A huge drug bust in Rapides Parish, as deputies find over a hundred pounds of cocaine in a big rig carrying fruit. Rapides Sheriff’s spokesman Tommy Carnline tells LRN a drug dog was brought in on a routine pullover for improper lane usage, and alerted on the cargo. Inside they found 108 pounds of powdered coke…:

CUT 13(06)      “…been a part of”

Estimated street value? Up to $3-million. The driver of that rig, Jose Calderon of Edinburg, Texas, is being held on $500-thousand bond.

At the State Capitol, a bill that would require all kindergarten age kids in the state be tested for dyslexia has advanced out of a House Committee. It’s sponsored by Gretna Representative Joe Marino, who says nearly 1-in-5 kids have dyslexia and this will help get them early help in their education…:

CUT 11(12)      “…to succeed.”

He says early detection leads to better education outcomes.

Legislation to require surgical facilities to mitigate smoke plumes advances from Senate Health and Welfare. Brooke Thorington reports on what that is about…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Thorington.”

Be alert for potentially heavy weather coming in this evening, and staying with us through Friday. Expect periods of heavy rain, thunderstorms and even hail. Flash flooding is possible, so stay alert for weather updates. The forecast for Saturday looks good.

Deputies in Rapides Parish seized over 108 pounds of powder cocaine during a traffic stop on LA Highway 28 East of Pineville. Sheriff’s spokesman Tommy Carnline says deputies assigned to the RADE Unit Highway Interdiction Team conducted a traffic stop on a big rig for improper lane usage…:

CUT 12(07)      “…criminal activity”

A drug dog located the coke amongst a shipment of fresh mangoes. The driver is being held pending a half-million-dollar bond.

Legislation to mandate dyslexia screening for all kindergarten kids in the state moves out of a House Committee. Bill sponsor and Gretna Rep. Joe Marino says children would get tested in the second semester of their kindergarten year…:

CUT 10(07)      “…at risk.”

He says 1-in-5 kids have dyslexia and early detection leads to better outcomes. That bill now goes to full debate on the House floor.

St. Mary Parish deputies arrest a Houma man they say was involved in nearly 60 auto burglaries in just one night. 20-year-old Collin Tribe and an unnamed second suspect – also from Terrebonne Parish – broke into the cars during the overnight hours Tuesday. They face 57 counts of motor vehicle burglary and are being held on bond.

A team of researchers from UL-Lafayette will design and build a small solar-powered satellite that will be used by NASA to help keep astronauts and the public safe from radiation. ULL students have done this before; putting satellites in orbit back in 2007, 2013 and 2021. Team leader Dr. Jared Tessier…:

CUT 08(12)      “…this satellite.”

The satellite will orbit the earth at least twice a day and will gauge radiation in space through measurements taken with a neutron radiation detector.

At the State Capitol, a bill that would screen students statewide to detect dyslexia has been approved by the House Education Committee…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Foxx.”

Be alert for potentially heavy weather coming in this evening, and staying with us through Friday. Expect periods of heavy rain, thunderstorms and even hail. Flash flooding is possible, so stay alert for weather updates. The forecast for Saturday looks good.

A Senate Committee advances a bill that would require surgical rooms have proper ventilation to deal with occasional puffs of smoke from procedures involving heat. Things like some laser treatments or cauterizations. Such smoke can obstruct the surgeon’s eyesight, which poses safety risk. Bill sponsor and Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux says his bill is about assuring patient safety..:

CUT 04(09)      “…bring awareness.”

His SB 29 requires smoke evacuation measures in surgery rooms. It moves to the Senate floor for debate.

Amid controversy over alleged misuse of a French Quarter apartment owned by the city, the City Council has voted to forbid mayors from any further use of the apartment for overnight stays. Mayor LaToya Cantrell has been accused of using the apartment as if it were her own and for an alleged extramarital affair with a bodyguard.

The Senate Education Committee approves a bill requiring every school in Louisiana to have an automated external defibrillator on campus in case a person goes into cardiac arrest. Jeff Palermo reports…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Palermo.”

A related story here. Just yesterday, at Jena High School, a student passed away after going into cardiac arrest in class. Life saving measures were tried, but to no avail. The student’s name has not yet been released. An autopsy is scheduled. Meanwhile, Jena High has postponed scheduled LEAP testing for two weeks.

Attorney General Jeff Landry has released his first campaign ad in his run for Governor. The spot focuses on crime as citizens’ top concern. UL-Monroe political science professor Pearson Cross says statewide advertisement during an election year gets mighty costly…:

CUT 11(09)      “…from them.”

John Schroder, State Treasurer, was actually the first candidate to run a political campaign ad for governor this election year. The gubernatorial primary is October 14.

Camp Beauregard will be officially renamed as the Louisiana National Guard Training Center in Pineville later this year. Lt. Col Noel Collins says through the guidance of the National Defense Authorization Act the training installation was given a new moniker…:

CUT 06(09)      “…family members.”

The camp was named after Confederate war hero P.G.T. Beauregard, and is now generally considered insensitive to descendants of slaves.

Attorney General Jeff Landry promises to crack down on crime in his first campaign ad for Governor of Louisiana. Teiko Foxx has more…:

CUT 01  (28)        “…Foxx.”

Police in Monroe say a local man accused of robbing a convenience store was caught, when he went back to the store a few days later and apologized for it. 27-year-old Ronald Washington allegedly held up the Circle K store April 7^th. While paying for smokes at the same store 12 days later, he said he was sorry for the robbery. He’s been booked with armed robbery.

Legislation to require fathers to pay for half of the out-of-pocket pregnancy-related medical expenses of the mothers of their kids advances to the House floor. Bill author, Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman says dads get off scot-free too often…:

CUT 04(10)      “…more rights.”

Frieman says post-birth expenses fall under child-support laws. Unopposed in the House Civil Law Committee, it moves now to the House floor.

The state’s largest National Guard facility, Camp Beauregard in Pineville, will officially be renamed later this year. It’s new name? The Louisiana National Guard Training Center at Pineville. Catchy, right? LNG’s Lt. Col Noel Collins says the re-naming ends a hundred-year-long reference to a Confederate war hero, and also references Rapides Parish…:

CUT 08(10)      “…that together.”

A renaming ceremony date will be announced soon.

At the state capitol today, a Senate committee advanced a bill that would create a Task Force to review protocols and safety for officers involved in high-speed police pursuits. The resolution is in response to a high-speed chase on New Year’s Eve in West Baton Rouge Parish that resulted in the deaths of two innocent teen girls. Bill sponsor and Port Allen Senator Caleb Kleinpeter says there needs to be a determination of when pursuing a suspect is worth risking a person’s life…:

CUT 07(06)      “…bright future”

The measure was approved and heads now for the Senate floor.

Another senate bill moving forward increases jail time for those caught manufacturing drugs containing fentanyl. A minimum ten years would be the punishment for a 1^st offense. Private citizen Bruce Riley testified against the bill; saying stiffer penalties are NOT a good solution to the fentanyl crisis..:

CUT 11(11)      “…family members.”

Despite his feelings, the bill moves to the Senate floor.

The latest campaign finance reports show Attorney General Jeff Landry has a clear financial advantage in the governor’s race, with $6 million on hand for his campaign…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Thorington.”

Nationwide chain David’s Bridal – with five locations in Louisiana – has filed for bankruptcy protection. The chain says it could be forced to lay off over 9000 of its 11-thousand employees. No word yet on whether any Louisiana stores will be closing. David’s Bridal says it will fulfill any and all outstanding orders, so tell the bride to relax.

Headed for the Senate floor, a bill that mandates stronger penalties for those convicted of producing the killer drug fentanyl…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Palermo.”

A House Committee will take up a bill that proposes dyslexia testing for all Louisiana kindergartener. Gretna Representative Joe Marino says a new testing system could directly impact test scores and improve graduation rates. Testing would cost the state less than $100-thousand a year. House Education will consider Marino’s bill Thursday.

The latest campaign finance report shows Attorney General Jeff Landry at the top with $6.3 million on hand in his bid for governor. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landry’s finances and endorsements make him the frontrunner…:

CUT 03(09)      “…so far.”

State Treasurer John Schroder is in 2^nd place with $2.4-million.

Legalized sports betting has been very good for Louisiana. The state Gaming Control Board reports $44-million in tax revenue has come in from sports betting in the 17 months it’s been legal. Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says that and mobile sports betting have been very profitable…:

CUT 13(10)      “…successful program.”

Johns says the haul from legal sports betting has been better than was expected.

The latest campaign finance reports show Attorney General Jeff Landry with a clear financial advantage in the governor’s race; about $6-million in on-hand campaign cash….:

CUT 01(30)      “…Thorington.”

The state’s largest National Guard facility is getting a new name. Camp Beauregard, in Pineville, will be officially re-dubbed the Louisiana National Guard Training Center at Pineville at a ceremony to be held this fall. The renaming is to remove the name of General P.G.T. Beauregard, who fought for the South. Fort Polk in Vernon Parish will become Fort William Johnson; also later this year.

Louisiana has received 44-million dollars in tax revenue from sports betting since it became legal in Louisiana 17 months ago. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says that’s a little more than what they expected…:

CUT 12(09)      “…sports betting revenue.”

Johns says gamblers have placed three-billion dollars’ worth in legal sports bets in the last 17 months.

A Senate committee advances a bill to increase penalties for producing drugs with fentanyl in them. Bill sponsor and Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says harsher punishment will decrease dealership. She says the same thing worked when heroin was a problem decades ago…:

CUT 10(08)      “…someplace else.”

The bill gives a minimum 10 years for a first conviction. Unopposed in committee, it moves to the Senate floor.

A Winn Parish softball coach was shot and killed over the weekend; allegedly by his own son. Winn Sheriff Cranford Jordan says 51-year-old Calvin High Coach Kevin Camp was pronounced dead at the scene Saturday and his 17-year-old son is now in custody. He says Camp was an outstanding person…:

CUT 07  (08)         “…last year.”

Calvin is scheduled to host Castor High in the opening round of state Division 5 playoffs. The school says the game WILL go on. Sheriff Jordan says father and son had a bad argument that led to the shooting.

Cops in Baton Rouge arrest three 19-year-old men for shooting and killing a pregnant woman and her unborn baby. Spokesman Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says Kerisha Johnson was sitting in her car, waiting to pick up some kids from a party, when gunfire erupted…:

CUT 04  (09)         “…been her.”

All three men are in parish prison; charged with murder and infanticide.

Legislation to keep film tax incentives in place permanently in Louisiana will be heard in House Ways and Means tomorrow and a recent poll indicates two-thirds of Louisiana taxpayers are in favor of them. Trey Burvant, with Louisiana Film Entertainment, says a poll by JMC Analytics ranked film incentives higher than tax breaks for oil, gas and chemicals…:

CUT 11(09)      “…positive it is.”

Current film & TV incentives end in 2025. This bill would end the sunset date altogether.

One bill NOT moving forward is Mandeville Rep. Richard Nelson’s proposal to end state income tax. It would have done so by lowering your homestead exemption and eliminating a lot of sales tax exemptions. After an hour of discussion, the committee agreed to table Nelson’s bill with no “yes or no” vote; meaning it is effectively dead for this year. Nelson says he will campaign for Governor on a platform of ending income taxes.

A proposed bill to eliminate state income tax has been stymied by lawmakers. The House Ways & Means Committee voted to table Mandeville Rep. Richard Nelson’s bill without an up or down vote. Nelson says ending income tax would draw more businesses and people to the state. He says it would also help stop outmigration of the best and brightest…:

CUT 13  (12)         “…fix it.”

The bill is effectively dead for the session, but Nelson says he’ll campaign for Governor this fall on a platform of ending state income tax.

A Winn Parish high school sports coach is shot to death – allegedly by his own son. Winn Parish Sheriff Cranford Jordan says the 51-year-old victim was found dead at the scene of the shooting Saturday…:

CUT 06  (09)         “…gunshot wound.”

Camp’s 17-year-old son has been arrested. Jordan says the two had an argument.

With legislation afoot to make tax incentives for the film industry permanent, a poll indicates there’s widespread support for them. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Thorington.”

If you’re looking for something fun and unusual to do this weekend, travel to Evangeline Downs in Opelousas for real live camel and zebra races. The races are scheduled for 5:30 this Saturday and will be free to the public. For information, visit Evangeline Downs on Facebook.