Governor Jeff Landry vetoed House Bill 423 which sought to limit damages a jury can award to victims in auto accidents. Jeff Palermo reports it has resulted in Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple is asking for a special session to address the state’s insurance crisis.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Governor Landry signed the 10 Commandments bill into law this morning. The law requires public schools and colleges to display the 10 Commandments in each classroom. The ACLU of Louisiana along with other advocacy groups say they will be filing a lawsuit, on the grounds of separation of Church and State.

A federal judge is considering whether to issue a preliminary injunction that would block Farm Line operations at Angola Prison when the heat index reaches 88 degrees. Plaintiff Ronald Marshall…

Cut 4 (08) “…day out.”

The DOC says the work conducted on the Farm Line is in accordance with constitutional and industrial standards.

Ryan McKinnon with Charge Ahead Partnership says the state has yet to access 73-million dollars in federal funds for businesses to apply for to build electric vehicle charging stations.

Cut 6 (11) “…help in that.” 

But DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says the state has yet to receive the money and the rules for this federal grant program do not match their usual contracting methods, so there are few more hoops to jump through.

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple would like to see the governor or lawmakers call a special session this year to address the legal environment around automobile crashes. This comes after Governor Landry vetoed a bill that Temple and pro business groups believed would help reduce auto insurance rates…
cut 10 (12) “…bring a solution”
Landry said at a press conference the legislation would not be fair for a car accident victim who won damages in a jury trial.

Governor Jeff Landry has signed into law legislation that gives judges the ability to sentence certain convicted sex offenders to surgical castration if the victim is the under the age of 13. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow hopes the new law sends a clear message to anyone who seeks to sexually abuse kids…
cut 12 (07) “…lifestyle change”

A federal judge in Baton Rouge has been asked to issue an order that would prevent inmates at Angola from working on the prison farm when heat indices reach 88 degrees or higher. Sean Richardson has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Governor Jeff Landry has signed into law legislation requiring all public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. Louisiana is the first state with such a mandate. At a Republican fundraiser in Tennessee, Landry said he can’t wait to be sued for signing the bill and the ACLU of Louisiana said today they will sue, because the U-S Supreme Court has already over turned a similar law more than 40 years ago.

After Governor Jeff Landry vetoed the Collateral Source reform bill, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple is calling on lawmakers to hold a special session to address the state’s high auto insurance rates. Temple says legislation is needed to improve the legal climate…

Cut 9 (08) “…do it now.” 

Supporters say the bill limits the amount juries can award to car crash victims, and Landry says the veto has nothing to do with campaign contributions.

We have our first named storm of the hurricane season. Tropical Storm Alberto is expected to make landfall later tonight or early tomorrow morning in Mexico. While the bulk of the storm is not expected to be a threat to Louisiana, state police say water is lapping onto Louisiana Highway 1 between Golden Meadow and Grand Isle.

A federal judge is considering a preliminary injunction to stop Farm Line operations at Angola when the heat index reaches or exceeds 88 degrees. State Corrections says the work is in accordance with constitutional and industrial standards. Promise of Justice Initiative attorney Lydia Wright….

Cut 5 (07)  “…our trial.”

Louisiana has received $73 million from the 2021 Federal Infrastructure Act but has yet to distribute the money to vendors wanting to enter the electric vehicle charging business. Ryan McKinnon with Charge Ahead Partnership hopes Louisiana will distribute those funds…

Cut 8 (11)  “…charging stations.” 

DOTD says they plan to start the request-for-proposal process as soon as they identify an appropriate contracting mechanism to use the money

In Lafayette this morning Governor Jeff Landry signed the Gator Scholarship Program into law. The Education Savings Account Act is intended to help all families offset private school education costs, and the governor also signed the 10 Commandments bill that requires public schools and colleges to display them in the classroom. At a Republican fundraiser in Tennessee that past weekend, Landry told attendees he looks forward to getting sued over the bill.

Louisiana received $73 million from the 2021 Federal Infrastructure Act but has yet to distribute that money to vendors wanting to enter the electric vehicle charging business. Ryan McKinnon with Charge Ahead Partnership says the funds are intended to help small businesses.

Cut 7 (06) “…in Louisiana.”  

DOTD says they plan to start the request-for-proposal process as soon as they identify an appropriate contracting mechanism to use the money.

A federal judge in Baton Rouge has been asked to issue an order that would prevent inmates at Angola from working on the prison farm when heat indices reach 88 degrees or higher.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Governor Landry is receiving criticism for vetoing a bill that many say is a critical piece in the state’s effort to reform the insurance market. Landry says the legislation would have limited the monetary judgement a victim receives in an accident if their case goes to trial…
cut 13 (12) “…health insurance”
But supporters of House Bill 432 say the measure would make a person whole following a wreck by allowing juries to determine damage awards for victims of accidents using actual medical costs instead of the initial costs billed by providers.

Advocates for prisoners at Angola have asked a federal judge to issue an order that says inmates can not work on the prison prison farm when the heat index exceeds 88-degrees. Ronald Marshall is one of the plantiffs…
cut 4 (08) “…day out”
But the department of corrections says the inmates do receive breaks when a heat alert is issued.

The first phase of SUN Bucks will be issued this week. Brooke Thorington reports that means approximately 300-thousand children who live in a family that receives SNAP benefits will receive additional money to help pay for breakfast and lunch with kids out of school for the summer…
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

We have our first named storm of the hurricane season. Tropical Storm Alberto is expected to make landfall later tonight or early tomorrow morning in Mexico. No threat to Louisiana.

Governor Jeff Landry has vetoed legislation that supporters of the bill say would help to reduce auto insurance rates by limiting the amount of money a car crash victim would get in a jury trial settlement. But Landry says the proposed reforms to the collateral source rule would have a negative impact on the citizen who pays health insurance…
cut 14 (09) “…coverage”
Legislative leadership is disappointed the governor vetoed the bill. Norco Senator Greg Miller says he will author legislation once a compromise has been reached…
cut 15 (12) “…four years ago”
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says a special session is needed after the veto.

A federal judge in Baton Rouge is considering a request from advocates for prisoners that seeks to prevent inmates from working on a farm located on the grounds of Angola when the heat index reaches 88 degrees. Director of Civil Litigation at the Promise of Justice Lydia Wright…
Cut 3 (12) “…serious harm.”
The state Department of Corrections says the work conducted on the Farm Line is in accordance with constitutional and industrial standards and policies are in place to make sure the inmates are safe.

Governor Jeff Landry has signed legislation that gives judges the option to order surgical castration of a convicted sex offender if the victim is under the age of thirteen. Baton Rouge Democrat, Senator Regina Barrow believes her bill will deter violent abuse against children.
Cut 10 (10) “…castration.”
The bill received bipartisan support in the 2024 Regular Legislative Session.

Governor Landry has vetoed a bill that sought to lower payouts to car crash vicitms if their case was settled by a jury. Sean Richardson reports Landry expressed concern the legislation would reduce what a person should receive in medical costs from an accident caused by others.
Cut 29 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Governor Landry is in Lafayette this morning to sign a bill that would create a new school voucher program in Louisiana that’s designed to allow families of all income levels receive state dollars to pay for private, parochial or home schooling.

The first phase of SUN Bucks benefits, also known as Summer EBT, will go out this week. Tim Jenkins with the Department of Children and Family Services says approximately 300,000 children between the ages of five and 18 who received SNAP last school year will receive $120 on their card.
Cut 7 (10) “…be loaded.”
SUN Bucks uses mostly federal dollars to help eligible families buy additional groceries during the summer months when children are not receiving meals at school.

Governor Jeff Landry signs into law a measure that reduces the number of weeks a person can stay on unemployment. It’s currently 26 weeks, but Jennings Representative Troy Romero’s legislation reduces the time to 12 to 20 weeks. Romero says unemployment is designed to be a safety net for adults who lose their jobs and it’s not intended to be a long-term benefit.
Cut 5 (06) “…important.”
The change will go into effect on January 1st.

Governor Jeff Landry has vetoed a bill that the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says could help lower auto insurance rates. It’s known as the collateral source bill and it’s goal would limit the amount of damages awarded to victims of car crashes if their case goes to a jury trial. LABI president Will Green…
cut 16 (11) “…you whole”
But Governor Landry says House Bill 423 would have hurt an accident victim’s chances of receiving a fair payout.

Families who receive SNAP benefits and have children between the ages of five to 18 will likely receive an additional 120-dollars per eligible child to help pay for food during the summer months when kids are not receiving breakfast and lunch at school. Tim Jenkins with DCFS says this Phase 1 of Sun bucks and Phase two will begin in late July. Jenkins on who is eligible for Phase 2….
cut 8 (09) “…lunch program”
For more information go to DCFS’s website.

Governor Landry has signed a bill that gives judges the option to order a certain sex offender be surgically castrated, if the victim in the case is under the age of 13. A punishment of chemical castration is already allowed under Louisiana law, but Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow believes a permanent procedure is warranted when children are victims…
cut 11 (10) “…actually stop”

Governor Jeff Landry has signed into law legislation that will reduce the amount of time a person can stay on  unemployment. Currently it’s 26 weeks, but Jennings Representative Troy Romero’s measure reduces the maximum time on unemployment from anywhere between 12 to 20 weeks. Romero says an individual can get an additional eight weeks of unemployment if they undergo workforce development training…
cut 6 (10) “….for the state”
The legislation keeps the maximum benefit at 250-dollars a week.

A newly signed bill will go into effect January 1st, reducing the time a person can receive unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 12 to 20 depending on the state’s unemployment rate. Sean Richardson has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

State offices are closed today in observance of Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned from Union soldiers they were free.

Governor Jeff Landry has signed into law legislation that gives judges the ability to sentence certain convicted sex offenders to surgical castration if the victim is the under the age of 13. The bill’s author, Baton Rouge Senator, Regina Barrow hopes the new law sends a loud and clear message to anyone who seeks to sexually abuse kids…
cut 12 (07) “…lifestyle change”

Families who are on SNAP will receive an additional 120-dollars per child this week to help pay for breakfast and lunch with kids out of school for the summer. Families on Medicaid, or received assistance from FITAP or the Kinship Care Subsidy Program are eligible for additional dollars in a few weeks and Tim Jenkins with DCFS says there’s a phase three of the Sun Bucks program that will include children who attended schools that offered free lunches for all students, but their families did not apply for EBT…
cut 9 (09) “….aor phase two”
Go to D-C-F-S’s website to check for eligibility.