It may soon be illegal to handle your cellphone while behind the wheel as a handheld cellphone ban is nearing final legislative approval. The Senate approved the House Bill 33 to 5. Covington Republican Patrick McMath says it is already illegal in the state to text and drive, but the law is unenforceable…

Cut 6 (06) “…against the law”

The legislation means that your cell phone cannot be in your hand while driving with some exceptions. It heads back to the House for approval of Senate amendments.

The LSU baseball team is headed to the Super Regionals after giving Jay Johnson his 500th career win last night as the Tiger defeated a hot hitting Little Rock team 10 to 6.…

Cut 18 (16)  “…of character.”

LSU will host West Virginia in a best out of three Super Regional series starting Saturday at 1 PM.

A Sulphur high school teacher and coach is facing charges for his alleged role in the stabbing of a six-year-old child. Major Mark Leblanc with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office says their deputies went to a home in the Leonville area to investigate a domestic disturbance and walked into a chaotic scene

Cut 3 (08) “…numerous lacerations and stab wounds.

Leblanc says 37-year-old Patrick Greene was combative with deputies at the scene, but eventually arrested and charged with domestic abuse battery with child endangerment, two counts of aggravated assault and resisting an officer. Leblanc says the child is at a Baton Rouge hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The House Ways and Means Committee approved a bill to allow low-income homeowners to receive up to a two-thousand-dollar tax credit to help them pay for property insurance. The tax credits would be limited to 10 million dollars per year and be granted first come, first serve. Chalmette Republican Michael Bayham supports the bill by New Orleans Democrat Senator Royce Duplessis.

Cut 14 (11) “…about it.”

The Senate approved bill still needs full House approval.

In a narrow eight-to-seven vote, the House Ways and Means Committee approves a Senate bill that would allow low-income homeowners to receive up to a two-thousand-dollar income tax credit to help them pay property insurance costs. New Orleans Democratic Senator Royce Duplessis authored the legislation.

Cut 13 (08)  “…insurance premiums.”

Homeowners who make less than 200-percent of the poverty level would be eligible. The Senate approved bill still needs full House approval.

The Louisiana House has approved a bill that would allow homeowners to purchase “state value” policies. The bill’s author, Belle Chasse Republican Representative Jacob Braud says the measure would be for those who have already paid off the mortgage and under this legislation they can insure their home for any amount…

Cut 5 (11) “…so much about”

It would result in a homeowner who has paid off the mortgage to purchase a more affordable homeowner’s policy. It still needs Senate approval.

The Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs Committee has shelved a proposal to lower state income and sales taxes. Invest in Louisiana Executive Director Jan  Moller says it was a wise decision, since the tax revenue impact is still not fully known from the reduction of the income tax rate to three percent that went into effect January 1^st.

Cut 10 (08) “…schools and hospitals.”

The bills would have cut the state sales tax from six percent to 5.75 percent and income tax from three percent to 2.75 percent.

A new poll shows Congressman Troy Carter with high approval numbers. A survey of 500 voters in Orleans Parish finds that Carter has a 66-percent favorable rating. Pollster John Couvillon of JMC Analytics and Polling says Carter has not ruffled many feathers during his time as a state legislator and now as a U-S Representative…

Cut 8 (10) “….most people like him”

The poll also found that Sheriff Susan Hutson has dismal approval numbers, while city councilmember Helena Moreno is the favorite to win the mayoral race.

The Louisiana Senate is expected to approve its version of the budget later this week. It’s not a perfect spending plan, according to Invest in Louisiana Executive Director Jan Moeller, but he says lawmakers are spending the available dollars they have wisely.

Cut 12 (09) “…Senate did that.”

House Ways and Means Committee narrowly approved a Senate bill to give low-income homeowners to receive up to a two-thousand-dollar income tax credit to help them pay for property insurance costs.. Sulphur Republican Les Farnum questioned bill author New Orleans Democratic Senator Royce Duplessis about the income limit of 200 percent of the poverty level.

Cut 15 (12) “…it the most.”

Under Duplessis’ bill, the state would not issue more than 10-million dollars in tax credits each year and the credits would be handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis.

A new poll finds the sheriff of Orleans Parish has abysmal approval numbers, and Helena Moreno is the clear favorite to become the new mayor of New Orleans. Sean Richardson has more on the survey paid for by a PAC that is not affiliated with any candidate.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The LSU baseball team is headed to the Super Regionals after defeating a hot hitting Little Rock team. Little Rock could not get Ethan Frey out. The designated hitter from Rosepine went four-for-four with four runs driven in. His three-run double got LSU back in the game and it got the crowd at Alex Box Stadium believing again…

Cut 17 (17)  “…unbelieveable”

LSU will host West Virginia in a best out of three Super Regional series.

Louisiana Senators have shelved a House-approved bill that would have lowered income and sales taxes, and doubled the standard deduction for senior citizens. Invest in Louisiana Executive Director Jan (“yahn”) Moller says legislators must pass a balanced budget every year.

Cut 11 (13) “..families and communities .”

A bill by Belle Chasse Republican Representative Jacob Braud (“bro”) is making its way through the legislature and would require insurance companies to allow homeowners to purchase “stated value” policies. Braud says he knows there is risk involved in buying too little insurance under his bill.

Cut 6 (11) “…risk of this.”

The bill passed in the House last week on a vote of 79-to-20. It now heads to a Senate committee before it’s heard on the Senate floor, should the committee approve it.

The House Ways and Means Committee approved a bill to allow low-income homeowners to receive up to a two-thousand-dollar tax credit to help them pay for property insurance. The tax credits would be limited to 10 million dollars per year and be granted first come, first serve. Chalmette Republican Michael Bayham supports the bill by New Orleans Democrat Senator Royce Duplessis.

Cut 14 (11) “…about it.”

The LSU baseball team is headed to the Super Regionals after giving Jay Johnson his 500th career win last night as the Tiger defeated a hot hitting Little Rock team. Johnson gives a lot of credit to Little Rock and he’s proud of the Tiger performances especially by Casan Evans with 12 strike outs, Ethan Frey driving in four runs and Luis Hernandez who hit two home runs…

Cut 18 (16)  “…of characther.”

LSU will host West Virginia in a best out of three Super Regional series.

In a narrow eight-to-seven vote, the House Ways and Means Committee approves a Senate bill that would allow low-income homeowners to receive up to a two-thousand-dollar income tax credit to help them pay property insurance costs. New Orleans Democratic Senator Royce Duplessis authored the legislation.

Cut 13 (08)  “…insurance premiums.”

The Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs Committee has shelved a proposal to lower income and sales taxes. The House-approved bills stalled after a report said the tax cuts would result in a 142-million-dollar shortfall in 2027 and a 590-million-dollar shortfall in 2028. Invest in Louisiana Executive Director Jan (“yahn”) Moller…

Cut 10 (08) “…schools and hospitals.”

The bills would have cut the state sales tax from six percent to 5.75 percent and income tax from three percent to 2.75 percent.

A bill making its way through the legislature would require insurance companies to allow homeowners to insure their homes for the stated market value. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A poll by JM Analytics shows there’s a clear favorite to be the next mayor of New Orleans. Pollster John Couvillion says 52 percent of those polled support councilwoman Helena Moreno, but he wonders if that will last until election day in October.

Cut 9 (10)  “…four and a half months to go”

The polls surveyed 500 likely voters in Orleans Parish on May 27th and 28th. A political action committee not affiliated with any candidate paid for the poll.

A Senate approved bill that would provide low-income homeowners with a tax credit of up to two-thousand dollars to help defray the cost of high insurance premiums has cleared its first hurdle in the House. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A bill is making its way through the legislature that would require insurance companies to allow homeowners to purchase “stated value” policies. The bill was written by Belle Chasse Republican Representative Jacob Braud (“bro”), who says it would essentially allow homeowners to purchase coverage that matches the value of their homes.

Cut 4 (09) “…dollars of insurance.”

JMC Analytics and Polling surveyed Orleans Parish voters to find out how elected officials are viewed by the public ahead of this fall’s election. Pollster John Couvillon says it’s not a surprise to see Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson with a 63-percent disapproval rating following last month’s jail break where ten inmates escaped…

Cut 7 (13) “…political viability.”

The LSU baseball team is headed to the Super Regionals but it was not easy as the Tigers had to rally back from a four run deficit against a hot hitting Little Rock team. But LSU got the bats going and freshman right-hander Casan Evans delivered a special performance in a 10-6 win. Evans struck out 12 over six innings, including nine in a row at one point…

Cut 16 (16) “…get themselves out.”

With more money in the general fund than originally anticipated, the Senate Finance Committee restores 30-million dollars in high-dosage tutoring for K-12 students in the proposed budget for next fiscal year. Senate President Cameron Henry says the high-dosage tutoring program is showing results…

Cut 9 (08)  “…utilization rate.”

The budget heading to the Senate floor also includes the 199-million dollars for teacher stipends, which means teachers will not receive a drop in pay.

Senate Finance Chairman Greg Womack went over the amendments during a committee hearing last week, and they include money to transfer UNO from the U-L System to the LSU System and an increase in dollars for sheriffs to house state inmates

Cut 11 (11) “…offered up.”

A bill is making its way through the legislature that would require insurance companies to allow homeowners to purchase “stated value” policies. The bill was written by Belle Chasse Republican Representative Jacob Braud (“bro”), who says it would essentially allow homeowners to purchase coverage that matches the value of their homes.

Cut 4 (09) “…dollars of insurance.”

Braud acknowledges that there is risk involved in buying too little insurance under his bill. That’s why he included an educational component to it.

On a narrow eight to seven vote, the House Ways and Means Committee approves a Senate bill that would allow low-income homeowners to receive up to a two-thousand-dollar income tax credit to help them pay homeowner property insurance costs. New Orleans Democratic Senator Royce Duplessis is the author.

Cut 13 (10)  “…insurance premiums.”