Covington Representative Mark Wright has a bill that would require first-time DUI offenders to install an in-car interlock device. Taylor Sharp reports the device only allows sober drivers to start the vehicle…
Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Taylor Sharp”
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If you’re a driver of a pickup in Louisiana and you aren’t buckled up you might find yourself ticketed during Buckle Up in Your Truck week. Brooke Thorington explains
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The state’s unemployment rate is now the lowest it’s been since the start of the pandemic, but new job growth remains a bit sluggish. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”
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Covington Representative Mark Wright is working with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to pass a bill that would require drivers convicted of a first-offense DUI to install an in-car interlock device system in their vehicle for at least 180 days. Wright says the interlock device will not let the car start unless it knows the driver is sober.
Cut 4 (10)“….the car”
Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia already have this law on their books. He says it could reduce repeated drunk driving offenses by up to 20-percent…
Cut 5 (09)“…death.”
The bill is awaiting its first hearing in the House Transportation Committee. Wright on whether he thinks the legislation can receive House and Senate approval…
Cut 6 (11) “…that simple.”
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Law enforcement is on the lookout this week for pickup drivers who aren’t wearing their seat belts. It’s part of the Buckle Up in Your Truck awareness campaign to increase usage. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says you are twice as likely to die in a crash in a pickup versus an automobile.
Cut 7 (10) “…even death.”
According to the 2019 Louisiana Seat Belt Observation Survey, occupants in a pickup truck are approximately 9-percent less likely to wear their seat belts. If you are pulled over and not properly restrained, you will be ticketed, and Lambert says it can add up if you’re a repeat offender.
Cut 8 (11) “…$75 fine.”
Lambert says 17-percent of pickup drivers in the Bayou State fail to wear their seat belt, and those in rural areas in north Louisiana are least likely to buckle up including their passengers.
Cut 9 (12) “…buckled up.”
Lambert says pickup truck drivers in Lake Charles have the highest compliance with wearing seat belts. The campaign ends on Sunday.
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State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon warns folks not to fall for social media fake news about COVID-19 vaccines and life insurance.
There are rumors floating around that people who get vaccinated lose life insurance coverage. Donelon says that could not be farther from the truth…
Cut 10 (10) “..vaccination.”
There’s only been one reported death suspected to be linked to a COVID vaccine among the over 124 million Americans who received at least one dose. Donelon says if for some reason you die as a result of a vaccine, your life insurance will still be paid out.
Cut 11 (06) “…founded.”
Donelon says unfortunately this kind of misinformation is widespread and impact more than just Louisiana.
Cut 12 (09) “…spread.”
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Louisiana’s unemployment rate fell sliglty to 7.3 percent in March, the lowest number since the start of the pandemic. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says despite the high unemployment figure there are a lot of jobs out there to be had.
Cut 13 (11) “…to”
Dejoie says their HiRE site currently has tens of thousands of job openings.
Since March of 2020, New Orleans is down 55-thousand jobs, Baton Rouge 18-thousand jobs, Lake Charles 17-thousand jobs, Shreveport just under 12-hundred jobs, and Lafayette just under 13-thousand jobs.
Dejoie encourages everyone without a job to go get vaccinated and when it is safe for you to return to work to do so.
Cut 14 (0)7 “…market.”
1,800 leisure and hospitality jobs were added from February to March.
The high unemployment rate is reflected in the state’s still high number of unemployment recipients.
Cut 15 (09)“…pandemic”
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The LSU baseball team dropped another SEC series over the weekend. They were on the verge of winning the series versus 11th ranked South Carolina as they had a two-run lead and needed three outs to win the second game of the series, but the Gamecocks rallied with four runs to win 4-2 and took the final game of the series nine to nothing. Coach Paul Maineri says losing the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader was tough
Cut 16 (11) “…for us.”
A-J Labas took a two to nothing lead into the seventh in Saturday’s game one of the doubleheader. The game was scheduled to go seven innings and Labas says he lost his edge in that inning which resulted in the Gamecocks scoring four runs…
Cut 17 (12) “…of focus.”
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LSU’s four quarterbacks combined to throw for 512 yards and four touchdowns in Saturday’s spring game as they rotated between the Purple and White teams. Coach Ed Orgeron liked what he saw….
Cut 18 (24)”…lot better.”
Statistically, sophomore Max Johnson had the best day of the four QBs. He threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns. During the spring, the four signal callers shared snaps with the first team. Orgeron says they’ll use a different approach in August when they return for preseason camp…
Cut 19 (19) “…be the starter.”
Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte picked up where he left off last year as he caught 11 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. Boutte says the Tigers are loaded at the quarterback position…
Cut 20 (12) “…quarterback room.”