12:30 LRN Newscast Feb 28

New Orleans State Senator Troy Carter files a bill that will ban “hate-related” throws at Mardi Gras parades. When Carter learned a young boy caught a throw, which was a caricature of a black man holding a watermelon with a noose around his neck, less than two weeks later he filed the bill for the session that opens March 9th.

Cut 4 (11) “…of Mardi Gras.”

The bill proposes fines up to $1000 for the person caught or the organization can be fined the person throwing is not identified.

According to AAA, in 2019, Louisiana households spent about 13% of their income filling up at the pump.  AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says there were savings compared to 2018 as households saved nearly $46 a month.

Cut 6 (07) “…almost $550.”

Tyler Perry orders a second autopsy for his nephew that died at the Union Parish Detention Center this week. Perry has hired a pathologist to perform the autopsy of his nephew Gavin Porter who was found dead in this cell Tuesday night of an apparent suicide according to the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office.

President of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Ronnie Anderson announces he is retiring this summer following 31 years of leadership.  Anderson says it has been a great run and credits those he’s worked with over the years for contributing to that. Anderson says many of the people he has worked with have become close like family.

Cut 15 (12) “…really close to.”