A Crowley lawmaker files legislation to raise criminal penalties for distributing fentanyl to make that equivalent to murder. Republican John Stefanski’s bill will be heard in the legislative session that starts April 10th. He says the consequences for dealing the drug should “match the violent damage it causes”…:
Cut 4 (10) “…rest of your life.”
Possessing smaller amounts could get 5 to 40 years in prison and up to $50-thousand in fines.

New data finds Louisiana is among the top five states when it comes to the highest per capita rates of both reported fraud and identity theft. Federal Trade Commission Senior Data Researcher Emma Fletcher says if you’ve been a victim, you can report your case to Report-Fraud-dot-F-T-C-dot-gov. Fletcher says even if you did not lose money, make them aware of the potential scam…
cut 11 (10) “…for investigations”
The FTC also has tips on their website on how to possibly recover your losses.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says nine insurers are seeking 62-million dollars in grant money to write more private property insurance policies in coastal Louisiana. Donelon says they are reviewing the applications…
cut 14 (14) “…on the budget”
But Donelon is optimistic several of these companies will begin writing new policies as soon as next month.

Governor John Bel Edwards and other officials have broken ground on a new 44-million dollar state-of-the-art building on the Northwestern State University campus. NSU President Dr. Marcus Jones says the groundbreaking marks a special moment for the university.
Cut 7 (10) “…sixteenth president.”
Alost was president of the university from 1986 to 1996.