Legislation to make it legal to have cremated pet remains buried with their owner advances from House Commerce. Minden Representative Wayne McMahen told committee members that each cemetery could opt to either allow pet remains or not, the bill only makes it no longer illegal to do so.

Cut 12 (07)    “…want to.” 

The bill passed without opposition and moves to the House floor.

The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Louisiana is $3.24. Typically, we see an increase this time of year, but the average has gone down a nickel in the last week. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says crude oil is selling for about $79 a barrel, this time last year it was $102 a barrel…

Cut 15 (12) “…right now”

Georges Media Group – the parent company of The Advocate & The Times-Picayune – announces it is expanding to Shreveport-Bossier City with a new digital news service. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 1 (33)  “I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Baton Rouge native and media personality Don Lemon was fired by CNN after 17 years with the news network. An official reason has not been released. Lemon was under scrutiny for his on-air remarks made in February about women and aging. His departure was announced on the same day as Fox News personality Tucker Carson was relieved of his duties.

Legislation to make it legal to have cremated pet remains buried with their owner advances from House Commerce. Minden Representative Wayne McMahen filed the legislation last year but pulled the bill after pushback from the Cemetery Association.

Cut 10 (11) “…or not to.” 

The bill makes it legal to have cremated animals’ remains declared as personal property and it’s still up to each individual cemetery to allow the practice or not. Boyd Mothe of Mothe Funeral Homes opposes the legislation on the grounds that cemeteries are dedicated properties for human remains only and are considered sacred.

Cut 11 (10)  “…property.”

The bill advances to the house floor.

The House Ways and Means approves legislation that would trim the state’s sales tax by two-tenths of a percent starting in July. The state sales tax is currently 4.45 percent, but .45 percent will expire in July 2025. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala believes it would be a good idea to start phasing it out this year…:

Cut 11 (09)  “…future.”

And House Ways and Means approves legislation to extend the state’s film tax credit program to 2035. The program which costs the state 180-million dollars every year is set to expire in two years. Some say they credits yield little or no real return on investment, but Louisiana Film and Entertainment President Trey Burvant begs to differ…:

CUT 15(13)      “…film industry.”

Both bills move to the House floor. debate.

A Caddo Parish man died after being trapped between his semi-truck and his barn at his home Saturday. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson Rod White says the victim and his wife were moving the truck and the wife – who was driving the tractor – didn’t realize her husband had gotten out of the truck while she was pushing it and he got pinned.

Cut 4 (12)  “…the truck” 

The House Ways and Means Committee approves legislation to extend the state’s film tax credit program to 2035. The program which costs the state 180-million dollars every year is set to expire in 2025. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder’s legislation also calls for a graphic to be shown in the credits that lets viewers know where the movie was made.

Cut 14 (12)  “…tourists in.”

Since January of 2022, 12 cases of Chronic Wasting Disease have been detected in Louisiana, all from Tensas Parish. State Wildlife Veterinarian Jim LaCour says they implemented a control plan that included feeding and baiting bans to prevent the spread of the disease, free testing for hunters, and banning the export of deer central nervous tissue from the area.

Cut 9 (05) “…. the area.”

The plan was implemented in Tensas and portions of Franklin and Madison Parishes. They’ll continue testing when bow season starts in October.

A Louisiana woman has set a Guinness World Record for largest Afro of a living female. 47-year-old Aevin Dugas’ afro is five feet wide and it’s the third time she’s set a record in the last 13 years. She says it all started 24 years ago when she let her hair go natural…

Cut 11 (10)  “…came about.”

The House Ways and Means Committee approves legislation that would extend the state’s film tax credit program to 2035. The program which costs the state 150-million dollars every year is set to expire in 2025. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says the credits create jobs.

Cut 13 (09) “…community stronger” 

Independent studies have shown that despite the jobs gained, the state loses money with this program.

Eleven Louisiana deer tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease during the 2022-23 hunting season, which brings the total to 12. All of the CWD cases have been in Tensas Parish. LDWF State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Jim LaCour says when the first one in January 2022 was detected, they implemented a control plan.

Cut 8 (11)  “…the future.” 

A Lafourche grand jury convicts 47-year-old Travis Orso of Golden Meadow in the 2020 drowning death of his girlfriend, Dione Cheramie. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 1 (29)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

Legislation to add exceptions for rape and incest to the state’s abortion ban has also prompted other legislation in this regular session. Lift Louisiana Executive Director Michelle Erenberg says House Bill would make it easier to get an abortion to treat miscarriages, mainly getting one doctor to sign off on the abortion instead of two….

Cut 13 (08) “…appropriate healthcare.” 

Legislation to allow individuals to be buried with the cremated remains of their pet is set to be heard in House Commerce today. It’s currently illegal to have the cremated remains of an animal inside a person’s coffin. Minden Representative Wayne McMahen says his legislation lets each cemetery decide if it’s permitted.

Cut 5 (11)   “…of pets.”.

New labor data shows Louisiana setting another record high. Louisiana Workforce Commission economist Emily DePalma the record-high is now 2-million, 30-thousand, 553 people working. The largest gains came in construction, mining, logging, private education, and health services…:

Cut 8 (08) “…New Orleans area.”

A Louisiana woman holds the Guinness record for the largest afro for the third time in 13 years. You’d think 47-year-old Aevin Dugas – of Reserve with a five-foot afro would be noticeable but she says she doesn’t wear it out often. Dugas says it takes a lot of adjustments when she does have it styled naturally.

Cut 12 (11)    “…daily basis” 

She says she hopes to inspire young girls that look like her to love everything about themselves.

A second arrest in the shooting death of Calvin High softball coach Chad Camp. Camp was killed last Saturday, allegedly by his 17-year-old son, Andrew. Winn Sheriff Cranford Jordan (Jer-don) says 42-year-old Jessica Shea, has been charged with obstruction of justice and four counts of contributing to a minor.

Cut 5 (06) “…investigated.”

The son attended a party at She’s home before he came home and quarreled with his father.

Legislation requiring homeowner insurance companies to provide discounts on their premiums to property owners who fortify their roofs to code was approved by House Insurance. Bill author, Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo…

Cut 10 (11) “…insurance companies.” 

House Bill 309 heads to the House floor.

The House Ways and Means Committee approves legislation for a tax break to the oil industry. Eunice Representative Phillip DeVillier’s measure would gradually reduce the state’s severance tax from 12.5 percent to 8.5 percent by the year 2032. He says it would result in more oil production…:

Cut 7 (09)  “..going down” 

If approved, the state would lose $90-million in tax revenue over the next five years.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about your Celtic roots or you’re a fan of plaid, Minden is the place to be Saturday for the 2023 Scottish Tartan Festival.  The festival which began in the 90s, for the first time is being held downtown, and organizer Shelia Hoh (Hoe) there’s plenty of music to suit anyone’s taste.

Cut 12 (06) “…of course.” 

It begins at 10 am Saturday.

Legislation requiring homeowner insurance companies to provide discounts or credits on their premiums for property owners who fortify their roofs to code was approved by the House Insurance Committee. Bill author Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo says it’s about giving consumers incentives to fortify their homes.

Cut 9 (10) “…. stabilize rates.”

And House Ways and Means approved a bill to give a tax break to the oil industry. Eunice Representative Phillip DeVillier’s measure would gradually reduce the state’s severance tax from 12.5 percent to 8.5 percent by the year 2032. Devillier says this particular tax is higher than many other oil-producing states.

Cut 6 (10)  “…3.75 percent” 

The proposal heads to the House floor.

A House Committee advances a bill to crack down on home burglars, by classifying that as a crime of violence. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 1 (33)  “I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Louisiana’s workforce sets a new record for March with a record 2-million 30-thousand 553 gainfully employed in the state. An increase of almost nine thousand from February. The unemployment rate is 3.6 percent, the lowest rate for March and tied for the second lowest in the state’s history.

Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s “Buckle Up In Your Truck” campaign gets underway Saturday, Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

The House Education Committee has approved legislation that would require colleges to waive tuition costs for disabled veterans. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox…

Cut 13 (07) “…deserve this.” 
There are 300,000 veterans in Louisiana and about 20% receive disability compensation.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about your Celtic roots or you’re a fan of plaid, Minden is the place to be Saturday for the 2023 Scottish Tartan Festival.  The festival which began in the 90s, for the first time is being held downtown, and organizer Shelia Hoh (Hoe) there’s plenty of music to suit anyone’s taste.

Cut 12 (06) “…of course.” 

Along with American bluegrass music that was created by early immigrants from Scotland and Ireland.

The festival gets underway at 10 AM and the final bagpipe will play at 6 PM.

A House bill to make simple burglary a violent crime in Louisiana clears its first legislative hurdle in House Criminal Justice. Bill author Kenner Representative Debbie Villio, says burglary victims feel violated, even if they were not home when the crime occurred. She says it affects one’s trust and feeling of safety..:

AM Cut 24 (08)  “…anger and frustration.”

The bill would add simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling to the list of violent crimes and punishable as such.

A measure mandating statewide screening for dyslexia for kindergarteners is headed to the House floor. Gretna Representative Joe Marino the bill author says it’s time to change the educational narrative for students in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (08) “….the school.”

The tests only cost $1.50 per student.

Legislation to keep nonspecific murder ballad lyrics from being submitted as evidence in a criminal trial advances from House Criminal Justice. Houma Representative and attorney, Tanner Magee wants to preserve artistic expression but at the same time recognize that one might describe an actual murder in a song.

AM Cut 25 (08) “…come in.”

Magee referred to a list of 25 Louisiana court cases where song lyrics were admitted as evidence, and more than half of the convictions were appealed based on the admittance of questionable evidence.

A bill to make operating rooms safer advances from Senate Health and Welfare. Bill author, Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux says heat-producing equipment used in surgeries can create a smoke plume that could obscure a physician’s view.

Cut 3 (10) “…other things.”
It requires facilities to adopt policies to address the issue.

Legislation to terminate the parental rights of the violator if a child is conceived as a result of sexual assault is before the legislature. And if a mother wants to place her child for adoption, Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response (STAR) President Morgan Lamandre says this bill would also terminate the perpetrator’s rights to intervene in the adoption process.

Cut 5 (12) “…their rapist.”

The bill goes to the House Floor next.

A new HULU series – Andscape’s Algiers, America: The Relentless Pursuit – chronicles the Edna Karr High Cougars football team. Special Teams Coordinator Norman Randall says the director was able to guide the documentary in a way that will inspire.

Cut 15 (09)  “…LSU flourishing.”

Science provides South Louisiana lawmen with a big break in a 33-year-old missing person’s cold case. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Keith Nale the Shreveport firefighter who appeared on two seasons of Survivor has died after a long battle with cancer. Nale appeared on season 29 in 2014 and made it to the final four and returned for season 31 in 2015. Nale was 62.