Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo is sponsoring the legislation this year that many Republicans say will lead to lower auto insurance rates over time. The measure failed to pass last year as opponents argued the changes could limit a victim’s winnings in court while providing no promise rates would actually go down. Here’s Garofalo’s response…
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The reduction would potentially come two years after passage.

If you want to know where the Presidential candidates stand on race and equity issues, former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s new organization E Pluribus Unum has released a policy tracker. Landrieu finds it interesting to see who prioritizes what issues…
cut 12 (05) “….talk about”
You can see all 15 candidates’ positions, including President Trump, at u-mun-fund-dot-org.

Crawfish season is underway and the initial crop is showing good signs for the rest of the season ahead. Kevin Barnhart has the details.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

After the national title game, an LSU fan started a Go Fund Me page to help Clemson purchase a new Tiger mascot, because of how it looks. 31-hundred dollars was raised, but the money will not go to Clemson. Instead, the money will go to Tigers United University Consortium, a partnership between Auburn, Clemson, LSU and the University of Missouri, with the goal of doubling the wild tigers’ population by 2022.

The Westwego City Council in suburban New Orleans votes unanimously to not allow any permitting of a proposed 500 million dollar Wanhua chemical storage and distribution facility. Councilmember Glen Green says the public and council had serious concerns
Cut 12 (11) “…anyway.”
The site selected is across the river from the Audubon Park and Zoo.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has arrested an 18-year-old from Homer for fatally shooting bald eagle with a rifle nearly three years ago in Claiborne Parish. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says Daniel Smith’s loose lips did him in…
cut 4 (10) “….bald eagle”
If convicted, Smith faces jail time and up to 100,000 dollars in fines.

136 square miles of Iberville, Pointe Coupee and St. Landry parishes will see a $15.5 million expansion of high-speed internet access as part of the federal program known as ReConnect. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 2 (27) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

At the White House today, President Donald Trump signed a new trade deal with Mexico and China. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says this trade deal has the potential to empty every grain bin and cold storage facility in the state. The President calls the agreement a colossal victory for farmers and manufacturers.

The search continues for a man wanted for shooting three people, killing two in Natchitoches on Monday night. Officer John Greely says Jessie James Petite Junior is considered armed and dangerous and it’s a crime that’s left many people heartbroken…
cut 15 (10) “….occurrence here”
41-year-old Larry Batiste and 35-year-old Hiram Phillips were pronounced dead.

A private archaeologist is not sure if the possible site for a Formosa Plant in St. James Parish is a slave cemetery. Paul Jackson says they’ve looked at old newspapers, diaries and personal land records in an effort to establish who might be buried there, but they have not found any conclusive indications…
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Environmental and community groups have used the possibility the proposed chemical plant site is a slave cemetery as an argument against the issuing of permits for construction.

A cold case involving the murder of a bald eagle is solved nearly three years after the bird was taken down. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s office says a man riding a mower on someone else’s land turned out to be a fugitive from Utah who lived in Louisiana for 11 years. Deputies say 49-year-old Richard Schleininger of Bayou Blue originally gave a false name but fingerprints identified him as the man wanted on assault and theft charges from 2003 and 2004 out of Bountiful, Utah.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Lake Charles couple for cruelty to a juvenile after a 3-year-old is rushed into surgery with a brain injury. Sheriff Tony Mancuso says the stepmother told doctors the injuries may be from the father’s disciplinary actions…
cut 10 (13) “….that same issue”
Jessica Matthews and Tyler Laborde are in custody.

Three parishes will see an expansion of high-speed internet access as the USDA commits $15.5 million into rural broadband. USDA rural development state director Roy Holleman says this portion of the Reconnect Program covers 136 square miles of Iberville, Pointe Coupee and St. Landry parishes.
Cut 9 (07) “…and 16 farms.”
Star Telephone Company will use the half grant and half loan funding to rollout 154 miles of optical fiber and 95 miles of drop optical fiber cable.

Another attempt will be made to end the public-private split in high school sports. Jeff Palermo has more on the LHSAA annual convention that begins today in Baton Rouge….
voicer 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo

Governor John Bel Edwards has promoted Treone Larvadain promoted to lead Protective Services, making her the first African-American female captain in Louisiana State Police History. Larvadain succeeds Captain Clay Chutz, who is retiring after providing security services for six governors.

The LHSAA’s annual convention gets underway today and on Friday high school principals will vote on a proposal to end the select-nonselect split. LHSAA Director Eddie Bonine says putting a multiplier on the enrollment of private schools so they have to play up in classification is one idea to appease public schools who feel they are at a disadvantage..
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The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities has developed a curriculum for public schools that uses Louisiana music and culture as a supportive element for teaching English. Vice President of Content Erin Greenwald says current curriculum only covers the roots of jazz in New Orleans…
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Teachers who are interested in finding out more should go to 64-parishes-dot-org.

A Lake Charles couple has been arrested for cruelty to a juvenile after they brought a three-year-old boy to a local hospital covered from head to toe with bruises in various stages of healing. Jessica Matthews and Tyler Laborde, both 26-years-old, have been arrested and Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso says if you know about child abuse going on at a home, report it immediately to authorities….
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Mancuso says there’s a chance the child will not survive from his injuries.

Law enforcement is looking for a double homicide suspect identified as Jessie James Petite (P-T). Natchitoches Police Officer John Greely says they believe the 21-year-old shot three people, killing two of them and a motive is not known…
cut 14 (04) “…the pieces together”
Petite is considered armed and dangerous.

A 3-year-old child is fighting for his life in a Lake Charles hospital following surgery for a brain injury sustained from child abuse…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Captain Treone Larvadain has been promoted to lead Protective Services, becoming the first African-American female captain in Louisiana State Police History. Larvadain succeeds Captain Clay Chutz, who is retiring after 30 years of providing security services for six governors.

Natchitoches Police have identified the alleged shooter in a double homicide on Monday night. An arrest warrant has been issued for 21-year-old Jessie James Petite (pronounced P-T) Jr. Officer John Greely says when they arrived on the scene, officers found three gunshot victims…
Cut 13 (06) “…with serious injuries.”
41-year-old Larry Batiste and 35-year-old Hiram Phillips, Jr. died from their injuries. A female victim is in severe condition.

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities has introduced new curriculum that public school teachers can use to help celebrate Louisiana musicians. Vice President of Content Erin Greenwald says the first series focuses on the lives and legacies of nine cherished Louisiana musicians..
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One lesson plan features blues musician Kenny Neal and another one features Luther Gray and Bamboula. To find out more go to 64-parishes-dot-org.