The US Coast Guard announces they are suspending the search for the eight crewmembers from the Seacor Power lift boat that capsized last week eight miles south of Port Fourchon. Captain Will Watson says suspending a search is one of the toughest decisions the Coast Guard has to make

Cut 12 (08)   “…still” 

Seacor Marine President John Gellert says 17 divers will continue to search the capsized lift boat as they remain committed to recovering all of the missing.

House and Senate committees approve a tax reform that would remove the ability to Louisiana taxpayers to deduct taxes paid to the federal government on their state tax returns, but lower individual income tax rates. Senator Brett Allain of Franklin calls it good tax policy…

Cut 5  (06)  “…we have now.”

Legislation that would task the Department of Health with creating a statewide grading system for all water systems is headed to the Senate floor. Bill author, Parks Senator Fred Mills says the A through F grading system will be based on past violations, the system’s financial sustainability, infrastructure violations, and customer satisfaction.

Cut 11 (10) “..public”

Three people, including a child, are dead after a suspected road rage incident in Jefferson Parish Saturday ends in a fatal wreck. 49-year-old Paul Ferrara of New Orleans alleged spun out of control after feuding with another driver and struck another car, resulting in his death and the deaths of 31-year-old Raish-Nia Wright of Tennessee and 11-year-old Dezerra Wright of Tennesee. Trooper Monroe Dillon says if someone is threatening you with road rage, try not to engage them.

Cut 8 (11) “…location”

U.S. Coast Guard Captain Will Watson announced today that they will suspend rescue efforts at sunset today for the eight passengers who remain missing from the lift boat accident last Tuesday. 19 occupants were on the boat, only 6 have been rescued so far and five bodies have been recovered.

Legislation that seeks to eliminate the federal income tax deduction, a tax break many Louisiana taxpayers enjoy in exchange for lower income tax rates receives approval from the House tax-writing committee. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Parks Senator Fred Mills introduces legislation that would task the Department of Health with creating a statewide grading system for all water systems. Mills says there have been independent studies that rate the state’s water infrastructure at a D minus, and conclude it would cost five billion dollars to get us to an acceptable level…

Cut 9 (09) “…problem.”

A suspected road rage incident in Jefferson Parish claimed three lives Saturday. Trooper Monroe Dillon says it began allegedly began when 49-year-old Paul Ferrara attempted to pass a woman in F-150 in a no-pass zone during bad weather. He was unable and later pulled up alongside her truck and began to yell at her. Dillon says if someone is threatening you with road rage, try not to engage them.

Cut 8 (11) “…location”

Dillion says Ferrara then rammed the woman’s truck, he then spun out of control and hit another car. Ferrara along with those in another vehicle were killed.

A suspected road rage incident in Jefferson Parish claimed three lives Saturday. Trooper Monroe Dillon says it began when 49-year-old Paul Ferrara of New Orleans tried to pass a driver in a no-pass zone during bad weather. He was unable and later down the road Ferrara rammed the other driver’s truck…

Cut 7 (07) “…occurred.”

The crash killed Ferrara and two others in another vehicle.

The House Ways and Means Committee approves legislation eliminating the ability for Louisiana taxpayers to deduct taxes paid to the IRS on their state return, but individual income tax rates would drop. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott…

Cut 4 (09) “…more fair.” 

Those who make 50-thousand dollars or above would see their individual income tax rates drop from six to 4.25 percent.

Lawmakers are happy to hear that the state added 35-hundred individuals to the state’s workforce from February to March and the unemployment rate has dropped slightly to seven-point-three percent, the lowest rate since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says nearly 130-thousand people have returned to work as the state nears the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 impact on the workforce and their Hire Site has tens of thousands of job openings…

Cut 14 (0)7 “…market.”
18-hundred leisure and hospitality jobs were added from February to March.

The House Ways and Means Committee approves legislation that would eliminate the ability for Louisiana taxpayers to deduct taxes paid to the federal government on their state tax returns, but individual income tax rates would drop from six to 4.25 percent. House Ways and Means Chairman Stuart Bishop …

Cut 3 (08)  “…right direction.” 

The proposed tax swap plan has a lot of support among legislative leaders and will need a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate and voter approval.

A suspected road rage incident in Jefferson Parish claims the lives of three people, including an 11-year-old Saturday. Trooper Monroe Dillon says it began when 49-year-old Paul Ferrara of New Orleans attempted to pass another driver in a no-pass zone during bad weather. He was unable and later down the road…

Cut 6 (10) “..exchanged”

Dillon says Ferrara’s vehicle spun out of control after ramming the truck, then collided with another car that claimed his life, and two others in another car.

Covington Representative Mark Wright has a bill that would require first-time DUI offenders to install an in-car interlock device. Taylor Sharp reports the device only allows sober drivers to start the vehicle…

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Taylor Sharp”

A fifth body has been recovered at the site of where a lift boat capsized off the coast of Port Fourchon. Authorities say the body was found on the second floor of the vessel. Eight crew members are still unaccounted for. The Coast Guard will hold a briefing today at 1 o’clock.

A fifth body was recovered in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday, a crew member of the Seacor lift boat that capsized a week ago tomorrow. The U.S. Coast Guard and Seacor Marine officials will hold a press conference at 1 pm on recovery efforts. Families of the missing crew members say they are holding onto faith. Six of the 19 crew members were rescued last Tuesday.

The state’s unemployment rate is now the lowest it’s been since the start of the pandemic, but new job growth remains a bit sluggish. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon warns folks not to fall for social media fake news about COVID-19 vaccines and life insurance. Donelon unfortunately says this kind of misinformation is widespread and impact more than just Louisiana.

Cut 12 (09) “…spread.”

It’s Buckle Up in Your Truck week that means law enforcement is looking for pickup truck drivers who aren’t wearing their seat belts and ticketing them. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says 17-percent of pickup drivers in the state fail to wear their seat belts, and in rural areas, they are less likely to buckle up.

Cut 9 (12) “…buckled up.”

Lambert says pickup truck drivers in Lake Charles have the highest rate of compliance.

A fifth body was recovered from the Gulf of Mexico waters near the capsized lift boat Seacor Power last night. Eight crew members are still missing and the Coast Guard has divers looking for them. Rough sea conditions have hampered search efforts.

If you’re a pickup truck driver in Louisiana and you are not buckled up you might find yourself ticketed as part of the Buckle Up in Your Truck Awareness campaign. Brooke Thorington explains
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A bill that’s waiting for a hearing in the House Transportation Committee would require first-time D-U-I offenders to install an interlock device in their vehicle for at least 180 days. Covington Representative Mark Wright on whether he thinks the legislation can receive House and Senate approval…
cut 6 (11) “…that simple”
Wright believes the legislation can reduce repeat drunk driving offenses by up to 70-percent.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says there’s false information going around about COVID-19 vaccines and life insurance. Donelon says your life insurance company is required to pay a death benefit on an existing policy if you receive a COVID-19 vaccine and if the vaccine contributes to a person’s death, the person’s life insurance policy is still paid out…
cut 11 (06) “…founded”

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports the unemployment rate for March was seven-point-three percent as 152-thousand people were unemployed. That’s an increase of 37-thousand from the previous March…
cut 15 (09) “…pandemic”
That’s L-W-C Secretary Ava Dejoie, who says their HiRE site has tens of thousands of job openings.

Law enforcement is on the lookout this week for pickup drivers who are not wearing a seat belt. It’s part of the Buckle Up in Your Truck campaign to increase usage. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says you are twice as likely to die in a crash in a pickup versus an automobile.
Cut 7 (10) “…even death.”
According to the 2019 Louisiana Seat Belt Observation Survey, occupants in a pickup truck are 9-percent less likely to wear their seat belts.

Covington Representative Mark Wright has a bill that would require first-time DUI offenders to install an in-car interlock device. Taylor Sharp reports the device only allows sober drivers to start the vehicle…
Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Taylor Sharp”

A fifth body has been recovered from a capsized lift boat off the coast of Lafourche Parish. The search continues for eight crew members who remain missing.

The St. John Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office says six people were shot Saturday night at a 12-year-old child’s birthday party in LaPlace. Investigators say shots were fired after verbal confrontations erupted. No fatalities have been reported and no one has been arrested at this time.

A fifth body has been recovered at the site of where a lift boat capsized off the coast of Port Fourchon. Authorities say the body was found on the second floor of the vessel. Eight crew members are still unaccounted for.

The state’s unemployment rate is now the lowest it’s been since the start of the pandemic, but new job growth remains a bit sluggish…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

We are waiting on more information from Shreveport Police about what they describe as a gunfight in the parking lot of a pediatric clinic last night that resulted in at least five people suffering from gunshot wounds.

Today begins the second week of the legislative session and there’s a bill awaiting debate in House Transportation that would require first-time DWI offenders to install an interlock device system in their vehicle for at least 180 days. Covington Representative Mark Wright says his legislation could reduce repeated drunk driving offenses by up to 70-percent…
cut 5 (09) “….death”

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon warns folks not to fall for social media fake news about COVID-19 vaccines and life insurance. There are rumors floating around that people who get vaccinated lose life insurance coverage. Donelon says that could not be farther from the truth…
Cut 10 (10) “..vaccination.”
And Donelon says rumors suggesting that life insurance policies do not cover a death due to COVID-19 are also untrue.