The tort reform legislation that supporters say will lower your auto insurance rates is closer to final legislative passage as it passes out of a House committee….

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

A teenager died over the weekend in the waters off the coast of Grand Isle after a powerful riptide is believed to have dragged the victim and two others out away from the shore. The two others, a 15 year old and 45 year old, were family members of 17-year-old Oscar Aguilar, who died in the incident.

The Manning Passing Academy, a famed institution that attracts 1,200 campers and 200 coaches to the Natchitoches area every summer, is canceled this year due to COVID-19. College and pro football analyst Mike Detillier says most of the starting quarterbacks in the NFL have attended as a camper or a counselor and the camp is not just for quarterbacks

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He adds this plus the cancellation of the Louisiana Line Camp at Nichols will result in a two million dollar loss in economic activity for the state.

Former south Louisiana Congressman and international pharma lobby head Billy Tauzin believes there will be an effective, non-vaccine treatment for COVID-19 by September. Tauzin says those treatments are focused on three categories: plasma infusions from COVID survivors, “decoy” proteins, and lab-created antibodies…

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A COVID-19 treatment could be ready by fall according to one famed Louisiana politico. Matt Doyle has the story…

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The department of health released new COVID-19 numbers and hospitalization rates for state the decreased by 16 to 831 and vent usage increased by one to 103. The state has a tally 38,054 total cases for the state and fatalities increased by 11 to 2,596.

Eight teenagers were injured when shots were fired early Monday morning during an unsupervised graduation party involving about 200 people at a business in Lake Charles on Highway 90. Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office says one of the gunmen, 17-year-old Devin Levier, suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach.

Cut 4 (11)_ “…the weapon.”

23-year-old Mary Brignac was also arrested she is charged with possession of a stolen firearm.

A Senate-backed tort reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance premiums is heading to the House floor after getting approval from the House Civil Law Committee. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says auto insurance companies will be able to reduce rates because the legislation makes several changes to the state’s civil justice system for example it would lower the jury threshold from 50-thousand to five-thousand dollars…

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Former south Louisiana Congressman and international pharma lobby head Billy Tauzin believes there will be an effective, non-vaccine treatment for COVID-19 by September at the earliest. Tauzin says over 100 different treatments are being tested that could do everything from reducing the severity of COVID-19 to giving recipients temporary immunity.

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A Memorial Day gathering of 200 in Lake Charles ends with nine teens injured after gunfire erupted during the celebration.  Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory says it’s shocking that so many teens were out celebrating so early Monday morning and he’s surprised that more were not injured.

Cut 5 (09)  “…amazing to me.”

The incident took place at a business on Highway 90, and was unsupervised by adults.

Concerns over COVID-19 lead to the cancellation of the famed Manning Passing Academy set to take place next month in Thibodaux. The Manning Passing Academy attracts over 12-hundred campers and over 200 coaches, trainers, and support staff. College and pro football analyst Mike Detillier says the Louisiana Line Camp held at Nicholls State has also been canceled for this year

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New reported COVID cases and deaths continue to slow to a fraction of the pace they were just a month ago. Only 11 new COVID fatalities are being reported today, along with 245 new positive cases.

Funeral arrangements are pending for State Police Trooper George Baker who has died after being critically injured during an effort to stop a police chase in Hammond last Wednesday. Matt Doyle has more…
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Authorities in Orange Beach say the bodies of two missing men from New Orleans have washed up on the Alabama coast. Ryan Guy and Darius Robinson went missing in the surf on Sunday night. 28-year-old Jasmine Brundy of Chalmette was pulled from the water on Sunday night and is in critical condition.

Nine teenagers were injured when shots were fired early Monday morning during an unsupervised graduation party involving about 200 teens at a business in Lake Charles on Highway 90. Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office says chaos ensued when bullets started firing.
cut 3 (11) “…trampled on.”
Guillory says they believe one of the gunmen suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach and faces charges when he’s released from the hospital. He says they are searching for two other teenage suspects.

The Manning Passing Academy scheduled for next month in Thibodaux has been canceled due to the COVID-19 crisis. College and pro football analyst Mike Detillier says it was a difficult call for the Manning family, but it was the right decision
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The Manning Passing Academy attracts over 12-hundred campers and over 200 coaches, trainers, and support staff.

The Senate approved tort reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance premiums is receiving a hearing in the House Civil Law Committee. Democrats are skeptical, but the bill’s author River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says there’s wording in the legislation that requires insurance companies to reduce rates by 10-percent

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33-year-old State Police Trooper George Baker dies of injuries caused by a Hammond Police vehicle that struck him last week while pursuing a fleeing suspect. Baker was reportedly picking up devices laid out to deflate the suspect’s tires when he was hit. State Police Trooper Jeremy Price says Baker was a model trooper who continues to serve his community even in death by donating his organs.

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Baker spent eight years in the Marine reserves where he served one combat deployment in the Middle East.

Legislation that would allow concealed handgun permit owners to bring a gun into a place of worship, if a pastor, priest or rabbi approves is awaiting debate in the Senate…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Memorial Day graduation party in Lake Charles nearly ended in a fatal tragedy after a gunman opened fire. Nearly 200 students were reportedly in attendance at the event and three were grazed by bullets, while three others non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. A suspect is in the hospital and two others are being sought.

State Police is mourning the death of one of its troopers. 33-year-old George Baker has died from the injuries he sustained last Wednesday. A Hammond Police car hit Baker during a police chase. Troop L spokesperson Jeremy Price says Baker had a lifelong desire to become a State Trooper and his legacy lives on…
cut 11 (08) “….may live”
Baker also spent eight years in the U-S Marine Corps Reserve.

Authorities in Orange Beach say the bodies of two missing men from New Orleans have washed up on the Alabama coast. Ryan Guy and Darius Robinson went missing in the surf on Sunday night. 28-year-old Jasmine Brundy of Chalmette was pulled from the water on Sunday night and remains hospitalized.

A House bill that would expand concealed handgun access in churches is awaiting debate in the Senate. Thibodaux Representative Bryan Fontenot’s legislation passed the House on a 72-24 vote
Cut 4 (10)_ “pastor.”
Louisiana law currently allows a concealed handgun in a house of worship, but the congregation must agree on who is allowed to carry concealed weapons. Fontenot’s measure would only require a pastor, priest, or rabbi to grant permission.

The call for a special session to begin next Monday night when the regular session ends has been issued. Senate GOP caucus chairwoman Sharon Hewitt of Slidell says legislators need the special session to pass a budget, look at approving tax breaks for struggling businesses and for individuals…
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Funeral arrangements are pending for State Police Trooper George Baker who has died after being critically injured during an effort to stop a police chase in Hammond last Wednesday. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Eight teenagers were injured early Monday morning when shots were fired at a graduation party taking place at a Lake Charles business with about 200 unsupervised teenagers in attendance. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff deputies are still searching for two suspects, while one of the gunman was shot in the stomach. The seven other teens injured suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Lawmakers will consider a number of non-budgetary items in the June special session designed to provide financial relief for people and businesses suffering from the shutdown. Senate GOP Caucus Chairwoman Sharon Hewitt of Slidell says one big topic of conversation will be the potential elimination or suspension of the state’s corporate franchise tax.
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Republican legislative leaders are calling themselves into a special session in June to pass a budget and possible tax breaks for businesses.

Locally heavy rainfall is possible across the state today. Jason Hansford with the National Weather Service says a nearby upper-level low is helping to produce the moisture…
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Strong storms are impacting Marksville, Lafayette, and New Iberia now.

A State Police trooper severely injured when he was hit by a Hammond Police vehicle last week during a police chase has succumbed to his injuries. 33-year-old Trooper George Baker was removing a tire-deflating device from the road when he was struck. Troop L spokesperson Jeremy Price says Baker started with the L-S-P in 2017 and was a model trooper.
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Baker is survived by his wife Heather, their young daughter Harper, his parents, sisters, and his extended family.

Republican legislative leadership has issued its own call for a special session that’s set to begin when the regular session ends next Monday. The call features 41 items. That includes passing a budget. Senate GOP Caucus Chairwoman Sharon Hewitt says they will also look to pass tax breaks to help struggling businesses…
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The special session could last through the entire month of June.

A bill that would expand concealed handgun access in churches is halfway through the legislative process. The measure would allow a concealed carry holder to bring a gun into a place of worship if the church leader approves. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley voted for the bill in the House, but raised concerns that the legislation removes from an existing law that requires an additional eight hours of tactical training in order to bring a gun into a church…
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The House-approved measure is awaiting more discussion in the Senate.

The state reported a big jump in coronavirus cases on Memorial Day, 640 more positive tests. But officials say the spike is the result of a server issue impacted their ability to count cases on Saturday and Sunday. The number of deaths also increased by 18 yesterday.