The Ka’Mauri Harrison Act is close to final passage after clearing the Senate Education Committee. Ka’Mauri’s father, Nyron Harrison, appeared before the panel and told lawmakers about how the Jefferson Parish School Board threatened to expel his son for moving a BB gun in his bedroom during an online class. Another parent, Tim Brown, also testified and discussed how his son suffered a similar fate.
Cut 4 (10) “…expulsion”
Brown says his sixth-grade son showed a BB gun to his friends during a virtual lesson and ended up receiving a three-day suspension. An attorney for the Jefferson Parish Public School System argued that neither child’s long-term academic future will be impacted, a comment that set River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot off…
cut 7 (13) “…move on”
The House approved bill allows parents to appeal suspensions to the school board.

At the start of this week, there were 65-hundred Hurricane Laura and Delta evacuees at either the state’s mega-shelter in Alexandria or staying at hotels in south Louisiana. Emergency Preparedness Director with D-C-F-S Ricky Montet says many of those evacuees are returning home this week because their home is livable and has power and running water. He says for those whose homes are not safe…
cut 12 (07) “…is available”

Constitutional Amendment Two on the November third ballot would allow for a well’s oil and gas production when valuing it for property tax assessment. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says the proposed change will not necessarily increase or decrease taxes on the oil and gas industry…
cut 10 (12) “…the well”
For more information on the constitutional amendments go to the Public Affairs Research Council’s website.

A majority of evacuees from Hurricanes Laura and Delta, those being housed in the Alexandria mega-shelter or hotels in Louisiana and Texas, are returning to their homes this week. Emergency Preparedness Director with DCFS Ricky Montet (Mon-tay) says they have been communicating with evacuees whose homes are now safe to return.
Cut 11 (10) “first assessment”

Democrats in the Louisiana legislature say it’s time to go home, even though the special session does not officially end until next Tuesday. House Democratic Caucus Chair Sam Jenkins penned a letter to the Senate President and House Speaker…
cut 14 (09) “…any good”
GOP legislators are still trying to pass legislation that would reduce the governor’s authority over emergency orders.

Legislation inspired by the suspension of a Jefferson Parish 4th grader for having a BB gun in his web camera during class is one step closer to final passage. Matt Doyle has more…
cut 1 (43) “…Matt Doyle”

The Saints say they had a productive meeting with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell about fans returning to the Superdome. The team’s next home game is Sunday against Carolina.

The first day of early voting saw a record-breaking 174-thousand votes cast in Louisiana. JMC Analytics Pollster John Couvillon says there have also been over 100-thousand people who have voted by mail, so he says 40-percent of the vote could be cast before Election Day…
cut 8 (07) “….year”
Early voting continues through October 27th.

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says Tigers starting quarterback Myles Brennan is questionable for Saturday’s home game versus South Carolina. If Brennan can’t play, the Tigers will have to start a true freshman at Q-B, either Pontchatoula’s TJ Finley or Max Johnson from Georgia. Orgeron says both quarterbacks have the talent to play in the NFL…
Cut 13 (08) “…gonna start”
Brennan got hurt in the loss to Missouri and Coach O says he would not have played last Saturday if the game against Florida had not been postponed.

A Mangham Police Officer is recovering after he was shot during a traffic stop on Saturday night. State Police Trooper Michael Reichardt says 27-year-old Hermandus Semien of Ville Platte shot the officer after stealing a vehicle and robbing a pharmacy in Rayville earlier in the day
Cut 3 (07) “…Franklin Parish”
Semien faces several charges including attempted first-degree murder of a police officer. Reichardt says the officer is expected to survive.

An Auburn researcher has received funding for a yearlong project that will look at how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting poor communities in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Doctor Kelly Dunning says the study will compare how different populations receive their information and which format they trust…
cut 11 (12) “…of information”
Dunning plans to interview five-thousand people and release preliminary results next spring.

If you’ve had COVID but have recovered, there are documented cases of people getting the virus again. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Louisiana reported eleven-hundred new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday for the weekend. The statewide total has reached 175-thousand. The health department is also reporting 23 more deaths for a total of 5,550. Hospitalizations fell by seven to 550 and ventilator use remained at 60.

Early voting continues today and voters will find seven constitutional amendments on the ballot. Amendment One deals with abortion and an effort by pro-life supporters to make sure the state constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion if Roe Versus Wade gets overturned. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says the amendment also does one other thing…
cut 6 (06) “…some effect”

The state health department is holding drive-thru flu shot clinics in the towns of Bunkie. Jena, Colfax, Leesville, and Winfield this week. L-D-H flu expert Doctor Frank Welch says with a COVID-19 vaccination possible in 2021, holding a drive-up clinic for the flu is a test run…
cut 8 (10) “…in the future”

You can get COVID-19 twice. LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Clinial Medicine Doctor Najy Masri says he treated a nurse who tested positive, got sick, recovered, tested negative, and then seven weeks later came back with symptoms and tested positive again. Masri says this is one of a few documented examples of second infection of COVID-19 worldwide. So he says if you’ve had COVID, don’t act like you’re invulnerable…
Cut 14 (10) “…exists”

There are seven constitutional amendments on the November 3rd ballot and Amendment one asks voters if they support an amendment that the right to an abortion and the funding of abortion shall not be found in the Louisiana Constitution. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott…
cut 4 (10) “….of abortion”
For more information on the constitutional amendments go to the Public Affairs Research Council’s website.

It’s a stressful time to be alive and Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter has a message for anyone struggling to deal with the pressure…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Tropical Depression 27 has formed in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s no threat to the Gulf of Mexico, but if it becomes a named storm, it will tie the record for most named storms in a season at 27, which was set in 2005.

And the Athletic’s Jeff Duncan reports the Saints will play Carolina in the Superdome on Sunday. There have been talks about moving Saints home games to LSU’s Tiger Stadium. Fans are not allowed in the Superdome.

There have been cases worldwide where people test positive for the virus, recover and test positive again weeks later. LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Clinical Medicine Doctor Najy Masri says the reality of reinfection will have an impact on vaccine development. So that might mean the need for a booster shot and the other possibility is…
cut 15 (07) “…shot”

Stress levels are high as we’re seven months into a pandemic, plus recovering from two hurricanes and in the middle of a heated election. Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter has a message for those struggling to cope
cut 10 (10) “…abnormal”
The state has a 24-hour Keep Calm Hotline, 1-800-310-7977.

Early voting continues today at 8 PM at your parish registrar of voters’ office or other designated locations. The ballot has seven constitutional amendments. Amendment One asks voters if the state constitution should protect a person’s right to an abortion. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 1 (32) “ I’m Brooke Thorington”

You can go to the Public Affairs Research Council website for a complete explanation of the seven amendments and the proposition on sports betting. PAR provides a non-partisan view of each amendment.