The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a Baton Rouge area pastor who refused to stop church services during the governor’s COVID lockdown. Pastor Tony Spell, of the Life Tabernacle Church in Central was arrested for flouting stay-at-home orders. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino on the High Court’s decision…:

CUT 04(11)      “religious institutions”

Spell was arrested in 2020 for violating the Governor’s emergency order limiting gatherings to no more than 50 people. At that time, he said anywhere up a thousand persons might attend services at his church. The governor disagrees with the court’s ruling, but says he’ll abide by it.

State Police in Washington Parish say drunk driving PROBABLY led to a fatal single vehicle crash on state Highway 440, near Mt. Hermon Saturday night. Troopers say 31-year-old Pam Brown, from Kentwood, was driving and ran off the roadway: overturned several times and slammed into some trees. She and her passenger, 16-year-old Jaquan Brown were killed.

As we return to a pre-COVID routine, Governor Edwards says they continue to monitor case counts and positivity rates. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(29)      “…Brooke Thorington”

An Abbeville man is dead after his tractor was hit by another vehicle in Vermilion Parish. State Police say Alvin Minnick’s tractor was rear-ended by a pickup as he drove on Highway 167. The impact caused the tractor to overturn, throwing the 64-year-old farmer from the vehicle. The pickup driver received moderate injuries. Charges are pending.

A Biden administration decision on oil and gas lease sales is receiving harsh criticism from the petroleum industry. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 02 (40)      “…David Grubb.”

An Arkansas man is arrested for the murder of a Winnsboro woman in a local motel. Franklin Parish deputies say Willie Greenwood fled back to Arkansas, where local cops tracked him down and took him in.

Child drownings are on the rise in Louisiana. Regional medical director Martha Whyte says there were 24 drownings in 2020, a 60 percent jump from 2019, and preliminary data from LDH indicates 25 drowning deaths last year. There have also been several drownings around the state in recent weeks…:

CUT 10 (11)      “…safe around water.”

The state Supreme Court rules in favor of Baton Rouge pastor Tony Spell, who was arrested for refusing to suspend church services during the Governor’s COVID lockdown. The court ruled that violated Spell’s 1^st Amendment rights.

The New Orleans Saints signed former LSU wide receiver and NFL Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry. Landry was released by Cleveland in March, and made five Pro Bowls with the Browns and at Miami. The former Lutcher High standout was a Fighting Tiger from 2011 through 2013.

Louisiana’s energy industry is upset that the Biden Administration cancelled oil & gas lease sales in the Gulf and Alaska. Louisiana Oil & Gas Association President Mike Moncla says the White House is failing to respond in a time of crisis, with gas prices reaching a record $4.40-a-gallon and consumer prices up 8.3 percent from a year ago…:

CUT 08(09)      “…would do that.”

New leases and drilling won’t have any quick impact on current gas prices, since it will take years for them to produce oil.

Child drownings are on the rise in our state. LDH Regional Medical Director Martha Whyte says drownings in and near the home are particularly troubling. She says boating drownings are another matter, and so preventable. Just put everyone in a life vest…:

CUT 12(10)      “…at all times.”

After a Republican lawmaker’s bill to charge women who have abortions with murder fell to defeat Thursday, some wonder if there will be political fallout for the GOP in our state. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says many feel the bill was needlessly harsh and unnecessary, because of a trigger law banning abortion with the reversal of Roe v. Wade. Alford says the bill was gutted of its criminal teeth via amendment…:

CUT 05(09)      “…politically have not.”

Alford says the measure seemed to represent an ultra-right fringe of the Republican Party. The bill was withdrawn from debate by its sponsor, Rep. Danny McCormick of Oil City.

The state Supreme Court has reversed a lower court’s ruling on Baton Rouge pastor Tony Spell, who refused to stop church services during the governor’s COVID lockdown. Spell was arrested and even jailed for it. The High Court ruled the order violated Spell’s 1^st Amendment rights. The Governor’s office says he did what he did to protect public health and save lives.

A Biden administration decision on oil and gas lease sales is receiving harsh criticism from the petroleum industry. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 02(40)      “…David Grubb.”

Three Louisianans are dead and several others injured, after a wrong-way driver on I-40 in Arkansas plowed into a group of motorcyclists Thursday. Arkansas State Police say the victims are a married couple from Slidell and a woman from Terrytown.

Thursday’s debate on Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s bill to charge a woman who has an abortion with murder is met with questions of fallout from the issue among the Republican Party in Louisiana. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says it was republicans who amended the legislation and pointed out the bill could also punish those who use in-vitro fertilization, and that the bill in its original form is unconstitutional…:

CUT 03(10)      “…those amendments.”

He says the bill was something on which GOP and Democrats could easily agree.

If the skies aren’t cloudy Sunday night, we could all see a total lunar eclipse. LSU Astronomy professor Jeff Clayton says these events were one-upon-a-time considered harbingers of something bad…:

CUT 14(12)      “…as the Babylonians”

He says the eclipse should start around 9:30 Sunday evening.

As the Roe v. Wade drama plays out in Washington, DC…a Louisiana House bill to make abortion an act of murder – punishing the mother and doctor – met a big setback Thursday evening. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s bill was amended to remove criminal charges against the mother and also eliminated the possibility that the use of contraception and even in-vitro fertilization could potentially place a woman behind bars…:

CUT 12(10)      “…does not.”

Seabaugh also apologized to fellow lawmakers for not amending the bill in committee beforehand. After that amendment passed, McCormick thanked the anti-abortion activists and colleagues who supported his original HB813…:

CUT 13(11)      “…(applause)”

McCormick CAN bring the bill back up again, if he so chooses.

Governor John Bel Edwards continues to make his case that now is the best time for funding a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 03(34)      “…David Grubb.”

Three former State Police troopers are charged with simple battery; accused of beating a black motorist after a chase in 2020. Jacob Brown, Dakota DeMoss and George “Kam” Harper were charged in the arrest of Antonio Harris in Franklin Parish. They reportedly boasted of the beating in text messages.

A bill to charge a woman who has an abortion with murder in Louisiana meets a likely demise. After the Capitol was evacuated due to a suspicious package, the bill was amended to remove the criminal charges against the mother. The bill was ultimately pulled from the calendar by bill author, Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick…:

CUT 10(12)      “…explain it away.”

During debate on the floor, Houma Republican Tanner Magee asked fellow party member, Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh if the original bill could potentially criminalize any woman in the state that has already had an abortion…:

CUT 11(10)      “…would be correct.”

Governor John Bel Edwards, a pro-life Democrat, stated if the bill comes to his desk in its original form he will veto it.

Building a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge has been one of the key pieces of Governor John Bel Edwards’s legislative agenda. However, it hasn’t been easy convincing lawmakers to get on board due to the potential cost of the project. Edwards says building a companion to the 54-year-old bridge is expensive but necessary…:

CUT 14(11)      “…two billion dollars.”

The Republican-led legislature has said that Edwards’ plan is shortsighted and lacks details, including the potential site for the new bridge.

Shreveport Police make three arrests while getting a large amount of dope off the street. Pounds of marijuana, over 3000 Xanax pills and hundreds of other opioid pills … plus numerous guns, ammo and illicit cash were seized. The three suspects – two men and woman – face multiple charges.

A bill that would charge a woman who has an abortion with murder is voluntarily pulled from the House calendar after an amendment removes criminal charges. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(44)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Chances are you’ve been seeing termite swarms in the evenings here in the Bayou State. LSU AgCenter urban entomologist Dr. Karen Sun says they are Formosan termites, and while you might not have an infestation in your home per se if you’re seeing them nearby, they are taking up residence in your neighborhood…:

CUT 04(06)      “…your house.”

One thing is turn OUT your exterior lights at night. The light attracts the nasty little bugs.

Louisiana’s chemical industry is looking at over $31-billion in new construction projects in the near future. Over 30-thousand people work in the state’s chemical industry and LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says this is great news for each one of them…:

CUT 07(11)      “…over in Lake Charles.”

He says that means hundreds of constructions jobs in the short term while those projects are underway.

Does cleaner air lead to more and stronger hurricanes? New data from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration says there IS a link. State Climatologist Barry Keim says pollution blocks the sun’s rays and, in heavily pollutes coastal areas of the world, it leads to cooler sea surface temperatures and as a result fewer storms…:

CUT 10  (11)         “…increase in hurricanes.”

A bill that would let Louisiana colleges and boosters of their athletic programs pay student athletes as part of Name, Image & Likeness deals continues to move through the state legislature. Speaking for the measure, LSU’s NIL department head Taylor Jacobs says the intent of the bill is not to allow a booster to pay a student athlete as a recruiting inducement…:

CUT 13  (13)        “…image & likeness deal.”

A House resolution to block a rule requiring students 16 and older from having to show proof of a COVID shot to attend class is defeated in the Senate Health & Welfare Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 01  (31)        “…Jeff Palermo.”

Three former Louisiana State Police troopers are charged with battery; accused of beating a black motorist after a high speed chase. This is not the case of Ronald Greene from 2019, but rather the arrest of Antonio Harris in Franklin Parish in 2020. Some of the troopers boasted of the beating in text messages.

A House resolution that would block requiring COVID shots for students 16 and older meets defeat in a Senate committee. The bill would remove COVID vaccines from the list of required shots. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau voted against the effort, saying parents already can opt out in writing…:

CUT 03(08)      “…clearly is.”

The House bill failed to pass by a 4-to-3 vote and appears to be dead.

Northeast Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow will take a seat on the prestigious U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Letlow, a former teacher, says the appointment will allow her the ability to see that education is properly funded…and education is the best way out of poverty…:

CUT 08(11)      “…school choice.”

A controversial anti-abortion bill is scheduled for House debate today, but there are reports the bill could be amended to make it more palatable to lawmakers. The bill would allow prosecution of women who have an abortion, and their doctors, with murder. LRN is hearing of plans to basically re-write the bill; removing any mentions of homicide. We’ll let you know what happens.

A study from the National Oceanic at Atmospheric Administration says there’s a potential link in the decline of air pollution to the increase in the number of hurricanes. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

At the Capitol, a legislative effort to stop a rule requiring students 16 and older from having to show proof of a COVID vaccine in order to attend school meets defeat in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

State prosecutors have charged three state troopers for the 2020 roadside beating of Antonio Harris in Franklin Parish. Former troopers Jacob Brown, Dakota DeMoss and Kam Harper will all be tried for battery. No comment from the accused or their lawyers.

A bill that would let Louisiana colleges and boosters of their athletic programs pay student-athletes as part of name, image and likeness deals continues to advance through the Louisiana legislator. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick is the author of the proposal and got the bill through the House Education Committee…:

CUT 12(06)      “…state law.”

UL System President Jim Hightower says this legislation is not in violation of NCAA policy.

A NOAA study says there’s a potential link in the decline of air pollution to the increase in the number of hurricanes. State Climatologist Barry Keim says efforts in North America and Europe to improve the environment have shown a surge in Atlantic hurricanes…:

CUT 09(12)      “…really interesting.”

Environmental efforts in the US have decreased pollution by about 50-percent.