8:30 LRN Newscast May 19

The marijuana legalization effort appears to be dead for this legislative session after legislation that would tax recreational sales fell well short of the 70 votes needed to pass the Louisiana House. Matt Doyle has more
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

There’s the potential for more flooding today. The National Weather Service says the greatest risk for excessive rainfall is along and south of the I-10 corridor. Governor Edwards says the severe weather on Monday caused at least four deaths.

Senator Bill Cassidy addressed fellow lawmakers in DC about the flooding and loss of lives in Louisiana this week when as much as 18 inches of rain fell in southwest Louisiana. Cassidy urged lawmakers to pass a comprehensive disaster relief bill for the state, which endured five named storms last year, including Hurricanes Laura and Delta.
Cut 4 (09)“…unaddressed.”
Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says they need help.

The Revenue Estimating Conference has adopted new revenue projections that will result in the state having an extra 677-million dollars to spend over the course of this fiscal year and next fiscal year. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne…
Cut 8 (11) “…the others.”
Dardenne expects the state legislature to appropriate some of this newly recognized tax revenue towards teacher pay raises.

7:30 LRN Newscast May 19

An effort to legalize recreational marijuana use is done for this legislative session after Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s bill to tax the sale of pot failed to get the 70 votes needed for passage. Nelson attempted to win over skeptics by dedicating 20 percent of all legal pot revenue to local law enforcement. That did not sway the Sheriffs’ Association or Thibodaux Representative Brian Fontenot…
Cut 16 (05) “…vote no.”
Nelson says the bill could have generated 100-million dollars a year for the state.

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo says he’s no longer the House Education Chairman…
Cut 10 (06) “….you’re out.”
The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus asked House Speaker Clay Schexnayder to remove Garofalo from his post after he said the good, the bad, and ugly of slavery. Black lawmakers say there was no good from slavery and Garofalo said his comment was taken out of context.

The Revenue Estimating Conference upgrades the state revenue forecast for the current fiscal year by 357 million dollars and 320 million dollars for the next fiscal year beginning in July. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (29) “…Matt Doyle”

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board says there was an effort to anchor the Seacor Power before it capsized during rough weather off the coast of Port Fourchon on April 13th. The NTSB says the vessel’s crew was trying to drop Seacor Power’s three large legs in an effort to stabilize the lift boat.

6:45 LRN Sportscast May 19

It was a disappointing night for LSU, but a great night for Northwestern State as the Demons baseball team defeated the Tigers seven to three at Alex Box Stadium last night. N-S-U had 12 hits on the night led by Larson Fontenot’s four hits and Jeffrey Elkins and Marshall Skinner each had two hits and Tyler Smith drove in two runs. The Tigers were held to five hits as Coach Paul Mainieri’s team suffers their first-midweek loss of the year…
cut 28 (13) “…into it”
It’s the Demons’ second straight win over LSU. They also beat the Tigers in 2019. Both teams will now get ready for their final series of the season. LSU is at Texas A-and-M, while Northwestern hosts Corpus Christi.

The SWAC baseball tourney gets underway today. Grambling faces Alabama A-and-M at 9 AM and Southern takes on Alabama State at noon.

Former Madison Prep Safety Major Burns is transferring to LSU after spending one season at Georgia. Burns is a former four-star recruit in the 2020 recruiting class. He played in a handful of games for the Bulldogs last season and he’ll give LSU some added depth at safety.

The doctor who performed reconstructive knee surgery on Joe Burrow’s left knee last December says the former LSU Tiger will be ready for week one of the regular season. Burrow and the Bengals open the season against Patrick Peterson, Justin Jefferson, and the Minnesota Vikings.

Louisiana Tech announces plans to honor legendary women’s basketball coach Leon Barmore by building a statue of him that will reside on the front steps of the Thomas Assembly Center. The statue will be unveiled during homecoming weekend October 22nd-23. Barmore is the winningest coach percentage-wise in the history of both men’s and women’s college basketball and he won three national titles.

6:30 LRN Newscast May 19

An effort to legalize recreational marijuana use in Louisiana is dead for this legislative session. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s legislation to tax the sale of recreational marijuana failed on a 47-48 vote. It needed 70 “yes” votes, because it’s a tax bill. Nelson made the argument that legalizing pot use would generate millions of dollars for the state…
cut 13 (11) “….after that”
Despite the bill’s defeat, Nelson believes attitudes are changing on marijuana legalization.

After receiving over a foot of rain in some parts of Lake Charles, Mayor Nic Hunter is pleading with Congress to approve disaster relief assistance for those who suffered damages from last year’s two hurricanes. Senator Bill Cassidy says they are trying to get something done…
cut 6 (11) “…..rebuilding process”

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo says he was told to step aside or be removed as House Education Chairman because House Speaker Clay Schexnayder feared the tax reform agenda wouldn’t pass. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

AM LRN Newscall May 19

The Revenue Estimating Conference upgrades the state revenue forecast for the current fiscal year by 357 million dollars and 320 million dollars for the next fiscal year beginning in July. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (29) “…Matt Doyle”

_______________________________

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo says he was told to step aside or be removed as House Education Chairman because House Speaker Clay Schexnayder feared the tax reform agenda wouldn’t pass. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

____________________________

The marijuana legalization effort appears to be dead for the session after legislation that would tax recreational sales is defeated 47-48 in the House. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

____________________________

Senator Bill Cassidy addressed fellow lawmakers in DC about the flooding and loss of lives in Louisiana this week when as much as 15 inches of rain deluged parts of the state. Cassidy urged lawmakers to pass comprehensive disaster relief for the state, which endured five named storms last year that included Hurricanes Laura and Delta.

Cut 4 (09)“…unaddressed.”

Cassidy reminded fellow senators of the two hurricanes that made landfall within a month of each other following almost the identical path in southwest Louisiana. And that it was heavy rains this week that bombarded the same area once again.

Cut 5 (10)”…natural disaster.”

When asked by reporters about the progress of federal relief for southwest Louisiana Cassidy says he’s with fellow lawmakers to provide assistance.

Cut 6 (11) “…rebuilding process.”

On Tuesday Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says some residents are faced with renovating their homes for a third time in nine months after flooding this week.

__________________________________

Federal assistance and a rosier economic outlook lead the Revenue Estimating Conference to upgrade the state’s revenue projections by 677 million dollars through the end of the next fiscal year.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says he recommends using these funds only for one-time expenses, although some would like to see the money put towards increasing teacher pay.

Cut 7 (09)  “…this year.”

Unlike surplus funds discovered after a fiscal year ends these dollars won’t be restricted in where they can be used.

Dardenne says the windfall is partially the result of the REC putting forward a pessimistic forecast last February at the start of the pandemic. Another reason…

Cut 8 (11) “…the others.” 

The revenue expectations for the current fiscal year increased by 357 million and 320 million for the next fiscal year beginning in July.

The increased forecast is not factored into the current spending plan but Dardenne expects lawmakers won’t waste time including it…

Cut 9 (04) “…has.”

Dardenne says the funds do not need to be used to pay down the outstanding unemployment trust fund debt, as they plan to do that using American Rescue Act funds.

______________________________

Chalmette Representative issued a three-page response after being asked by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder to step aside for the remainder of the session from his post as House Education Chairman. The controversy started when Garofalo presented a bill in committee to prohibit divisive concepts in schools.

Cut 10 (06) “….you’re out.”

While presenting House Bill 564, Garofalo made a statement that said if you are discussing slavery then you can talk about everything, the good, the bad, and the ugly. The statement went viral and Garofalo says the Black Caucus wanted him removed for his bill, not his comments, but says he was removed so tax reform legislation can pass.

Cut 11 (09) “….as chairman.”

Garofalo says his remarks were taken out of context and he used the term in reference to teaching the entirety of a subject not that there were good parts of slavery.

Cut 12 (11) “…was ugly.”

Garofalo says he’s never apologized for his statement and there’s nothing for him to apologize for.

__________________________________

The surprise march of marijuana legalization through the Legislature is over for the session after the House rejects a bill that would set the tax rate for recreational pot sales.

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson says his legalization effort would have generated a lot of revenue for the state that will now remain in the hands of drug dealers and the cartels.

Cut 13 (11) “…after that.”

The final vote was 47-48 against. The tax legislation would’ve need 70 votes, or a two-thirds majority, for approval.

Thibodaux Representative Brian Fontenot led the charge against the bill on the House floor. He says we don’t know enough about the impacts of legalization yet to do it in Louisiana.

Cut 14 (09) “…the answer (x2).”

Nelson countered…

Cut 15 (11)“…use it.”

The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association were staunch opponents of the bill, saying it would lead to more traffic accidents and crime, a charge Nelson disputed.

Nelson attempted to win over skeptics by dedicating 20 percent of all legal pot revenue to local law enforcement. That did not sway the Sheriffs’ Association or Fontenot…

Cut 16 (05) “…vote no.”

Despite the failure of this legalization effort, the House did vote last week to decriminalize possession of a small quantity of weed. That legislation awaits a hearing in a Senate committee.

530 PM LRN News

The surprise march of marijuana legalization through the Legislature is over for the session after the House rejects a bill that would set the tax rate for recreational pot sales. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson says his legalization effort would have generated a lot of revenue for the state that will now remain in the hands of drug dealers and the cartels.

Cut 13 (12) “..that.”

Nelson attempted to win over skeptical law enforcement by dedicating 20 percent of all legal pot revenue to local law enforcement. That did not sway the Sheriffs’ Association or Thibodaux Representative Brian Fontenot…

Cut 16 (06) “…vote no.”

Despite the failure the House did vote last week to decriminalize possession of a small quantity of weed. That legislation awaits a hearing in a Senate committee.

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo is out as House Education Chairman following preassure from the Legislative Black Caucus after he said in committee that students should study “the good, the bad, the ugly,” of slavery. The statement went viral and Garofalo says the Legislative Black Caucus wanted him removed for a bill he brought, not his comments, but says he was removed so tax reform would pass.

Cut 11 (09) “….as chair”

Garofalo says his comment was taken out of context and there’s nothing for him to apologize for.

And effort to increase hunting and fishing license fees to cover a budget shortfall in the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries falls short on the House floor by just two votes.

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields legislation mandating kids attend kindergarten when they turn five advanced out of house Education.

4:30 LRN Newscast May 18

Governor Edwards says there have been four fatalities as a result of Monday’s rainfall, two involved cars and the others due to a loss of power.

Lake Charles recorded their third heaviest rainfall in history according to the National Weather Service. Mayor Nic Hunter says it’s ridiculous that they have yet to receive a comprehensive federal response to the 2020 hurricanes.

Cut 7 (12) “…response.”

Over a foot of rain fell over parts of Baton Rouge yesterday also and nearly 15 inches of rain fell in Gonzales. State Climatologist Barry Keim says warm air off the Gulf of Mexico is colliding with the upper atmosphere to produce strong thunderstorms capable of dumping a lot of water…

Cut 4 (10) “..over and over again” 

Rainfall is expected to continue through Thursday.

That deluge resulted in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries needing to rescue 110 people in southwest Louisiana and over 300 calls for rescues were fielded in East Baton Rouge Parish by local authorities. State Fire Marshal’s spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says marshals were deployed in rescue boats to both locations and have rescued nearly 100 themselves…

Cut 10 (08) “..people” 

State Representative Ray Garofalo says he’s out as House Education Chairman. The Legislative Black Caucus asked for Garofalo’s removal after he said there was good with slavery to go along with the bad and ugly. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says House Speaker Clay Schexnayder did not give any indication this move would occur.

Cut 12 (09)    “…on this” 

 

3:30 LRN Newscast May 18

Governor John Bel Edwards says severe weather yesterday and early this morning is suspected to be responsible for four deaths so far in the Baton Rouge area and damage to large numbers of homes in parts of southwest Louisiana and southeast East Baton Rouge and upper Ascension Parish. While devastating Edwards is optimistic this prolonged weather event won’t turn out like the 2016 Floods…

Cut 16 (12) “…quickly” 

State Representative Ray Garofalo says he’s out as House Education Chairman. The Legislative Black Caucus asked for Garofalo’s removal after he said there was good with slavery to go along with the bad and ugly. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Garofalo made his controversial comment about slavery on April 26th and since then racial tensions have been high when that committee meets and Garofalo has tried to keep a low profile…

Cut 14 (10) “…come back in” 

Lake Charles recorded its heaviest amount of rainfall on Monday according to the National Weather Service, Brooke Thorington has more from Mayor Nic Hunter as the city is still rebuilding after two hurricanes.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The National Transportation Safety Board releases a preliminary report outlining an early idea of what happened to the capsized SeaCor Power. The report notes as the weather quickly turned dangerous crewmembers attempted to lower the vessel’s legs into the sea floor and turn the vessel into the wind. Before that maneuver was completed the vessel capsized.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The offseason is underway for the Pelicans who finished the 2020-21 season with a 31-41 record. New Orleans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin is not happy they didn’t make the playoffs.
Cut 17 (14) “shooting”
Griffin says the Pelicans were two and 11 in games decided by three points. He says while there is talent on the team, they will look at personnel changes so that the pieces will fit a little bit better.

Louisiana Tech announces plans to place a statue of legendary women’s basketball coach Leon Barmore at the front steps of the Thomas Assembly Center. Barmore played for the Bulldogs and as a coach helped the Lady Techsters reach 13 final fours and win three national titles over a 25 year period, before retiring in 2002.

The Ragin Cajuns baseball game at UNO has been canceled, but LSU is playing Northwestern State tonight. The Tigers are coming off a 13-5 win over Alabama. Giovanni DiGiacomo hit two home runs after not playing in Friday’s win. Coach Paul Mainieri says he sat Gio on Friday after not giving 100-percent in the field in last week’s game against Louisiana Tech. Mainieri is glad DiGiacomo got the message…
Cut 20 (18) “…come here.”
The Demons come into the game with a 26-24 record. They just lost three of four to Stephen F Austin and will host Corpus Christi this weekend.

In LSU football news….former Madison Prep star Major Burns has committed to LSU after spending last season with the Georgia Bulldogs. Burns was rated as a four-star prospect and the nation’s 13th best safety in the nation coming out of high school in 2020

2:30 LRN Newscast May 18

Governor John Bel Edwards says severe weather yesterday and early this morning is suspected to be responsible for four deaths so far in the Baton Rouge area. Edwards says a suspected weather-related incident in West Baton Rouge Parish claimed one life, injured another, and resulted in one missing person. Just across the river…

Cut 15 (11) “…Bluebonnet.” 

The man has been identified as Justin Blaine Thompson of Plaquemine

Edwards says two additional deaths in Baton Rouge may be related to power outages.

Over a foot of rain fell over parts of Lake Charles yesterday as a result of a slow-moving storm system. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Lake Charles is once again dealing with storm damage.

Cut 3 (14)  “…that flooded” 

In the Baton Rouge area, nearly 15 inches of rain fell in Gonzales and more heavy rainfall is expected through Thursday.

Lake Charles recorded the third heaviest rainfall in history according to the National Weather Service, with more than a foot of rain Monday, and that includes Hurricanes Laura and Delta. Mayor Nic Hunter says he’s not a scientist but three major weather events in less than nine months are evidence of climate change.

Cut 6 (12) “…100 years (x2)”

Hunter says some residents are faced with home renovations for a third time in less than nine months.

Fire Marshals assisted with more than 100 rescues yesterday. State Fire Marshal’s spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says their long day began early Monday as marshals were called in to help assist local authorities in Lake Charles…

Cut 9 (12) “…flooded in”