State lawmakers have approved legislation that sets up a 45-million dollar incentive fund that will be used to bring more insurance companies to Louisiana that will offer homeowners coverage at much lower rates than the state’s last-resort insurer, Louisiana Citizens. The bill passed on a 37-to-1 vote in the Senate on Friday. Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock was the lone no vote; questioning why ANY insurance company would go for it…:

CUT 13(10)      “…hurricane season starts.”

That bill goes to the Governor for his signature. Lawmakers says they’ll have other solutions to the insurance crisis ready when they reconvene in April.

Police in Shreveport seek a man they say sexually assaulted a juvenile. A warrant for First Degree Rape is out for 31-year-old Shawn Betters, and they ask anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts to contact SPD right away. If convicted, Betters would face life behind bars.

A Louisiana National Guard unit is preparing to deploy to the Middle East, on a classified support mission. More from Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Palermo.”

Dog lovers may want to visit Baton Rouge Sunday for the annual Krewe of Mutts Carnival Parade. This year’s theme is Jurassic Bark, and organizers encourage participants to dress their pooch up in Mardi Gras dinosaur regalia. The event starts at 10 am in downtown Baton Rouge and benefits pet adoption programs.

At the State Capitol, the Senate has voted approval of the plan to use $45-milion in surplus revenue to incent new private property insurance companies to come to Louisiana and ease financial stress on homeowners struggling to pay the much-higher cost of the state’s last-resort insurer, Louisiana Citizens. Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot says the goal is to reduce the number of Citizens Property Insurance policyholders who face a 63-percent rate hike this year..:

CUT 12(07)      “…need it.”

Former Southern University baseball coach Roger Cador is being inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Cador led the Southern Jaguars through 33 seasons; including 2 HBCU National Championships, 4 SWAC titles, 11 NCAA tournament appearances and a win/loss record of 913-597-1. Cador retired in 2017.

The Louisiana National Guard held a deployment ceremony Friday in New Orleans, as they prepare to head for the Middle East. The “3-6-7-3″ Support Maintenance Company is a combat support unit; tasked with keeping military vehicles and material in working order. Battalion Commander Lt. Colonel Ira Jones says their role is of utmost importance…:

CUT 07(08)      “…their mission is.”

The unit’s destination is classified. The “3-6-7-3” should return home in about a year.

If you love King Cake, a trip to Thibodaux is in order for the city’s inaugural Bayou King Cake Festival. Mayor Kevin Clement says it’s good family fun and all to benefit the Lafourche Parish Education Foundation…:

CUT 11(11)      “…quite remarkable.”

It starts tomorrow in Thibodaux.

The Louisiana National Guard held a deployment ceremony Friday in New Orleans, as they prepare to head for the Middle East. The 140-plus soldiers of the 3673^rd Support Maintenance Company (part of the 139th Regional Support Group) – based in New Orleans -will deploy in aid of the Army’s Operation Spartan Shield. The event was at the World War II Museum in the Crescent City. Captain Mitchel Dougherty is the company Commander…:

CUT 06(08)      “…use this venue.”

The 3-6-7-3 does vehicle and equipment maintenance; keeping the machines of war running in tip-top shape. The unit’s destination is classified. Dougherty says they’ll return in about a year.

On the U.S. Senate floor, Senator John Kennedy says our state needs to overhaul school performance metrics, to assure better student outcomes. He says our schools are doing poorly overall…:

CUT 03  (07)        they are not

He says “powers that be” in education resist attempts at reforms

A man accused of raping LSU co-ed Madison Brooks the night she died in a traffic accident is back in jail; accused of raping a Livingston Parish girl in 2020, when she was a juvenile. Kaivon Washinton’s alleged victim was just 12 at the time. A new eyewitness has reportedly come forward to identify him.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll want to be in Thibodaux Saturday to attend a festival dedicated to the state’s favorite pastry. Brooke Thorington has the ingredients…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

Senator John Kennedy wants Louisiana to develop a new methodology to grade public schools. Kennedy made his comments on the floor of the U.S. Senate. He didn’t offer any specifics on how schools should be graded, but expressed the importance of it because it’s vital to the future of Louisiana…:

CUT 05(10)      “…creating tomorrow.”

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has discussed changing Louisiana’s accountability system, but proposed changes have faced criticism from school boards, superintendents, principals, and teachers.

In Thibodaux tomorrow, the first ever King Cake Festival. Mayor Kevin Clement says a kids’ parade kicks it off at 1:30, with 5 marching bands and kids with “wagon floats”…:

CUT 10(09)      “…pretty good.”

A Louisiana National Guard unit is preparing to deploy to the Middle East, on a classified support mission. More from Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Palermo.”

At the Capitol, the state Senate is expected to give final approval to the $45-million Insure Louisiana Incentive Fund, to attract new private property insurers to de-populate the state’s last-resort insurer Louisiana Citizens. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says, without it, thousand could lose their homes. The special session is expected to wrap up later today.

U-S Senator John Kennedy wants Louisiana to develop a new methodology to grade public schools. He says 70 percent of the state’s high schools have received A and B grades, but in reality, we know many of these schools do not deserve such a high grade…

Cut  4 (11)  “…new system.” 

The plan has received pushback from school boards, superintendents, principals, and teachers.

If you’re a King Cake connoisseur there’s an inaugural festival cooked up just for you on Saturday. It’s the Lafourche Education Foundation’s Bayou King Cake Festival. Thibodaux Mayor Kevin Clement says attendees can sample almost two dozen cakes and they have five tickets each to cast their vote.

Cut 9 (10) “…choice winner.” 

The event kicks off at 1:30 in downtown Thibodeaux.

Kaplan oilman and Army veteran Jeff Istre announces he’s running for Governor and will be a candidate “of the people.” Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Another candidate has thrown his hat in the ring to be Louisiana’s next governor. He is Jeff Istre, an Army vet and oilfield professional from Kaplan. Istre has never held political office, and is running as an independent. He says the constant choice for voters of either a republican or a democrat is a lot of the reason why Louisiana is in shape it’s in…:

CUT 07  (07)        “…really OF the people.”

Istre joins another independent, Lake Charles lawyer Hunter Lundy, in the race…plus GOP candidates Jeff Landry, John Schroder, Sharon Hewitt, and Richard Nelson. He is online, if you want to know more, at “facebook.com/JeffIstreforGovernor” Istre is spelled I-S-T-R-E.

More fall election news: on his social media pages, former state Senator Elbert Guillory says he will run for Lt. Governor this fall. Guillory is a black conservative and a Republican. He prides himself on his ability to stand up and speak truth without fear of reprisal. Qualifying for the fall elections isn’t until August 8^th. Guillory joins fellow republicans Clay Schexnayder and incumbent Billy Nungesser in that race.

The son of former Opelousas Police Chief Martin McClendon has been found guilty of 2 counts of 1^st-degree murder. JaMarcus McClendon is convicted of shooting and killing two people in May 2017.

The long-awaited Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project – to help restore the state’s coast – gets the funding needed to get underway…:

CUT 01(32)                  “…Palermo.”

U-S Senator John Kennedy wants Louisiana to develop a new methodology to grade public schools. Kennedy points to the grades that the state’s high schools have received…

Cut 3 (07) “…they are not” 

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has discussed changing Louisiana’s accountability system, but proposed changes have faced criticism from school boards, superintendents, principals, and teachers.

Another candidate announces he will run for governor of Louisiana this fall. He is 56-year-old Jeffrey Istre, of Kaplan. He joins another independent, Lake Charles lawyer Hunter Lundy, in the race…plus four GOP candidates. Running for office requires a lot of campaign cash…

Cut 8 (11)  “…very big challenge.”

The CDC has issued an advisory to stop the use of EzriCare artificial tears. Some are contaminated with bacteria. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says they have been linked to one death and 55 patients from 12 states have suffered serious complications as a result.

Cut 11 (09)  “…this infection.”

These are over-the-counter eyedrops and so far, no cases have been reported in Louisiana.

The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has begun work on restoring orphaned wells. Louisiana received $25 million from the Infrastructure Act. DNR spokesperson Patrick Courreges says there are roughly 4,500 orphaned wells in the state that can pose a significant environmental risk…

Cut 14 (13)  “…concentrated brine.”