Some state lawmakers claim Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain is moving too slowly when it comes to expanding the state’s medical-marijuana program. Kenner Representative Debbie Villio says Strain’s office is causing delays in getting the product from the grower to the pharmacy to the patients. She says it’s resulting in a lack of access and higher costs for medical marijuana. But Strain told the Louisiana Radio Network…
cut 5 (05) “…absolutely safe”
The grievances against Strain were laid out at the Medical Marijuana Commission Meeting. Baton Rouge Representative Scott McKnight says they will continue to examine if Strain is overregulating the medical marijuana market…
cut 6 (11) “….the consumer”
The smokeable form of medical marijuana becomes legal in Louisiana in January.

Former Saints Quarterback Drew Brees is behind the effort to build casino-resort-sports-complex in St. Tammany Parish.
cut 15 (05) “….yes on the December 11th”
Peninsula Pacific has proposed building a 350-million dollar casino-resort in Slidell. But it needs voter approval, because in 1996, St. Tammany voted to ban gaming of any kind. Brees says he’s backing the project because it also includes a 35-million dollar sports complex for the youth.

Over 500-thousand people in 25 parishes that suffered damages to their property as a result of Hurricane Ida have applied for FEMA assistance…
cut 11 (05) “….539-thousand registrations”
That’s FEMA spokesperson Nate Custer says much of the money is going towards emergency home repairs or temporary housing. The deadline for Ida victims to apply for disaster assistance is November 29th.

State lawmakers took Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain to task for the slow pace of expanding medical marijuana products. Strain told the Medical Marijuana Commission that he’s putting public safety first, but Kenner Representative Debbie Villio accused Strain of micromanaging…
cut 4 (10) “…pharmacy”
Patients appeared before the commission complaining about the lack of access and the high cost of medical marijuana. The smokeable form is supposed to be available in January and that will help lower the cost.

The Rapides Parish School system has received the Models of Excellence award from the department of education for a program that’s helping to develop 40 students into becoming teachers one day. Superintendent of Education Doctor Cade Brumley hopes other school systems look at what Rapides is doing…
cut 9 (08) “…worthy profession”

Developers of a proposed casino resort and youth sports complex in Slidell need voter approval and hope a former New Orleans Saint can help them get it. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says eight casinos regulated by the state are accepting legal sports bets, while seven other casinos have applications pending. Five casinos have yet to apply and Johns says they have another six weeks to submit an application. He says the ability to place a bet online is still in the works.

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain addresses lawmakers’ questions about regulatory delays of products at the Medical Marijuana Commission meeting. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on December seventh on whether Ochsner Health’s vaccine mandate is constitutional. District judges initially dismissed the lawsuit, but an appeals court in Shreveport issued a restraining order against the mandate preventing Ochsner from taking action against employees who are vaccinated.

Voters in St. Tammany Parish will soon decide the future of the proposed Camellia Bay Casino, Resort and youth sports complex. Developers have brought in a heavy hitter to help win them over; former Saints quarterback Drew Brees. In a recorded message, Brees concentrates on the benefits of the youth sports part of the development…:
Cut 13 (11) “…that same opportunity.”
Opponents to the Camellia Bay Casino are concerned about the increase in crime that a new casino could bring to the Northshore.

Hurricane Ida storm victims have until a week from Monday, November 29th, to register for FEMA disaster assistance. FEMA spokesperson Nathan Custer says they’ve already distributed hundreds of millions of dollars…
cut 12 (06) “…one billions dollars”
Some of the money is going for emergency home repairs and some of it for temporary housing. To register go to FEMA-dot-gov.

The state Public Service Commission looks at ways to help prevent massive power outages after numerous weather-related events have tested the state’s power grids. Brooke Thorington has more..:

CUT 02(31)      “…Thorington”

New Orleans Police arrest five people – all minors – for carjacking a ride share driver Wednesday night in the city’s Gentilly area. Cops say the group of four boys and one girl ordered the ride via an app, and when the driver arrived, they pulled a gun and stole his Jeep Cherokee. Kids today, right?

Senator John Kennedy says, if you’re angry about the increased cost of gas, food and everything else, the finger of blame points straight at the Biden Administration. On the Senate floor Wednesday, Kennedy said Biden’s proposed remedy for the economy is folly…:

CUT 14(12)      “…we have now.”

Kennedy hopes his Democrat colleagues will give up on what he calls “another extremist spending bill.”

A dark chapter from the Louisiana history books is being rectified, as the state Pardon & Parole Board earlier this week granted a posthumous pardon to Homer Plessy, a black man whose crime was riding a “whites only” car on a train to Covington back in the Jim Crow era. Governor Edwards’ office is planning a ceremony to sign the pardon. He spoke of it during his statewide radio show…:

CUT 11(08)      “…have been a crime.”

No date for the ceremony has yet been announced.

Senator John Kennedy went off on the Biden White House as the root cause of the huge spikes in the cost of almost everything. Speaking on the Senate floor, Kennedy says the increase in gasoline, groceries and consumer goods & services are the direct result of Biden fiscal & energy policies…:

CUT 13(10)      “…exploding our debt?”

He says the proposed $2-trillion Reconciliation Bill will drive inflation up further.

There is a near-total lunar eclipse happening overnight tonight: one of the longest lasting in years. LSU Astronomy professor Geoff Clayton says start watching around midnight, and it should reach its peak at about 3 a.m. He says it should be quite a show…:

CUT 05(10)      “…at sunset.”

Let’s hope skies are clear enough tonight to enjoy it.

Preparations are underway for Governor Edwards’ signing of a document officially pardoning the late Homer Plessy for the crime of trying to sit in the white section of a segregated train headed to Covington, way back in the 1890’s. The posthumous pardon for Plessy – who died in 1925 – was unanimously granted by the state Pardons & Parole Board. Governor Edwards says the signing ceremony is being planned to include descendants of those involved in the U.S. Supreme Court case, Plessy v. Ferguson…:

CUT 10(09)      “…we possibly can.”

A date for the governor’s signing of the pardon has not been announced.

The Louisiana Farm Bureau says that Thanksgiving in Louisiana is cheaper this year than the national average; about $11.00 less than the national average for a Thanksgiving feast for 10. In numbers, that’s $57.41. The national average is $68.72; $8.61 higher than last year’s national average.

The Public Service Commission is looking at ways to help prevent massive power outages like the ones that plagued the state in February and then again with Hurricane Ida. District 2 Commissioner Craig Greene says they want to research such options like burying power lines underground, to see if it reduces outages…:

CUT 06(09)      “…into resiliency.”

Other members say whatever is done, it must be with an eye on not costing rate payers a ton of money.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy was in rare form on the Senate floor; railing against the Biden White House for the steep increases in the cost of …just about everything…:

CUT 12(09)      “…figure that out.”

Kennedy calls trying to fix inflation with more spending is an idea that simply won’t work.

If you prefer celestial events to getting some shuteye, then you’re invited to jump out of bed for a near-total lunar eclipse early tomorrow morning. More from Dave Brannen…:

CUT 01(29)      “…Brannen.”

A West Baton Rouge Parish deputy hopes fellow lawmen can help him catch the persons who shot and killed his pet pig, Mr. Willie. Sgt. Ryan Polansky says a nearby video camera caught images of a man and woman in a white Nissan sedan before and after the animal was killed. He advises the culprits to turn themselves in.

The state’s Public Service Commission looks at ways to help prevent massive power outages, after numerous weather-related events have tested the state’s power grids. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02  (31)        “…Thorington.”

A Farmerville man is a “guest” of the Union Parish jail after crashing his pickup truck through the wall of the Union Parish Library. Farmerville Police say 36-year-old Mickey Mitchell was driving while impaired, in possession of drugs and had no auto insurance at the time. He’s also charged as a Fugitive from Justice due to four outstanding warrants.

Preparations are underway for Governor Edwards’ signing of a document officially pardoning the late Homer Plessy for the then-19^th century crime of trying to sit in the white section of a segregated train headed to Covington. The governor was asked about the pardon on Wednesday’s “Ask the Governor” statewide radio program…:

CUT 09(05)      “…historically significant.”

The posthumous pardon was unanimously granted to Plessy, who died in 1925, last week by the Louisiana Pardons and Parole Board.

You may want to either stay up really late, or GET up really early to have a look at tonight’s near-total lunar eclipse. It should start around midnight and LSU Astronomy professor Geoff Clayton says it’ll reach its peak at about 3 a.m…:

CUT 04(09)      “…probably won’t notice.”

Hopefully our skies will be clear by that time, so we can enjoy it.