11:30 LRN Newscast Feb 14

State Attorney General Jeff Landry issues a legal opinion stating local governments have the authority to remove members of Library Control Boards. St. Bernard Parish Representative Ray Garafalo says he asked Landry to render the opinion after local officials came to him with their concerns…:

CUT 07(09)      “…control board.”

The concern is over kids getting access to adult content at libraries and whether board members will take steps to assure they do not. Garafalo says he’ll propose legislation this spring to make the AG’s opinion a clear matter of state law.

Ponchatoula’s long-time mascot alligator, Hardhide, has been spared being euthanized by state Wildlife & Fisheries.  Owner T-Mike Kleibert says she’s been in the family since 1957 and at the Ponchatoula Country Market for 13 years…:

CUT 12(10)      “…could do.”

For Valentine’s Day, the Louisiana Family Forum announces the winners of the Long-Married Couple in 2023…:

CUT 03(31)      “…Thorington.”

Organizers of the petition to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell say they are within just over a thousand signatures of their goal, with just a week until the deadline to submit. The group seeks to put a recall vote on a local election ballot. 49-thousand confirmed signatures are needed. The deadline for that is Mardi Gras Day; next Tuesday.

4:30 LRN Newscast Feb 13

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, so if you’re in stores tonight you will likely see a good many last-minute shoppers. The National Retail Federation says we’ll spend more this year than last year for our loved ones. NRF’s Kathy Cullen says online purchases will make a up the lion’s share, but big dollars will also be spent in retail stores and, oh yes, florists…:

CUT 05  (11)        “…for a loved one.”

National Valentine’s spending is expected to be at around $26-Billion.

Running for State Treasurer this fall, Baton Rouge state Rep. Scott McKnight. He says he’s a fan of outgoing Treasurer John Schroder, and says he’d run the Treasury, and represent Bond Commission, much as Schroder did…:

CUT 11  (11)        “…with there.”

 

State Wildlife & Fisheries agents arrest a Patterson man for illegally taking nutria, to collect bounties for the invasive species. LDWF spokesman Adam Einck says their investigation began with them being alerted to videos posted on social media that showed the cruel acts…:

CUT 06(11)      “…was doing it.”

45-year-old Harris DeHart is charged with a long list of offenses, including animal cruelty and violating state law for legally taking non-game animals. Einck says DeHart was harvesting nutria tails to game the nutria bounty program, which has strict rules as to how the animals may be dispatched.

Sheriff’s deputies in West Baton Rouge Parish found a person dead in a car Sunday, and say the car belongs to 55-year-old Sheila Baker, who’s been missing from Lafayette since Christmas. The remains inside the car haven’t been positively ID’ed yet, but officers suspect it is Baker. An autopsy will determine how she died.

3:30 LRN Newscast Feb 13

Let’s talk the fall election. So far there is only one declared candidate running for State Treasurer. Current Treasurer John Schroder is running for governor, and his seat will be wide open this autumn. Enter Baton Rouge state Representative Scott McKnight, and insurance professional, who says he’s ready to handle holding and allocating state funds. As for any excess, McKnight says it would be his job to invest it wisely…:

CUT 10  (10)        “…the economy.”

McKnight is a republican and the only announced candidate for Treasurer so far.

State Wildlife & Fisheries agents arrest a Patterson man for gaming the nutria bounty program, by catching the rodents, cutting off their tails and letting them go…sometimes mortally injured. LDWF spokesman Adam Einck says 45-year-old Harris DeHart was cheating the system and taking the animals illegally…:

CUT 08  (09)        “…taken away.”

He could face up to 10 years if convicted.

 

The National Retail Federation says spending on Valentine’s Day gifts will exceed last year’s $23.9 billion. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Thorington.”

The state’s Legislative Auditor says the City of Westlake, in Calcasieu Parish, fell victim to an email hack that netted thieves over $64-thousand in illegitimately-billed overdue payments. The auditor found the city hadn’t properly vetted the bogus invoices before paying them.

2:30 LRN Newscast Feb 13

Baton Rouge Representative Scott McKnight who’s so far the only candidate running for state treasurer addressed the Press Club of Baton Rouge this afternoon. The insurance executive has been in the legislature since 2020…:

CUT 09(10)      “…State Treasurer.”

Current State Treasurer John Schroder is not seeking re-election and is running for governor.

American consumers are expected to spend about $2-billion more on Valentine’s Day than last year. Katherine Cullen with the National Retail Federation says the reason for the increase is more consumers showing appreciation for others…:

CUT 04(07)      “…even pets.”

I was going to go with inflation as the reason, but…OK.

 

A St. Mary Parish man face numerous charges for illegally taking nutria, to profit from the state’s bounty program. More from Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Palermo.”

A Good Samaritan who was witnessing an armed robbery in the New Orleans French Quarter is credited with intervening and wrestling the gun from the assailant’s hands. The would-be thief got away, the intended victim and his rescuer are unharmed.

12:30 LRN Newscast Feb 13

Dense early morning fog is blamed for a 15-vehcile pile-up this morning near Lake Peigneur in Iberia Parish. State Police are investigating what exactly happened, but we are told no one reported seriously hurt.

The National Retail Federation says spending on Valentine’s Day gifts will exceed last year’s $23.9 billion. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Thorington.”

 

State Wildlife & Fisheries agents arrest a Patterson man for illegally taking nutria, to collect bounties for the invasive species. LDWF spokesman Adam Einck (EYE-nk) says their investigation began with them being alerted to videos posted on social media that showed the cruel acts…:

CUT 06(11)      “…who was doing it.”

At that was – allegedly – 45-year-old Harris DeHart. Einck says he was gigging the rodents, cutting their tails off and releasing them; impaled and badly cut. Among his many charges: numerous counts of animal cruelty.

…and now a look at today’s commodities with Don Molino…

11:30 LRN Newscast Feb 13

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announces a 30-day application period is open for the Insure Louisiana Incentive Program. Donelon says a similar program after hurricanes Katrina and Rita reduced the number of Citizens policies by 40-thousand…:

CUT 11(08)      “…they’re facing.”

Donelon encourages Louisiana homeowners who have Citizens or are unable to find affordable insurance to contact an insurance agent and ask for as many quotes as possible in the coming months.

Chair of the state Democratic Party, Katie Bernhardt tells The Advocate she’s not running for governor. And while her recent TV ad received widespread criticism from party members, “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says she never declared her candidacy for any office in the ad, only that help was coming…:

CUT 13(11)      “…to run.”

 

Sheriff’s deputies in West Baton Rouge Parish found a person dead in a car Sunday, and say the car belongs to 55-year-old Sheila Baker, who’s been missing from Lafayette since Christmas. The remains inside the car haven’t been positively ID’ed yet, but officers suspect it is Baker. An autopsy will determine how she died.

February is American Heart Month and heart disease is the leading cause of death in Louisiana. Do you know what your risk factors are? Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(31)      ”…Thorington.”

4:30 LRN Newscast Feb 10

Monroe state Senator Katrina Jackson faces a lawsuit after blocking a Twitter user from commenting on her page. Tulane First Amendment Law Clinic Director Katie Schwartzmann says Jackson signed up for debate and dialogue when she ran for office, yet she blocked the plaintiff for disagreeing. Jackson says she blocked the plaintiff for using foul and abusive language. Schwartzmann says blocking a user from a public official’s page is a First Amendment violation…:

CUT 09(05)      “…various context.”

Jackson says no Twitter user – public official or private citizen – should be subject to bullying and abuse online.

A Metairie lawmaker proposes stiffer penalties to help fight the seeming explosion of auto burglaries. Over 30 vehicles were burglarized during a New Orleans Pelicans game recently, while the owners were watching the game. State Rep. Laurie Schlegel says her bill will be a deterrent…:

CUT 10(06)      “…for this behavior”

Her bill will be discussed in the spring legislative session.

 

Deputies in Calcasieu Parish are investigating a fatal accident that took the life of a 4-year-old boy. They report a mail truck driver was turning around in a home’s driveway, when he hit the child, who was riding a scooter. A blood tox sample was taken from that driver, and officers say charges cannot yet be ruled out.

The LSU Board of Supervisors votes to add former women’s basketball coach Sue Gunter’s name to Dale Brown court at the PMAC. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Palermo.”

3:30 LRN Newscast Feb 10

After blocking a Twitter user from her account, Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson faces a lawsuit…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Thorington.”

A teen reportedly involved in an attempted carjacking, who was shot by a Shreveport Police Department officer, is now in custody. 18-year-old Zechariah Stutts allegedly fired on an SPD cop and he fired back. Stutts was wounded and treated, then charged with attempted murder.

 

A Jefferson Parish lawmaker has filed legislation that would crack down on thieves who break into people’s cars, by stiffening their minimum sentence. Metairie Republican state Representative Laurie Schlegel says her House Bill 16 would impose stiffer penalties on persons who commit a string of burglaries or any burglary within a mile of any fair, festival, entertainment or sports event or parade. Current law calls for sentencing of zero-to-12 years. Schlegel says her bill would add mandatory jail time with a conviction…:

CUT 12(09)      “…you’re going to jail.”

Her bill will be debated in the regular legislation session, which begins April 10th.

At LSU in Baton Rouge this morning…:

CUT 03(13)      “…up others.”

That’s former Lady Tigers player Delia Taylor, imploring the Board of Supervisors to approve adding former women’s basketball coach Sue Gunter to the name of the Dale Brown Court in the Maravich Assembly Center. The Board voted 6-2 to make that name change, despite abundant opposition.

2:30 LRN Newscast Feb 10

Monroe state Senator Katrina Jackson is being sued for allegedly blocking a person from commenting on her Twitter page. The plaintiff is represented by the Tulane University First Amendment Law Clinic, whose director – Katie Schwartzmann – says the goal of the lawsuit is the prevent censorship of these types of discussions in the future…:

CUT 08(05)      “…moving forward.”

Schwartzmann says other users have also claimed that Senator Jackson has blocked them. Jackson says she has not violated anyone’s 1st Amendment rights.

State Wildlife & Fisheries agents arrest a Patterson man for cutting the tails of nutria, the releasing the animals; injured but still alive. 45-year-old Harris DeHart faces numerous counts of cruelty to animals, illegal taking of non-game animals and more. Non-game animals may only be taken by use of a .22 rifle or small-bore shotgun. DeHart was gigging the animals, so they’d have an impalement wound and an amputation wound.

 

The LSU Board of Supervisors votes to rename the Dale Brown Court at the Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge to include former Lady Tigers coach Sue Gunter’s name. The vote was not without controversy. Freelance investigative write Jeffrey Marx says political pressure was brought to bear to make some Board members change their minds on the matter…:

CUT 05  (10)        “…conversations.”

The same proposal was rejected in 2021. Today’s decision means the court will be renamed post-haste.

A Metairie lawmaker proposes legislation to make convicted car burglars serve at least one year in prison if convicted. Representative Laurie Schlegel, a Republican, says there’s an inherent danger in these crimes…:

CUT 11  (12)        “…trying to do here.”

Over 30 cars were broken into recently while fans attended a New Orleans Pelicans game.

1:30 LRN Newscast Feb 10

A Jefferson Parish lawmaker has filed legislation that would crack down on thieves who break into people’s cars, by stiffening their minimum sentence. Metairie Republican state Representative Laurie Schlegel says her House Bill 16 would impose stiffer penalties on persons who commit a string of burglaries or any burglary within a mile of any fair, festival, entertainment or sports event or parade…:

CUT 10(06)      “…for this behavior.”

Schlegal reminds us that over 30 cars were broken into recently at the New Orleans Smoothie King Centre, while fans watched a Pelicans game.

Minden native and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed is expected to play in his second Super Bowl Sunday. His high school coach Spencer Heard says the personal connection makes the game really exciting for him…:

CUT 13(08)      “…the occasion.”

Sneed played for La Tech as well. He is recovering from a knee injury and may be yet benched Sunday.

 

The LSU Board of Supervisors votes to add former women’s basketball coach Sue Gunter’s name to Dale Brown court at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Palermo.”

Lawmen in Baton Rouge are looking for the man who rode a horse onto the Southern University campus Monday night, then ran away on foot when the animal suddenly collapsed; leaving it to die. They ask tipsters to come forward with that horseman’s identity.