Former State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves denies allegations that State Police tried to cover up the facts surrounding the 2019 fatal arrest of Ronald Greene. Reeves made the statement while testifying in front of a special legislative committee that’s looking into the death of Greene who died after body camera evidence shows him getting beaten and tazed by State Troopers. Reeves addresses accusations he was disengaged as LSP head, and says he trusts the process of the investigation and the people involved…:

CUT 14(14)      “…in the investigation.”

The U.S. Veterans Administration proposes shuttering the VA hospital in Alexandria; prompting responses from senators Kennedy & Cassidy. In written statements, Senator Bill Cassidy calls the idea “infuriating” and vows to work to assure veterans have access to health care at non-VA facilities. Senator John Kennedy says the VA plan is “unacceptable.”

How safe and secure are Louisiana’s elections? Really safe based on a new report. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 01(33)      “…David Grubb.”

A Baton Rouge man is in jail; accused of killing his girlfriend and her 2-year-old son and dumping their bodies in separate locations. BRPD Lt. Don Coppola says that’s two murder charges, but a third may be coming because the victim MAY have been pregnant…:

CUT 07(06)      “…those determinations.”

A 20-year old Baton Rouge man is being held for the disappearance and deaths of his girlfriend and her 2-year old son. BRPD spokesman Lt. Don Coppola says Brynnen Murphy was brought in and questioned by investigators…:

CUT 06(10)      “…were later recovered.”

The victims are 24-year-old Kaylen Johnson and her son, Kayden. They went missing March 11^th. Kaylen may have been up to five months pregnant when she was killed.

At the Capitol, a panel of lawmakers continues looking into the roadside death on Ronald Greene in 2019. Greene’s family was told by State Police he died in a crash, but body cam footage shows him taking a severe beating from troopers. Panel member Rep. Tony Bacala feels then State Police head Kevin Reeves was disengaged…:

CUT 13(11)      “…further details.”

Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Louisiana this week. Ms. Harris will visit Sunset, in St. Landry Parish, to talk about White House endeavors to make high speed Internet available to low-income homes statewide. The VP will be here Friday.

Election security has been a major topic of discussion dating back to the 2016 presidential election, and in 2021 the Louisiana Legislative Auditor began a review of the Department of State to determine whether election security and integrity were preserved. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says the report confirms what he already knew…:

CUT 03(13)      “…they deserve.”

Louisiana Uber drivers are speaking out, after the company added a 45-to-55-cent surcharge to all rides. The move was to help offset drivers’ gasoline costs, but Uber drivers themselves say it is pitifully little and won’t even come close to off-setting the high prices of gas. Drivers plan a one-day walkout to protest on the 17^th.

During his State Of The State address today, to open the regular Legislative Session, Governor Edwards announced he will not extend his coronavirus health emergency proclamation; meaning for Louisiana an end to mask mandates, social distancing and attendance limitations. The Governor warns the proclamation expiring Wednesday does NOT mean COVID is over…:

CUT 14         (12)    “…in our state again.”

Nearly 17-thousand people in Louisiana have died with COVID over the two-year pandemic.

Ouachita Parish deputies seek a disabled man for a murder earlier this month. LEOs say a warrant is out for 34-year-old Isaac Bradley, who is described as a 6-foot black man, with two prosthetic legs. Anyone with knowledge is asked to call the Ouachita sheriff’s Office.

Opelousas Police are looking for a runaway 15-year-old last seen Sunday night and reported missing by her parents today. Victoria Schoenburg is white, 5-foot-one, 115 pounds with long brown hair. Call Opelousas OPD is you see her.

Legislators will discuss teacher pay raises again during this legislative and teacher unions will push for more than the proposed $1,500 more for educators. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01         (29)    “…Brooke Thorington.”

A Caddo Parish church deacon is arrested for alleged inappropriate contact with a minor. Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator says 64-year-old Felton Beaner Sr. is accused of improperly touching the juvenile multiple times over an extended period. The charge is misdemeanor sexual battery. Beaner turned himself in today.

During his annual State Of The State address, Governor John Bel Edwards announces he will not extend his COVID health emergency order. When it expires Wednesday, all state mandates and restrictions will lift. Louisiana reports just over 16, 900 COVID-related deaths over the two year pandemic. The Governor says this was a decision he didn’t make lightly…:

CUT 13 (12)      “…proclamation.”

Louisiana mark 2 years today since the first CVOVID death in our state was reported. Mr. Edwards says just because the emergency order is ending doesn’t mean COVID is over.

Lawmen in Baton Rouge searching for a missing woman and her child find two bodies today. The remains were found in opposite ends of the city, but police believe they may be connected with the disappearance of the 24-year-old woman and her two-year-old son. They’ve been missing since March 5^th. Neither body has been identified as yet.

Lake Charles Senator Jeremy Stine is pushing a storm victims’ insurance reform package in his first legislative session, because – he says – homeowners are fed up….:

CUT 06 (12)      “…insurance industry.”

Stine says he has bills that increase the penalties for insurance companies who fail to provide payment on a timely basis and double the fine a company could receive if the Insurance Commissioner determines they are acting in bad faith.

The firing of LSU basketball coach Will Wade is shaking up the sports world, but will the university and the program manage? Political pundit James Carville is an LSU alum and a super fan. He feels impacts from Wade’s firing will subside as the Tigers enter the NCAA tourney this Friday night against Iowa State…:

CUT 11 (09)      “…really well.”

The 2022 legislative session is underway and a recently elected lawmaker wants to reform the insurance industry. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

Another New Orleans-based cruise ship passenger goes overboard in the Gulf. Last Friday, a man leaped over the rail of a Norwegian Cruise Lines ship. As of today, his body has not been found. The ship is en route back to New Orleans. Last month a woman jumped overboard from a Carnival cruise ship; also never to be seen again.

Governor John Bel Edwards opened the regular Legislative Session today with his annual State Of The State address. Among his bigger announcements, he is allowing the current public health emergency order to lapse without extending it. Edwards made the announcement during a joint session of the House and Senate…:

CUT 12(10)      “…(applause).”

Louisiana observed two years since its first COVID-related death today.

Among items the Governor is asking for from lawmakers this year, a $1500 teacher pay raise. Louisiana Teachers Federation union President Larry Carter says surplus state money could mean even bigger raises, and there should also be more for those who work non-teaching school jobs…:

CUT 03(11)      “…support staff.”

We go back on Daylight Saving Time Saturday night. Not only is the time change unpopular, but it can also impact your health. Brooke Thorington has more..:

CUT 01(33)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

A Bastrop cop is on administrative leave after a video turned up online showing him dragging a half-naked woman across a street toward his patrol car. Her entire lower half is nude. The circumstances of the arrest are under investigation, but his use of force is also under question.

Baton Rouge area Congressman Garret Graves proposes federal legislation to create a special postage stamp featuring the nutria; the money from which would go to helping combat the invasive species. Nutria are known for eating cypress saplings and generally damaging the marshes. Congressman Graves…:

CUT 09(03)      “…on a stamp, right?”

Graves says the bill would also help with other invasive species across Louisiana and elsewhere.

The coronavirus continues to diminish in Louisiana. The state Department of Health reports only 142 new cases today, with 239 in the hospital statewide. Over the two year course of the pandemic, 16,887 Louisianans have died with the virus.

Another quick COVID note: Grambling State University is the latest to lift coronavirus protocols. As of today, masks are no longer required at Grambling. If staff or students WANT to wear them, they may.

The state Legislature convenes its regular spring session this Monday, and lawmakers have around 1000 bills to consider; ranging from teacher pay to expanding medical marijuana. Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) president Barry Erwin says House & Senate members will have a lot of work to do – sorting through the various interests and initiatives proposed…:

CUT 12(14)      “…transgender athletes.”

He also expects an attempt to throttle back the Governor’s executive emergency powers to be debated. During testimony today at a legislative panel looking into the roadside death of Ronald Greene while in state Police custody, a trooper told lawmakers he recommended to his C.O. that a trooper be arrested for what happened, but that supervisor did nothing. Senator Katrina Jackson says complaints of wrongdoing by troopers should be reported to an authority outside the LSP.

The U.S. Senate rejected an amendment from Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy that would have appropriated $2.5-billion in extra disaster aid to Louisiana for the hurricanes in 2020 and 2021. Before the vote, Kennedy explained where the money would go…:

CUT 06(13)      “…Louisiana ports.”

The amendment failed, but Kennedy and Cassidy vow to keep working to get the additional aid needed.

A Calcasieu Parish man is in jail after allegedly breaking into another man’s home and stabbing his dog. The victim says 33-year-old Robert Willis, of Moss Bluff, demanded $40 the victim owed him then stabbed his German Shepherd in the head and slashed the animal with a knife. He then threatened to come back with gun. Willis is now charged with home invasion, assault and aggravated animal cruelty.

Before passing a $1.5-trillion government funding bill this week, the U.S. Senate rejected an amendment adding over $2-billion for further recovery from Louisiana’s hurricanes in 2020 and ’21. It was brought by our two senators, John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy. Cassidy says despite federal help already sent, there’s still a big need. He says he’ll keep doing whatever he can to help with the recovery…:

CUT 08  (11)        “…less well off.”

Congressman Garret Graves introduces a bill to create a special postage stamp that will help raise money to combat Louisiana’s invasive species – like the nutria, the Asian Carp and more. He says his bill has bipartisan support in the U.S. House…:

CUT 11  (07)        “…would be great.”

Nutria are known to damage coastal marshes and feed on young cypress trees – weakening the marsh ecosystem.

The Louisiana Legislature starts its annual regular session Monday. Lawmakers will discuss the merits of about 1000 bills. Council for A Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin says look for teacher pay raise bills, medical marijuana expansion, more term limits for public servants and more. He says partisan squabbles are to be expected, as some lawmakers seek to lessen the executive branch’s emergency powers – due to dissatisfaction over the Governor’s pandemic response…:

CUT 14(09)      “…politically charged session.”

The session must end by 6 pm on Monday, June 6^th.

Gasoline continues to rise. The statewide average price for regular gas is now $4.15; up 2-cents from just yesterday … up 50-cents from a week ago and up 92-cents from a month ago. Diesel fuel is at a statewide average of 5 bucks.

Expect another cold blast as a front moves through the state later tonight, making for a cold Saturday morning and even colder Sunday morning. You’ll wake up Sunday to lows in the upper 20’s over most of the state.

The U.S. Senate rejected an amendment from Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy that would have appropriated $2.5-billion in disaster aid to Louisiana for the hurricanes that hit the state in 2020 and 2021. Kennedy tried to attach the amendment to a $1.5- trillion government funding bill. Senator Cassidy says he’s frustrated the amendment did not pass, because there are hurricane victims who are desperate for money to rebuild…:

CUT 07(09)      “…blighted neighborhoods.”

Cassidy says he’ll continue to do whatever he can to aid in the recovery.

Daylight Saving Time returns this weekend and not everyone is happy about it. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Cardiology Dr. Frank Smart says the change can lead to stress on your body. He suggests going to bed earlier Saturday or sleeping in Sunday, and you also may also want to lay off the alcohol…:

CUT 04(12)      “…more stressful.”

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves wants to help Stamp Out nutria with help from the U-S Postal Service. Graves has introduced legislation that would create the “Combating Invasive Species Semipostal Stamp” which would help produce funds to combat invasive species like nutria; known to damage coastal marshes and feed on seedling bald cypress…:

CUT 10(11)      “…across the state.”

The fire chief in the East Baton Rouge Parish city of Baker is accused of stealing over $22-thousand in public money via a payroll manipulation plot. State Police say 49-year-old Chief Chris Hunt claimed and was paid for over 370 hours of overtime that he never actually worked – at a rate of over $60 per hour. He was arrested by LSP earlier this week and he has resigned.

The Louisiana Legislature convenes its spring Regular Session Monday. Lawmakers will have about a thousand bills to consider; ranging from teacher pay to expanding medical marijuana. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin says House & Senate members will have a lot of work to do – sorting through the various interests and initiatives proposed…:

CUT 12  (14)        transgender athletes

Erwin says we can expect a second attempt to pass constitutional carry, teacher pay raises, a ban on pornography of college campuses and more.

Grambling State University is the latest Louisiana college to lift its COVID 19 protocols; particularly the mask mandate. Students and faculty may still wear a mask if they choose, but it is no longer required.

Today, the state Health Department reports only 142 new cases of coronavirus, with 239 people in the hospital with virus symptoms.

Daylight Saving Time return this weekend. Not only is the time change unpopular, but it can also impact your health. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01  (34)        “…Thorington.”

…and now today’s markets …