House Transportation approves a bill that levies a road usage fee on owners of electric and hybrid vehicles with the money going towards highway and bridge maintenance. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says Louisiana relies on its gasoline tax to pay for road work and E-V and hybrid vehicle owners are not paying their fair share…

Cut 12 (09) “..not taking advantage.”  

The measure passed out of a committee on a nine-three vote but still needs full House and Senate approval. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says hybrids and E-Vs are using the same roads as other vehicles, but not paying as much in gas taxes…

Cut 13 (06) “…usage fee”

The legislation calls for electric vehicle owners to pay an additional $110 a year, while hybrid owners would pay a 60-dollar fee annually.

A bill to require public schools in Louisiana to carry free menstrual products for students in either a restroom or an accessible location passes in House Education. While researching her legislation, bill author New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman says she learned that many students experience “Period Poverty.”

AM Cut 7 them back :10

The House Ways and Means Committee approves a proposal to begin phasing out a temporary state sales tax, set to expire July 2025. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala’s bill would begin to phase out the .45-percent sales tax in July of 2023 and says it generates 420-million dollars annually…

Cut 4  (11) “…talk about”

Both bills head to the House floor.

The school where 13-year-old Landry Anglin attended is in shock today after she was killed Sunday afternoon at her Shreveport home by a stray bullet. Police say a shooting between three vehicles outside the home led to her death. Caddo Middle Magnet School Principal Robin DeBusk says it’s been a tough day as they are trying to grapple with the sudden loss of their 8th-grade classmate.

Cut 7 (06) “…day today.” 

The House Ways and Means Committee approves a proposal to begin phasing out a temporary state sales tax, set to expire July 2025. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala’s bill would begin to phase out the .45-percent sales tax in July of 2023 and says it generates 420-million dollars annually…

Cut 4  (11) “…talk about”

The bill heads to the House floor.

A grand jury in East Feliciana Parish will hear the case against a couple accused of neglecting their adult daughter to death. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The House Ways and Means Committee approves a proposal to begin phasing out a temporary state sales tax, set to expire July of 2025. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala’s bill would begin to phase out the .45-percent sales tax in July of 2023 to avoid a sudden drop in revenues…

Cut 3 (10) “…today.”

The bill heads to the House for more discussion.

A bill to require students to read on grade levels before being promoted to 4^th grade will be heard in the House this week. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s bill is modeled after a Mississippi law, he says when testing first went into effect in there, the score was deliberately lowered so a large number of students would not be held back.

Cut 8 (11)  “…across the board…”

The 2022 Louisiana Survey finds that 51-percent of Louisiana residents support the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. That’s down from 58-percent in 2018 when the Louisiana Survey last included this question. LSU pollster Mike Henderson says opposition to the death penalty is up to 38-percent…

Cut 10 (08) “…13 points.”
If you are planning a trip to Los Angeles over the next few months, you might want to consider flying out of Shreveport. Allegiant Air announces they are offering 65-dollar one-way flights to L.A. Mondays and Fridays May 27^th until November 14^th. Shreveport Regional Airport Authority spokesperson Mark Crawford says they also they also offer low fares to Orlando and Destin, Florida…

Cut 14 (12)  “…each way”

The death penalty still has the support of most Louisianans, but could we see it put to rest anytime soon? David Grubb has the story…

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

A 13-year-old girl was killed Sunday in Shreveport in her home by a stray bullet as gunfire from three vehicles passed her Fairfield Avenue home. Police says Landry Anglin was transported to Ochsner LSU Health hospital and where she died of her injuries. It’s the 21^st homicide this year in Caddo Parish.

An East Feliciana Parish grand jury will hear the case against a Slaughter couple Clay and Shelia Fletcher, accused of extreme neglect in the death of their 36-year-old daughter. 20^th Judicial District D.A. Sam D’Aquilla (pronounced: duh-QUILL-uh) says the Lacey Fletcher developed a mental illness and became a shut-in and the coroner reports says she was found surrounded in her own bodily waste.

Cut 5 (07) “…room of the house.”

A bill requiring students to show they are reading on grade level before promotion to 4^th grade will be heard in the House this week. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson says testing would be administered more than once along with intensive training for those who fail to pass the test.

Cut 9 (14)  “…in our state.”

Nelson says Mississippi has a similar law and their literacy rate went from 49^th to 29^th.

A high-ranking State Trooper tells a legislative panel looking into the 2019 roadside death of Ronald Greene, in Union Parish, that there WAS a cover-up. Lt. Colonel Kenny Van Buren made the admission this morning. Another witness, retired LSP Captain Mark Richards, told them he was told to block the Greene crash report, which he says is NOT normal…:

Cut 13 (13) “…before”

According to the 2022 Louisiana Survey, 46 percent of respondents say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, with 49 percent opposed. In 2016, only 40-percent were pro-choice, while 55-percent said it should be illegal. Dr. Michael Henderson of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab says that compared to the rest of the nation, Louisiana stands out.

Cut 10 (09) “…on abortion.”

The former sheriff of East Carroll Parish has been arrested on trespassing and resisting officer charges. Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Glen Springfield says 84-year-old Dale Rinicker is accused of not leaving a store in West Monroe after allegedly making lewd comments to female employees and when deputies attempted to place Rinicker in handcuffs, he resisted arrest and threatened to physically harm the officers…

Cut 4  (08) “…and resisting.”
Former American Idol winner Laine Hardy was arrested Friday after LSU Police received a complaint, he allegedly put a listening device in a student’s room. Thursday night Hardy posted on social media, that he’d received a warrant from LSU Police. The 21-year-old turned himself in on charges of illegally intercepting communications. It’s been reported the victim is Hardy’s ex-girlfriend and she has text messages from Hardy admitting he planted a device in her room. The offense is punishable by a fine of up to $10-thousand and prison time of two to 10 years.

Former American Idol and Louisiana native Laine Hardy was arrested this morning after LSU Police received a complaint that Hardy allegedly tried to bug a student’s room with a listening device. A Baton Rouge TV station says Hardy’s ex-girlfriend filed the complaint on April 7^th. Hardy was booked in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

A special House committee investigating the death of Ronald Greene hears from a high-ranking State Police Trooper who admits there was a cover-up. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Former East Carroll Parish Sheriff, 84-year-old Dale Rinicker was arrested Thursday in West Monroe after he was asked to leave a convenience store for allegedly making lewd comments to female employees. Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Glen Springfield says after multiple requests to leave the store deputies arrested Rinicker for trespassing.

Cut 3 (11) “…of uniform.”

Rinicker was taken to the Ouachita Correctional Center and charged with Criminal Trespass and two counts of Resisting an Officer.

The Pelicans saw their season come to an end last night with a loss to the Phoenix Suns in game six of the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs. After the game, head coach Willie Green shed tears on the court as he congratulated the Suns and consoled his players.

Cut 7 (12) “…coming to a close.” 

American Idol winner Laine Hardy is expected to turn himself in LSU Police today. Hardy posted on social media he received a warrant but declined to say what for. Baton Rouge TV stations report a source that says the 21-year-old is accused of planting a listening device in a female’s on-campus residence.

A New Orleans grand jury has indicted four teenagers for their alleged roles in the carjacking and murder of Linda Frickey.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

A high-ranking State Police trooper confirms the L-S-P was involved in a cover-up to hide the facts surrounding the roadside death of Ronald Greene in 2019. Retired Captain Mark Richards told the legislative committee looking into Greene’s death he was ordered to block the crash report from being distributed, which he says is not normal protocol.

Cut 13 (13) “…before”

Greene’s family was originally told he died as a result of a car crash, but body camera footage of his arrest shows he was severely beaten by troopers.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival opens at 11am today the first since 2019. JazzFest Producer Quint Davis says ticketholders aren’t the only ones excited.

Cut 6 (08)  “…live people.”

Headliners this weekend are Lionel Richie, The Who, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The House Labor Committee voted down proposals to increase the minimum wage. Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews expressed concern that increasing the minimum wage from the current $7.25 an hour will result in job losses. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle disagreed and she believes raising the minimum wage will lead to more people entering the workforce, she had a proposal to increase the minimum wage to 12-dollars an hour…

PM Cut 15 (12) “…at your job” 

And as we’ve seen in years past, business groups lobbied against minimum wage hike proposals. Jim Patterson with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry on why the state should not raise the minimum wage…

PM Cut  16 (08)  “…their businesses“

And the House Labor Committee voted down a bill to demand all employers in the state give equal pay regardless of gender. Speaking for his bill, Marrero Democrat Representative Kyle Green says his bill seeks to extend equal pay mandates for government workers – passed in 2013 – to include everyone…:

AM Cut 7 (13) “…for women of color.”

But Caddo Parish Republican Representative Dodie Horton wondered if Green was aware the state already has a 2013 non-discrimination law that achieves the same thing…:

AM Cut 8 (13)  “…national origin, disability…”

By a vote of 3 “yeas” to 7 “nays”, the bill fails to pass and is dead for the session.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission made headway this week in an effort to help close the digital divide in North Louisiana. Northeast Louisiana Power Cooperative will be the first utility co-op to supply internet service to their customers, PSC Chair Lambert Boissiere says it’s historic…

Cut 3 (09) “…internet existed.”

A bill to require automatic refunds to a customer if their cable or internet is out for more than 24 hours during a declared disaster is dead for the session. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields argued customers should never be forced to pay for a service they do not receive. But River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says just because your cable is out on your television, some providers offer other ways to watch…

Cut 8 (08) “…this service.” 

The bill was voted down on a 23-15 vote.

Meeting up with a snake is among many people’s greatest fears but LDWF says even though snakes may not be man’s best friend, most aren’t your enemy either. David Grubb has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

In Opelousas, a shooting at an apartment resulted in two deaths, a 46-year-old man and a four-year-old, and injured three children, with two of them sent to the hospital. Police Chief Martin McLendon…

Cut 9 (05)  “…gone to.”
McClendon says they have a warrant out for the shooter and he expects an arrest soon.

At the state capitol, House Labor will hear five bills seeking to raise the minimum wage. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat expects they’ll meet defeat in committee because Republican lawmakers feel raising the minimum will hurt small businesses, and actually reduce the number of minimum wage employees they can hire…:

Cut 14 (10)  “…are republicans.”

Pinsonat says in the past minimum wage bills have failed at the Louisiana legislature and he expects the trend to continue.

There are 47 different species of snakes native to the state but only seven are venomous. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries herpetologist Keri Lejuene says there’s a very slim chance you’ll see a poisonous snake in your yard and has some simple advice to lower your chances of being bitten…

Cut  11 (11)  “…at all.”  

Garth Brooks is expected to play Saturday night before a crowd of more than 102-thousand in Tiger Stadium. But unlike a game Visit Baton Rouge President and CEO Paul Arrigo expects they’ll stay for the entire concert to hear Calling Baton Rouge live and in person as opposed to a pre-game recording during football season.

Cut 6 (11)  “…Baton Rouge time.”

The last time Brooks made a local call in Baton Rouge was April 1998.