A new law signed by Governor Landry looks to create a more family-friendly gameday atmosphere on college campuses in Louisiana. Kace Kieschnick reports.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”
____________________________________________
Even though the new law doesn’t take effect until January 1st, your days of schlepping to a vehicle inspection station are, for all intents and purposes, over. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
____________________________________________
Governor Landry signed a bill increasing the penalties for marijuana use on college campuses and near schools. While the new law affects all school zones across the state Pollock Representative Gabe Firment says it specifically targets creating a more family-friendly environment at on-campus tailgates on gamedays.
Those caught smoking marijuana in school zones now face up to a year in jail and a one-thousand-dollar fine. Firment says smoking marijuana within two-thousand feet of campuses and schools was already illegal in Louisiana.
Opponents of the bill argue the bill does nothing to address alcohol use on campus, especially that done by underage students. Firment’s answer is simple — consuming alcohol in a school zone is not illegal.
________________________________________
The elimination of state inspection stickers doesn’t officially happen until January 1st; but for all intents and purposes, your days of schlepping to get your vehicle inspected are over. Governor Landry has told State Police not to issue citations for expired inspection stickers. And Larry Bagley, who authored House Bill 1085, says even if your inspection is due for renewal this month, just let it go.
Bagley says if you recently paid for your two-year renewal already, however, you’re out of luck.
Bagley says among the practical reasons to eliminate the inspection sticker is to put certain counterfeiters out of business.
Cut 8 (11) “…the parking lot.”
The inspection sticker will be replaced by a QR code that will cost six dollars a year, which will be rolled into your annual registration renewal – it’s not paid separately. The QR code will arrive in the mail; it measures about two inches long by one inch tall and will be affixed to the bottom of the passenger side of the windshield.
_____________________________________________________________
The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office announced a new Drone as First Responder program. The drones are operated by a real-time crime center that monitors drone video and live body camera feeds to quickly respond to emergencies. Sheriff Marc Mashaw says drones can cover a wide area and arrive on scene in as little as 70 seconds.
When a 911 call comes in, OPSO can launch drones directly to the scene. The fleet features two drones that can break glass to enter a building and allow deputies to negotiate with suspects remotely. Mashaw says the program transforms emergency response and community protection.
Cut 10 (13) “…different description.”
The drones can even help first responders speak directly to the public during emergencies or take life-saving action. Mashaw says drones can drop off life jackets, tourniquets and other emergency equipment while deputies are on the way.
Cut 11 (13) “…we’re responding.”
______________________________________________________
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologists believe they are making progress in restoring critical fish habitat on Toledo Bend. LDWF Biologist Manager Villis Dowden says over the past two weeks crews have stocked 110 containers of native eelgrass which can provide critical habitat for juvenile fish….
Cut 12 (07) “…wildlife species.”
Dowden says some early attempts to plant eelgrass in past years did not succeed, because of several challenges, including strong wave action, so they are using more sheltered planting areas…
Toledo Bend along the Texas-Louisiana border in Sabine Parish is known as one of the best fishing spots in the country. From 2015 to 2017, Bassmaster Magazine ranked Toledo Bend as the best bass lake in the nation.
But high, muddy water in 2016 and 2017 led to a significant, sustained decline in native aquatic vegetation. Dowden says the habitat restoration methods they are doing now, have worked in reservoirs in other southern states