Governor Landry’s legislative priorities are running into resistance in the Senate. A House approved school choice bill the governor supports has yet to be heard by Senate Education. Landry also backs a major change in the public records law, but the bill awaits a debate on the Senate floor. And Senate President Cameron Henry also does not fully support a proposed constitutional convention. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat…

Cut 13 (06)  “..he wants.”

Pinsonat says Representative Julie Emerson’s Education Savings Account bill passed 72 to 32 in the House on April 8, but the measure to greatly expand the state’s voucher program is stalled in the Senate…

Cut 14 (12)  “…in a committee.”

State lawmakers have convinced the Landy Administration to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program which helps feed children from needy families. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 20 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

And the House is scheduled to vote Tuesday on House Bill 800 to hold a Constitutional Convention that would begin on May 20^th. The vote was moved from Wednesday, and bill author New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu added amendments that the homestead exemption would remain intact and private donations would not be used to help defer costs for the convention.

A Catahoula Correctional Center Inmate was fatally shot yesterday after faking a seizure during transport near St. Francisville. Lt. Jared Sandifer with the Louisiana State Police says when correctional officers went to render aid 46-year-old Raymond Huddleston of Baton Rouge attacked them. And when he tried to drive off with the van…

Cut 7 (10) “…towards him.”  

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports the number of seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs increased by 500 from February to March. LWC Chief Economist Emily Dipalma says the metro-Baton Rouge area led with 19-hundred jobs and New Orleans added 15-hundred jobs. The rest of Louisiana’s metro areas added or lost a few hundred jobs….

Cut 10 (11) “..couple hundred jobs each.” 

Legendary rock Band, the Rolling Stones, make their long-awaited appearance at the New Orleans Jazz Fest today. Michelle Southern has the story…

Cut 1 (40) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

And according to Forbes, Raising Can founder and CEO Todd Graves is the richest person in the state. It’s the first time he’s made the list with an estimated $9.1 billion. He surpassed owner of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, Gayle Benson as the wealthiest Louisiana resident.

State lawmakers have convinced the Landy Administration to participate in the Summer EBT Program which helps feed children from needy families. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

State Police are investigating an ATV crash in Natchitoches Parish that resulted in a 13-year-old being airlifted to a regional trauma center. The teen was driving the ATV near Derry that reportedly missed a curve on Cat Island Road and went down a steep embankment.

The House vote on whether to hold a Constitutional Convention was pushed to Tuesday and bill author New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu has amended the legislation so the K-through-12th grade public school financing formula cannot be touched. And Beaullieu has also removed the language that allows for private funding to pay for the convention…

Cut 14 (04)  “…(x2) for sale.”

Lawmakers were set to vote yesterday.

The Rolling Stones will play their only outdoor festival on their US tour tonight at Jazz Fest. They’ll take the stage at 5 pm. are just one of many great artists this weekend like the Foo Fighters, Neil Young, and Queen Latifa. Jazz Fest producer Quint Davis says the weather’s cooperating so this could be one of the best Jazz Fests’ ever…

Cut 6 (13) “…all time festivals.”

The big buzz around the capitol on Wednesday was the decision by a panel of federal judges to toss out the Congressional map approved by lawmakers earlier this year that created two majority Black districts. The map significantly changed Garret Graves district.

Cut 2 (28)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Democratic Senator Cleo Fields is planning to run to represent the second Black Majority District and that’s still in the cards…

Cut 8 look like :09

A House vote on whether the hold a Constitutional Convention was tabled Wednesday. What was going to be addressed at the convention concerned several lawmakers. Author of the convention bill New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu, amended it noting the convention will protect the homestead exemption in the state constitution and that private funds will not be used for the convention.

Cut 15 (11)  “…2024.”

Senate President Cameron Henry says at the urging of state lawmakers the Landry administration has decided to participate in a federal summer feeding program that provides 40-dollars a month per child to needy families. Henry says the decision comes after a meeting with leaders of DCFS and the Department of Education…

Cut 10 (08) “…working together.”

Summer EBT officially begins June 4th.

Congressman Garret Graves, who was among the plantiffs in the congressional map suit that was overturned, is pleased with the ruling. His district was altered to be a majority-black one. A panel will convene May 6^th to decide the next step for the fall election map, in the meantime he wants to look at ways to improve infrastructure and reduce crime in his district.

Cut 10 (11) “…themselves.” 

Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green says she will call for a vote to remove Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House. Green says she voted for Johnson to lead the House because he was a conservative, but his views have changed…

Cut 11 (13) ” …us recognize.”

Johnson says the motion is not good for the Republican party or the country.

14 people who were part of a large Pro-Palestine encampment on Tulane’s campus were arrested as police broke up the protest. Some protesters complained of injuries and NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says they will review surveillance footage.

Cut 7 (12) “…the other.”  

The university says most of the protestors are not affiliated with the school.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is looking to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Peter Robins-Brown with Louisiana Progress on what that means for medicinal cannabis in Louisiana …

Cut 4 (08) “..medicine.” 

Currently, marijuana is in the same classification as heroin and LSD. If approved, it would change from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves was among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the state’s congressional map, which was overturned because race was deemed the predominant factor that changed his district into a majority-black one. As the map remains in limbo, Graves says he wants to concentrate on more pressing issues.

Cut 9 (12) “…facing.” 

A panel will convene on May 6^th to decide the next step in drawing a map for the fall election

Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green says she will call for a vote to remove Mike Johnson from Speaker of the House. She’s upset over support to Ukraine and his relationship with Democrats.

Cut 13 (11) “…they want”

Johnson says the motion is wrong for the Republican party, and the country.

Louisiana is expected to see heavy rainfall during overnight hours. Bill Jacquemin has more on a flash flood watch for a large portion of the state….

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Bill Jacquemin”

State Police are investigating a prison transport shooting that happened in West Felician Parish around 7:30 this morning. A Catahoula Correctional Center inmate headed to Baton Rouge for court complained of a medical issue, and when they stopped the help, he struck deputies and reached for their guns. He was then shot by a deputy and taken to the hospital for treatment. Both deputies suffered minor injuries.

The fate of Louisiana’s congressional map is up in the air again after a two-to-one ruling throws out the map lawmakers approved in January with a second majority-black district. State Attorney General Liz Murrill says the state will appeal the ruling but with a Secretary of State deadline of May 15^th for the map, political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the clock is ticking…

Cut 15 (14)  “…any of this.”

Qualifying for the fall elections is mid-July.

House Criminal Justice advances a bill to better define gun-free zones for parade routes. It clarifies guns are not permitted within 100 feet of the center line of the route. President of the Louisiana Shooting Association Dan Zelenka…

Cut 5 (06) “…themselves.” 

The bill heads to the house.

Big vote today on the House floor as the bill that calls for a constitutional convention is up for debate this afternoon. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

14 people, eight women and six men, have been arrested after pro-Palestine protests on Tulane’s campus refused to leave. The university says most of the protesters are not affiliated with the school. Two of the arrestees were Tulane students and two others Loyola. Police say they warned protesters before more than 100 law enforcement officers removed them from campus.

Legislation to better define gun-free zone laws when it pertains to parade routes advances from House Criminal Justice. New Orleans Democrat Representative Mandie Landry’s bill clarifies that guns are not permitted within 100 feet of the center line of a parade route, and it does not apply to law enforcement or…

Cut 4 (13) “…to them.”

President of the Louisiana Shooting Association, Dan Zelenka, spoke in opposition…

Cut 5 (06) “…themselves.” 

New Orleans Representative Alonzo Knox reminded gun advocates who spoke in opposition that local law enforcement supports laws for a gun-free parade zone. The bill passed on an eight to five vote and heads to the Full House.

The Louisiana House is set to vote Wednesday on a bill that calls for a constitutional convention to begin on May 20th. The Landry Administration says reorganization is needed so state lawmakers can avoid making deep cuts to health care and education when there are budget deficits. Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson supports the effort…

Cut 10 (10) “…on the ballot”

Alfreda Tillman Bester, with the group ten-thousand women, opposes the convention and says the public remains in the dark regarding exact proposed changes to the constitution…

Cut 12 (14) “…rewritten.” 

House Bill 800 will need 70 votes in the 105-member House to advance to the Senate.

Louisiana is suing the Biden Administration over revised Title IX rules prohibiting discrimination based on a student’s sexual and gender identity. Governor Jeff Landry says state education has already told public schools not to follow the new rules…

Cut 6 (12) “…set forth.”
State officials say the new rules will result in biological girls sharing bathroom and locker room space with biological boys who are transgender girls.

Opelousas High School has been given their football championship title back after it was stripped for alleged use of an ineligible player. Coach Jimmy Zachery will remain on probation for one year but will be allowed to coach the team. He says his main concern was making sure the team retained a rightfully deserved championship…

Cut 5 (11)  “..thrilling man” 

The City of Ruston has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with state and federal highway administrations to prep for the construction of Bucees. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says, they’ve been making plans and preparations for the toothy beaver for 14 months and things are moving along for groundbreaking this year.

Cut 13 (11)  “…the whole works.”

The store is scheduled to open next year.

Because the Pelican State is located along two major migration routes in North America, state tourism has launched a new interactive website, it’s BirdingLouisiana-dot-com.  Doug Bourgeois with the Office of Tourism says it’s a one-stop shop for birdwatchers.

Cut 14 (12)  “…across Louisiana.”

Louisiana has filed suit against the U-S Department of Education’s new Title Nine regulations that protect transgender students.

Cut 1 (40) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Natchitoches Police are investigating the homicide of a 15-year-old that happened in the 200 block of University Drive. When police arrived last night around 9:30, the teen was suffering from a single gunshot wound, later died of their injuries at the hospital.

A bill to raise a driver’s license fee by $6.00 to fund litter abatement advances from House Appropriations. Currently, $1.50 from license fees goes towards cleaning up the state, but the increase would send $7.50 from your driver’s license to help clean up the state. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser

Cut 9 (11)  “…way of grants.”

The bill advances to the House.

Opelousas High School can once again say they’re state football champions, after LHSAA stripped their title over the alleged use of an ineligible player last season, Coach Jimmy Zachery thanks the school board and St. Landry Parish Superintendent Milton Batiste who had his back…

Cut 4 (08) “..keep fighting” 

Coach Zachery will remain on probation for one year but will be allowed to coach the team in 2024.