08:30 LRN NEWSCAST MARCH 18TH

Authorities are still looking for one of five juvenile offenders who escaped from the Bridge City Detention Center for Youth Thursday morning, and one state lawmaker is not happy with the Office of Juvenile Justice. Senator Heather Cloud of Turkey Creek says the department has consistently failed at both rehabilitating young offenders and protecting its employees, and taxpayers demand better…:
Cut 9 (12) “in the wind”
She hopes other lawmakers will get on board with asking for reform within the OJJ.

Gas prices continue to inch down. AAA reports the statewide average for a gallon of regular fell another 2 cents from yesterday to $4.08 — that’s still 78 cents higher than just one month ago.

A Grant Parish lawmaker proposes legislation to prevent minors from receiving transgender medical procedures. Pollock Republican state Representative Gabe Firment says sexual reassignment is a major undertaking and a decision best not left to juveniles to decide…:
Cut 4 (15) “serious side effects”
Opponents of the measure contend the bill is a scare tactic to discriminant against a population that some don’t want to accept.

With Covid cases falling, state prisons are bringing back contact visitation.
Cut 11 (11) “incarcerated”
That’s Department of Corrections Spokesperson Ken Pastorick. For requirements and hours, visit doc.la.gov.