The state Legislature convenes its regular spring session this Monday, and lawmakers have around 1000 bills to consider; ranging from teacher pay to expanding medical marijuana. Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) president Barry Erwin says House & Senate members will have a lot of work to do – sorting through the various interests and initiatives proposed…:

CUT 12(14)      “…transgender athletes.”

He also expects an attempt to throttle back the Governor’s executive emergency powers to be debated. During testimony today at a legislative panel looking into the roadside death of Ronald Greene while in state Police custody, a trooper told lawmakers he recommended to his C.O. that a trooper be arrested for what happened, but that supervisor did nothing. Senator Katrina Jackson says complaints of wrongdoing by troopers should be reported to an authority outside the LSP.

The U.S. Senate rejected an amendment from Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy that would have appropriated $2.5-billion in extra disaster aid to Louisiana for the hurricanes in 2020 and 2021. Before the vote, Kennedy explained where the money would go…:

CUT 06(13)      “…Louisiana ports.”

The amendment failed, but Kennedy and Cassidy vow to keep working to get the additional aid needed.

A Calcasieu Parish man is in jail after allegedly breaking into another man’s home and stabbing his dog. The victim says 33-year-old Robert Willis, of Moss Bluff, demanded $40 the victim owed him then stabbed his German Shepherd in the head and slashed the animal with a knife. He then threatened to come back with gun. Willis is now charged with home invasion, assault and aggravated animal cruelty.