LRN PM Newscall May 26

An effort to hold former state police leader, Colonel Kevin Reeves, in contempt of the Legislature has been put on hold after an agreement is made on the viewing of his personal journals. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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As Entergy Louisiana customers could soon be paying monthly hurricane restoration charges totaling $4.5 billion, Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is crying foul. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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A bill to require public schools to provide menstrual products for students advances in Senate Education. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman says the bill was amended to remove the word restrooms and changed to an easily accessible location for female students.

Cut 3 (09) “..they need.”

Freeman told committee members that many female students miss class due to a lack of access to feminine products and providing them will ease that burden.

Cut 4  (06) “…for them.”

House Bill 195 advances but after the state budget has already been approved. The question of how schools will pay for menstrual products was also discussed. Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson spoke in support of the bill and recommended the Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus assist in locating funding.

Cut 5  (07) “…get appropriations.”

The bill has been referred to Senate Finance.

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Ponchatoula police have made multiple arrests involving firearms in recent weeks. The first took place in a Walmart parking on May 18 when officers responded to a call of an individual pointing a gun at children. Chief Bry Layrisson says two men, 22-year-old Kylin Sexton and 25-year-old Tyshon Coleman, both of Hammond were taken into custody.

Cut 6  (10) “…incidents occurred.” 

A search of the duo’s vehicle produced multiple Glock 9 millimeter handguns, more than 15-hundred pills suspected to be Oxycodone Hydrochloride, as well marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. Chief Layrisson says the two suspects didn’t do a very good job of being inconspicuous.

Cut 7 (10) “…acting a fool.” 

This past Sunday, officers were called to the Ponchatoula Community Center after two men showed guns during a fight. Two suspects were arrested, 18-year-old Charles Wheeler and a 16-year-old juvenile. An AR-15 and AK-47 were found at the scene.

Cut 8 (12) “…were harmed.” 

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Former State Police leader Colonel Kevin Reeves has agreed to turn over his personal journals by tomorrow afternoon if they remain sealed from public view in order to avoid a contempt charge.  Houma Representative Tanner Magee is seeking to hold Reeves in contempt after he withheld certain pages from the journals from a committee investigating the state police custody death of Ronald Greene…

Cut 9 (12) “…for now.”

Reeves’ attorney Lewis Unglesby says his client has nothing to hide and that the pages lawmakers are seeking to see do not contain any new information about Greene’s death…

Cut 10 (10) ” …told you.” 

Reeves’ personal financial information contained in the journals will be redacted.

A special House committee looking into Greene’s violent arrest by State Police in May of 2019 in Union Parish says Reeves’ journal entries are critical to an investigation into a possible cover-up by State Police. But Unglesby believes it’s unfair how the committee is treating Reeves…

Cut 11 (12)  “…in any way” 

Unglesby says the blame should be put on Trooper Chris Hollingsworth who was involved in Greene’s beating. Hollingsworth died 16 months later in a single-vehicle crash.

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Entergy Louisiana customers could soon be paying hurricane restoration charges monthly for the next several years. However, Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says it’s time for the utility provider to pay their fair share after giving stockholders $3 billion in dividends and the CEO a one million dollar raise.

Cut 12 (12) “…the people.”  

Campbell says costs incurred to restore power after storms are typically passed along to customers and the estimated tally from Entergy is $4.5 billion.

Cut 13 (08) “…the roof.”

The outspoken commissioner believes there are enough members who share his view and they could vote for Entergy to pay for at least 20-percent of restoration costs. Campbell also questions the utility provider’s business practices.

Cut 14 (12)  “…territory.”

Campbell says he questioned Entergy CEO and Chairman Leo Denault about his reported trip during Ida and Denault confirmed he was in Colorado.