A bill to raise the salaries of state lawmakers is stopped short in the House Appropriations Committee. House and Senate members currently make a base of less than $17k. This bill would have made that around $40-thousand. Committee member and Ascension Parish Rep. Tony Bacala says he knew the pay was small when he signed up for the job…:

CUT 08  (11)        “…without some pain.”

The bill failed to pass committee by a 16-to-5 vote, meaning it is likely dead for this year.

Wildlife & Fisheries agents want to know who killed a Louisiana Black Bear in Lincoln Parish last week. LDWF Sgt. John Hattaway says the bears are no longer a protected species; not since 2016…:

CUT 10  (12)        “…attracts them.”

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office says divers have found the body of 21-year-old Zachory Rice, who drowned after going swimming in the Cane River Sunday. Using sonar in the murky water, crews recovered his remains early this morning. An autopsy is pending,.

The pandemic caused many women to miss their annual mammograms and surgeons are seeing the fallout…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Brooke Thorington.”