After a four-year-old Baton Rouge toddler was forced to drink alcohol and found unresponsive Thursday morning, her mother and grandmother are charged with first-degree murder. BRPD Spokesperson L’Jean McKneely…

Cut 3 (12) “…later die.”

The child’s blood alcohol content was a point-six-eight-zero. The victim’s grandmother, Roxanne Record, and mother Kadjah Record are both in custody. McKneely says the mother is charged because she did not try to intervene or call for help.

The House has yet to commit to Governor Edwards’ request to allocate half a billion dollars for a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. He says now is the time to do it, with a huge state surplus and federal infrastructure money…

Cut 7 (04) “…shining now”

The Senate has yet to weigh in on funding for a new Baton Rouge bridge.

Buckle-Up in your Truck week begins Saturday… Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says law enforcement will focus on making sure pick-up truck drivers and their passengers are buckled up….

Cut 10 (11) “…your seatbelt”

Tonight is Game Three of the Pelicans playoff series against the Suns. It’s the first NBA home playoff game in New Orleans since 2018 and Rel Myers, co-founder of The Pels 12 Fan Group, says the flock will be ready…

Cut 15 (09)  “…in that first round.”

Tonight’s game at the Smoothie King Center is sold out. Tipoff is at 8:30.

The Louisiana House approves the 38-billion-dollar budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1st. With the session reaching the halfway point it’s unclear if legislators will fund Governor Edwards request for 500-million dollars for a new Mississippi River bridge. Edwards says the half a billion-dollar commitment will show the feds the state is serious about bridge construction.

Cut 8 (10)  “…our state”

A bill to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.25 is shortchanged four to one in Senate Labor. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey says if you require businesses to raise wages, they’ll raise prices to consumers…:

CUT 22(11)      “…to live.”

The lone yes vote was from bill sponsor, Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow.

The “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign begins Saturday and runs until the end of the month. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says law enforcement will focus on pick-ups because those drivers and passengers are less likely to buckle up….

Cut 12 (12) “…65-percent.” 

The success of the New Orleans Pelicans has led more birds of a feather flocking together and Rel Myers, co-founder of The Pels 12 fan group, says the franchise contacted her and other groups to provide support for the growing fanbase.

Cut 14 (10)  “…as well.”

The Pels play the Suns tonight at the sold-out Smoothie King Center. Tip-off is at 8:30.

The Louisiana House has approved a 38-billion-dollar budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. There’s money in the budget to give teachers and college faculty a pay raise and 450-million to upgrade water and sewerage systems. The measure passed on a 94-4 vote. Erath Representative Blake Miguez is one of the four no votes because he’s concerned about a shortfall in the next couple of years when a temporary sales tax expires…
cut 5 (12) “…in the next term”
Governor John Bel Edwards is also disappointed the House did not support his proposal to give law enforcement and firefighters a 100-dollar a month increase in pay…
cut 9 (09) “…there”
The budget is now in the Senate for consideration.

The Pelicans’ success has more birds of a feather flocking together, as fan groups sprout up and meet up to watch the team. David Grubb has more…
Cut 3 (35) “…I’m David Grubb.”

Today is Earth Day and Governor John Bel Edwards, First Lady Donna Edwards and their staffs are picking up litter this morning around the State Capitol as it’s also Love the Boot Week.

The Angola Rodeo returns this weekend at the Louisiana State Penintentary. Tickets are sold out.

The Louisiana House has passed a $38-billion budget. The legislation is the state’s spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. Appropriations chairman and Houma Republican Jerome Zeringue says House Bill 1 makes good use of one-time money from the federal CARES act…:
Cut 4 (13) “…one-time expenses.”
The legislation also contains 450-million dollars to upgrade water and sewerage systems.

The search continues for a work release inmate who killed a co-worker at the Foster Farms chicken processing plant in Farmerville. Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates says 48-year-old Bruce Causey stabbed the unidentified victim to death, as the two argued…:
CUT 21(08) “…motive behind it.”
Gates says Causey could have fled to the Baton Rouge area.

Local police will increase their enforcement of seat belt use in pick-up trucks. Kevin Gallagher has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Tonight is Game Three of the Pelicans playoff series against the Suns. It’s the first NBA home playoff game in New Orleans since 2018 and Rel Myers, co-founder of The Pels 12 Fan Group, says the flock will be ready…
cut 15 (09) “….in that first round”
Tonight’s Game 3 is sold out.

The state’s $38-billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st has passed the House of Representatives. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The House has yet to commit to the governor’s request to allocate 500-million dollars for a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. John Bel Edwards says now is the time to do it, with a huge surplus of state dollars and federal infrastructure money…
cut 7 (04) “…shining now”
The Senate has yet to weigh in on funding for a new Baton Rouge bridge.

The “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign gets underway tomorrow as police officers and sheriff deputies step up enforcement of seat belt use inside trucks. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says they are targeting pick-up trucks because these vehicles are more likely to roll over in a crash…
cut 11 (08) “…even death”
Lambert says surveys also show drivers and passengers are less likely to buckle up when they are in a pick-up truck.

According to the Louisiana Survey, only 51-percent of the respondents say they trust the information they get from local news organizations. Doctor Michael Henderson, director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, says that’s a 27-percentage drop from four years ago…
cut 28 (11) “…Independents drop”
Republicans’ trust in local news fell by 31-percent, Democrats’ trust fell 23 percentage points.

The Louisiana House has approved several spending bills including a 38-billion dollar budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. With the legislative session reaching the halfway point it’s unclear whether legislators will fund the governor’s request for 500-million dollars for a new Mississippi River bridge. John Bel Edwards says a 500-million dollar commitment will show the federal government the state is serious about building this bridge…
cut 8 (10) “….our state”
Louisiana has excess cash now, but in 2025, the state will see a reduction in revenues when a temporary state sales tax expires. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue was asked if he took that into account when crafting next fiscal year’s budget…
cut 6 (11) “….all things considered”

The “Buckle Up in Your Truck” highway safety campaign begins tomorrow and runs for the next week. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says law enforcement agencies will focus on making sure pick-up truck drivers and their passengers are buckled up….
Cut 10 (11) “…your seatbelt”
Lambert says they are targeting pick-up trucks because these vehicles are more likely to roll over in a crash and passengers are less likely to buckle up.

Pelicans fever is spreading across the state as the NBA team will host Game 3 of its playoff series with the Suns tonight. The series is tied at one game apiece and Rel Meyers, co-founder of The Pels 12 fan group, says fans are meeting up to support the team and local businesses as well…
cut 13 (11) “….local economy”
Tonight’s game in the Smoothie King Center tips off at 8:30.

An effort to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana failed to pass a Senate committee. The bill would have taken it from $7.25 up to $10.25. The vote was four to one against. Baton Rouge Democrat Senator Regina Barrow says there’s been no minimum wage hike since 2009…:
CUT 13(12) “…decent living.”
Feeling a higher minimum wage means higher consumer prices, the committee rejected the bill. Jim Patterson with LABI says a higher minimum wage also means fewer jobs for low-wage earners…:
CUT 14(10) “…would be.”

The Louisiana House approved a 38-billion dollar spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. It contains funding to give teachers a 15-hundred dollar pay raise. The budget proposal also calls for raises for college professors, state employees and a few health care service providers will see more funds. But Erath Representative Blake Miguez is concerned about a shortfall in the next couple of years when a temporary sales tax expires..
cut 5 (12) “…in the next term”
House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue responds…
cut 6 (11) “…things considered’
Senate Finance will now spend the next few weeks going over the budget.