4:30 PM LRN Newscast

Governor Landry signs a series of bills aimed at unleashing Louisiana’s coastal energy production. Among the bills Landry signed during a ceremony at Moncla Well Services in Lafayette was one that addressed legacy lawsuits by encouraging parties to admit responsibility in damaging the state’s coastline and work towards remediation.

Cut 9 (10)  “…address this issue.”

Landry also signed a bill that reduced the severance tax on all new oil drilling projects from 12 and a half percent to six and a half percent.

Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow is filing legislation that would create a fund from collected tariffs to help agricultural producers impacted by global markets. She says its important farmers receive financial assistance if they lose revenue, because of a decrease in exports, higher input costs and retaliatory trade barriers imposed by foreign countries.

Cut 13 (06)  “…farmers whole.”

Letlow says an exact time on when the legislation could receive a vote on the House floor is not known.

Legendary Louisiana Tech sports broadcaster Dave Nitz passed away at the age of 82 this morning. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The horses of the mounted division of the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office aren’t just for parades. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says 35-year-old Theresa Prine was met by the mounted division as she allegedly tried to leave the new Tractor Supply Store in Ponchatoula without paying for a cart full of merchandise worth over 12-hundred-dollars.

Cut 5 (11) “…is effective.”

The mounted division detained Prine until the Ponchatoula Police Department arrived.