Legislation mandating the 10 Commandments be displayed in public school and college classrooms passes in the Senate on a 30 to 8 vote. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplesis challenged Bossier City Senator Adam Bass who presented House Bill 71 in the upper chamber.

Cut 24 (13) “…agree with that”

Duplesis said the bill is unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment by promoting one religion over another. Monroe Senator Jay Morris amended the bill to recognize the 10 Commandments as a historical document…

Cut 25 (11) “…mandate it.” 

The amended bill returns to the House for final passage.

Governor Jeff Landry held two town hall meetings Thursday pushing for passage of the Gator Scholarship Program, which would give all families the ability to use taxpayer dollars to pay for private school. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landry is having trouble building support for the program in the state Senate…

PM Cut 12 (08) “…in the Senate.” 

Opponents are concerned about the cost of the program, an estimated 500-million dollars by the third year.

The US Supreme Court ruled Louisiana’s congressional map with two majority-Black districts will be used for the fall election. Opponents say the most recent map was based on race; NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney Jared Evans says it was politics that altered Congressman Garett Grave’s district into a second majority-Black district.

Cut 11 (06) ” …for governor.”

Authorities say a 15-year-old girl from Terrebonne Parish was sexually abused, set on fire, and shot twice. Sean Richardson reports a car crash in Texas likely saved her life.

Cut 1 (35)  “…I’m Sean Richardson”

Authorities have confirmed plastic surgeon Dr. Lou Doucet was killed in a plane crash in Tennessee on Wednesday. Doucet, an Opelousas native was flying the plane from Gonzales yesterday morning to Kentucky. The identities of the two passengers who also perished have not been released.

Louisiana is in for some pretty bad weather that should start tonight and go through Saturday.  The whole state will get hit and the most severe areas being from Baton Rouge to Alexandria. LSU Climatologist, Barry Keim.

Cut 3 (14) “…next 36 hours or so.” 

There is a chance for tornados and hail for a lot of the state.

The US Supreme Court ruled Louisiana’s congressional map with two majority-Black districts will be used for the fall election. Opponents say the legislature’s most recent map was based on race; NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney Evans says politics was the driving factor that altered Congressman Garett Grave’s district into a second majority-Black district.

Cut 11 (06) ” …for governor.”

Authorities say 41-year-old Terrence Washington of Thibodaux was sexually abusing a 15-year-old and the teen’s mother blamed her daughter and then set her on fire. Cops say on April 18th Washington shot the teen in the chest and face. Then on April 20th, they left the state. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Department Lt. Blake Tabor…

Cut 6  (08) “..by law enforcement. ” 

The teen was taken to the hospital and it was clear the teen’s injuries were from abuse. Both Washington and the child’s mother have been arrested.

The US Supreme Court says the most recent congressional map with two black-majority districts will be used for Louisiana’s fall election. NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney Jared Evans believes the ruling came down to timing.

Cut 10 (06) “…a new map.” 

Qualifying for the fall election is mid-July.

The Louisiana Legislature has sent a bill to the governor’s desk that bans the sale of nitrous oxide. Also known as laughing gas, it’s sold in metal canisters in convenience stores and smoke shops. It can be used to make homemade whipped cream, but director of the Louisiana’s Poison Control Center, Mark Ryan, says some use it for human consumption, which is dangerous…

Cut 5 (15) “…including Amazon.” 
If Governor Jeff Landry signs this bill, Louisiana would become the first state to completely ban public sale of nitrous oxide.

Governor Jeff Landry held a pair of town hall meetings this morning in the New Orleans area to push for the passage of the Gator Scholarship Program, which would give all families the ability to use taxpayer dollars to pay for private school. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landry is having trouble building support for the program in the Senate…

Cut 12 (08) “…in the Senate.” 

Opponents are concerned about the costs with an estimated 500-million dollars the programs in its third year.

The US Supreme Court rules Louisiana’s congressional map with two majority-Black districts will be used for the fall election. NAACP Legal Defense Fund Attorney Jared Evans says he’s pleased to finally tell his clients…

Cut 9 (12) “…joy today.” 

But an attorney for Republican plaintiffs, which included Congressman Garret Graves, says the state has enacted a map of a brutal racial gerrymander.

With inclement weather anticipated the LSU Ole Miss baseball game start time has been moved to 4 o’clock today. Most of the state is under a flash flood watch from 1 pm until 1 pm tomorrow. Widespread rainfall amounts of two to six inches and up to 12 inches is possible.

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser is in France this week at the Cannes International Film Festival to promote Louisiana film production to an international market. Sean Richardson has the story.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.” 

If you love fishing then the “Every Fish Matters” 2nd annual release event is for you. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Sean Richardson”

______________________________________

It’s Mother’s Day this Sunday and for Louisiana working moms, it will hopefully be a well-deserved break. Sean Richardson Has the story.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.” 

______________________________________

This crawfish season has been one of the most unpredictable ones on record and Crawfish App co-founder, Laney King says typically prices go up for Mother’s Day.

Cut 3 (14) “…retail level.” 

You can expect to pay about $5.15 a pound for boiled mudbugs and $2.92 a pound for live crawfish in Louisiana.

Since 2017 The Crawfish App tracks more than 800 crawfish retailers in Louisiana and the app can direct you to the best in your area. King says in their seventh year, this season has been the most unpredictable.

Cut 4 (07) “…crawfish season.” 

King says prices this Mother’s Day are about a dollar more than last year. And while prices were steep this Easter…

Cut 5 (12)  “…sack of crawfish.” 

You can download The Crawfish App for free on your smartphone.

____________________________________________________________________

Tournament Fisherman, Cliff Crochet is going to be at Veterans Park and Pierre Part with “Every Fish Matters” from 6 am to noon this Saturday and he’s bringing fish a lot of them.

Cut 6  (03) “…80,000 fish. ” 

Bring the family and an ice chest and get ready for a great day of fishing and conservation in the sportsman paradise.  With the goal to spread out resources and help the fishing population grow, you will be able to release your fish in your favorite fishing spots and down the road catch some fish and make some memories.

Cut 7 (09) “…spreads conservation.”  

Bring the family and come see local and professional fishermen this Saturday for the second annual “Every Fish Matters” release event.

Cut 8 (08)  “…fighting for conservation.” 

Crochet hopes to see you this Saturday at Veterans Park and Pierre Part from 6 am til noon.

_________________________________________________________

With Mother’s Day fast approaching this Sunday, Louisiana has some work to do for working moms. Cassandra Happe, WalletHub analyst with the 2024 Best and Worst States for Working Moms.

Cut 9 (14) “…professional opportunities.” 

One area the survey looked at for working moms is the gender pay gap in Louisiana. Happe says the Bayou State ranked 48th overall.

Cut 10 (08) “…for working moms.” 

Happe said there was a bright spot when looking at work-life balance for the working moms.

Cut 11 (09) ” … work-life balance for working moms.”

____________________________________________________________________

Mother Nature is gifting moms in Louisiana with ideal weather this weekend. LSU Climatologist Barry Keim says the cold front moving in is probably the last one we’ll have this spring, and you’ll want to take advantage of it.

Cut 12 (13) “…lack of humidity.” 

Keim says the dewpoint temperatures will be in the 50s to low 60s as opposed to the 70s, which he says is a huge difference in how it feels on your skin.

Cut 13 (08) “…outside.”

Keim says this might be the last weekend with ideal weather before the summer heat takes hold. He says the long-range forecast is calling for hotter than normal conditions and wetter than usual.

Cut  14 (11) “…right now.” 

____________________________________________________________________

Cut 15 (12) “…the roadway.”

_____________________________________________________________________________

Cut  16 (14)   “…tell his story.”

As Louisiana’s congressional map is still up in the air, after more than two years trying to draw the map the State Attorney General and civil rights groups have filed for an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney Jared Evans says a Monday deadline has been set for other parties to file.

Cut 6 (05) “…look like.”

Qualifying dates for the November election are July 17^th through the 19^th.

This crawfish season has been one of the most unpredictable ones on record and Crawfish App co-founder, Laney King says typically prices go up for Mother’s Day.

Cut 3 (14) “…retail level.” 

You can expect to pay about $5.15 a pound for boiled mudbugs and $2.92 a pound for live crawfish in Louisiana.

In West Monroe with the fate of Glenwood Regional in jeopardy since parent company Steward Health Care declared bankruptcy, Mayor Staci Mitchell is hoping a buyer will come through and keep the facility open.

Cut 12 (12) “…system there.” 

LSU Health New Orleans has been granted a patent for a test to better detect life threatening NEC in premature babies. Inventor of the diagnostic system Dr. Sunyoung Kim says currently, x-rays are used but they uncover less than half of the cases and often too late…

Cut 13 (10)  “…the baby.”

NEC is the most common and second deadliest disease for preemies.

Governor Landry was at the Southern Border in Texas visiting with Louisiana National Guard Soldiers who are assisting with border security. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Colleen Crain.” 

Funeral arrangements for former Rosepine Senator James David Cain have been announced. Cain who served in the House from 1972 to 92 and the Senate from 92 to 2008 passed away Wednesday. His funeral will be held next Friday May 17^th at Grace Church in DeRidder.

As Louisiana’s congressional map is still up in the air, after more than two years trying to draw the map the State Attorney General and civil rights groups have filed for an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. Jared Evans with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund says after it’s time for SCOTUS settle the issue for the 2024 election.

Cut 5 (11) “…2026 map.” 

With the future of West Monroe’s Glenwood Regional Hospital in jeopardy, after parent company Steward Health Care declared bankruptcy, Mayor Staci Mitchell says the potential closure would gravely impact the city and they are doing all they can to help the hospital get sold and remain open.

Cut 10 (11) “…rural hospitals.”

Mitchell says complicating the possible sale of the hospital is that Medical Properties Trust owns the land and building.

For the first time since the state has been attempting to update the congressional map from the 2020 Census, all sides agree that the matter needs to be settled by the US Supreme Court. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

_______________________________________________

Governor Landry was at the Southern Border in Texas visiting with the third group of Louisiana National Guard Soldiers who are assisting with border security. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Colleen Crain.” 

____________________________________________

The Mayor of West Monroe says she’s doing all she can to keep Glenwood Regional Hospital open.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

____________________________________________

For the first time since the state has been attempting to update the congressional map from the 2020 Census, all sides agree that the matter needs to be settled by the US Supreme Court. Jared Evans is an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund…

Cut 4 (10) “…finality really.”

For more than two years there have been multiple maps that have been either vetoed or rejected by two separate judicial districts. Evans says it’s time for the Supreme Court to settle the issue for the 2024 congressional election.

Cut 5 (11) “…2026 map.” 

The NAACP and State Attorney General Liz Murrill have filed for an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court and Evans says a Monday deadline has been set for other parties to file.

Cut 6 (05) “…look like.”

Qualifying dates for the November election are July 17^th through the 19^th.

___________________________________________________________

The Third group of Louisiana National Guard Soldiers is in Texas assisting with border security and Governor Jeff Landry visited them on Thursday. Landry says he doesn’t know if Louisiana Troops will continue to help or how long they might be there…

Cut 7 (11) “…making a decision.”

The price tag for Louisiana’s 90-day participation in Operation Lone Star is Three Million Dollars.

Before Louisiana and other states assisted with the border, Landry says daily crossing averaged 2,000 and now they are down to 200.

Answering questions about the impact of illegal immigration on Louisiana, Landry says he is especially interested in knowing how much pressure has been placed on the Department of Corrections. Through an executive order, Landry has requested impact data from all of Louisiana’s Department Secretaries.

Cut 8 (09) “…to know.” 

Some Louisiana Lawmakers accompanied Landry on his visit to the Southern Border. Among them, Mandeville Representative Jay Galle says it’s not the Mexican government governing the south side of the border.

Cut 9 (12)  “…our country.”

_________________________________________________________________

With the future of West Monroe’s Glenwood Regional Hospital in jeopardy, after parent company Steward Health Care declared bankruptcy, Mayor Staci Mitchell says the potential closure would gravely impact the city and they are doing all they can to help the hospital get sold and remain open.

Cut 10 (11) “…rural hospitals.”

Mitchell says Glenwood Regional must remain open because the two hospitals across the river in Monroe can’t handle the number of patients that need care. She says Steward Health Care’s mismanagement is having dire consequences.

Cut 11 (12) “…Steward’s doing.”

The patient census at Glenwood has decreased to 91, even though they have more beds. Mitchell is hopeful the hospital can be sold and there’s a smooth changeover.

Cut 12 (12) “…system there.” 

Mitchell says complicating the possible sale of the hospital is that Medical Properties Trust owns the land and building.

______________________________________________

LSU Health New Orleans has been granted a patent for a test that greatly improves the detection of a life-threatening disease in premature babies.  Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common and second deadliest disease in preemies. Inventor of the diagnostic system, NEC Detect, Dr. Sunyoung Kim says currently, x-rays are used but they uncover less than half of the cases and often too late…

Cut 13 (10)  “…the baby.”

Fragile premature babies are at risk for NEC and early diagnosis before the baby’s intestines become inflamed is vital. Kim says in addition to earlier and more accurate testing, NEC Detect is non-invasive causing no stress to the babies…

Cut 14 (10)  “…their diaper.”

Twenty babies are born at risk for NEC in Louisiana every day and nationally NEC affects somewhere between 9,000 and 12,000 annually. Kim expects NEC Detect will be available to hospitals in a year to a year and a half when final FDA approval is given…

Cut 15 (11)  “…public service.”

______________________________________________

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs will host the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers this weekend which could decide the regular season Conference USA title. Regardless of this weekend’s outcome, LA Tech Head Coach Lane Burroughs says he’s proud of the season his team has put together, especially after they bounce back from getting swept by Arizona.

Cut 16 (15) “….up for.” 

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are currently atop the Conference USA standings at 13 and 5 and have the best Conference USA away record at 7-and-2. The Bulldogs are 12 and 6 and Burroughs says the Hilltoppers are similar to his team.

Cut 17 (13) “…like us.”

______________________________________________

LSU baseball is heading to Tuscaloosa this weekend to face the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Tigers series against the Tide could decide whether or not LSU makes it to the postseason tournament and get a shot at defending their national title. On3.com baseball analyst Jonathan Wagner has LSU making the tournament after their series win against Texas A&M last weekend, but he says that it won’t be an easy road for the Tigers.

Cut 18 (18)  “… it’s possible.”

LSU baseball is playing some of its best baseball of the season right now and made a statement last weekend defeating Texas A&M 2 out of 3 games. Wagner says that LSU has the talent to make some noise late into the season and if they keep up their momentum against Alabama the Tigers can take the series and possibly play their way into the tournament.

Cut 19 (16) “…taking two.” 

LSU has struggled all season to put offensive and defensive performances together as the Tigers hitting and pitching have never quite timed up at the right time. Alabama can tear the cover of a baseball, but the Tide have struggled to pitch well consistently this season, especially in SEC play. Wagner says that the Tigers hitting and pitching stepping up like they did last weekend will likely be a big factor in the Tigers winning this weekend.

Cut 20 (17) “….have to do.”

First pitch between the Tigers and Tide will be on Friday at 6 pm and broadcast on the SEC Network +.

5:30 (17) 8:30 (20)

Governor Jeff Landry visited with Louisiana National Guard Soldiers in Texas Thursday who are assisting with border security. Texas Governor Greg Abbott asked the state to send troops for 90 days. Landry says he doesn’t yet know whether Louisiana troops will continue to assist or how long they might be there…

Cut 7 (11) “…making a decision.”

The cost of the sending troops is approximately $3-million.

Senator Patrick McMath’s bill to make using a handheld cellphone while driving in Louisiana a criminal offense passed overwhelmingly in the Senate, but his yearly attempt failed in the House. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick questions what else would be considered a crime in McMath’s bill.

Cut 9 (11) “…still out there, yes.” 

The three-panel court has given the state a June 3^rd deadline to draw a new congressional map. The legislature is in session, and they are scheduled to end June 3rd as well. But with the budget yet to be heard in Senate Finance, Senate President Cameron Henry says it’s impossible for them to even file a bill for a new map because the deadline has already passed.

Cut 3 (08) “…to do it.” 

Henry says it’s time to let State Attorney General Liz Murrill handle the congressional map at this point with an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in the works.

And NAACP Legal Defense Attorney Jared Evans agrees…

Cut 24 finality really. :11

Evans believes SCOTUS will make a decision by mid-June.

The three-panel court has given the state a June 3^rd deadline to draw a new congressional map. But with the budget yet to be heard in Senate Finance, Senate President Cameron Henry says it’s impossible for them to even file a bill for a new map because the deadline has already passed.

Cut 3 (08) “…to do it.” 

Henry says it’s time to let State Attorney General Liz Murrill handle it with an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Since Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe has declared bankruptcy, Representative Michael Echols says Steward Health Care is to blame. As for a prospective buyer, he says he’s been told the medical community has reached out to Ochsner, Willis-Knighton, and other regional medical facilities.

Cut 25 (12)  “…our patients.”

Legislation is moving closer to final passage to end the requirement for employers to give minor workers at least a 20-minute meal break if they work five or more hours. Denham Springs Republican Representative Roger Wilder says the state should not hold back teen workers who want to put in the hours…

Cut 10 (10) “…wanna work.”

The bill heads to the full Senate for final passage.

Dead last is what Louisiana is ranked for the second year in a row in US News and World Report’s 2024 Best States report. Managing Editor for Government Rankings Gary Emerling says the ranking is based on several categories that Louisiana does not perform well in…
Cut 24 (11) “…beneficiaries.”
There are some positives, Louisiana ranks 21st in healthcare access.