HB 9 is this year’s big push to limit jury trial damages in an effort to potentially push down the state’s sky-high auto insurance rates.

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The New Orleans City Council voted to create a special committee to investigate the collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel. . Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Inspector General Derry Harper oppose stating it interferes with ongoing investigations. However Council President Helena Morano says the city has an obligation to the men who died and their families.

E. Pluribus Unum has assembled a substantial list of every 2020 presidential candidates’ positions.  Unum Founder and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says it’s a non-partisan collection of positions from both Republican and Democratic contenders…

Cut 11 (10) “…to do.”

You can see all 15 candidate’s positions at umun-fund-dot-org.

Crawfish farmers have been setting traps over the last month or so and the crop production so far is showing positive signs for the rest of the season.  LSU AgCenter Crawfish specialist Mark Shirley says supply is good for this weekend and there should be plenty to go around for the Super Bowl.

Cut 7 (11) “…to the traps.”

A Chalmette Representative is bringing this year’s major lawsuit reform bill aimed at limiting damages in jury trials, hopefully bringing down auto insurance rates as a result. HB 9 is a core part of a suite of insurance premium related bills this session. Ray Garofalo says his legislation is the result of extensive consultation with the insurance industry.

Cut 4 (10) “…country”

E. Pluribus Unum has assembled a substantial list of every 2020 presidential candidates’ positions on major topics in the South. Unum Founder and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the list of policy positions is broken down over 15 of the biggest concerns they’ve heard.

Cut 10 (12) “…top.”

Crawfish season is underway and the initial crop is showing good signs for the rest of the season ahead. Kevin Barnhart has the details.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

HB 9 is this year’s big push to limit jury trial damages in an effort to potentially push down the state’s sky-high auto insurance rates. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Crawfish season is underway and the initial crop is showing good signs for the rest of the season ahead. Kevin Barnhart has the details.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

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Mitch Landrieu’s E. Pluribus Unum launches a tracker of 2020 presidential candidate’s policy positions on racial equity issues…

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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A Chalmette Representative is bringing this year’s major lawsuit reform bill aimed at limiting damages in jury trials, hopefully bringing down auto insurance rates as a result.

HB 9 is a core part of a suite of insurance premium related bills this session. Ray Garofalo says his legislation is the result of extensive consultation with the insurance industry.

Cut 4 (10) “…country”

The bill increases the period of time you can wait before filing a lawsuit to two years, in a hope to allow for more out of court settlements, and decreases the jury trial threshold to 5,000 dollars.

Lawsuit reform powered many successful Legislative campaigns last fall, and the Republican says voters sent lawmakers to Baton Rouge with a mandate.

Cut 5 (11) “…buisiness.”

Opponents argue that these changes could limit a victim’s winnings in court while providing no promise rates would actually go down. Garofalo says…

Cut 6 (11) “…reduction”

The reduction would potentially come two years after passage. Garofalo says if insurance companies saved money, the Insurance Commissioner will require they pass it on.

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Crawfish farmers have been setting traps over the last month or so and the crop production so far is showing positive signs for the rest of the season.  LSU AgCenter Crawfish specialist Mark Shirley says supply is good for this weekend and there should be plenty to go around for the Super Bowl.

Cut 7 (11) “…to the traps.”

Across the state, about a quarter-million acres of underwater crawfish habitat are being farmed.  In addition to that, Shirley says the Atchafalaya Basin is where the wild crop is being harvested.

Cut 8 (09) “…in crawfish production.”

In 2019, a seafood labeling bill became state law requiring businesses to disclose if they are serving imported shrimp and crawfish.  Shirley says there should be enough of the homegrown crop to meet the demand, but…

Cut 9 (09) “…demand Louisiana crawfish.”

Crawfish season runs through May.

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E. Pluribus Unum has assembled a substantial list of every 2020 presidential candidates’ positions on 3 major topics concerning racial equity in the South.

Unum Founder and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the list of policy positions of each candidate is broken down over 15 of the biggest concerns they’ve heard.

Cut 10 (12) “…top.”

Some of the topics include the racial wealth gap, health equity, gun safety, and gerrymandering.

Landrieu says it’s a non-partisan collection of positions from both Republican and Democratic contenders…

Cut 11 (10) “…to do.”

Some candidates have a lot more to say than others on some topics, and Landrieu says it’s interesting to see who prioritizes what issues.

Cut 12 (05) “…talk about.”

You can see all 15 candidate’s positions at umun-fund-dot-org.

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Seven hotel workers, including clerks and managers, are being accused of defrauding a Shreveport Holiday Inn Express of $280,000.  Caddo Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says it was a tricky scheme.

Cut 13 (12) “…manipulate the books.”

Chadwick says the company did an internal audit and upon realizing the size of the theft, contacted authorities in November.

Cut 14 (12) “…involved they were.”

Three people have been taken into custody so far.  Warrants remain open for siblings 41-year-old Amber Nelson and 43-year-old David Nelson as well as 24-year-old Jamilah King and 54-year-old Angela Mere Lane, all of Shreveport.

Cut 15 (05) “…Caddo Shreveport Crimestoppers.”
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Louisiana Tech men’s basketball returns to the Thomas Assembly Center tonight to host Charlotte. Both teams are tied for third place in Conference USA, with 6-and-2 league records. The Bulldogs won two games on the road last week, which pleases Coach Erick Konkol

Cut 16  (15)  …season progresses” 

The 49ers are allowing 62 points a game for second-year head coach Ron Sanchez. Konkol says Sanchez is known as a defensive-minded coach…

Cut 17  (23) “of things” 

With a bunch of home games coming up, Konkol hopes Bulldog nation will support his team…

cut 18  (11) ”  get em out”   

The Westwego City Council votes unanimously to not allow any permitting of a proposed 500 million dollar Wanhua chemical storage and distribution facility in it’s suburban New Orleans city limits. Councilmember Glen Green says the public and council had serious concerns about the flammability and combustibility of the facility, it’s emissions and the potential for leaks…

Cut 12 (11) “…anyway.”

The site selected was directly across the river from the Audubon Park and Zoo, formerly used by KinderMorgan.

About 260 miles of fiber optic rural broadband cable is set to be run through areas of Iberville, Pointe Coupee and St. Landry parishes thanks to 15 million dollars from the USDA. USDA rural development state director Roy Holleman says it was a collaborative process…

Cut 10 (12) “…profitable for Star.” 

Environmental groups are raising concerns that Formosa Plastics is seeking to build a chemical plant in St. James Parish on top of a slave cemetery, but a private archaeologist says he’s not sure who is buried at the site. Co-owner of TerraXplorations Paul Jackson says they’ve looked at old newspapers, diaries and personal land records in an effort to establish who might be buried there, but they have not found any conclusive indications…

Cut 7 (08) “…is protected”

18-year-old Daniel Smith of Homer is under arrest for the alleged killing of a bald eagle in Claiborne Parish, one of the most heavily protected species in the country. Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says Smith’s loose lips ultimately did him in and pointed authorities in his direction.

Cut 4 (11) “…eagle”

Shooting a bald eagle is a serious offense that can land you jail time and up to 100,000 dollars in fines.

18-year-old Daniel Smith is under arrest for the alleged killing of a bald eagle, one of the most heavily protected species in the country. Authorities allege the killing took place in February of 2017, and after a long investigation Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says they managed to obtain a warrant for his truck where…

Cut 3 (09)  “…eagle” 

Shooting a bald eagle is a serious offense that can land you jail time and up to 100,000 dollars in fines.

Environmental groups are raising concerns that Formosa Plastics is seeking to build a chemical plant in St. James Parish on top of a slave cemetery, but a private archaeologist says it may not be the case. Co-owner of TerraXplorations Paul Jackson says after investigating the site…

Cut 6 (08) “…1920s”

Three parishes will see an expansion of high-speed internet access as the USDA commits $15.5 million into rural broadband.  USDA rural development state director Roy Holleman says this portion of the Reconnect Program covers 136 square miles of Iberville, Pointe Coupee and St. Landry parishes.

Cut 9 (07) “…and 16 farms.”

The Westwego City Council votes unanimously to not allow any permitting of a proposed 500 million dollar Wanhua chemical storage and distribution facility in it’s suburban New Orleans city limits. Councilmember Glen Green says the public and council had serious concerns safety and environmental risks. The plant would have created 75 new full-time jobs, and 500 construction jobs, but Green says they weren’t particularly interested in bringing on many locals.

Cut 14 (09) “…with that.”

A proposed 500 million dollar Wanhua chemical processing facility in suburban New Orleans is shut down in a unanimous 5-0 vote by the Westwego City Council. Councilmember Glen Green says local residents were outraged by the proposal, and that anger was just made worse by the Wanhua spokesperson’s inability or refusal to respond to local resident’s concerns at the public meeting.

Cut 13 (10) “…concerns”

A near three-year-old murder mystery involving the killing of a bald eagle in Claiborne Parish may have come to it’s conclusion with the arrest of an 18-year-old Daniel Smith of Homer, who is accused of shooting the bird in February of 17’. During the investigation, Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says they searched Smith’s phone, which led to the arrest of two others for crimes not related to the eagle…

Cut 5 (09) “…name it”

A juvenile was also cited as a result.

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Areas in Iberville, Pointe Coupee and St. Landry parishes are set to get accsess to broadband internet as part of 15 million dollars of investments by the USDA. The money comes from the $600 million Congress provided to the USDA to expand broadband infrastructure.  A new round of loans and grants will rollout this Friday and USDA rural development state director Roy Holleman says the goal is to secure more funding for the state.

Cut 11 (09) “…everywhere we can.”

Star Telephone Company will use the half grant and half loan funding to rollout 154 miles of optical fiber and 95 miles of drop optical fiber cable. 

Private archeologists raise concerns that an alleged slave burial ground on the site of an upcoming Formosa plant in St. James they studied may not be as old as thought, and could possibly be the remains of white people…

Cut 8 (06) “…about yet.”

A cold case involving the murder of a bald eagle in Claiborne Parish nearly three years ago is closer to being solved after the arrest of a Homer man. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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136 square miles of Iberville, Pointe Coupee and St. Landry parishes will see a $15.5 million expansion of high-speed internet access as part of the federal program known as ReConnect.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut  2 (27) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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18-year-old Daniel Smith of Homer is under arrest for the alleged killing of a bald eagle in Claiborne Parish, one of the most heavily protected species in the country.

Authorities allege the killing took place in February of 2017, and after a long investigation Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says they managed to obtain a warrant for his truck where…

Cut 3 (09)  “…eagle” 

LDWF agents say Smith admitted to taking the bird down with a .223 rifle.

Einck says Smith’s loose lips ultimately did him in and pointed authorities in his direction.

Cut 4 (11) “…eagle”

Shooting a bald eagle is a serious offense that can land you jail time and up to 100,000 dollars in fines.

And once authorities got a hold of that phone, they found evidence that led to them arresting two others and citing juvenile for other documented crimes not related to the bald eagle.

Cut 5 (09) “…name it”

The two adults were 19-year-olds Jacob and Jared Lee of Bernice.

_______________________

Environmental groups are raising concerns that Formosa Plastics is seeking to build a chemical plant in St. James Parish on top of a slave cemetery, but a private archaeologist says he’s not sure who is buried at the site. Co-owners of TerraXplorations Paul Jackson says a previous report released in June suspected  slaves could be buried there but after further investigation

Cut 6 (08) “…1920s”

Jackson says they’ve looked at old newspapers, diaries and personal land records in an effort to establish who might be buried there, but they have not found any conclusive indications…

Cut 7 (08) “…is protected”

Environmental and community groups have used the possibility the proposed chemical plant site is a slave cemetery as an argument against the issuing of permits for construction. Jackson says it could be an old cemetery for slaves, but it also can be a European cemetery

Cut 8 (06) “…about yet.”

_________________________________

Three parishes will see an expansion of high-speed internet access as the USDA commits $15.5 million into rural broadband.  USDA rural development state director Roy Holleman says this portion of the Reconnect Program covers 136 square miles of Iberville, Pointe Coupee and St. Landry parishes.

Cut 9 (07) “…and 16 farms.”

Star Telephone Company will use the half grant and half loan funding to rollout 154 miles of optical fiber and 95 miles of drop optical fiber cable.  Holleman says there was a collaboration with various stakeholders to select the area.

Cut 10 (12) “…profitable for Star.” 

The money comes from the $600 million Congress provided to the USDA to expand broadband infrastructure.  A new round of loans and grants will rollout this Friday and Holleman says the goal is to secure more funding for the state.

Cut 11 (09) “…everywhere we can.”

______________________

The Westwego City Council votes unanimously to not allow any permitting of a proposed 500 million dollar Wanhua chemical storage and distribution facility in it’s suburban New Orleans city limits.

Councilmember Glen Green says the public and council had serious concerns about the flammability and combustibility of the facility, it’s emissions and the potential for leaks…

Cut 12 (11) “…anyway.”

The site selected was directly across the river from the Audubon Park and Zoo, formerly used by KinderMorgan.

Green says the public’s unease with the project was made worse by the Wanhua spokesperson’s inability or refusal to respond to local resident’s concerns at the public meeting.

Cut 13 (10) “…concerns”

The plant would have created 75 new full-time jobs, and 500 construction jobs, but Green says they weren’t particularly interested in bringing on many locals.

Cut 14 (09) “…with that.”

The facility would have processed a chemical called MDI on-site into component products for paint, shoes, and more.

The Westwego City Council in suburban New Orleans votes unanimously to not allow any permitting of a proposed 500 million dollar Wanhua chemical storage and distribution facility. Councilmember Glen Green says the public and council had serious concerns
Cut 12 (11) “…anyway.”
The site selected is across the river from the Audubon Park and Zoo.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has arrested an 18-year-old from Homer for fatally shooting bald eagle with a rifle nearly three years ago in Claiborne Parish. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says Daniel Smith’s loose lips did him in…
cut 4 (10) “….bald eagle”
If convicted, Smith faces jail time and up to 100,000 dollars in fines.

136 square miles of Iberville, Pointe Coupee and St. Landry parishes will see a $15.5 million expansion of high-speed internet access as part of the federal program known as ReConnect. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 2 (27) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

At the White House today, President Donald Trump signed a new trade deal with Mexico and China. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says this trade deal has the potential to empty every grain bin and cold storage facility in the state. The President calls the agreement a colossal victory for farmers and manufacturers.