A Baton Rouge man found not guilty by reason of insanity after telling authorities God told him to kill himself when in 2019, he rammed his truck into a 51-year-old woman’s car, killing her, is no longer in a state mental facility. 21-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney James Manasseh says when one pleads guilty by reason of insanity, they still have to meet conditions set forth by the Judge.

Cut 4  (12) “…anticipated.”

A Slidell man sustained significant injuries in a squirrel attack this morning. Slidell Police Department spokesman Daniel Seuzeneau (Soos-ih-no).

Cut 6  (12) “…the man’s hand.” 

This is the second reported squirrel attack in Slidell this year, the other happened at Mardi Gras parade in February.

Starting next month, Entergy will give its customers the option to purchase power that comes from a renewable energy source like solar power. Entergy’s director of regulatory affairs Elizabeth Ingram says it’s part of their goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050…

Cut 12 (11) “…to bring customers.” 

If customers decide to receive their electricity from a renewable energy source, a small fee is attached.

Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says gamblers have wagered 628-million dollars in the five months since sports betting started in Louisiana and that’s resulted in seven million dollars in tax revenue for the state….

Cut 15 (06)  “…pleased with.”

A Senate committee passes a bill to repeal Louisiana’s 2016 “Raise the Age” law. Current law assures all persons under 18 who commit serious crimes are tried in juvenile court. The bill seeks to lower the age limit to 17 so that convicted 17-year-old offenders are sent to an adult prison. Attorney General Jeff Landry referenced a New Orleans carjacking in which a woman was dragged to death, the suspects are minors…:

Cut 7 (10) “…tried as adults.”
The bill now heads to the Senate.

Louisiana Gaming Commission Chairman Ronnie Johns says sports gamblers wagered $628.3 million in the first five months of the expansion for online betting.

Cut 13 (10) “…it works”

Sports wagering has generated $7.4 million in tax revenue for Louisiana.

Next month Entergy customers will have the option to get some or all of their electricity from renewable energy sources. Director of regulatory affairs Elizabeth Ingram says the Green Select program allows customers the option of receiving 25 to up to 100 percent of their power from facilities like the Capital Region Solar site in West Baton Rouge.

Cut 10 (08) “…renewable sources.”

Visit renew-dot-entergy-dot-com.

Festival International is back and the five-day music festival kicks off tonight in Lafayette. This year the event which features musical acts, crafts, and food from all over the globe, there’s a new cashless payment system. Spokesperson Brad Cradeur says you can register for an account ahead of time on their website FestivalInternational-dot-org

Cut 5 (10) “…bank account.”

After receiving feedback in Senate Judiciary C Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow will not move forward with a bill this session to allow judges to sentence a convicted sex offender to surgical castration if the victim is under the age of 13. Baton Rouge Senator Bodi White says he’s seen video from sex crime prosecutors where young children are raped and he can’t wait to vote for the legislation…

Cut 14 (09)  “…threw up.”

Barrow plans to research the bill and refile next year.

A bill to repeal Louisiana’s 2016 “Raise the Age” law passes a Senate committee without objection. The bill means more 17-year-olds could be tried as adults. Attorney General Jeff Landry spoke of the New Orleans carjacking last month, in which a woman was dragged to death by a group of minors…:

Cut 7 (10) “…tried as adults.

The Senate overwhelmingly approves a bill to criminalize the act of prescribing, distributing, or administrating abortion pills without an in-person visit with a doctor. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says out of the state businesses are selling the pills online to women in Louisiana to take without physician oversight…

Cut 10 (10) “…for women”

The bill moves to the House.

After 850 nursing home patients were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida, resulting in more than a dozen deaths, House Bill 291 gives LDH the ability to reject questionable evacuation plans. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says Health and Welfare members repeatedly asked who approved a plan to evacuate patients to a warehouse where patients’ bedding consisted of mattresses on the floor.

Cut 4  (04) “…and process.”

The bill advances to the House.

After 850 nursing home patients were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida, legislation to give the state more oversite powers have been proposed this session. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds’s bill overwhelmingly passed in the House.

Cut 3 approve the plan :10

In the Senate there’s a bill charging the State Fire Marshal’s Office with inspection of evacuation plans.

The Senate overwhelmingly approves legislation to criminalize the act of prescribing, distributing, or administrating abortion pills without an in-person visit with a licensed doctor. Bill author, Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says current law prohibiting such activity is unclear…

Cut 9 (12) “…in Louisiana.”

The bill moves to the House.

The House approves a bill requiring insurers that offer loss of use of coverage to provide two weeks of expenses to policyholders even if a mandatory evacuation isn’t called. The legislation is in response to Ida which rapidly intensified and didn’t allow for a mandatory evacuation, Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel’s bill keeps them from denying such coverage in the future.

Cut 13 (10) “…(x2) be triggered”

A bill heading to the House floor would make it illegal under state law to refuse to rent or sell housing to a person because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Metairie Republican Representative Polly Thomas questions the need when it’s already illegal under federal law…

cut 5 (12) “….to be adequate”

The House approves a bill requiring insurers that offer loss of use of coverage to provide two weeks of evacuation living expenses to policyholders even if a mandatory evacuation is not called. Some companies did not pay expenses due to technicality over evacuations with Ida. Pollock Representative Gabe Firment worries that one area of the state could impact insurance rates in other parts.

Cut 14 (10)  “…and Monroe.”

Kenner Representative Joseph Stagni informed him it doesn’t create new coverage it only forces an insurance company to pay expenses of those who have the coverage.

A proposal to double the speeding fines on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is heading to the Senate floor after it received approval from Senate Finance. Senate President Page Cortez’s legislation needed Finance approval due to the expense of additional speed limit signs and cameras to issue tickets…
Cut 11 (04) “…speed limit.”

A New Orleans wrestler becomes the first high-school athlete in the state to sign a deal for his name, image, and likeness. David Grubb has more…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

The Pelicans are hoping for another win tonight in Game Five of the playoff series. The Pels are in Phoenix and tipoff is at 9 PM, so fans might want to work in a nap today. The series is tied at two and two and game six on Thursday returns to New Orleans.

A bill to prohibit housing discrimination based on one’s gender identity or sexual orientation advances from House Commerce. A motion was made to kill the bill and it received a terse response from New Orleans Democrat Rep. Royce Duplessis, who pointed out that not one person who filed an opposition “red card” chose to come to committee and testify against the bill.

Cut 6 (09)  “…you can kill a bill.”

The bill now goes to the House floor.

Senate Finance approves legislation to double the speeding fines on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. Senate President Page Cortez wants to use cameras to issue speeding tickets based on how fast it takes a vehicle to get from one end to the other…

Cut 10 (05) “…the exits.”

The speed limit is 60 on the 18-mile bridge and vehicles that make it across faster than 18 minutes could receive a ticket in the mail.

The House approves a bill requiring insurers that offer loss of use of coverage to provide two weeks of evacuation living expenses to policyholders even if a mandatory evacuation is not called. The legislation is in response to Hurricane Ida which rapidly intensified and didn’t allow for a mandatory evacuation. Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel’s bill will keep insurance companies from denying such coverage in the future.

Cut 13 (10) “…(x2) be triggered”

Brother Martin High School wrestler Richie Clementi is one of the best in the state and the New Orleans freshman just signed a four-figure name, image and likeness deal. His father Rich Clementi believes more student-athletes may be able to stick with sports like wrestling now because financial support is available.

Cut 9 (12)  “…overall process.”

House Civil Law Committee approves legislation giving Louisianans the right to accept or reject any form of health care. Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman says he wrote the legislation after some people lost their job over not getting a COVID vaccine. The measure passed on an eleven to one vote, Lake Charles Representative Wilford Carter was the lone no vote because current law prohibits the firing of an employee for race, age, gender, and disability and this proposal would add a fifth basis for why you can’t be fired…

Cut 13 (07) “…is doing.”

Frieman says the legislation does not prohibit an employer from instituting a vaccine mandate and it’s intended to give citizens a legal right to reject any medical treatment…

Cut 14 (08)  “…or care.”

The measure now heads to the House.

The House approves a bill requiring insurers that offer loss of use of coverage to provide two weeks of evacuation living expenses to policyholders even if a mandatory evacuation is not called. The legislation is in response to Hurricane Ida which rapidly intensified and didn’t allow for a government-ordered mandatory evacuation Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegal’s bill will keep insurance companies from denying such coverage in the future.

Cut 13 (10) “…would be triggered”

The bill passed 68 to 91.

Senate Finance approves legislation to double the speeding fines on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. Senate President Page Cortez wants to use cameras to issue speeding tickets based on how fast it takes a vehicle to get from one end to the other…

Cut 10 (05) “…the exits.”

The speed limit is 60 on the 18-mile bridge and vehicles that make it across faster than 18 minutes could receive a ticket in the mail.

Senator Cleo Fields has a bill on the table that would require cable and internet service providers to provide rebates after disasters…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

The Coast Guard has suspended the search for three children in the Mississippi River. An eight-year-old girl, a 14-year-old girl, and a 15-year-old boy entered the water in Algiers near the Crescent City Connection Bridge before sunset on Saturday. A New Orleans TV station reports one of the girls fell into the water, prompting the other two to try and save her.

A bill to allow a sexual assault victim to receive a copy of their forensic medical exam if requested will be heard in the Louisiana Senate today. Bill Author, Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says the healthcare provider who performed the examination must turn over the exam within two weeks of the request.  received.

Cut 5 (12) “…like that.”

Behind 30 points from Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans evened their best of seven playoff series with the Suns at two games apiece as New Orleans dribbled past Phoenix 118 to 103. Ingram becomes the first player in franchise history to score 30 points or more in three straight playoff games…

Cut 13 (10) “…right spot.”
Game five is Tuesday night in Phoenix.

During an attempt to pull over a stolen Ford-450 in Labadivelle Sunday morning, State Police are now investigating and deputy-involved shooting with Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Deputies. LSP says after a short pursuit of 26-year-old Rhett Thibodeaux of Larose the suspect put the truck in reverse towards deputies, and a service weapon was discharged killing Thibodeaux as a result.
An LSU student-founded outdoorsman’s company wins big in a prestigious business plan pitching competition. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”\
A bill to allow a sexual assault victim, if requested, to receive a copy of their forensic medical exam is scheduled to be heard in the Louisiana Senate today. Bill author Senator Beth Mizell and STAR Legal Director Morgan LeMandare says they were told at a  sexual assault oversite commission meeting why victims are denied a copy of the report….
Cut 6 (12) “…through something (right).”
The Pelicans outscored Suns last night with a 118-103 victory to even up their opening-round series at two games each. It was an electric weekend in New Orleans, with sold-out crowds making their presence felt in both games. Pelicans coach Willie Green says it was something special.
Cut 14 (11) “…behind us.”
Next game is Tuesday night in Phoenix.

For LRN I’m Erik Piccoli
A four-year-old Baton Rouge toddler was found unresponsive as they were allegedly forced to drink alcohol. The coroner says China Record’s blood alcohol concentration was a deadly point-six-eight-zero. BRPD Spokesperson L’Jean McNeely says the victim’s grandmother 53-year-old Roxanne Record and mother 28-year-old Kadjah Record were both charged, even though the investigation indicates the grandmother forced the child to drink the whiskey.
Cut 4 (10) “…unconscious.”
McKneely says this is just one of many heartbreaking cases where a child’s life ended due to abuse. The case remains under investigation.
And Houma Representative Tanner Magee considers himself a music aficionado, and as one, something has bothered him for a very long time…the fact that the city of Memphis lays claim as the home of rock and roll. A trip to the legendary Sun Records studio years ago has inspired him to propose HB 889, which would create a rock and roll museum in New Orleans.
Cut 6 (12) “…comes to Memphis.”
The pill passed House Municipal and now heads to the floor for further debate.
I’m Erik Piccoli
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Should Louisiana increase the number of medical marijuana pharmacy licenses? That’s a debate underway in the ongoing legislative session. Current law provides for the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy to issue no more than ten, but Gretna Representative Joe Marino has a bill to increase the limit to 25…
Cut 9 (12) “…access to it.”
The House Health and Welfare Committee has approved Marino’s bill and a full House vote is scheduled next week.
And the estimated Powerball jackpot for tonight’s drawing is at just over $400-million. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says ticket sales always soar when jackpots get this high…:
Cut 13 (08) “…for two dollars.”
This drawing comes one day after the Powerball celebrated its 30 year anniversary
For the LRN I’m Erik Piccoli