Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh’s amendment to remove traffic cameras except for school zones and to mandate clearer signage passes the Senate and moves to the House. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Pediatric patients in New Orleans will soon have a hospital to call their own. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approves a bill that would prohibit SNAP recipients from purchasing soft drinks with SNAP benefits. Sean Richardson has the story.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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The Louisiana Senate has approved legislation that seeks to eliminate enforcement cameras that issue tickets to motorists for traveling too fast or running a red light. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey’s legislation would charge public officials with malfeasance in office if unmanned traffic cameras issue citations by mail. Before sending the bill to the House, Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh added amendment that would allow mobile speed cameras in school zones, but signage needs to be posted notifying the public that red light cameras are in operation

Cut 4 (09) “…not following the law.”

Seabaugh emphasized that violations will be treated as civil fines, not criminal offenses, and cities cannot report unpaid tickets to credit bureaus or place liens. He warned local governments against expanding cameras outside school zones, as doing so could result in malfeasance charges.

Cut 5 (04) “…outside the school zones.”

Seabaugh noted strong public opposition to traffic cameras, especially in areas where abuses have occurred. Although still favoring a full ban, Seabaugh sees this legislation as meaningful reform and a step toward greater fairness and transparency.

Cut 6 (12) “…just school zones.”

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Congressman Troy Carter will be announcing the relaunch of a bipartisan Men’s Health Caucus for the 119th Congress this morning. The Democrat from New Orleans says it’s a way for Republicans and Democrats to come together to encourage men to pay attention to their health.

Cut 7 (10) “…more purposeful lives.”

Congressman Carter says men need to take care of their bodies the same way as they meticulously care for their most prized possessions.

Cut 8 (13) “…in their bodies.”

Carter says when it comes to taking care of their health, men can look to women for inspiration, since he says women have historically been more proactive in controlling their health.

Cut 9 (07)  “…for preventive measures.”

Carter and others will announce the bipartisan caucus at ten Central time this morning.

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Construction is underway on the new Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Dr. Butch Adolph, the chief medical officer for Ochsner Children’s Hospital, says the new facility will be five stories tall, totaling more than 340-thousand square feet, with a lot of dedicated pediatric space.

Cut 10 (14) “…in one place.”

Dr. Adolph says this new facility will give pediatric patients a healthcare facility of their own.

Cut 11 (14) “…into one facility.”

To mark the milestone, Ochsner and Benson have announced a new partnership with Make-A-Wish Louisiana. Adolph says there are many Make-A-Wish kids waiting for their wishes to come true.

Cut 12 (08) “…backlog over time.”

The new Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital is slated to open in early 2028.

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The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approves a bill that would ban schools that receive state funding from serving lunches that contain ultra-processed foods. Covington Republican Patrick McMath says obesity is a real problem in the state, and this legislation is step towards a healthier Louisiana.

Cut 13 (11)  “…synthetic ingredients”

McMath’s measure also prohibits SNAP recipients from using their benefits to purchase soft drinks.

Cut 14 (07) “…not nutritious.”

Democrats on the Senate Health and Welfare Committee have a problem with McMath’s bill dictating what low-income individuals can’t purchase with their SNAP benefits. Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews was the first one to speak out.

Cut 15 (06) “…for their children.”

McMath’s bill prohibits schools from serving school lunches that contain specific artificial colors and additives. Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau questioned why single out school lunches; why not include sugary alcoholic drinks that adults consume?

Cut 16 (12) “…those things.”

The measure heads to the Senate floor.

A measure aiming to provide a new legal remedy for people incarcerated under non-unanimous jury verdicts – also known as Jim Crow juries – is headed to the full Senate. Promise of Justice initiative Attorney Claude Michael Comeau says S-B 218 is a necessary step to address historic injustices and to ensure fair trials for all Louisianians.

Cut 13 (10)  “…doing the right thing.”

Lafourche Parish District Attorney Kristine Russell testified against the bill. She noted that she has been focusing on child abuse cases for 20 years and says the conversation needs to continue because this bill is not the answer.

Cut 15 (10) “…at the time.”

The vote in Senate Judiciary Committee B was bipartisan – five to one.

The number of students accepting TOPS funding is on the decline. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed says the trend started taking a U-turn a few years ago.

Cut 11 (09) “…program has declined.”

Reed notes that there are bills in the legislature designed to make Louisiana a more competitive state for college-bound students and to ensure an affordable path to higher education.

A teenager is under arrest for the murder of a man outside an Amazon distribution center in Baton Rouge. Homicide detectives arrested 18-year-old Karl Nash in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Daylon Anthony. BRPD Sergeant Darren Ahmed says Nash turned himself in.

Cut 6 (05) “…violent crimes unit office.”

Investigators say the two men were involved in a verbal and physical altercation outside the distribution center Monday night. Nash has been charged with Second Degree Murder and Illegal Use of a Weapon.

A bill that would ban wagering on the outcomes of elections advances to the full Senate. Secretary of State Nancy Landry testified in support of the bill, noting that such a rule already exists for election staff.

Cut 4 (12) “…should apply statewide.”

The vote in the Governmental Affairs Committee was unanimous, increasing its odds of eventually ending up on Governor Landry’s desk.

The number of students accepting TOPS funding has been going down for a few years. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed says one reason is that some students decide not to continue their education beyond high school.

Cut 10 (12) “…to be eligible.”

A bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee B aims to provide a new legal remedy for people incarcerated under non-unanimous jury verdicts. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

A new exhibit opens next Friday in New Orleans, honoring the women who played an essential role in making Mardi Gras what it is today. The Pioneers of Women’s Carnival will feature costumes, photos, ball favors and parade throws. It will be on display at the Presbytere on Jackson Square beginning May 9th.

A bill introduced by Senator Royce Duplessis aims to provide a new legal remedy for people incarcerated under non-unanimous jury verdicts, also known as Jim Crow juries. The bill passed a Senate committee with bipartisan support in a 5-1 vote and now heads to the full Senate. Promise of Justice initiative Attorney Claude Michael Comeau testified in favor of the bill, saying it would allow those convicted by non-unanimous juries to seek post-conviction relief.

Cut 12 (05) “…a new trial.”

Lafourche Parish District Attorney Kristine Russell has been focusing on Child Abuse cases for 20 years. She testified against the bill, saying when she looks at her non-unanimous verdicts, there’s no question of guilt.

Cut 14 (14) “…not guilty.”

The number of students accepting TOPS funding has been going down for a few years. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed says one requirement is that students attend a college within the state of Louisiana, and many students are being lured to other states.

Cut 9 (09)  “…now for students.”

Amtrak will launch a new twice-daily service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross says the goal is to launch the new Mardi Gras line by mid-July.

Cut 16 (12) “…piece of track.”

The Mardi Gras line will also have four stops in Mississippi — Bay Saint Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. Ross says the next phase is to connect New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

A man who has spent more than a quarter century on death row in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s nearly two-year-old daughter has had his first-degree murder conviction thrown out. Ouachita Parish District Judge Alvin Sharp ruled that Jimmie Duncan’s conviction was based on what experts say is junk science. Duncan remains behind bars, and Richard Webster with ProPublica says the big question now is – to what degree, if any, is Duncan culpable for the little girl’s death?

Cut 10 (19) “…newly-uncovered evidence.”

Senator Bill Cassidy is hailing the 17-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment that Woodside Energy Group is making in Calcasieu Parish. Cassidy says it’s going to yield thousands of new jobs.

Cut 11 (11) “…year once operational.”

In a Senate committee hearing, lawmakers passed a bill that would ban kratom. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

If you need to go from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, or vice-versa, you’ll soon be able to take the mornin’ train. Amtrak is putting the finishing touches on the new Mardi Gras rail line connecting the two cities. The goal is to launch the service mid-July. Officials say the next phase of the project is connecting New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

A senate committee advances a bill that would ban the sale of kratom. Senate Bill 154 by Monroe Republican Jay Morris seeks to ban kratom entirely.

Cut 4 (12) “…families and to individuals.”

David Lebrano supports the bill and spoke to the dangers of the drug.  Lebrano’s son died from an apparent kratom overdose, and he hopes to prevent others from experiencing this pain.

Cut 5 (11) “…gas station, headshops, anywhere.”

Critics like kratom user and advocate Wednesday Forrest-Bear say the ban would take away from people using the product medically to help manage pain.

Cut 6 (06) “…regulate.”

The House approves measures that seek to lower the payouts car accident victims receive in court. Jeff Palermo reports that supporters say the legal reforms will help drive down auto insurance rates.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Coming up tomorrow, the House is expected to take up a measure giving the insurance commissioner the power to block excessive insurance rate increases. The bill, which Governor Landry supports and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple opposes, was on the House agenda yesterday, but it was pushed back.

The House advances bills that seek to reduce the big payouts car accident victims get after filing a lawsuit. Among them is Baton Rouge Republican Emily Chenevert’s (SHEN-UH-VAIR) bill, which says if a driver is 51-percent or more at fault for a wreck, they are not entitled to damages.

Cut 13 (12)  “…cover that.”

Louisiana is once again participating in the federal SUN Bucks program. The program provides eligible children between the ages of five and 18 120 dollars to use on food during the summer months when they’re out of school. Tim Jenkins, the economic stability director for the Department of Children and Family Services, says for those already receiving SNAP benefits, there’s nothing that they need to do.

Cut 9 (09)  “…household SNAP card.”

The House Transportation Committee votes down a measure that sought to eliminate the state’s vehicle inspection sticker program. The bill’s author, Stonewall Republican Larry Bagley argued that the requirement to get your vehicle inspected is government overreach.

Cut 4 (12) “…keep up with them.”

Critics argue inspections are often not properly conducted, while supporters, including inspection station owners, insist the program promotes road safety and maintains vehicle standards. Inspection station owner Kathy Slavant defended the integrity of the inspections.

Cut 7 (11) “…in what we do.”

The vote to defeat the bill was 6-to-5. Bagley says he’ll attempt to bring the bill back for another vote.

A bill that would have eliminated the need for motorists to get a vehicle inspection stickers failed in a 6-5 vote in the House Transportation Committee. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Oil and gas has long been a major driver in the state’s economy, and now we know exactly to what extent. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Balloon releases in Louisiana are one step closer to being illegal. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The House Transportation Committee voted 6-5 against a measure that sought to eliminate the state’s vehicle inspection sticker program. The bill’s author, Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley argues that the requirement to get your vehicle inspected is government overreach.

Cut 4 (12) “…keep up with them.”

Currently, vehicle owners must pay ten dollars for a one-year inspection sticker or 20 dollars for a two-year sticker. Bagley noted that 39 other states, including Texas this year, have ended similar programs.

Cut 5 (04) “…has the stickers.”

Critics argue inspections are often not properly conducted, while supporters, including inspection station owners, insist the program promotes road safety and maintains vehicle standards. Neal Underwood, representing inspection station owners, warned that removing the requirement could lead to increased accidents and higher insurance rates.

Cut 6 (08) “…insurance rate as well.”

Kathy Slavant, an inspection station operator, defended the integrity of the inspections.

Cut 7 (11) “…in what we do.”

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A new study shows that the oil and gas industry is a major driver of Louisiana’s economy. The study by the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association says the oil and gas industry generates 25-percent of the state’s economy. LAMOGA President Tommy Faucheux (foah-SHAY) says it proves how big a player the industry is in the state.

Cut 8 (14) “…the energy industry.”

Faucheux says the oil and gas industry also generates 15-percent of the state’s jobs and 19-percent of the state’s total earnings.

Cut 9 (10)  “…of the state.”

Faucheux says as technology evolves, there will be a lot of opportunity to build on these strong numbers in the years to come.

Cut 10 (12) “…talk about today.”

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State Treasurer John Fleming has some questions for Orleans Parish schools regarding questionable expenditures, thanks to a new law requiring schools to submit expenses to the K-12 school transparency website.  Fleming says two thousand dollars were given to Act Blue.

Cut 11 (08) “…something like that.”

Examination of the data revealed questionable expenditures, such as almost 250 thousand dollars on staff retreats, almost 170 thousand dollars on restaurants, and five thousand dollars for fireworks.  Fleming says all these expenses need to be accounted for and examined.

Cut 12 (05) “…it does now.”

Fleming praised the initiative, emphasizing that transparency promotes accountability, greater efficiency, better educational outcomes, and improved teacher pay by shedding light on how taxpayer money is used.

Cut 13 (08)  “…waste, fraud and abuse.”

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Balloon releases in Louisiana are one step closer to being illegal. The House passed HB581 by Harahan Republican John Illg, sending it to the Senate. Illg says balloon releases are tantamount to litter.

Cut 14 (12) “…the air here?”

Representative Illg says what goes up must come down; and when those balloons released into the air come down, they could have serious consequences for the environment and wildlife.

Cut 15 (06) “…into the air.”

There was no debate on the House floor before members voted; and as Speaker Phillip DeVillier announced, the vote was not unanimous.

Cut 16 (04) “…14 nays.”

For anyone over 16, penalties under Illg’s proposed legislation would be 150 dollars for a first offense, 250 dollars for a second offense and 500 dollars for each subsequent offense. The measure heads to the Senate for more consideration.

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The second-ranked LSU baseball team will host the top team from the Southland tonight. The Southeastern Louisiana Lions are at Alex Box Stadium. S-L-U is 33-11 overall, 18-6 in the Southland, and Coach Bobby Barbier’s team is coming off a series victory over Houston Christian…

Cut 17 (11)  “…season long.”

Southeastern Louisiana’s pitching staff ranks fourth in the Southland Conference with a team ERA of 3.28. Brennan Stuprich is their Friday night ace, with a team ERA of 2.06. But Barbier says they have several guys who are pitching well…

Cut 18 (23)  “…starting roles.”

Barbier says they are looking forward to playing the second-ranked Tigers…

Cut 19 (19) “…most of the year.”

The House Transportation Committee approves a bill that would prohibit drivers from using a handheld cell phone while driving. Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso says a person behind the wheel that is more focused on his phone than the road is a threat to other motorists.

Cut 11 (06) “…drunk driving”

Highway safety advocates say a ban on handheld cell phones while driving in Louisiana is really needed. But Alexandria defense attorney Ed Tarpley questions how the proposed law would be enforced, and he also believes it’s an overreach of government regulation…

Cut 14 (10) “…every day life.”

The Louisiana Legislature has rejected similar proposals to the past, but supporters of a ban on handling your cell phone while driving say the proposed legislation can help reduce auto insurance rates by reducing crashes.

The House Transportation committee votes against a bill that sought to eliminate the state’s vehicle inspection sticker program. The vote to turn the bill away was 6-to-5. It was sponsored by Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley.

Cut 4 (11) “…keep up with them.”

Critics argue inspections are often not properly conducted, while supporters, including inspection station owners, insist the program promotes road safety and maintains vehicle standards. Neal Underwood, representing inspection station owners, warned that removing the requirement could lead to increased accidents and higher insurance rates.

Cut 6 (08) “…insurance rate as well.”

Bagley noted that 39 other states, including Texas this year, have ended similar programs.

Over 30-thousand Caddo and Bossier Parish SWEPCO customers lost power Saturday because of grid instability, and PSC Commissioner Foster Campbell wants answers. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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The House Transportation Committee approves legislation prohibiting the use of hand held cell phones while driving. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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​PSC Commissioner Foster Campbell wants to know why there was a six-hour unplanned power outage on Saturday, with over 30-thousand SWEPCO customers in Bossier and Caddo parishes. SWEPCO spokesman Michael Corbin says that due to a directive from the Southwest Power Pool, the regional transmission organization. SPP identified grid instability and required SWEPCO to implement emergency outages to prevent widespread damage to power lines and equipment.

Cut 3 (12) “…their homes or businesses.”

SWEPCO began restoring power around 9 p.m. that evening, with approximately 87-hundred customers still without electricity. By the end of the night, all outages were resolved. As of Sunday, SWEPCO confirmed that grid conditions had stabilized and the situation had improved. ​Corbin says whatever caused this wasn’t a SWEPCO issue and a much larger issue possibly in another state.

Cut 4 (06) “…updates to it.”

SWEPCO expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the sudden outages, noting that the emergency nature did not allow for advance notice to customers. Corbin says there was no advanced warning from SPP, and SWEPCO was ordered to shut down immediately.

Cut 5 (08) “…in the future.”

Campbell is having a press conference with SPP and SWEPCO tomorrow and says he doesn’t want to point fingers, and wants to know why it happened and prevent future incidents like this from happening.

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Governor Landry is ordering state workers back to the office.

Cut 6 (06) “…their other colleagues.”

State employees were sent home to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Landry said remote work was one of the biggest negative effects of the pandemic.

Cut 7 (05) “…are more productive.”

Landry says state workers will be required to return to the office July 1st.

Cut 8 (09) “…back to work.”

Landry is also strongly encouraging employees of agencies that don’t fall within his authority to return to the office by that date.

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For the first time, Saints quarterback Derek Carr is speaking out about his injury to his right shoulder. Carr opened up about his injury while leading a service as a guest pastor at ChurchLV in Las Vegas, saying he has an MRI to prove that he has an injured shoulder.

Cut 9 (05)  “…forward with that.”

People are chiming in on social media speculating that Carr is faking the injury in an effort to either get traded or to be released from the Saints. Carr says all that talk is frustrating him.

Cut 10 (09) “…with this nonsense?”

Carr’s comments come as NFL Network’s Ian Rappoport has reported that Carr’s shoulder injury may sideline him for the entire 2025 season. Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis, however, is not ready to write off Carr’s season just yet, saying that the team is waiting for clarity.

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The House Transportation Committee approved a bill this morning that would prohibit drivers from using a handheld cell phone while driving. Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso says a person behind the wheel that is more focused on his phone than the road is a threat to other motorists.

Cut 11 (06) “…drunk driving”

The Louisiana Legislature has rejected similar proposals to the past, but supporters of a ban on handling your cell phone while driving say the proposed legislation can help reduce auto insurance rates, by reducing crashes.

But Alexandria defense attorney Ed Tarpley doubts this proposed law can reduce auto insurance rates.

Cut 12 (11) “…moving violation.”

Highway safety advocates say a ban on handheld cell phones while driving in Louisiana is really needed. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says the actual talking on a handheld device is not that big of a problem, it’s the texting while driving, the use of social media or streaming video that’s the real distraction.

Cut 13 (14)  “…in a crash.”

Tarpley questions how the proposed law would be enforced and he also believes it’s an overreach of government regulation…

Cut 14 (10) “…every day life.”

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The legislature is once again working to give teachers and school staff a permanent pay raise after Amendment 2 failed at the ballot box last month. The House Ways and Means Committee has advanced House Bill 573, which would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to eliminate three education trust funds and divert two-billion dollars to pay down retirement debt, using the savings towards teacher pay. Larry Carter, the president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, supports it, but he says passage of the amendment would come too late for the 2025-26 school year.

Cut 15 (07) “…amendment ultimately passed.”

Like Amendment 2, the plan would be to transform a two-thousand-dollar stipend for teachers and a one-thousand-dollar stipend for other school staff into permanent pay increases. Carter says don’t confuse that with pay raises.

Cut 16 (10) “…paychecks have not.”

H-B 573 now goes to the House Civil Law Committee.