NBA Hall of Famer and LSU Icon Shaquille O’Neal has to update his resume as he has a new job with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 1 (30) “ I’m Brooke Thorington”
____________________________
Governor Edwards is mulling over a potential veto of legislation that would allow lawmakers to eliminate certain pandemic health restrictions. Matt Doyle has more
_____________________________
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has to update his resume, as he’s now a Special Reserve Deputy with the St Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office. Shaq dropped by the office while the boss was away at training and now Sheriff Becket Breaux is having to adjust his budget.
Breaux has been good friends with the 7-foot-1 basketball icon and broadcaster, and their relationship inspired him to asked Shaq to join the team.
Breaux says despite Shaq’s busy schedule, he will be active with the department, helping to train and mentor staff via ZOOM. But Breaux will have to update a patrol unit for his newest hire.
______________________________
The Senate Judiciary Committee rejects a House approved bill that would bar the state from penalizing churches and church-goers for gathering for in-person services against state orders during an emergency.
The hearing led to an animated exchange between Shreveport Senator Gregory Tarver and the bill’s author Oil City Representative Danny McCormick.
The legislation was inspired by the arrest of Central Pastor Tony Spell for holding services against the ban on in-person religious gatherings. The bill would have also retroactively cleared his charges and other religious leaders who were penalized. His case is currently pending.
Tarver argued the ban did not violate constitutional protections on religious liberty because it allowed for virtual services. McCormick says virtual services are not the same…
Tarver and McCormick made their final arguments as the bill failed on a 3-2 vote.
The legislation cleared the House on a 66-24 vote, but it’s now dead for the session.
_____________________________
Republican lawmakers await Governor Edwards’ decision on a potential veto of legislation they passed that would allow the Legislature to overturn parts of a public health emergency.
Edwards says he plans to talk to the bill’s author and legislative leaders, but he already has a blanket policy about efforts to undermine his emergency authority…
If signed the legislation would allow, on a majority vote of the House and Senate, for specific public health restrictions to be eliminated while maintaining the rest of the emergency declaration.
Edwards says he will not surrender any authority to people whose approach he finds “totally unreasonable.”
Edwards says he needs every tool available to make sure that more people don’t die from this virus than is necessary.
Should Edwards veto this legislation, the House could have a majority of its members sign a petition that would end the public health emergency, triggering a likely court battle.
_____________________________
Constitutional Amendment Four on the November 3rd ballot asks voters if the state should create a new state budget spending limit. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says the state already has a spending limit..
Cut 12 (04) “ …expenditures are”
Scott says opponents say the amendment will not ensure a more efficient government, but supporters say it will stabilize the state’s budget, which saw large deficits during Edwards’ first term in office…