New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman’s effort to give voters a chance to decide if abortion should be legal in Louisiana was voted down by a House committee. Freeman says a recent LSU poll shows 52-percent of Louisiana voters believe abortion should be legal…
cut 11 (08) “….families”
But most of the members on the House Civil Law Committee say voters have already spoken on this issue when they approved a constitutional amendment in 2020.

Today, a Senate Committee will discuss a bill that would give judges the option to order castration for certain sex offenders who abuse children under the age of 13. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the more she’s learned about the lifelong impact sexual assault has on kids, the more adamant she is about her bill.
Cut 9 (12) “…of doing.”

New St. Tammany Parish coroner, Doctor Christopher Tape, has fired back at other elected officials who say he should be removed from office, because he was indicted more than 20 years ago on child abuse charges. Those charges were later dropped. Tape’s critics say he’s unfit for office, but Tape says…
cut 5 (04) “…proven guilty”
Tape’s first day in office was yesterday and he says he has no plans on resigning. A recall effort to get him out of office is being planned.

Louisiana is the most stressed out state according to the personal finance website Wallethub.com . Analyst Cassie Happe says the survey looked at several factors like work, health, and crime…
Cut 13 (10) “…particular categories.”
The study indicates Louisiana residents rank fourth for average hours worked per week, third for divorce rate and second for crime rate.

St. Tammany Parish Coroner Christopher Tape says he’s received death threats after it was revealed by an investigative reporter that Tape was accused but never tried on child sexual abuse charges in New Mexico. A recall effort is expected to remove him from office. At a press conference Monday, Tape talked about his first day as coroner.
Cut 4 (08) “…death threat.”
Tape says he’s not planning on resigning and as far as his child sexual assault accusations, he says it’s innocent until proven guilty.

A bill to allow judges to sentence certain sex offenders whose victims are younger than 13, to surgical castration will be heard in Senate Judiciary C today. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says sex offenders who prey on children are usually repeat offenders.
Cut 7 (09) “…men and women.”
Barrow has filed similar legislation in the past.

An effort to give voters the opportunity to decide if abortion should be legal in Louisiana is dead for the legislative session. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman’s proposed constitutional amendment that would put the issue to a vote was defeated in a House committee. Freeman says a recent LSU poll shows a majority of residents believe women should have a choice, but Washington Parish Republican John Wyble says he’s not seeing any support for Freeman’s proposal…
cut 12 (13) “…falls on it”

Louisiana is ranked as the most stressed out state according to a new report from Wallethub-dot-com. The Bayou State receives the top ranking because of its high crime and divorce rate, also the state has the second highest percentage of population living in poverty. Wallet hub analyst Cassie Happe says if you’re having money problems…
cut 15 (12) “…your bills”

A state Senate committee is set to hear a bill today that would give judges the ability to sentence a person to surgical castration if they commit a sex offense against a child under the age of 13. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the opponents will say castration is inhumane, but her response is….
cut 8 (10) “….period”
The bill is scheduled to be heard in Senate Judiciary C.

It was an interesting first day on the job for St. Tammany Parish coroner Christopher Tape. Tape says a suspicious package was found in a closet around two A-M at his office…
cut 6 (11) “….last night”
Local officials want Tape to be recalled because he was indicted more than 20 years ago on child sexual abuse charges. The case against Tape was never brought to court. Tape says he’s not resigning.

A new study by WalletHub.com names the Bayou State as the most stressed-out state in the country. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

New Orleans resident Kelsey Anderson has found love on the popular reality show The Bachelor. Anderson received the final rose from the Bachelor Joey Graziadei on the season finale last night. Andersen is a project manager and Graziadei is a tennis pro who plans to move to New Orleans.

A House committee has voted down a proposal to give Louisiana residents the ability to vote on whether abortion should be legal. A nine-year-old boy from Lafayette testified against the measure. Hopkins Inzina says his grandmother was a teenager when she was pregnant with his mom and could have decided on an abortion…
Cut 10 (14) “…including me.”
Louisiana has one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation.

According to Wallet-hub-dot-com, Louisiana ranks number one in its study for most stressed state in the country. Wallet-hub-‘s Cassie Happe says Louisiana’s stress levels are up because of the high crime and divorce rate and the state ranks second in median credit score…
cut 14 (12) “….their credit”
Embattled St. Tammany Parish Coroner, Christopher Tape, who was accused of child sexual assault, but never tried on a technicality in New Mexico, says he was greeted with a suspicious package on his first day. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (25) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The House Transportation Committee approves legislation to do away with the requirement for Louisiana drivers to get an inspection sticker. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley told lawmakers there is no reason for the sticker…
cut 9 (09) “….into a fine
Bagley says vehicles are built better and law enforcement officers can pull over a vehicle they believe is not safe. The measure heads to House Appropriations.

Democrat Henry Whitehorn has made history by becoming the first black man elected as Caddo Parish Sheriff. The former head of State Police secured 53 percent of the vote on Saturday, after winning by one vote over Republican opponent John Nickelson in November. Political Analyst Scott Hughes…
Cut 3 (11) “…vote margin.”
A second election was needed because the courts ruled there were several questionable votes counted in the November election.

A Merryville dog owner sought revenge by fatally shooting a dog after it allegedly attacked his dog. So, we asked Legal Analyst Franz Borghardt if it is legal to shoot another dog in another person’s yard if it attacked yours.
Cut 10 (13) “…to property.”
Authorities are conducting a criminal investigation into the shooting of the Labrador.

The LSU Lady Tigers are heading to the Sweet 16 after beating Middle Tennessee 83 to 56. A Washington Post article on LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey could be published this week. Mulkey says the same reporter previously did a hit job on football coach Brian Kelly and he’s spent the last two years trying to dig up dirt on her…
Cut 13 (11) “…positive stories”
Mulkey is promising a defamation lawsuit if the story contains any lies about here.

Week three of the legislative session begins today and lawmakers are working on a package of bills that will result in fewer regulations for insurance companies. But Real Reform Louisiana’s Ben Riggs says the proposed legislation will take away consumer rights. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple pushes back by saying less regulation, means more companies writing policies and that should translate to lower premiums…
cut 9 (09) “…from that’

LSU Health Shreveport says it’s working on a study with the Air Force that will study the physiological and cognitive stress that B-52 Aircrews experience on long-duration deployments. Director of the Rehabilitation Science Program Doctor Cory Coehoorn says B-52 crewmembers can have in-flight missions of 30-plus hours…
cut 14 (11) “….of time
‘
While some other states have outlawed the sale of nitrous oxide paraphernalia, Louisiana may become the first to outlaw the substance with few exceptions. Colleen Crain has the story.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Today is the first day on the job for St. Tammany Parish coroner Doctor Christopher Tape. But state lawmakers on the Northshore are already calling for his removal from office because he was accused of sexual assault 20 years ago. Those charges were never brought to court. State legislators are also upset Tape cut the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program

We are moving into the third week of the legislative session and legislation supported by Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple that he says will lead to more competition and a reduction of premiums is moving through the process. Temple says regulations currently in place make it hard for insurance companies to do business in Louisiana…
cut 8 (10) “….doing nothing”
But the Director of Real Reform Louisiana Ben Riggs, says these bills will pad the profits of insurers and take away consumer rights.

The LSU Lady Tigers are heading to the Sweet 16 after beating Middle Tennessee 83 to 56. LSU trailed by nine points early in the second half before they got it going. Coach Kim Mulkey was asked if an anticipated Washington Post story on her distracted the team…
cut 12 (05) “….absolutely not”
Mulkey says a reporter from the Washington Paper has spent the last two years trying to dig up dirt on her and she’s threatening to sue if the article contains any false information about her.

LSU Health Shreveport and the Air Force will jointly study the physiological and cognitive stress that B-52 Aircrews experience on long-duration deployments.
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Be prepared for strong storms today. There’s an enhanced risk for severe weather for the delta parishes including Monroe. The entire state is under a slight right for strong storms. And it will be windy today.