As the chairman of the House insurance committee, Plaquemine Democrat Chad Brown expects to hear legislation in the upcoming session that looks at whether insurance companies should consider a driver’s credit score when setting rates…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Governor Edwards is taking State Treasurer John Kennedy to court. Schroder has refused to allow the use of 25-million in unclaimed property dollars to help pay for state expenses. Schroder says the money does not belong to the state government, but previous state treasurer John Kennedy sent millions in unclaimed property dollars to the state general fund.

The Edwards administration unveils a proposed spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the budget proposal contains millions of more dollars for public schools…
cut 8 (07) “….throughout the years”
Dardenne says there will also be more dollars for early education, giving more parents the opportunity to enroll their young child into a pre-K program.

Natchitoches Police says the three suspects wanted in last week’s fatal shootings of 41-year-old Larry Batiste and 35-year-old Hiram Phillips are behind bars. Officer John Greely says 22-year-old Jaleel Tousant was the last suspect taken in as he was found at an apartment. He says three family members were also arrested for harboring Tousant…
cut 12 (10) “….to tolerate that”
17-year-old Daerioen Latchie and 21-year-old Jessie James Petite are also facing first-degree murder charges.

Governor John Bel Edwards will propose a budget to lawmakers today that calls for increased spending on education. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the investment into education is something the governor has pushed for years and now the state is in position to do so…
Cut 7 (12) “…where we are”
Dardenne says the budget will also propose cuts so that more dollars can go towards education.

Authorities have identified the three people killed in yesterday’s small plane crash in Jackson Parish. Robert Gilliam of Minden was the pilot and his passengers were Chris Mudd and Wade Williams, both from Shreveport-Bossier. The single-engine Cessna was heading from Jackson, Mississippi to Shreveport when it crashed north of Chatham.

The state health department says norovirus is to blame for an outbreak of stomach related illnesses in the Lake Charles area. Doctor Frank Welch with the state office of public health says symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea…
cut 14 (08) “….day or two”
Many of the people who got sick attended a Mardi Gras Ball at L’auberge casino in Lake Charles.

Natchitoches Police say the three suspects responsible for last week’s double-homicide on Short Seventh street are behind bars. Officer John Greely credits the public’s help in nabbing 22-year-old Jaleel Tousant
cut 11 (07) “…past couple days’
Greely says three family members who were harboring Tousant were also arrested. 17-year-old Daerieon Latchie and 21-year-old Jessie James Petite were also charged with first-degree murder.

The Edwards administration will release a budget proposal today for the fiscal year that begins in July. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

I-10 Eastbound is closed at the I-49 interchange because of the crash on the Basin Bridge near Henderson. Authorities say the highway will be closed through the morning commute as crews are having to make repairs to the barriers. Police are reporting the crash only produced minor injuries.

We’re about a month away from the start of the 2020 legislative session and auto insurance reform is expected to be a big topic. House Insurance Chairman Chad Brown says legislation has already been filed to prevent insurance providers from setting rates based on credit score or whether a person has been widowed…
cut 5 (10) “…before they died”
The legislative session begins on March 9th.

State health officials are investigating a norovirus outbreak in Lake Charles. Doctor Frank Welch with the state office of public health says upwards to 100 people have been suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, symptoms that last for about 24 to 48 hours and the norovirus spreads easily…
cut 15 (11) “…three days”
Welch says they believe the norovirus outbreak began at a Mardi Gras ball at LAuberge Casino in Lake Charles.

An investigation is underway into yesterday’s fatal plane crash in Jackson Parish that killed three people. The victims have been identified as Chris Mudd and Wade Williams of Shreveport-Bossier, and the pilot was Robert Gilliam of Minden. They took off from Jackson, Mississippi and they were heading to Shreveport when their small Cessna crashed into a logging business north of Chathman.

A Mardi Gras ball at the L’auberge Casino in Lake Charles is thought to be the epicenter of a norovirus outbreak that’s infected dozens…
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle

Plaquemine Democrat Chad Brown will serve as the chairman of the House insurance committee, a committee expected to be very busy during the session with bills aimed at lowering auto insurance rates. Brown expects to tackle insurance companies’ consideration of a driver’s credit.
Cut 4 (13) “…the rate making.”
Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau has filed legislation that would prevent insurance companies from calculating insurance rates based on credit score.

Three suspects tied to a double fatal shooting in Natchitoches last week are now behind bars. Natchitoches Police Officer John Greely says 22-year-old Jaleel Tousant was the final suspect apprehended on Wednesday night…
cut 10 (08) “…to us”
The other two men facing first-degree murder charges are 17-year-old Daerion Latchie and 21-year-old Jessie James Petite.

About two-dozen Louisiana state fire marshal employees left for Puerto Rico today to assist with earthquake recovery efforts. They’ll help inspect thousands of damaged buildings and what repairs are needed so they can be safely reoccupied. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the Caribbean Island has seen its share of natural disasters…
cut 5 (10) “….caused significant damage”
The mission is expected to last 16 days.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announces the rollout of the Small Business Protection Act, helping business owners stay aware of proposed regulations that could impact their business operations. Ardoin says the goal is to protect businesses from overregulation.
Cut 9 (08) “…down the pike.”
Ardoin says businesses that sign up at smallbiz.sos.la.gov will get updated so they are not blindsided by regulation changes.

A new organization headed up by a former Governor Edwards campaign staffer says Republican TORT reform efforts will not lead to lower insurance rates. Matt Doyle has more…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor Edwards is warning local governments to protect themselves from a cyberattack and have important data behind a firewall…
cut 15 (09) “….successfully attack”
Edwards made the comments at a Louisiana Municipal Association meeting.

A new group consisting of Louisiana conservatives is raising concerns about the death penalty. It’s been 10 years since the state executed a convicted murderer and Hannah Cox says it’s costly to have someone sit on death row and it might be time for Louisiana to abolish the death penalty…
cut 9 (10) “….the nation’s attention”
State Representative Kyle Green, a Democrat from Marrero, has filed a bill for the upcoming session to abolish the death penalty.

As expected, Louisiana Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy voted to acquit President Donald Trump of two charges that would have led to his impeachment. Kennedy says the impeachment process was driven by partisan rage…
cut 12 (11) “….squad”
Democrats allege the President threatened to withhold military aid to Ukraine unless the country investigated Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son.

An LSU researcher is beginning a two-year study on the impacts of vaping on non-smokers. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Over 20 Louisiana state fire marshal employees left for Puerto Rico today to assist with earthquake recovery efforts. They’ll help inspect thousands of damaged buildings and what repairs are needed so they can be safely reoccupied. The mission is expected to last 16 days. Puerto Rico has been dealing with continuing quakes for over a month.

A group of Republicans has formed a group called Louisiana Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty. Colonel Rob Maness says the death penalty doesn’t go with the pro-life or fiscal perspective of the G-O-P…
cut 8 (13) “….they do well”
Maness says it costs much more to have an inmate living on death row than just serving a life sentence without parole.

Governor John Bel Edwards spoke at the Louisiana Municipal Association meeting and had this warning for local officials…
Cut 13 (10) “…very very problematic.”
A recent cyberattack on New Orleans government cost the city more than seven million dollars.

Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy vote to acquit President Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice. Matt Doyle has the story…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle

Natchitoches Police say the three suspects charged in the January 27th fatal shooting of 41-year-old Larry Batiste and 35-year-old Hiram Phillips are now in custody. 22-year-old Jaleel Tousant and 21-year-old Jessie Petite and 17-year-old Daerieon Latchie are facing two counts of first-degree murder. A woman was also shot at the scene and at last report was said to be in severe condition.