The special session to redraw the state’s congressional map ended without passing a new map. U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick has ordered attorneys to submit maps for her to consider for a June 29^th hearing. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says but a map chosen by Dick could be overturned if the appeals court approves the map Republicans approved in February.

Cut 7 (08) “…clue right now.”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he intends to sign into law a replacement for Louisiana’s so-called “trigger law” that bans all abortions even though it doesn’t provide exceptions for rape or incest. Despite interest groups’ calls for a veto, Edwards says killing the bill will accomplish nothing at all…:

Cut 10 (09) “…exception either.”

The FDA has authorized emergency use of the Moderna and Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines for children under 5 years of age. Dr. Mark Kline is the physician-in-chief and chief medical officer at Children’s Hospital New Orleans says both shots are safe and effective. And he wants to let parents know it’s a myth that kids can’t get Covid, or that they wouldn’t get very sick if they did…:

Cut 16 (13)  “all preventable illnesses”

A murder in Natchitoches resulted in a police chase of the suspect; all the way into Rapides Parish, where the suspect crashed his vehicle. Authorities say a 24-year-old North Carolina man shot the victim, abducted his girlfriend and ran. The woman escaped the car in Alexandria, but the officers chased the man to Glenmora, where he ran off the road. He was found with a self-inflicted gunshot and is currently in the hospital. He’ll be jailed once released.

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As the June 20^th court-imposed deadline lingers, Senate Governmental Affairs debated one bill for almost five hours on Thursday. Committee members voted to hold Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields’ bill over for debate until Friday. Fields’ bill has two Black-majority districts instead of one. He says delaying the vote is a slippery slope on the existing timeline.

Cut 4 (08)  “…Federal court.”

Committee Chair, Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt, who also has a congressional map bill in the special session, countered when Fields when reminded members of the looming deadline

Cut 5 (07) “…our job.”

Senate Governmental Affairs is scheduled to meet at 1 this afternoon.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon addresses homeowners’ worries after Lighthouse Excalibur, cancels tens of thousands of property insurance policies.  Lighthouse customers have until the end of June to secure new coverage. And he says that’s not ALL of the bad news, though…:

Cut 8 (10)  “…Southern Fidelity Insurance Company.”

Call the Department of Insurance for more information.

State offices are closed today for the first official observance of Juneteenth. Baton Rouge Representative Larry Selders who advocated for Juneteenth says while some didn’t know the history of the holiday, he believes we can reckon with the worst of our shared past while working toward a better future.

Cut 12 (11) “…progress.” 

Federal offices will be closed on Monday.

Lawmakers in Senate Governmental Affairs debated only one map for five hours Thursday and opted to hold the vote over for another day. A June 20^th court-imposed deadline remains in effect despite a request for an extension.

In discussions over Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields’ map, Slidell Senator, and committee chair Sharon Hewitt, criticized his map with two Black-majority districts because it would spilt a community in her own district.

Cut 3 (15) “…your plan.”

Hewitt’s map was never bought up for discussion Thursday.

Jared Evans, with the Legal Defense Fund, endorsed Fields’ Congressional map.

Cut 4  (10) “…called for”

House Governmental Affairs has four maps to consider in committee Friday morning at 9.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest, and conviction of those responsible for the homicide of 17-year-old Shamia Little. Little who died 11 months ago from a single gunshot wound. Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith….

Cut 12 (10) “…please help us.”  

A watchdog group calls for review of a Tangipahoa Parish case where a rape victim was ordered to pay child support to her alleged attacker. Metropolitan Crime Commission director Rafael Goyeneche says John Barnes could be guilty of rape, but – if he is the confirmed father of a child he should be investigated at least for Canal Knowledge of a Juvenile; not rewarded with child support…:

Cut 15 (13) “…should take place.” 

Lawmakers are discussing two Congressional maps in Senate Governmental Affairs in an effort to meet the June 20^th court-imposed deadline. In discussions over Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields’ map, Republican and Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt believes the current enacted map meets the guidelines set forth by the Voting Rights Act with only one majority Black district.

Cut 5  (12) “…and state law”

With a third of the state’s population Black, Fields says the Congressional map should reflect and allow for proper representation of minorities. He argued that the current map approved by the majority Republican legislature is not fair.

Cut 6  (08) “…come on now.” 

US Judge Shelly Dick denied a request from Senate President Page Cortez and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder for a deadline extension.

At around 2 am this morning, five juveniles escaped from the Bridge City Center for Youth. The Office of Juvenile Justice went into an immediate lockdown and notified law enforcement. OJJ spokesperson Nicolette Gordon says three of the five have been located and they’ve established a temporary command center to assist in collecting and distributing information to aid in their capture.

Cut 8 (11) “…Information Database.” 

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any individuals responsible for the homicide of Shamia Little. The 17-year-old was found deceased about 11 months ago near a park in Shreveport from a single gunshot wound. Special Agent Doug Williams…

Cut 10 (10) ” …forward.” 

Senate Governmental Affairs is meeting to discuss two potential Congressional district maps. One map submitted by Baton Rouge Senator and Democrat Cleo Fields contains two majority-Black districts which would meet the stipulations handed down by a federal judge and the other is by Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt that only has one majority-Black district.

The session began yesterday, and Fields called out Hewitt who believes the map with only one majority-Black district that passed in the February session is legal. Fields says Hewitt, who attended town hall meetings heard from voters across the state.

Cut 15 (05)  “…black district.”

Hewitt however feels the Congressional map that lawmakers gave final passage to during the redistricting session is lawful.

Cut 16 (12)  “…here we are.”

Even though Republican lawmakers have said six-days is not enough time for them to pass a new map with two majority-Black districts Governor Edwards believes otherwise. Edwards issued a statement this morning that it is too early to cancel the present session, he says major legislation has been passed in similar time frames.

Cut  11 (12)  “…was passed.” 

The US House of Representatives has passed the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, that would give Louisiana $15 million annually to prevent wildlife extinction. The bill has bipartisan support and Executive Director of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation Rebecca Triche says the bill is expected to be voted on in the Senate next month.

Cut 6 (12)  “…additional funding.”

State lawmakers began a special session today called to redraw a Congressional map with two Black majority districts. Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder believes the Congressional district map they approved in February with one majority district is fair and constitutional, but they will begin hearings on Friday to debate other proposals…

Cut 12 (06) “…these bills”  

The Black Legislative Caucus is supporting identical map proposals from Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields and New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis that create two majority-minority districts. Duplessis says a federal judge has ordered the Legislature to do this…

Cut 13 (08) “…2nd Amendment rights.”

the session is set to end Monday, while legislative leaders will ask a federal judge tomorrow for more time to approved a map.

For the second summer in a row, Louisiana is seeing an increase in RSV, the respiratory virus that usually causes wintertime colds in children. Dr. Mark Klein, physician in chief at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans says the RSV surge has also been responsible for placing some children in intensive care. He says severe cases of RSV are usually limited to infants in their first year of life.

Cut 4  (07) “…heart disease”

There’s a potential sign gas prices are peaking because Louisiana did not set a new record today for a statewide average. The average remains $4.55 for a gallon of regular gasoline. Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute Eric Smith says the flow of gasoline around the world has been disrupted due to ban on Russian oil. But even if the ban ended tomorrow, it would take a while for gas prices to moderate…

Cut 7 (07) “…pocketbook” 

There’s a potential sign gas prices are peeking as Louisiana did not set a new record today for a statewide average. It’s at $4.55 for a gallon of regular gas, the same as yesterday. But Eric Smith, Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute says don’t expect any real relief until later this year…

Cut 6  (10) “…development activity.” 

For the second summer in a row, Louisiana is seeing an increase in RSV, the respiratory virus that usually causes wintertime colds in children. Dr. Mark Klein, physician in chief at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans believes the wearing of masks during the first year of the pandemic curbed the number of RSV cases.

Cut 3 (07) “…from it.”

He says it’s placed some children in intensive care.

A special session called by the governor for the Legislature to redraw a Congressional district map with two majority Black Districts is set to begin at noon today. A federal judge has determined the map approved by majority Republican lawmakers in February violates the Voting Rights Act. New Orleans Democrat, Representative Mandie Landry expects they’ll revisit maps presented during the first redistricting session…

Cut 16 (07)  “…Congressional maps.”
Louisianans with much of their wealth invested in stocks are growing worried about the emerging bear market. The Dow Jones and the S&P500 have both dropped around 20 percent, triggered by fears a recession is looming. Financial investments advisor Matt Kennedy says do not panic, but be ready to ride out some rough fiscal times…:

Cut 10 (07) “…level out some.”
Kennedy says selling stocks may not be the best move at this time.

A special session called by the governor for the Legislature to redraw a Congressional district map with two majority Black Districts is set to begin at noon. A federal judge has determined the map approved by lawmakers in February violates the Voting Rights Act, but Covington Republican Representative Mark Wright says he’d rather wait for the appeals process to be completed…
Cut 15 (08)  “…of 105.”

The governor signs Senate Bill 250 into law, its legislation that overhauls the state’s name, image, and likeness guidelines by allowing colleges and universities, affiliates, and boosters to compensate athletes directly. Bill author Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says it’s necessary for Louisiana to remain competitive.

Cut 7 (06) “…around the nation.”

As Wall Street finds itself slipping into a bear market, Louisiana investors are warned not to make panicky decisions.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

A corrections officer from Elayn Hunt Correctional Center was arrested Tuesday and charged with malfeasance in office and injuring public records. While investigating an inmate’s suicide the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office says 28-year-old Master Sergeant Samantha Joubert falsified records that she made routine rounds at the prison when she did not. Joubert remains on suspension pending the investigation.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he opposes the idea of sending the National Guard to New Orleans to help with the city’s crime problems. Edwards says guardsmen are soldiers, not law enforcement.

Cut 5  (06) “…an answer”

New Orleans has seen a 37-percent increase in fatal shootings and a 28-percent increase in armed robberies in 2022, compared to this time last year.

The debate on gun safety rages on in the wake of multiple mass shootings. Former State Representative Melissa Flournoy, an adjunct professor at LSU and chair of the organization 10-thousand Women Louisiana says unless we make some major changes, the next senseless tragedy is inevitable.

Cut 9 (12) “…military-style weapon.”

Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s effort to pass a concealed carry bill without a permit was derailed in the final days of the legislative session when the legislation was completely amended to allow schoolteachers to carry guns. McCormick does not believe the amendment was sincere…

Cut 6  (09) “…Senate floor.” 

McCormick’s bill was heavily amended days after the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s glad lawmakers from both sides have worked together to provide legislation to address not only rampage shootings, but mental health, and even personal restraining orders. However, he says there are some things he and other Republicans will not compromise on.

Cut 14 (11)  “…to be infringed.”