Former Chairwoman of the Louisiana Democratic Party and state senator Karen Carter Peterson enters a guilty plea to a wire fraud charge. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (27) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

The Louisiana Department of Health has released a list of exemptions of when an abortion can take place because the pregnancy is medically futile. The list contains 24 conditions that would affect parts of the fetus. The absence of a heart is one condition. The law also calls for two Louisiana physicians to sign off on an abortion before it can happen.

If you’re adopted and 24 or older you can now request a copy of your original birth certificate. Elise Lewis, one of the founders of the Louisiana Coalition for Adoption Reform says can make the request online at the department of health’s vital statistics website.

Cut 12 (11) “…pre-adoption birth certificate.” 

A law was passed in the most recent legislative session give adoptees the right to their pre-adoption birth certificate.

August is when hurricane season starts to really heat up, and Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says prepare now for a possible storm damage claim. Donelon says read your property insurance declaration page thoroughly…:

Cut 13 (11) “…Named Storm Deductible.”
Donelon says the Named Storm Deductible applies for hurricanes and tropical storms and requires you to put up 5-percent of your property’s value before insurance kicks in.

Adoptees who are 24 years of age or older can request a copy of their original Louisiana birth certificate thanks to a law that went into effect on Monday…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Former state lawmaker and chairwoman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, Karen Carter Peterson, has pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge. Prosecutors say Peterson used 150-thousand dollars from the party and her own campaign to help feed a gambling addiction. Peterson has reportedly paid the money back and faces a December seventh sentencing date.

Another new law that went into effect this week raises the limit on how large a wind farm can be on state land and waters from five-thousand acres to 25-thousand acres. Houma Representative Jerome Zeringue says the legislation is designed to help grow a wind energy industry in Louisiana and he expects oil and gas companies to participate…
cut 6 (12) “….build a wind turbine”

We are moving closer to primetime when it comes to the hurricane season. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says use the time now to take photos or a shoot video of the contents of your home…
cut 14 (13) “…you claim processed”
As of today the tropics are quiet.

A new law that took effect Monday paves the way for Louisiana’s growing wind energy industry. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The Louisiana Department of Health has released a list of conditions that could allow for the termination of a pregnancy under the state’s new abortion ban. Several of the health conditions listed, like underdeveloped lungs, will lead to the baby only living a few days. But Doctors say the list still does not provide enough clarity over what care is allowed.

Adopted persons who are 24 years of age or older can obtain a copy of their original birth certificate as a result of a new law that went into effect yesterday. Elise Lewis is a co-founder of Louisiana Coalition for Adoption and says they’ve lobbied for years at the state legislature for this law and she credits the bill’s author Rosepine Representative Chuck Owens who shared his personal story of adoption…
cut 11 (11) “….from their families”
A birth certificated can be requested through the Louisiana Department of Health’s vital statistics website.

Heavy rain is falling across southeast Louisiana this morning. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says it’s a good reminder to buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program if you currently do not have a policy to cover you from flooding…
cut 15 (05) “…can make”
Donelon says you local insurance agent should be able to help you secure flood insurance through the N-F-I-P.

Adoptees who are 24 and older can now request a copy of their original birth certificate thanks to a state law that went into effect Monday. Elise Lewis, co-founder of the Louisiana Coalition for Adoption Reform says they’ve received positive feedback from adoptees…
Cut 10 (12) “…to know.”
Lewis credits Rosepine Representative Chuck Owens for sharing his personal story of adoption for the bill finally becoming law.

Also becoming law this week is legislation that expands the limit from five thousand to 25-thousand acres for windfarm development. Houma Representative Jerome Zeringue says the wind industry needs about one-thousand acres per turbine…
cut 5 (10) “…economically feasible”

August is when hurricane season starts to really heat up, and Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says prepare now for a possible storm damage claim. Donelon says read your property insurance declaration page thoroughly…:
Cut 13 (11) “…Named Storm Deductible.”
Donelon says the Named Storm Deductible applies for hurricanes and tropical storms and requires you to put up 5-percent of your property’s value before insurance kicks in.

A researcher at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is studying female athletes at LSU and nationwide to find better ways to help them cope with mental health. Doctor Tiffany Stewart says little research ahs been done to identify the best resilience-based strategies for athletes…
cut 9 (07) “….in the future”
One of Stewart’s studies will focus on 50 LSU female athletes to measure their mental, physical, hormonal and immune resilience during normal to high stress periods.

Former Chairwoman of the Louisiana Democratic Party and state senator Karen Carter Peterson enters a guilty plea to a wire fraud charge. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (27) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The Louisiana Department of Health has released a list of exemptions of when an abortion can take place because the pregnancy is medically futile. The list contains 24 conditions that would affect parts of the fetus. The absence of a heart is one condition. The law also calls for two Louisiana physicians to sign off on an abortion before it can happen.

A new law that took effect Monday is designed to help Louisiana’s developing wind energy industry. Houma Representative Jerome Zeringue says the new law increases a previously set limit of five-thousand acres for development of wind farms to 25-thousand acres…
Cut 4 (11) “…particular wind farm.”
The law also adds wind to forms of energy for which the state may officially enter into lease sales – either offshore or on land.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is embarking on two studies that will look at female athletes’ mental and physical resilience. Pennington’s Director of the Behavior Technology Laboratory Doctor Tiffany Stewart says for too long, sports have focused solely on wins and losses, while ignoring athletes’ mental health…
cut 7 (09) “…difficult times.”
Stewart says one project will recruit 500 female athletes nationwide to assess overall mental health and resilience while a second study will focus on 50 female athletes at LSU

She was once one of the state’s top Democrat power players, but today former New Orleans State Senator and state Democratic Party chair Karen Carter Peterson pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges. Peterson was accused of taking nearly a hundred-thousand dollars in campaign and party money with the help of yet unnamed assistants. A federal judge will decide if Peterson will go to prison, when her sentencing comes up in December.

Louisiana’s on again/off again abortion ban trigger law is back on again, after Baton Rouge Judge Don Johnson signed an order that suspends his preliminary injunction. That action is the result of a ruling Friday from the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino…:

CUT 06(11)      “…lower court’s ruling.”

Ciolino says this case will eventually be decided by the state Supreme Court, and he think the High Court will rule for the state.

Not that it was EVER ok, but it is now – officially – a crime to use marijuana while in a moving vehicle. Metairie Republican Representative Laurie Schlegel brought the bill in the legislature. She says she thought of the bill after witnessing people in New Orleans, driving around smoking weed…:

CUT 12(11)      “…not be good.”

Schlegel says, with smokable medical cannabis now legal, it makes good sense to draw a line on where one can use it. The law applies to ANYONE in the vehicle; driver or passengers. A violation means a $100 fine.

The Louisiana Municipal association elects its first-ever Black female president. She’s Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine, who says she will represent ALL communities in the state, which has not always been the case…:

CUT 11(09)      “…as they should be.”

Louisiana’s law that bans most abortions is back in effect. Baton Rouge Judge Don Johnson has signed an order that suspends his preliminary injunction. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says Judge Johnson’s action is the result of a ruling Friday from the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals…:

CUT 06(11)      “…lower court’s ruling.”

Ciolino says the case will eventually go before the state Supreme Court and he thinks the state will win.

Former state Senator and state Democrat Party chair Karen Carter Peterson pleaded guilty today to federal fraud charges. Peterson was accused of stealing tens of thousands in campaign and party funds, with the help of several associates; none of them named in court documents. A judge will decide if the 52-year-old Peterson will go to prison, when she is sentenced in early December.

The Mayor of Ville Platte, Jennifer Vidrine, was installed Saturday as president of the Louisiana Municipal Association; making her the first Black woman to hold that position. She’s been Mayor of Ville Platte, in Evangeline parish, since 2011. In her career in public service, she has broken through a number of racial and gender barriers to get where she is. Vidrine says she didn’t achieve all that alone…:

CUT 10(11)      “…I could stand here.”

A new law taking effect today makes it a crime to use marijuana in a motor vehicle. Metairie Republican Representative Laurie Schlegel brought the bill in the legislature. She says with smokable medical marijuana now legal, it’s a good idea to establish where one CANNOT use it. She says the law also applies to VAPING cannabis…:

CUT 14(05)      “…this law as well.”

Those caught using marijuana in a moving vehicle will face a $100 fine – even if they are using legally prescribed medical marijuana.