A bill that would have banned drivers from handling their cell phones while behind the wheel failed by one vote in the Senate. The House-approved measure needed 20 votes to pass the upper chamber, but it received 19. Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock says the legislation is too much of an infringement on personal freedoms.

Cut 3 (11) “…state law”
A bill to allow social media users in the state to sue platforms like Twitter and Facebook if they are blocked for political or religious speech is dead for this legislative session. Republican Monroe Senator Jay Morris asked for the bill to be heard in the House Civil Law Committee and was shocked when it was not placed on the calendar. He then went to the Speaker and the bill was transferred to House Commerce.

Cut 10 (09) “…show up”

The session ends on Thursday.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Canadian-based Canfor Corporation announce a new 160-million-dollar lumber mill will be built in Beauregard Parish near DeRidder. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the mill is expected to create 130 new direct jobs with an average salary of nearly 60-thousand dollars and also 386 new indirect jobs…

Cut 6 (9) “…opportunity for us”

LSU took down Oregon in the Eugene Regional and will now battle it out with Tennessee in Knoxville in the Super Regionals. Gavin Dugas (D00-ghas) was named Regional MVP after helping the Tigers win four straight elimination games to advance.

Cut 12 (06) “…this tournament”

The Tigers will play the Volunteers Saturday at 6 pm.

Legislation that would give St. Tammany Parish voters an opportunity to approve a riverboat casino in Slidell receives final legislative passage after the Senate approved the bill on a 23-14 vote.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jim Shannon.” 

Martha White, the Black woman whose action in 1953 Baton Rouge launched the bus boycott in the capitol city died Saturday at the age of 99. It was that boycott that provided the framework for the famous effort sparked by Rosa Parks that led to a bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Canadian-based Canfor Corporation announce a new 160-million-dollar lumber mill will be built at the Beauregard Regional Airport. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the availability of roads and waterways to supply the product helped Beauregard parish secure the contract…

Cut 7 (9) “…well in advance”

It is expected to create 130 new direct jobs.

A bill to allow social media users in the state to sue platforms like Twitter and Facebook if they are blocked for political or religious speech is dead for this legislative session after the proposal failed to receive a hearing in the House. Republican Monroe Senator Jay Morris believes his bill was deliberately kept from being heard in committee and social media platforms have a chokehold on the flow of information in our country.

Cut 11 (05) “…heard.”

The session ends on Thursday.

A bill to allow social media users in the state to sue platforms like Twitter and Facebook if they are blocked for political or religious speech is dead for this legislative session after the proposal failed to receive a hearing in the House. Republican Monroe Senator Jay Morris is disappointed and believes social media has too much power.

Cut 9 (11) “…my view.”

A bill that would have banned drivers from handling their cell phones while behind the wheel failed by one vote in the Senate. The House-approved measure needed 20 votes to pass the upper chamber, but it received 19. Franklin Senator Bret Allain sees this as the government interfering with a person’s life…

Cut 4 (05) “…applies here”

Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval has been trying to get this legislation passed for years. The session ends on Thursday.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Canadian-based Canfor Corporation announce a new 160-million-dollar lumber mill will be built in Beauregard Parish near DeRidder. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the location will help pulp and paper production companies in the area…

Cut 8 (8) “… these days” 

The sawmill project will process yellow pine from Louisiana forests with the manufacturing capacity to produce a variety of wood products.

LSU took down Oregon in the Eugene Regional and will now battle it out with Tennessee in Knoxville in the Super Regionals. As LSU keeps winning, coach Paul Mainieri will remain in the dugout until the season ends. Outfielder Gavin Dugas says Mainieri’s retirement announcement gave the team extra motivation.

Cut 13 (10) “…he’s awesome”

Legislation that would give St. Tammany Parish voters an opportunity to approve a riverboat casino in Slidell receives final legislative passage after the Senate approved the bill on a 23-14 vote. Jim Shannon has more…

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jim Shannon” 

LSU advances in the NCAA Baseball Regionals to play Tennessee in Knoxville. It was a late night for Tiger fans as the Bayou Bengals played in Oregon past midnight central standard time last night. First pitch against the Volunteers will be much earlier on Saturday at 6pm.

Ochsner Health has started to enroll five to eleven-year-olds in New Orleans and Shreveport to participate in a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trial. They expect to enroll 75 patients at the two sites. Ochsner Health System Chair of Pediatrics Dr. William Lennarz says to better suit the children the strength of the doses has been changed.

Cut 6 (8) “…doses in use”

Visit Ochsner.org for more information.

State senators are no longer pushing to make a temporary state sales tax permanent to fund highway transportation projects, instead, the Senate approved a bill to take revenue from vehicle sales taxes and spend it on roads. Currently, money from vehicle sales taxes goes to the general fund, but Port Allen Senator Rick Ward’s proposal would use 75-percent of that money on roads and bridges…

Cut 14 (10) “…sub fund.”

It now heads to the House with only three days left in the session.

College athletes in Louisiana would be able to profit from their name, image, and likeness under a bill that is very close to final legislative approval after the House approved the measure on an 88-7 vote. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says once the governor signs the proposed law, it will be effective immediately.
Cut 10 (06) “…football season”

According to the National College Attainment Networks FAFSA Tracker, Louisiana ranks number one in the country in terms of financial aid completion with 33-thousand of Louisiana’s 2021 high school graduates completing their FAFSA. LOSFA Executive Director DR. Sujuan Boutte Students says who have graduated from high school this year have until June 30th, 2022 to complete a FAFSA but the earlier one applies the better.

Cut 9 (11) “…is not complete”

Ochsner Health has started to enroll five to eleven-year-olds in New Orleans and Shreveport to participate in a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trial. Health officials say getting children vaccinated is critical to reaching herd immunity since they make up a third of the population. Ochsner Health System Chair of Pediatrics Dr. William Lennarz says an increase in variants has made it more critical for children to get vaccinated…

Cut 5 (10) “…doesn’t mean none”

Visit ochsner.org for more information.

State senators are no longer pushing to make a temporary state sales tax permanent to fund highway transportation projects, instead, the Senate approved a bill to take revenue from vehicle sales taxes and spend it on roads. But if lawmakers take money away from the general fund that would mean fewer dollars, for higher education, health care and public safety programs. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt still supports the effort.

Cut 15 (05)“…sounds right”

Legislation that would allow college athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness is nearing final legislative passage after it received House approval on Monday. Taylor Sharp has the story.
Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Taylor Sharp.”

State senators are no longer pushing to make a temporary state sales tax permanent to fund highway transportation projects. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says the proposal would use 75-percent of auto sales tax money on roads and bridges…
Cut 14 (10) “…sub fund.”

The LSU Tigers are headed to the Super Regionals after winning a wild nine to eight win over the Oregon Ducks in Eugene last night. The Tigers took the lead for the good with a three-run eighth.
The Tigers hit three home runs on the night, one by Drew Bianco and two by Gavin Dugas (Doo-gahs) who had three home runs for the regional. Mainieri says the Tigers left fielder has been their rock all season.
Cut 17 (12) this weekend.”

The State Department of Wildlife and fisheries is looking to raise the price of commercial and recreational licenses for the first time in more than 20 years. Lawmakers say a dip in oil and gas royalties is one reason the agency is facing massive deficits this fiscal year.

Ochsner has started enrolling children between five and eleven years old in Shreveport and New Orleans for a Pfizer COVID 19 vaccine trial. Erik Piccoli has more
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Erik Piccoli”
According to the National College Attainment Networks FAFSA Tracker, Louisiana ranks number one in the country in terms of financial aid completion with 33-thousand of Louisiana’s 2021 high school graduates completing their FAFSA. LOSFA Executive Director DR. Sujuan Boutte says it’s been a team effort.
Cut 7 (11) “…the GO Grant”

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College athletes in Louisiana would be able to profit from their name, image, and likeness under a bill that is very close to final legislative approval after the House approved the measure on an 88-7 vote. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says athletes would receive compensation for sponsorships, endorsements, and even social media presence. He says another way athletes can make money is through a licensing agreement.
Cut 11 (16) “…school.”

State senators are no longer pushing to make a temporary state sales tax permanent to fund highway transportation projects, instead, the Senate approved a bill to take revenue from vehicle sales taxes and spend it on roads. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says it would result in 375-million dollars in additional dollars for infrastructure.
Cut 13 (10) “…term”

Despite the pandemic, Louisiana ranks number one in the nation for graduating seniors completing financial aid forms needed to pay for college. Jeff Palermo has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

College athletes in Louisiana would be able to profit from their name, image, and likeness under a bill that is very close to final legislative approval after the House approved the measure on an 88-7 vote. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says once the governor signs the proposed law, it will be effective immediately.
Cut 10 (06) “…football season”

The LSU Tigers are headed to the Super Regionals after winning a wild nine to eight game over the Oregon Ducks in Eugene last night. The Tigers took the lead for the good with a three-run eighth. The go-ahead run scored when Oregon pitcher Kolby Somers balked to bring Cade Doughty home from third. LSU’s Landon Marceaux was the winning pitcher as the Friday night starter came out of the bullpen on two days rest to get the final seven outs. Coach Paul Mainieri
Cut 16 (17) “…regional championship.”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is in Juneau, Alaska this week as part of a partnership between our two states to jointly promote domestic seafood. He says Louisiana and Alaska are the two biggest producers of domestic seafood in the US and the partnership is a natural fit. Nungesser says after visiting Alaska he will be hosting their Lt. Governor on a trip to New Orleans later on.
Cut 6 (12)”…winning that”

LSU’s AgCenter is seeking volunteers to participate in a study of an insect repellant. Medical Entomologist Kristen Healey says they are helping a company rate the effectiveness of an existing product. Before insect repellants are available to the general public, Health says they are thoroughly tested so what you read on the EPA label is backed by proper research and that’s what they are doing with these forms of the product.
Cut 9 (06) “…by science”
Healey says the manufacturer picked the right state to test their product because Louisiana has more than 60 individual species of mosquitos.
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Governor Edwards reiterated his commitment to vetoing a bill that’s been sent to him by the Legislature that would remove the requirement for those over 21 to have a permit to concealed carry.
Edwards says the current requirement that anyone concealed carrying be trained on marksmanship, carrying laws, safety, and law enforcement interactions is not burdensome.
Cut 12 (11) “…problems.”

A bill to cover bariatric surgeries for state employees passes overwhelmingly in the legislature after a long-fought battle.
A fiscal note attached to the bill estimates that covering the surgeries will cost more than $5 million in the first year but decrease to half that by 2026 due to savings on prescription drug benefits and other medical costs like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Bill sponsor Sen. Regina Barrow
Cut 15 (09)“…go down.”