The House Transportation Committee passed a bill that would give motorcycle riders the option to hit the highway without a helmet. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Gas prices are on the rise. According to Triple-A, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.07, up three cents from yesterday and up 16-cents from a month ago. Demand is on the rise as the weather warms up around the country and the days are getting longer.

A proposed U.S. law targeting the social media app TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese based company ByteDance, could force the company to sell its controlling stake or be blocked in the U.S. Host of the podcast Tech Gumbo Haggai Davis says federal lawmakers are concerned China can access data from the users of TikTok…
Cut 10 (07) “…a problem.”
Davis says the bill forces the company to be sold to either a U.S.-based or a non-Chinese company to alleviate security concerns. The U-S House approved the bill, it awaits debate in the Senate.

The Louisiana Senate Transportation Committee has approved a proposal to rename a portion of the Highway 11 bridge in St. Tammany Parish the Jimmy Buffet Changes in Latitude Memorial Crossing. The bill’s author is Covington Senator Patrick McMath who looks forward to discussion on the Senate floor…
cut 9 (06) “…know yet”

The 2024 legislative session is underway and insurance reform is a major focus. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says reducing regulations will result in more insurers writing policies in the state…
CUT 27 (12) “…affordability”
Temple supports legislation that allows insurers to adjust rates without his approval. He also wants to end the three year rule, which prohibits home insurers from dropping a customer that’s been policy holder for more than three years.

Legislation banning importing, ownership, and trafficking of sex dolls that resemble children has been approved by a Senate committee. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says Homeland Security contacted her about such activity…
Cut 9 (06) “…arrest anybody.”

In 2022, the Louisiana Legislature passed a law that limits the publicizing of mug shots by law enforcement agencies. It’s illegal for a sheriff’s department to release an offender’s mugshot who commits non-violent or minor crimes. Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh says that law was approved with good intentions, but it’s confusing for law enforcement agencies…
cut 12 (12) “…decision”
Seabaugh’s bill would allow for all mugshots to become public, which concerns Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow…
cut 13 (13) “…going forward”
Despite Barrow’s opposition the bill heads to the Senate floor.

Legislation that would allow law enforcement to once again make public the booking photos of adults charged with crimes is making its way to the Senate floor. A law passed in 2022 prevents the release of mug shots of suspects accused of non-violent or minor offenses. Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh says the 2022 law is hurting law enforcement…
Cut 11 (10) “…law enforcement”
Seabaugh says the 2022 law was approved with good intentions, but there is confusion over what can and can’t be released,

Sarah Whittington with the Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana says mug shots can cause damage for suspects who later found innocent…
Cut 14 (10) “..good character”
Senate Judiciary C Committee approved the bill.

If you missed getting tickets for Taylor Swift’s soldout October 26th show at the Superdome, Brooke Thorington has more on how you can win a pair and help “Mastermind” Ochsner Health’s Neuroscience Institute.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Covington Senator Patrick McMath is proposing to rename a portion of the Highway 11 bridge in St Tammany Parish as the Jimmy Buffett Changes in Latitude Memorial Crossing. The Senate Transportation Committee endorsed the proposal today

Major changes could be coming to the state’s constitution as Governor Landry is looking to take items out of the constitution and put them into state law. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says legislators are unable to make many changes to the state’s tax code without voter approval…
cut 12 (12) “…they did”
A bill calling for a constitutional convention has yet to be filed.

State Police has charged a Lafayette truck driver with negligent homicide for driving too fast during the super fog event on I-55 last October. Trooper Jacob Pucheu (pee-shoe) says 61-year-old Ronald Britt’s truck was part of a massive chain reaction crash that involved 168 vehicles and seven deaths, including 60-year-old James Fleming…
Cut 6 (11) “…Mrs. Fleming”
Pucheu says Britt is facing several charges.

Insurance reform will be a major focus during this regular session. Teiko Foxx looks at a couple of proposals the new Insurance Commissioner is pushing for…
cut 2 (33) “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

What about auto insurance rates? Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot tells the USA Today Network that there is legislation filed for the regular session that can help reduce rates. The bills are in the area of tort reform. But Real Reform Louisiana says those bills strip victims rights and fatten industry profits.

Insurance and constitutional reform are two of the major priorities for Governor Landry and Republicans in the legislative session. First-year Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple wants to remove some of the regulations on insurance companies in the hopes it will result in more insurers doing business in the state. Temple is proposing to do away with the three-year rule, which prohibits insurers from dropping a customer they’ve insured for three years…
cut 8 (09) “….whom they want”
Public Affairs Research Council President Steve Procopio says Governor Landry also wants a streamlined state constitution, because the current one has been amended more than 200 times…
cut 11 (09) “….vote on it”

Some would consider porch pirates a menace to our society. State lawmakers have started advancing a bill that would give judges the option to sentence a person convicted of stealing packages from the patios of several homes to 60 days in jail. New Iberia Senator Blake Miguez, a member of the Judiciary C Committee, believes this legislation can make a porch pirate think twice…
Cut 15 (09) “…deter crime”
This is bill is heading to the Senate floor.

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber endorses a proposed 300-million dollars arena on LSU’s campus. The new venue would host sporting events and bring larger entertainment acts to Baton Rouge. Trey Godfrey with BRAC is excited about what the proposal means to Baton Rouge…
Cut 4 (07) “…our community.”
But East Baton Rouge metro councilmember Chauna Banks opposes a new arena on the LSU campus, because it will restrict what events can be hosted at the River Center, which will hurt the downtown area.

Insurance reform will be a major focus during this regular session. Teiko Foxx looks at a couple of proposals the new Insurance Commissioner is pushing for…
cut 2 (33) “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

State Police has arrested a Lafayette truck driver for his role in last October’s deadly fog-related I-55 crash. Authorities say 61-year-old Ronald Britt of Lafayette failed to stop his truck in time before slamming into the back Cadillac, killing 60-year-old James Fleming. A total seven people died in the chain reaction crash that involved 168 vehicles.

Governor Jeff Landry told legislators on the opening day of the legislative session that it’s time to streamline the state’s constitution, which he says has become bloated because of more than 200 amendments since it was enacted in 1974. Public Affairs Research Council President Stephen Procopio on why there is an effort to streamline the state constitution…
cut 10 (12) :,,,,should work”

LSU’s Tiger Athletic Foundation is looking to build a new arena on campus that would not only host sports events, but also concerts. But LSU does not want to compete with the Raising Cane’s River Center in downtown Baton Rouge for concerts. Trey Godfrey with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber says the E-B-R metro council will consider transforming the River Center into a bigger convention center…
cut 5 (12) “…ordinance passes”