Legislation that would mandate property owners to increase safety for rental property – in memory of three-year-old Devin Page, Jr. who was killed by a stray bullet as he was sleeping in his bed last year – will be voted on by the House Commerce Committee today. Teiko Foxx has more.
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And while it remains to be seen what the Senate will do with the state’s film income tax credit program, a legislative auditor’s report looks at the numbers.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Researchers at LSU develop a new bait that may be the key to getting the state’s wild hog problem under control. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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The House Commerce Committee is expected to vote today on legislation that would allow a person to break a lease if multiple violent or drug crimes are reported to police within a tenth of a mile of their rental. It’s in response to last year’s fatal shooting of three-year-old Devin Page Junior who was hit by a stray bullet from a drive-by shooting in Baton Rouge. The child’s grandmother Cathy Toliver pleaded with the panel to pass the bill…
The family complained to the landlord and tried to leave their house after hearing gunshots nearby several nights in a row before the incident occurred. The landlord threatened to make the mother pay thousands in fees to move. The last day she complained was the day her son was murdered.
Last year, the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council passed an ordinance, called “Devin’s Law.” The ordinance was designed to make rental properties safer by imposing new regulations on rental properties. Apartment Association of Louisiana Attorney, Jim Rather says the bill will not resolve the real issue.
Baton Rouge Rep. Edmond Jordan authored HB606, which proposes requiring “any owner, property manager, or property management company shall provide proper security cameras and lighting on their residential properties.” Rather says the bill would result in more lawsuits and it would be costly for property owners.
Cut 7 (12) “… thousand dollars.”
House Commerce meets at 9:30 this morning.
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A legislative auditor’s report indicates the state’s Motion Picture Income Tax Credit (MPITC) appears to have a positive impact on the economy. Economist Ed Seyler (Sigh-ler) says it does generate more household income than it costs the state…
Cut 8 (10) “… revenue perspective.”
The report also looked at what areas of the state benefit the most from the MPITC and its overwhelmingly southeast Louisiana. Seventy-two percent of the jobs and 78 percent of the productions are in the New Orleans area. But Seyler says it may be possible for other areas, especially Shreveport and Lafayette, to grow their motion picture industries.
Legislation to renew the state’s MPITC for 10 years when it expires in 2025 passed in the House but still has to be approved in the Senate.
Seyler says if providing more data to show which locations benefit from the MPITC and possibly direct stakeholders to grow the industry in other sections of the state…
And while the report indicates overall the tax credit appears to have a positive impact because it generates more household income than it costs the state, the credit does not generate enough tax revenue to make up for what the state loses in revenue.
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Researchers at LSU have developed a patent-pending bait that could become a big weapon in the state’s war on wild hogs. LSU animal scientist and researcher Glenn Gentry says they have developed an effective poison bait; made of fish, potatoes, and sodium nitrite; a chief ingredient in bacon. He says sodium nitrite impedes the body’s ability to send oxygen to the organs…:
Wild pigs cause an estimated $ 75 million in annual crop losses and crop damage in Louisiana. Plus their presence creates an E. coli problem. Gentry says the bait makes them fall asleep, then die…and there is no risk to humans or other animals from eating their remains. He says the bait is part of a technological delivery system, which uses cellular communications and game camera technology to target only wild pigs…:
Cut 12 (12) “…whole shell corn.”
Gentry says federally-monitored testing and eventual permitting for public use is still a few years away, but farmers are excited at the prospect of taking control of the wild hog population. Some sportsmen are concerned that the bait will virtually eradicate the animals, which they still enjoy hunting. Gentry says hog hunters have nothing to worry about…:
Cut 13 (09) “…manage their numbers.”
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Legislation to require public school employees to use the name and pronoun on a student’s birth certificate passes in the House after emotional debate on the floor. Bill author Bossier City Republican Representative Raymond Crews said it’s a parent’s rights bill. The legislation, however, allows teachers to choose how they will refer to the student.
Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson asked Crews what happens if a parent wants the employee to call their child by a name or pronoun that differs from their birth certificate…
Cut 15 (12) “…that’s correct.”
Crews was questioned if any teacher organizations support House Bill 81. He said he’s received positive feedback from teachers individually, but the bill does not have the official backing of any specific educator association.
Gretna Republican Representative Joe Marino said the legislation is anti-transgender and will only worsen the suicide rate among trans children. Marino said it’s a culture war bill and it’s designed to divide.
Cut 16 (12) “…some parent’s rights.”
The legislation passed on a 61 to 33 vote and advances to the Senate.
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The LSU baseball team is no longer the top-ranked team in the country and they have the Tigers have their first two-game losing streak of the season after dropping a series to Auburn. D-1 Baseball-dot-com, Baseball America, and Perfect Game dropped LSU from the top spot in their polls to number two behind Wake Forest. But Tigers Coach Jay Johnson is not panicking
LSU’s powerful offense was held to eleven runs in the three-game series to Auburn. And several pitchers had a rough outing, Ty Floyd, Javen Coleman, Bryce Collins, Christian Little, and Griffin Herring. But Johnson says the guys who struggled on the mound are more than capable
But Paul Skenes was spectacular again on Friday as he was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week. Skenes struck out a career-high 15 hitters in a season-high 7.1 innings. Johnson says Skenes preparation between starts is second to none