A proposal to prohibit insurance companies from using a person’s credit score to determine their auto insurance rate fails to get out of the House Insurance Committee. Andrew Greenstein has more.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Gas prices are down 12 cents from a month ago to a statewide average of $2.70 a gallon. That’s according to Triple-A. And the price at the pump is down 50-cents from a year ago. Louisiana has the second lowest gas prices in the country, trailing only Mississippi.

The House Education Committee started its meeting yesterday by passing a resolution that asks the Southeastern Conference not to schedule any LSU home football games in September before 6 PM. It’s in response to last September’s UCLA game, which started at 2:30 and it was 90-degrees. Harahan Representative John Illg believes all of Louisiana’s college football teams should play their games at night in September…

Cut 9 (10) “….month of September”

But ESPN is the one who schedules game times for LSU and they have that authority because of the three-billion-dollar television deal they signed with the SEC.

The House Education Committee also approved a measure that would give Louisiana college students the opportunity to provide their school with the phone number of a parent or guardian and that person can be contacted if the student is experiencing a mental health crisis. The bill’s author is New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd

Cut 6 (12) “…too late”

The measure heads to the House floor for another vote.

The House Education Committee passes a bill that would require universities to offer a privacy waiver to students that would allow schools to contact their parents during a mental health crisis. Sean Richardson has testimony from the bill’s author, New Orleans Democrat Delisha Boyd.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Louisiana Healthcare Connections says research shows one in five women experience a mental health condition and many go untreated due to stigma, lack of time or difficulty accessing care. Louisiana Healthcare Connections encourages moms to take breaks and practice self-care and there are telehealth services available for convenient, private mental health support.

A bill that would prohibit insurance companies from using credit score as a factor in determining insurance rates fails to get out of the House Insurance Committee by one vote. In Louisiana, drivers who have poor or fair credit scores pay higher premiums than drivers with very good or excellent credit scores. Baton Rouge Representative Edmond Jordan says a credit score doesn’t determine a person’s driving ability…

Cut 10 (07) “…bad credit.”

The vote on Jordan’s bill was nine to nine, which means it does not advance to the House floor, unless another vote is taken, which is unlikely.

If you use your driver’s license as your main form of identification to board a commercial flight, it now has to be REAL ID compliant. But if you haven’t gotten your REAL ID yet, there’s no need to worry. Matt Boudreaux with the Office of Motor Vehicles says you have alternatives at the TSA checkpoint.

Cut 13 (13)  “…REAL ID compliant.”

A ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving moves to the Senate. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Funeral arrangements have been announced for Rayne Police Lieutenant Allen “Noochie” Credeur who was shot by friendly fire and killed in the line of duty Monday. A public viewing will be held on Monday, May 12 beginning at 9:00 A.M. with a funeral following at 2:00 P.M. at the Rayne Civic Center followed by a burial service at Arceneaux Cemetery.

A New York Times report says Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has spoken to former Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards about running for the U-S Senate next year, possibly facing Republican Senator Billy Cassidy in November’s general election. Cassidy is considered vulnerable because of his vote to convict Donald Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there’s no guarantee Cassidy will be re-elected, even though he has a campaign war chest of over seven million dollars…

Cut 11 (11) “…another Democrat.”

During Love the Boot Week in April, Keep Louisiana Beautiful supported recycling efforts in 27 parishes, picking up over 16-thousand bottles and cans, a 23-percent increase from last year. Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell says this was part of a broader statewide effort involving nearly 27-thousand volunteers

Cut 3 (12) “…was just amazing.”

The Louisiana Senate has approved a bill that would make it a crime to possess and distribute kratom in Louisiana. Senator Jay Morris says while kratom can easily be purchased online or in many gas stations, the FDA has not approved it.

Cut 8 (11) “…substance abuse disorder.”

The bill passed on a 26-11 vote. There was testimony in committee from citizens who say kratom helped them treat their depression or helped with chronic pain.

At this time last year, John Foster was graduating from Brusly High School in West Baton Rouge Parish, now he is one of seven remaining contestants on American Idol. His high school principal Walt Lemoine…

Cut 5 (11) “…Addis, Louisiana”

SkyWest Airlines, the largest regional airline in the U.S, announces plans to build a maintenance base a the Shreveport Regional Airport. North Louisiana Economic Partnership CEO Justyn Dixon says the new facility is expected to create 150 direct jobs, averaging 70-thousand-dollars annually…

Cut 10 (07“…workforce base.”

The airline expects the base will be operational in the second half of 2025.

During Love the Boot Week in April, Keep Louisiana Beautiful supported recycling efforts in 27 parishes, picking up over 16-thousand bottles and cans, a 23-percent increase from last year. Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell says this initiative was part of a broader statewide effort involving nearly 27-thousand volunteers.

Cut 3 (12) “…was just amazing.”

The House Ways and Means Committee approves a proposed constitutional amendment that would give local parishes the option to increase the homestead exemption. New Orleans Representative Matthew Williard says the homestead exemption has not changed since 1980 and since then property taxes and insurance costs have risen considerably and it’s forcing people to leave the state…

Cut 14 (11) “….their roots down”

The bill would need a two-thirds approval on the House floor to advance to the Senate.

SkyWest Airlines, the nation’s largest regional airline carrier has selected the Shreveport Regional Airport as its newest maintenance base and facility. This means at least 150 new jobs for the area. North Louisiana Economic Partnership CEO Justyn Dixon says SkyWest Airlines chose Shreveport as its new maintenance base out of 30 locations across the U-S…

Cut 11 (09) “…make their money”

Brusly High graduate, and now LSU freshman John Foster, is in the Top 7 on American Idol and continues to make Louisiana proud. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Hockey Hall of Famer Jeremy Roenick has joined the Monroe Moccasins organization as an investor and partner. ULM’s Molly Fichtner is the Sun Belt Softball Coach of the Year. And the NFL Network’s Jane Slater says a decision is coming sooner rather than later for Saints quarterback Derek Carr on whether he’ll have surgery on his injured shoulder. Carr wants to avoid surgery, because he’s already had surgery on his right arm.

A substance sometimes referred to as “gas station heroin” is one step closer to being banned in Louisiana…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

At this time last year, John Foster was graduating from Brusly High School in West Baton Rouge Parish, now he is one of seven remaining contestants on American Idol. His high school principal Walt Lemoine…

Cut 5 (12) “…Addis, Louisiana”

Foster’s last performance was George Strait’s I Cross My Heart. Judge Carrie Underwood said it was a perfect performance.

SkyWest Airlines, the nation’s largest regional airline carrier, has selected Shreveport Regional Airport as its new maintenance base. The Skywest facility is expected to create 150 direct new jobs. North Louisiana Economic Partnership CEO Justyn Dixon says a project like this will keep skilled workers in the state and attract out of state residents looking for work…

Cut 12 (10) “..great opportunities”

SkyWest expects the base in Shreveport will be operational in the second half of 2025.

The House Ways and Means Committee approves a proposed constitutional amendment that if approved by voters, parishes would have the option to raise the homestead exemption. Jim Patterson with LABI says while this legislation would lower your property taxes, other taxes would likely rise…

Cut 15 (09) “..taxes to others”

The bill’s author is New Orleans Representative Matthew Willard says the Homestead Exemption in Louisiana has not increased since 1980, despite sizable increases in home values.