The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act is on its way to the Governor’s desk, after the Senate voted 32-6 to concur a House amendment. The lower chamber voted for it last week. The bill which bans transgender females from competing in female sports was vetoed by Governor John Bel Edwards last year. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat on what’s next for the bill.
Cut 10 (09) “…sign it.”
The bill which bans transgender females from playing female sports in K-12 and college competitions was amended to remove the ban from intramural sports. Pinsonat says Edwards has said the amendment is significant
Cut 11 (05) “…better bill.”
But even with intramurals taken out, he says the legislation is unnecessary. But supporters of the legislation point to Lia Thomas, a biological male who won an NCAA swimming championship in female swimming.

There are two weeks left in the legislative session and Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is looking to get his bill approved that would allow non-felons over the age of 21 to conceal carry a weapon without a permit. It has passed the House and it will be heard by a Senate Committee Tuesday…
cut 20 (05) “….on the Senate”
Governor Edwards opposes the bill because he doesn’t want to see the training component go away, which is required in order to obtain a permit. But McCormick says a majority of voters would like the opportunity to conceal carry without a permit…
cut 19 (10) “…constitutional carry:

In other legislative action, the Louisiana House approves a constitutional amendment to raise the mandatory retirement age of judges from 70 to 72. It still needs Senate approval. And the House also approved a bill to ban hand held cell phone use while driving. It also needs Senate approval.

A new report from the state’s Legislative auditor shows a huge increase in complaints made against property insurance carriers in the state. Chris Magee is a data analyst with the Legislative Auditor’s Office. He says annual consumer complaints to state authorities about their insurance company used to number around 450. After the hurricanes of 2020 and ’21 that number went to over 52-hundred…:

CUT 11(11)      “…handling the claim”

A handful of companies were overwhelmed by incoming claims and just closed up shop; leaving the state to help make the homeowners property whole again.

Holy Mackerel, the statewide average price of gas is now at $4.24-a-gallon! Louisiana AAA fuel expert Don Redman says – at the risk of repeating himself – get used to this…at least for a few months…:

CUT 14(08)      “…for the summer.”

Two people are dead after two boats collided on the False River in Pointe Coupee Parish on Friday night. State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesman Adam Einck says 31-year-old Shea Mouton’s body was recovered Friday night, and they searched most of the weekend for Kenneth St. Romain…:

CUT 03(10)      “…two injuries.”

A Good Samaritan pulled the two injured boaters from the water.

Two Iberia Parish men who were trying to move a house without a permit are under arrest for hitting numerous power lines along the way; causing a blackout that affected hundreds of homes and businesses. Both are being held pending bonds of over $100-k.

The Department of Health reports over 1500 new cases of COVID-19, with 144 people in the hospital with the virus. Five new COVID-related deaths are reported as well.

A high-speed police chase through Caddo & Bossier parishes over the weekend, ends with a crash that killed a 13-year-old girl. State Police Trooper Jon Odom says the driver, 22-year-old Willie Player, fled a traffic stop on I-20, and –during the chase – hit a wall, rolled over and slammed into a utility pole. Two unrestrained juveniles in the SUV were ejected, and Player fled on foot. The girl died from her injuries and the other minor is in the hospital. Odom says the incident is under investigation…:

CUT 09  (08)        “…inside the vehicle.”

Another record high price for gas in Louisiana; $4.24 for regular as of today. Louisiana AAA’s Don Redman says this will cast a shadow over the coming Memorial Day weekend…:

CUT 13  (08)        “…anytime soon.”

The nationwide average for a gallon of regular gas is $4.60.

A tragic shooting in Lafayette last night claims the life of a 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old is facing murder charges. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(34)      “…Brooke Thorington”

Deputies in Ouachita Parish say they’ve retrieved the body of an adult male from the water at the Prairion Bayou Rec Area, south of Monroe. The victim has been identified as Adarion James Holiday of Monroe, who went missing in the water Saturday.  Autopsy results are pending, but drowning IS suspected.

Consumer complaints against their property insurance companies have risen sharply in Louisiana. VERY sharply. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”  

Two Louisiana children died in separate drowning incidents on the Gulf Coast over the weekend. In Biloxi, a 2-year-old from West Baton Rouge Parish reportedly drowned in a hotel swimming pool. And in Orange Beach, Alabama…authorities say a 14-year-old Baton Rouge boy got caught in a riptide and pulled under.

A 13-year-old is girl dead, and another child injured following a high-speed pursuit in Bossier Parish. Trooper Jonathan Odom says 22-year-old Willie Player is in custody after he fled a traffic stop on I-20. After moving from Bossier into Caddo Parish, Player crashed into a control wall and the two unrestrained juveniles were thrown from the vehicle. Odom says Player fled the scene on foot before he was arrested and faces a laundry list of charges.

Cut 8 (12) “…carrying a weapon.” 

Lafayette Police are investigating a tragic shooting that claimed the life of a 16-year-old female and a 14-year-old male has been charged with her murder. Sgt. Robin Green says last night detectives found the victim and the alleged 14-year-old shooter sitting inside a parked vehicle.

Cut 5  (04) “…murder.”

A new report from the state’s Legislative auditor shows a huge increase in complaints made against property insurance carriers in the state. Chris Magee is a data analyst with the Legislative Auditor’s Office. He says the number of consumer complaints has spiked in the wake of catastrophic storms that have hit Louisiana in recent years. He says, until 2019 there were an average of about 450 complaints per year…:

CUT 10(10)      “…after Hurricane Ida”

He says complaints about property insurance skyrocketed to over 5200 for 2021.

A 13-year-old is girl dead and another child is left injured after a crash following a high-speed pursuit in Bossier Parish. Trooper Jonathan Odom says Brenda Adler suffered fatal injuries in the wreck…:

CUT 07(11)      “…was killed.”

He says 22-year-old Willie Player was running from a traffic stop. Inside his vehicle they found a gun and illegal drugs.

Two people are dead after two boats collided on the False River in Pointe Coupee Parish on Friday night. State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesman Adam Einck says 31-year-old Shea Mouton’s body was recovered Friday night, and they searched most of the weekend for Kenneth St. Romain…:

CUT 03(10)      “…two injuries.”

St. Romain was a popular dentist in Baton Rouge.

Two Louisiana children died in separate drowning incidents on the Gulf Coast over the weekend. In Biloxi, a 2-year-old from West Baton Rouge Parish drowned in a hotel resort swimming pool. And in Orange Beach, Alabama…authorities say a 14-year-old Baton Rouge boy got caught in a rip current and pulled under.

COVID won’t let go. The Department of Health reports over 1500 new cases, with 144 people in the hospital with the virus. Five new COVID-related deaths are reported as well.

State higher education leaders are giving the “thumbs up” to the state budget passed last week at the Capitol. University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson says lawmakers did ‘amazing work” on crafting a budget that fully funds schools under his banner. He says there were a lot of fiscal resources available to legislators, but when you have a lot of available resources…:

CUT 10(11)      “…this investment”

He says this is the biggest budget investment in the U-L System in more than 15 years.

A House-passed bill that would allow adults over 21 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit is scheduled for Senate Committee review tomorrow. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is the bill’s author. He stresses passing his bill will NOT end Concealed carry classes or permitting in the state…:

CUT 14(11)      “…right to carry”

Lafayette Police are investigating a tragic shooting that claimed the life of a 16-year-old female and another juvenile has been charged with her murder. Sgt. Robin Green says last night detectives found the victim and the alleged 14-year old shooter sitting inside a parked vehicle. The victim was shot in the chest. She was taken to a hospital, where she died. Now, as to a motive…:

CUT 06(07)      “…East Willow Street.”

The teen suspect is in juvenile detention.

Two Iberia Parish men who were trying to move a house without a permit are under arrest for hitting numerous power lines along the way; causing a blackout that affected hundreds of homes and businesses. Both are being held pending bonds of over $100-k.

And now today’s markets…

A tragic shooting in Lafayette last night claims the life of a 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old is facing murder charges. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(34)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Two Louisiana children died in separate drowning incidents on the Gulf Coast over the weekend. In Biloxi, a 2-year-old from West Baton Rouge Parish is reported drowned in a hotel resort swimming pool. And in Orange Beach, Alabama…authorities say a 14-year-old Baton Rouge boy got caught in a rip tide and pulled under.

Two people are dead after two boats collided on the False River in Pointe Coupee Parish on Friday night. State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesman says Adam Einck says the double fatality occurred when a 20-foot vessel and a bass boat hit each other nearly head-on…:

CUT 04(08)      “…in this.”

Baton Rouge dentist Ken St. Romaine and Fordoche resident Shea Mouton were killed.

The National Weather Service confirms an EF-1 tornado touched down near the town of Hosston, in Caddo Parish, very early Sunday morning. The twister was on the ground for about a mile & a half. Fortunately no one was reported killed or hurt.

That tornado was spun up as a result of a low-pressure tropical wave; the worst of which came ashore far to the east of us late last night. The 2022 Hurricane Season officially begins next week.