10:30 LRN Newscast April 17

U-S House Speaker Mike Johnson is adamant he is not resigning despite calls from House Republicans who are not happy with his proposals to provide aid to Israel and Ukraine. The Republican from Bossier Parish says efforts to remove him from office are not helpful.

Cut 6  (06) “…do our job.” 

Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a motion for him to vacate the office.

Today marks Governor Jeff Landry’s 100th day in office and from a policy perspective, La-Politics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says the governor for the most part has gotten everything he’s asked for…

Cut 5 (09) “…the agenda.” 

Alford says is Landry now facing his biggest test, trying to convince lawmakers to hold a constitutional convention.

State lawmakers have begun discussions on holding a constitutional convention next month. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

 

The first person to sign the recall petition to remove the St. Tammany Parish Coroner Christopher Tape, is Jean Cefalu a sexual abuse survivor. Tape was accused of child sexual abuse in New Mexico but was never tried due to a technicality. Organizers must obtain more than 35-thousand signatures in 6 months.

5:30 LRN Newscast April 16 and Legislative Report

Wednesday marks Governor Jeff Landry’s 100th day in office and La-Politics.com Published Jeremy Alford says politically this milestone signals a new power structure in the state’s executive branch…

Cut 4 (11) “…the legislature.”

A bill to ban gassing, also known as nitrogen hypoxia as a method to carry out the death penalty advances out of Senate Judiciary C. Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews filed the bill on behalf of the Jewish community because it’s triggering for Jewish people…

Cut 7 (12) “…death penalty.”

The bill heads to the Senate floor.

State lawmakers laid out their concerns over holding a constitutional convention on May 20th, two weeks before the regular legislative session is scheduled to end. Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham is worried the bills that he has going through the process during the regular session will not receive final passage.

Cut 13 (10)  “..out of time”

Supporters of the convention want to remove items out of the constitution and put them into state law to give legislators more financial flexibility.

Former state lawmaker Neil Abramson told legislators during budget deficits, health care and higher education take the deep cuts.

Cut 14 (14)  “…those decisions.”

More discussion is expected Wednesday in House Governmental Affairs.

4:30 LRN Newscast April 16

A bizarre break-in at Jennings High School, on Monday caused classes to be cancelled. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says 37-year-old Dillion Champagne is in custody, but Semmes says he can’t imagine the fear that the two employees experienced when Champagne confronted them with a gun and stole the keys to one of the employees’ cars.

Cut 7 (09) “…the best.”  

A recall petition has been officially filed to remove St. Tammany Parish Coroner Christopher Tape on the grounds he’s unfit for office. Dillard University Political Science Professor Robert Collins says obtaining enough voter signatures, in this case it’s 35,000, is an expensive undertaking and challenging.

Cut 10 (08) “…her job.”

Tape was charged with six counts of child sexual assault in New Mexico but was never tried on a technicality.

LSU star Angel Reese is now a member of the Chicago Sky. Chicago selected Reese as the seventh overall pick in the WNBA draft. Reese led LSU to its first national championship in women’s basketball in 2023 and this past season she was named the SEC Player of the Year. The All-American could have returned to LSU for one more season, but Reese says she’s ready for a new challenge…
Cut 4 (12) “…be a sponge”
The W-N-B-A begins its season next month.

And former ULLM head football coach Terry Bowden is headed to Delhi Charter School. He’s accepted an assistant coach and teacher position. 67-year-old Bowden was let go from ULM in November after three seasons and a 10-26 overall record.

11:30 LRN Newscast April 16

An Angel is heading to the Sky. The Chicago Sky selected LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese with the seventh overall pick in last night’s WNBA draft. Reese says she had a feeling Chicago would select her after positive conversations with Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon…

Cut 3 (12) “…the table.” 

After a bizarre break-in at Jennings High School, before classes Monday morning, police have 37-year-old Dillion Champagne in custody. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says Champagne stole two vehicles, followed a custodian in the school, and held two employees at gunpoint, fortunately, no one was hurt.

Cut 6  (10) “…Dillion Champagne.” 

New Orleans is still reeling after the mass shooting Sunday night that left one person dead and eleven others injured. At a news conference yesterday, police did not reveal much about the investigation. Council Member Lesli Harris, who represents the Warehouse District expressed condolences and was visibly stunned over the incident.

Cut 8 (12) “…be caught.” 

Police are asking for the public’s help and a reward is being offered through Crimestoppers.

House Commerce approves legislation to eliminate the license requirement to be a florist. Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham says Louisiana is the only state that requires a florist to take a written exam to sell floral arrangements…

Cut 13 (10)  “…one of them.”

The bill heads to the House floor.

AM LRN Newscall April 15

A bill to hold a Constitutional Convention in May will be heard today in the House Governmental Affairs Committee. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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No arrests have been made in the mass shooting that killed one and injured 11 others Sunday night in New Orleans. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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The House Commerce Committee approves legislation to repeal the requirement for florists to be licensed. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain” 

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Legislation to hold a Constitutional Convention next month will be heard in House Governmental Affairs today. Bill sponsor New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu says Governor Jeff Landry’s transitional team will describe what the convention will entail.

Cut 4 (11) “…of Louisiana.”

The last time the state’s constitution was revised was 1974 and for this convention, Beaullieu says there won’t be any huge changes, he says the plan is to move items from the constitution and put them in statute to give the legislature more flexibility. For example…

Cut 5 (11) “…raise taxes.” 

Currently, when there’s a budget shortfall it falls on the backs of healthcare and higher education and the convention hopes to change that.

Beaullieu says the lawmakers will get a jump start on the convention and some of the proposed changes will be heard in respective legislative committee meetings.

Cut 6 (13) “…couple of weeks.”

The convention is scheduled to begin May 20th and the regular legislative session ends June 3rd. The session could either end early or the convention could coincide with the session.

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No arrests have been made in the New Orleans Warehouse District mass shooting that killed one and injured 11 others Sunday night. At a press conference Monday afternoon Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said homicide detectives are actively working the investigation…

Cut 7 (10) “…this time.”

24-year-old Jezreel Poleate of Harvey has been identified as the woman killed outside of the music venue, Republic Nola. Police say the remaining shooting victims, seven women and five men are in stable condition or have been released from the hospital.

Council Member Lesli Harris, who represents the Warehouse District expressed condolences and was visibly stunned over the incident.

Cut 8 (12) “…be caught.” 

Mayor LaToya Cantrell issued a warning to those responsible for the shooting.

Cut 9 (10)  “…at all.”

Kirkpatrick urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact Crimestoppers or NOPD. A $5,000 reward is being offered along with $1,000 for each gun involved.

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Ten lives were lost in Louisiana work zones in 2022 and nationally, almost 900 people lost lives in work zones. This week, the Louisiana Department of Transportation is observing National Work Zone Awareness Week. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallet says most accidents can be avoided with attention to work zone safety…

Cut 10 (09) “…many lives.”

Mallet says, when driving conditions change, you’re more likely to have a crash because of road conditions, lane shifts, and narrowing occurs, he urges drivers to pay extra attention in work zones.

Cut 11 (12) “…home safely.”

Mallet says as part of the effort to increase work zone safety awareness, on Wednesday, April 17th, Louisiana DOTD is participating in Go Orange Day along with other transportation departments across the country…

Cut 12 (09) “…of safety.” 

You can participate also by dressing in orange and posting pictures with the hashtag #GoOrange4Safety and #NWZAW.

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The House Commerce Committee approves legislation that eliminates the requirement to have a license to be a florist. Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham says Louisiana is the only state that requires a florist to take a written exam to sell floral arrangements…

Cut 13 (10)  “…one of them.”

Bayham does not understand why one needs a license to be a florist since flower design and the handling of flowers do not pose a safety or health risk.

Cut 14 (08)  “…in Louisiana.”

General Counsel for the Pelican Institute Sarah Harbison says the public can weed out bad florists…

Cut 15 (10)  “…expectations.”

The bill heads to the House floor.

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The Pelicans face the Lakers tonight in an NBA play-in tournament game. New Orleans had a chance to avoid the play-in tournament but lost to Los Angeles on Sunday. Coach Willie Green says they can’t let that game impact what happens tonight…

Cut 16 (16)  “…back after it”  

The Lakers defeated the Pelicans 124 to 108 on Sunday, despite the return of Brandon Ingram for New Orleans Ingram played 23 minutes on Sunday after missing 3.5 weeks with a knee injury. Green expects Ingram to get more minutes tonight…

Cut 17 (17) “…up to speed”

Tip-off is at 6:30. If the Pelicans win they’ll be the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs and they’ll face Denver in a best of seven series. If New Orleans loses, they’ll play the winner of the Sacramento-Golden State game for the chance to be the eighth seed.

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The Ragin Cajuns moved up to number 14 in the D-1 baseball poll after sweeping Marshall and increasing their winning streak in Sun Belt play to 14 in a row. Coach Matt Deggs says his guys continue to play the game the right way…

Cut 18 (16)  “…and compete.” 

The Ragin Cajuns only scored six runs in the three-game sweep over the Thundering Herd. Deggs says his hitters are swinging at too many pitches out of the strike zone…

Cut 19 (18) “…finishing it.” 

 

 

Cut 20 (20) “…position.”

 

 

 

 

 

4:30 LRN Newscast April 15

An arrest has been made and the identities of two of the three victims from a triple homicide in Lafayette have been released. LPD Sgt Robin Green says police discovered the three bodies after family members of 45-year-old Brandon Touchet asked for a welfare check, he was found deceased inside his apartment Friday evening.

Cut 3 (11) “…gunshot wounds.”
42-year-old Chad Credeur (crater) of Duson has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

It’s tax day and today is the deadline to file your federal income taxes. So far, the IRS has reportedly delivered more than $200 billion in refunds and 101 million people have already filed their returns this year. If you can’t file today, you need to file for an extension. State income taxes are due May 15th.

Governor Jeff Landry toured damage from Wednesday’s storms. Amongst the hardest hit was in Slidell with conformed EF-2 tornado, Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer says an apartment complex was destroyed and they are making sure those residents have a place to stay…

Cut 8 (12) “to live” 

The House Ways and Means Committee takes no action on a bill that calls for Louisiana to repeal the state income tax in 2026. Repealing the state income tax would result in an annual five-billion-dollar revenue loss. House Ways and Means Chairperson Julie Emerson supports doing so says it should be a priority for the legislature next year…

Cut 10 (11) “…affects this”

No vote was taken on the bill.

 

3:30 LRN Newscast April 15

One person is dead, and eleven others are wounded after a mass shooting last night in the New Orleans Warehouse district. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (22)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Family members have identified 24-year-old Jezreel Poleate of Harvey as the woman who was killed. A friend says they are sure the shots fired were not meant for the Helen Cox High School graduate.

And former three-term Representative Randal Gaines was elected chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party on Saturday.

Governor Jeff Landry was in West Feliciana Parish and Slidell today touring damage from last week’s tornadoes. He thanked the power utility companies for restoration efforts, and he also thanked the faith-based community for helping with the recovery…

Cut 7 (15) “…back to work”  

Landry expects to issue emergency declarations soon so the state can assist with debris clean-up.

The House Ways and Means Committee takes no action on a bill that calls for Louisiana to repeal the state income tax in 2026. Columbia Representative Neil Riser says for over a decade there’s been talk about eliminating the state income tax and his bill would commit the state to doing so.

Cut 9 (05) “…go get it.” 

Repealing the state income tax would result in an annual five-billion-dollar revenue loss.

 

10:30 LRN Newscast April 15

There are few details being released after a mass shooting in New Orleans just before midnight in the Warehouse District. One woman is dead, and five males and six females were also injured in the barrage of gunfire. The victim’s identity has not been released.

Louisiana Key Academy is a free public charter school for students with dyslexia and they are expanding to serve more students and more grades. Colleen Crain has the story.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Legislation to restrict the use of bathrooms in schools, prisons, and domestic violence shelters to one’s biological sex passes in the House on a 79-16 vote. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton supports the bill because it protects females from biological males who identify as females from entering a women’s restroom.

Cut 10 (12) “…protect women.”

New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman says the small transgender population, which makes up 1.4% of the US residents, are not known to be sex offenders so why prohibit them from using the bathroom of their choice on a state level?

Cut 13 (08)  “…great idea.”

The legislation now heads to a Senate committee.

 

5:30 LRN Newscast April 12

The Louisiana Department of Health reports one storm-related death in Rapides Parish. A 60-year-old woman was killed after a tree and power line fell on her home outside Pineville Wednesday. The National Weather Service says the same system was responsible for 14 tornados stretching from Texas to Florida

Good news for crawfish lovers. The average price per pound for mudbugs is 50 cents lower this week. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

 

After multiple delays with Federal Student Aid, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance will have expanded virtual hours April 15-19 from 8 am until 8 pm and you can register now for an appointment if you need assistance. LOSFA Spokesperson Ebony Holmes says until colleges can send award letters students who are eligible for TOPS should visit their student hub tracker and…

Cut 8 (12) “…of use.” 

It’s going to be a jam-packed weekend at the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. Rhonda Poche says this year’s strawberry crop looks amazing and there’s a reason Louisiana has the best strawberries in the world.

Cut 11 (11) “…best around.”

The parade is an 9:30 Saturday morning and the festival ends at 6Pm on Sunday. It’s the state’s largest free festival.

 

5:30 LRN Newscast April 11

House Education approves legislation that says teachers must use a student’s name and pronoun that aligns with their birth sex unless the child’s parent says otherwise. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

And a bill to prohibit schools that receive state funds from serving imported seafood passes in the House on a 94-7 vote. The amended bill would also apply to the cafeteria at the state capitol. The bill now heads to the Senate.

The full House overwhelmingly approves legislation requiring schools that receive state funds to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Opponents say it’s unconstitutional because it’s an endorsement of religion, but Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham argues the Ten Commandments set the foundation for laws we follow today.

Cut 24 (14)  “…Western civilization.”

The proposed law does not require teachers to educate students about the Ten Commandments, but New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry says having them displayed could create issues beyond the U-S Constitution

Cut 25 (14)  “…the Bible.”

The bill now heads to Senate education.