The Louisiana House approved several bills on Monday that seek to stop the rise in insurance rates by reducing the chance that motorists involved in car crashes could receive big payouts after filing a lawsuit. One of the bills to pass would allow medical costs to be admissible in court, which is not allowed right now.

An effort to eliminate the inspection sticker program fails in the House Transportation committee. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

A new study shows that the oil and gas industry is a major driver of Louisiana’s economy. The study by the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association says the oil and gas industry generates 25-percent of the state’s economy. Mid-Continent President Tommy Faucheux (foah-SHAY) says it proves how big a player the industry is in the state….

Cut 8 (14) “…energy industry”

Faucheux says the energy industry is responsible for 305-thousand jobs, which is 15-percent of the state’s total employment.

At the state treasurer’s website, you’ll see a link for the Louisiana K-through-12 school transparency project. It provides information on how schools are spending their money. Treasurer John Fleming is questioning a two-thousand-dollar expenditure to Act Blue by the Orleans Parish School Board…

Cut 11 (08) “…something like that”

The Orleans Parish School Board did not respond to our request for comment.

Louisiana lawmakers are debating the future of kratom, an herbal substance with stimulating or sedating effects sold in gas stations and smoke shops.

Cut 4 (11) “…sold in Louisiana”

Monroe Senator Jay Morris is seeking a total ban, because he says kratom, which is not approved by the FDA, can be addictive, cause hallucinations, nausea and even death.

The public has the ability to try its hand at balancing Louisiana’s Budget by using an educational website called solve-the-budget-dot-com. PAR president Steven Procopio says you can choose how much to tax residents and businesses and how best to spend the money for important areas like education…

Cut 11 (10) “…university spending”

The LSU Tigers took two of three from Tennessee in a matchup of the last two College World Series Champions. Freshman left fielder Derek Curiel nearly hit for the cycle yesterday as the Tigers won 12 to 2 in eight innings. One day after failing to reach base in a game for the first time this season, Curiel went 4-for-4 with a homer, two doubles and five RBI…

Cut 13 (13)  “…going forward.”

The Saints have added a quarterback to their roster. They used a second-round pick to select Tyler Shough (“shuck”). He’s 25 years old, played seven seasons of college football with three different schools, and suffered three significant injuries. Coach Kellen Moore says they came away more impressed every time they spoke with Shough during the draft process.

Cut 16 (20) “…he was.”

The utility company, SWEPCO says grid conditions are now stable after having to shut off power to more than 30-thousand customers in Bossier and Caddo Parishes on Saturday. SWEPCO says the power had to be turned off because Southwest Power Pool, the regional transmission organization, was having issues on its end and the power had to be turned off for some SWEPCO customers to prevent widespread damage to the power lines and equipment.

Two new buildings are coming to Louisiana Tech. Colleen Crain reports

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear a bill that seeks to ban kratom. The Drug Enforcement Administration lists kratom as a drug and chemical of concern, because it can cause seizures, nausea, vomiting and hallucinations. But some use kratom to self-treat chronic pain much like an opioid, but Monroe Senator Jay Morris says that’s a problem…

Cut 6 (12) “…as a drug”

The Louisiana District Attorneys Association and the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association support Morris’s bill.

Louisiana lawmakers are also working on passing a budget for next fiscal year. If you want to get an idea on how difficult that can be, go to solve-the-budget-dot-com. Public Affairs Research Council president Steven Procopio says the educational website posses more three dozen yes or no tax and spending questions, each with a dollar figure of how much the item will cost or how much it will increase revenue by…

Cut 12 (09) “….areas to cut”

Week 3 of the legislative session begins today. Coming up for debate tomorrow morning in a Senate committee is a bill that would ban the sale of kratom. The herbal substance can be found at convenience stores and smoke shops. Monroe Senator Jay Morris says kratom can be addictive and cause hallucinations. Nausea, and can be fatal. He says hospitals are also seeing babies born addicted to kratom…

Cut 5 (06) “…legal substance”

Coming up for debate in the full house today is a bill to tax vaping and e-cigarette products.

Two new buildings are under construction at Louisiana Tech. One of them is the new Origin Bank Academic Center for Student Athlete Success….

Cut 7 (11) “…fully supported”

That’s University President Jim Henderson who says the other building that’s now under construction is the Forest Products Innovation Center which will serve as a resource for forestry, education and discovery.

If you’ve ever said you could do a better job than the legislature at balancing the budget, now’s your chance to put up or shut up. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

LSU won its highly anticipated baseball series against defending national champion Tennessee. The Tigers defeated the Vols in the rubber game 12 to 2 in eight innings yesterday. Freshman Casan Evans allowed just two runs in six innings, the two runs allowed came in the first inning…

Cut 15 (15) “…after that”

The Louisiana House convenes at 1 PM today and they are expected to vote on several bills of note, including a measure that Governor Jeff Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple do not see eye to eye on. That proposal would give the Insurance Commissioner more authority to block excessive rate hikes. The House is also expected to take up a measure that would increase the tax on vaping and e-cigarette products.

State lawmakers are also attempting to ban the sale of kratom. Sean Richardson has more on that…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Morris’s bill will be heard tomorrow in a Senate Committee.

Construction is underway on two new facilities on the Louisiana Tech campus that university leaders say will transform the campus in Ruston. Ground has been broken on the Orgin Bank Center for Student-Athlete Success which La Tech President Jim Henderson says will produce world-class academic, wellness and leadership resources for student-athletes. And Henderson says on Tech’s South Campus, ground has been broken on the Forest Products Innovation Center…

Cut 8 (10) “….using yellow pine”

If you’ve ever said you could do a better job balancing the budget than the elected officials, you’re now invited to put your money — make that the state’s money — where your mouth is. PAR, LSU and The Advocate have all teamed up to launch the online game, “Solve The Budget.” Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio

Cut 10 (10) “…things like that.”

The Louisiana House is set to meet today at 1 PM, and a bill up for discussion is the measure that would give Louisiana’s Insurance Commissioner the ability to block excess insurance rate increases.. Governor Jeff Landry is urging the Louisiana Legislature to approve…

Cut 21 (20) “…necessary”

Landry testified in favor of the bill when it was heard in the House Insurance Committee earlier this month. Landry says the legislation is not designed as a hammer for the insurance commissioner, but the bill is designed to be a safeguard.

But Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple, elected and not appointed by the governor, opposes the legislation…

Cut 28 (20) “…California”

Temple believes the best way to lower rates is to reduce the losses insurance companies incur. He says the high payouts car accident victims are receiving are the main reason why the state’s rates are so high.

Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear a bill that seeks to ban kratom. The Drug Enforcement Administration lists kratom as a drug and chemical of concern, because it can cause seizures, nausea, vomiting and hallucinations. But some use kratom to self-treat chronic pain much like an opioid, but Morris says that’s a problem…

Cut 6 (12) “…as a drug”

The Louisiana District Attorneys Association and the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association support Morris’s bill.