “…especially the Republicans.”

More and more people are getting scam text messages claiming that they have an unpaid toll road charge. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says that’s something that the department simply does not do. 

Cut 6 (08) “…asking for fines”

A ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving moves to the Senate. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Funeral arrangements have been announced for Rayne Police Lieutenant Allen “Noochie” Credeur who was shot by friendly fire and killed in the line of duty Monday. A public viewing will be held on Monday, May 12 beginning at 9:00 A.M. with a funeral following at 2:00 P.M. at the Rayne Civic Center followed by a burial service at Arceneaux Cemetery.

A New York Times report says Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has spoken to former Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards about running for the U-S Senate next year, possibly facing Republican Senator Billy Cassidy in November’s general election. Cassidy is considered vulnerable because of his vote to convict Donald Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there’s no guarantee Cassidy will be re-elected, even though he has a campaign war chest of over seven million dollars…

Cut 11 (11) “…another Democrat.”

During Love the Boot Week in April, Keep Louisiana Beautiful supported recycling efforts in 27 parishes, picking up over 16-thousand bottles and cans, a 23-percent increase from last year. Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell says this was part of a broader statewide effort involving nearly 27-thousand volunteers

Cut 3 (12) “…was just amazing.”

The House has passed a bill that would ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving, except in emergencies. The vote on Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso’s bill was 71-to-28. Glorioso’s bill has the support of several Democrats, including Jason Hughes of New Orleans.

Cut 13 (09)  “…they were distracted.”

Not all of Glorioso’s fellow Republicans are on board with his bill, however. Mike Bayham of Chalmette says a hand-held cell phone ban will disproportionately affect a certain group of people.

Cut 14 (12) “…don’t have Bluetooth.”

Last year, a similar bill failed by almost the exact same margin, 71-to-22. The bill now moves to the Senate

National Democrats are reportedly urging former Governor John Bel Edwards to run for Senate in 2026.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

South Louisiana is not out of the woods yet with heavy rains. A flood watch remains in effect for South Louisiana through tomorrow. Some areas got pummeled over the last 24 hours; parts of Beauregard Parish got upwards of nine inches of rain.

More and more people are getting scam text messages claiming that they have an unpaid toll road charges. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says the scammers are becoming more sophisticated in how they trick unsuspecting people into following a link and paying what seems to be a small amount of money.

Cut 7 (10) “…geauxpass-dot-com.”

Mallett adds, if DOTD contacts anyone about unpaid tolls or tickets, they will only do so by regular mail and the letter will include a photo of their license.

The Caddo Parish Coroner has released the names of the victims in Monday’s apparent murder suicide in Keithville. Police say 64-year-old Judy, 29-year-old James, and 2-year-old Adalynn Sadler are the 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th homicide victims in Caddo Parish this year. They along with 60-year-old Leroy Sadler were found dead of gun shot wounds in the Keithville home of Leroy and Judy Sadler Monday morning just before 7:00 a.m. The deaths remain under investigation.

The House has advanced a bill that would ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving, except in emergencies. Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso wrote the bill; he says distracted driving is a huge problem in the state, and it’s one of the reasons that auto insurance rates in Louisiana are so high.

Cut 12 (11) “…distracted driving.”

Glorioso’s bill also has the support of several Democrats, including Jason Hughes of New Orleans.

National Democrats are encouraging former Gov. John Bel Edwards to run for Senate in 2026 against Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, according to The New York Times. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has spoken with Edwards about the race, but Edwards has not confirmed his interest. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Edwards could say he’s ready to get out of private practice and back into politics.

Cut 9 (11)  “…for doing that.”

Funeral arrangements have been announced for Rayne Police Lieutenant Allen “Noochie” Credeur who was shot by friendly fire and killed in the line of duty Monday. A public viewing will be held on Monday, May 12 beginning at 9:00 A.M. with a funeral following at 2:00 P.M. at the Rayne Civic Center followed by a burial service at Arceneaux Cemetery.  Prior to the public viewing, a private viewing for family and close friends is scheduled for Sunday.

Scammers have turned to text messaging, inundating Louisianans with fake warnings and demands for unpaid toll road charges. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says there’s only one way DOTD will ever contact you over an unpaid toll charge.

Cut 8 (07) “…your license plate.”

Mallett says watch out for scams and if you go to a website make sure it’s not a scammer’s site which will have an often almost identical web address to legitimate sites.

Last month during Love the Boot week, Keep Louisiana Beautiful supported recycling efforts in 27 parishes, picking up over 16-thousand bottles and cans, a 23-percent increase from last year. It was part of a broader statewide effort involving nearly 27-thousand volunteers. Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell says recycling not only keeps waste out of landfills but also conserves resources, saves energy, reduces pollution, and supports the economy and job creation, and says the problem can’t be solved overnight.

Cut 5 (09) “…in our state.”

A train derailed in Avoyelles Parish just south of Moreauville this morning. Evacuations are underway for nearby schools, homes and businesses and Avoyelles Sheriff’s Deputies say State Police Haz-Mat is responding for public safety. The accident happened around 7:30 this morning and LA 1 is currently closed.

A bill that would make kratom illegal in Louisiana moves to the House after passing the Senate S-B 26-to-11, split right down party lines. The author, West Monroe Republican Jay Morris, says kratom – sometimes known as “gas station heroin” – has already been banned in several places. He says he has heard many horror stories stemming from the use of kratom.

Cut 9 (12)  “…a legal substance.”

Morris says Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Pete Croughan (CROW-ghin) says he has treated more people for kratom overdose than those who have taken crack cocaine.

More and more people are getting scam text messages claiming that they have an unpaid toll road charge. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says that’s something that the department simply does not do.

Cut 6 (08) “…asking for fines”

Mallett says the scammers are becoming more sophisticated in how they trick unsuspecting people into following a link and paying what seems to be a small amount of money.

During Love the Boot Week in April, Keep Louisiana Beautiful supported recycling efforts in 27 parishes. The recycling program used a mix of pick-up and drop-off services, with 21 Louisiana Department of Transportation offices serving as collection sites. Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell says people want to live in clean communities and they deserve just that.

Cut 4 (10) “…they are proud of.”