Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s proposal banning handheld cellphone use while driving is up for a critical vote in a Senate committee this morning…

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AAA estimates there will be a 17 percent increase in teen driver fatalities on the road over the next roughly 100 days as summer break means more kids on the road. Matt Doyle has the story.

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Judges are the governor’s signature away from a 2.5 percent pay raise next year, with potential for 2.5 percent pay raises for the next five years. Matt Doyle has more…

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A bill prohibiting handheld use of cellphones while behind the wheel has cleared the House and is being heard in Senate Judiciary Committee C today. It will also need full Senate approval before the session ends on Thursday. Last year, a similar effort got hung up, but Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval is confident this year will be different.

Cut 4 (08) “…last year.”

Current law only calls for no handheld cell phone use while driving in a school zone. Opponents to Huval’s bill say there are other distractions like eating, talking to a passenger or changing the radio station, so why just focus on cell phone use. But Huval says statistics show cell phone use is a factor in many accidents.

Cut 5 (11) “…causing multiple accidents.”

Huval says Georgia has a similar law as his bill and it has saved lives.

Cut 6 (10) “…the driving public.”

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AAA is warning drivers to be extra cautious on the roads this summer as teens off from school pack the roadways. Spokesperson Don Redman says 3,500 drivers nationwide have died in wrecks with teens in a five-year period during the “100 Deadliest Days” between 2013 and 2017.

Cut 7 (10) “…as well”

There’s a 17 percent increase in fatal teen crashes during this period relative to other times in the year. The top three killers of teen drivers are speeding at 28 percent of all fatalities, drunk driving 17 percent, and distraction at 9 percent. Redman says parents need to set a good example, particularly distraction.

Cut 8 (07) “…watching”

52 percent of teen drivers report that they operate their cellphone while behind the wheel.

Redman says there’s one hard and fast rule to keep your teen driver from killing themselves is not letting them chauffeur their friends. Redman says each additional teen passenger in a car driven by a teen doubles the chances of a wreck.

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Two thirds of those injured or killed in wrecks involving teen drivers are not the teen drivers themselves.

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Teachers may not know the exact raise they’ll get, but judges will see a 2.5 percent pay raise on July 1st, with potential for additional raises over the next five years gains as a result of bill that has received final legislative passage. Despite ultimately voting for it, Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter is frustrated that Louisiana chases the southern regional average for state salaries, but not for vital services.

Cut 10 (09) “…salaries.”

A study by LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott indicated Louisiana judges were 2.5 percent behind the southern regional average in pay.

Erath Representative Blake Miguez grilled Houma Representative Tanner Magee over reports that judges received pay raises from 2013-2017 while the state budget was in chaos. Magee countered…

Cut 11 (12) “…system.”

The raise will cost 1.8 million in the first year and could grow to 9.5 million if the State Supreme Court approves raises in each of the next five years.

The testy exchange between the two continued as Miguez stated it isn’t fair that his constituents have taken years of pay cuts while judges salaries have continued to expand. Magee says that’s just how our government works right now.

Cut 12 (12) “five years.”

The House ultimately voted 87-3 in favor of the bill. Miguez was one of the three in opposition.

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A bill to bring Uber and Lyft ride sharing services to Alexandria and rural areas  is close to final legislative passage. The proposal died in the Senate the last two years, but over the weekend the upper chamber aproved the measure 34-to-1. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau (Lou-NO) says this legislation can help reduce drunk driving deaths among college students

Cut 13 (08) “…do it.”

The lone Senator to vote against the measure was Kenner Republican Danny Martiny, who questioned why Lyft and Uber would not be regulated by the Public Service Commission, which currently regulates taxi cabs

Cut 14 (10) “…go there”

The bill enacts statewide regulations for ride-sharing services. Supporters say 44 other states have a statewide regulatory framework for Uber and Lyft to operate. Winnfield Senator Gerald Long says this is an important bill for central Louisiana…

Cut 15 (11) “…60 or 70 miles”

The bill still needs House approval of changes made by the Senate, but that is expected to happen.

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LSU will play in a Super Regional series for a 14th time in program history as the Fighting Tigers won the Baton Rouge Regional last night with a six to four victory over Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles took a lead after trailing 3-0, but Coach Paul Mainieri’s team battled back to secure the victory…

Cut 16  (19) “…they were awesome”  

LSU trailed 4-3 in the 7th inning, but re-took the lead on a Zach Watson two-run single. The bullpen did the rest. Trent Vietmeier was the winning pitcher as he threw two innings of scoreless relief…

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A couple of weeks ago, there were some who doubted if LSU would host a Regional, let alone a Super Regional. But junior shortstop Josh Smith says some people forget LSU was ranked number one in the preseason…

The controversy surrounding the bill that bans fetal heartbeat abortions spilled into budget discussions on the Senate floor. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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A Senate-approved bill targeting labeling restrictions for plant-based meats, non-animal-based milks, and cauliflower rice clears another legislative hurdle.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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The state Senate approves a 30-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year and the controversy over the fetal heartbeat abortion bill spilled into the debate. New Orleans Senator and chairwoman of the state Democratic Party , Karen Carter Peterson, tried to steer more money towards the state’s foster care system, because getting an abortion will be more difficult in Louisiana…

Cut 3 (10) “…raise the child.”

Governor Edwards has signed one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bills into law. If the federal courts uphold a similar law in Mississippi, than abortions would be outlawed in Louisiana once doctors detects the heartbeat of a fetus, usually six weeks into a pregnancy. Peterson says foster care will need more money…

Cut 4 (07) “…uterus” 

Peterson also proposed to increase state dollars for prenatal care for woman and sex education, but those amendments were defeated by both Republicans and Democrats. Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur says the legislature is getting close to passing a budget the can be proud of…

Cut 5 (11) “…to go.”

The House and Senate still have to settle their differences with the spending plan. The Senate supports an additional 39-million dollars for public schools, but the House seeks a higher teacher pay raise than the one proposed by the governor.

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The House Ag Committee advances a Senate-approved bill that would prohibit Louisiana manufacturers from labeling foods such as of cauliflower rice as rice when it doesn’t contain rice.  Ag Commissioner Mike Strain said the measure aims to ensure proper nutrition and safety for consumers.

Cut 6 (11) “…we have standards.”

Opponents of the bill say it will also be a hindrance to manufacturers who specialize in producing plant-based meat imitation products, but Colfax Representative Terry Brown says that is not the case.

Cut 7 (06) “…this bill does.”

Spokesperson for the plant-based meat producer Impossible Foods, Tyler Jameson says their company would never trick consumers into thinking they are eating meat from livestock, adding the bill would limit the right to free speech.

Cut 8 (08) “…won’t buy it.”

Jameson adds that not only are the current marketing materials clear they offer plant-based meat products, but the consumer demand is there for the products.

Cut 9 (10) “…St. Louis area restaurants.”

The bill moved forward without any objecting votes.

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Houma Representative Beryl Amadee withdraws her bill that would extend Stand Your Ground legal protections to houses of worship amid concerns it creates loopholes that incentivize violence.

Amadee says her legislation had the backing of the Louisiana Family Forum, Louisiana Baptist Association, and even consultation from AG Jeff Landry and the NRA.

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The law stated in the event someone shoots a person in a house of worship and claims self-defense, that there is a legal presumption that force was reasonable, making it harder to prosecute them.

The Terrebone Parish Republican says a limited survey of shootings shows the “good guy with a gun” can save lives in the event of a mass shooting.

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But opponents say the legislation could extend to interpersonal conflicts, and poorly defines what a “justifiable threat” is in a church. Senate Judiciary B Chairman Gary Smith appreciated the gesture, but…

cut 12(11)   “…in it””

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Beer and wine could be available for purchase in the general seating areas in Tiger Stadium this year as the SEC has lifted its stadium wide ban on alcohol sales. Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says LSU has been a driving force behind this rule change

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The policy change gives the 14 schools in the SEC the ability to draw up their own alochol sale policy. Some schools may decide not to sell alcohol in the general seating areas, but Moran says LSU believes beer and wine sales can help keep Tiger Stadium full in the second half of games

Cut 14 (06) “…elsewhere” 

Moran says beer and wine sales at football, basketball and baseball games could be big revenue generator for LSU…

Cut 15 (08) “…at LSU”