Big plans for a new sports arena and entertainment arena at LSU along with changes to the Raising Cane’s River Center are on the agenda for the East Baton Rouge Metro Council today. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Legislation to reform property insurance in the Bayou State is up for debate in the legislative session. One statewide official pushes legislation to fix property insurance crisis. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (33)  “I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

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Among the issues Governor Landry wants lawmakers to address is constitutional reform. Brooke Thorington has more on what could entail.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The Baton Rouge Area Chamber is among the groups endorsing a proposed new sports and entertainment arena at LSU being developed by the Tiger Athletic Foundation. 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.”

An East Baton Rouge Metro Council hearing on an ordinance to address the new arena and changes to the Raising Cane’s River Center is set for today (Wednesday).  Godfrey says it calls for Mayor Broome to put a plan forward for the RiverCenter…

Cut 5 (12) “…ordinance passes.” 

BRAC, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, and Visit Baton Rouge support the plan for the Raising Cane’s River Center to increase convention space and add a hotel complex. While the Capital City is the second largest city in the Bayou State, Godfrey says it’s the number four convention city behind Monroe…

Cut 6 (08) “…that space.”

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The 2024 legislative session is underway and insurance reform is a major focus. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says reducing regulations on property insurance companies will lead to a more competitive market which should lower rates. Temple says one of the bills he’s favoring is “file and use” which would allow insurers to adjust rates without his approval. He points out the department still has regulatory charge…

Cut 7 (11) “…unduly discriminatory.”

Temple is also pushing to end the three-year rule, which prohibits insurers from dropping a customer they’ve insured for three years. He says his measure would lift profit caps on insurance companies.

Cut 8 (09) “…whom they want.” 

The former insurance executive wants Louisiana to be a more stable market for consumers and companies. He says the focus is to attract more insurance companies and lower rates.

Cut 9 (12)  “…is affordability.”

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Among the issues Governor Jeff Landry wants lawmakers to address is constitutional reform. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio agrees that the 1974 state constitution, which has been amended more than 200 times, needs to be streamlined.

Cut 10 (12) “…should work.”

Landry says the current state constitution is bloated, outdated, antiquated, and much abused.

To hold a constitutional convention to revise one of the country’s longest constitutions with more than 72,000 words, Procopio says the legislature must first approve a bill to hold one, and delegates, which could be lawmakers, would hold hearings and vote on proposed changes.

Cut 11 (09) “…vote on it.” 

Among the most heavily amended sections of the constitution that Procopio says presents hurdles is Article VII, dealing with taxes and spending. For example, he says there are too many restrictions on how you can and can’t add taxes.

Cut 12 (12) “…they did.” 

Legislation to hold a constitutional convention must be filed first. As for the particulars of what would be changed to the state’s constitution remains to be seen.

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A bill is heading to the Senate floor that would toughen penalties against porch pirates. Abbeville Senator Bob Hensgens’ legislation would give judges the authority to sentence a thief to 60 days in jail if they steal packages from several homes. Major Willie Stewart with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office says porch pirates are a big problem

Cut 13 (11)  “…at a time”

Sarah Whittington with the Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana opposed the bill. She says there are already laws on the books addressing theft and specific punishment for porch pirates will not help the situation…

Cut 14 (09) “…the porch.”

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”

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Quarterback Jameis Winston is moving on from the Saints. The 30-year-old has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns that will pay him eight million dollars. Winston has been in New Orleans in 2020, mostly as a back-up. Locked on Saints Podcast Host Ross Jackson says the Black and Gold knew Winston wanted a chance at starting….

Cut 16 (20) “..some point.” 

Winston signed with the Saints in 2020 to learn from Sean Payton and Drew Brees. He won the starting job after Brees retired, but suffered a season-ending knee injury during the middle of the 2021 season and then lost his starting job again early in the 2022 season due to a back injury. Jackson says New Orleans never saw Winston’s true potential…

Cut 17 (19) “…be missed.” 

The Saints will need to find a veteran to serve as a primary backup to Derek Carr. Jackson says the Saints have a history of not being big spenders in free agency, but expect them to get more active with the new-year league beginning at 3 PM…

Cut 18 (17)  “…begins.” 

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The second ranked LSU softball team is now 23-0 after beating third ranked Texas on Tuesday seven to four. Kelley Lynch had a big three-run double in a five run first inning and Sydney Berzon went the distance in the circle for her ninth win of the year. Berzon allowed four runs but Coach Beth Torina had confidence Berzon would not relinquish the lead…

Cut 19 (12) “….stuck with her” 

LSU will now get read to host Ole Miss for a three-game series that will start on Saturday night. The Rebels are 16-7 overall and Torina says they present a challenge…

Cut 20 (16) “…negated”

Advocating to move from their existing 60-year-old headquarters, New Orleans PD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick describes the myriad of issues plaguing the current facility.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Get ready to hear about Education Savings Accounts during the legislative session. Jeff Palermo explains what they do…

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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While addressing the New Orleans city council committee members in a plea for a new facility, Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick described the wretched building conditions and reminded members of a recent tour of the evidence room.

Cut 3 (13) “…all high.”  

Kirkpatrick stressed the need to move to another building and their proposal to lease two floors of the DXC building on Poydras Street. She says the move would allow them to house dozens of administrators who are exposed to the current deplorable conditions at current headquarters.

And it’s not just high rats and roaches in the evidence room, she says the uncleanliness throughout the buildings is off the charts and presents a myriad of health issues for employees.

Cut 4 (10) “…their desks.” 

Kirkpatrick also described the inoperable elevators, air conditioning, and plumbing in the 60-year-old headquarters.

Cut 5 (12) “…not acceptable.”

A 10-year lease for the other proposed building would cost $7.6 million. 

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Governor Jeff Landry has told lawmakers Louisiana is failing its students and cited a report that ranks the state 46th in education. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin says Landry is asking legislators to create an Education Savings Accounts program, which would use taxpayer dollars to help families send their child to a different school

Cut 6  (08) “…other options” 

Erwin says former Governor John Bel Edwards was an opponent of ESAs because it would take money away from the public education school system and give it to private schools.

Cut 7 (10) “…consequences”  

Erwin says it remains to be seen how much money Louisiana will spend on E-S-As. He says the governor is committed to giving families more options if the school they are attending is not right for them…

Cut 8 (12) “…right now.” 

Erwin says an Education Savings Account bill has yet to be filed.

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Agile Cold Storage announces plans to invest 46 million dollars in the first cold storage facility in St. Tammany Parish. St. Tammany Corporation CEO Chris Masingill says it will create dozens of jobs…

Cut 9 (09) “…particular project.” 

The company estimates the project will result in a total of 195 potential new jobs. The new facility, will be located in Pearl River, will prepare fresh food for transportation by blast-freezing and packing it for shipment.

Masingill says the space will have highly automated, multi-temperature and conventional warehousing and logistics support. He says the building will house primarily poultry for export every week.

Cut 10 (07) “…of New Orleans.”

The state offered Agile a competitive incentive package that includes a performance-based grant of $1.5 million that will reimburse the company for site improvement expenditures, contingent on board approval.

Masingill says the synergy from the parish and state played a vital role in Agile’s decision to choose Pearl River. He said they also liked the logistics the area provides…

Cut 11 (09) “…for them.”

The company expects to begin construction on the 150,000-square-foot facility next month. And operations are set to begin in the first quarter of 2025.

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State Police has provided more information on a fatal shooting involving a Calcasieu Parish Sherriff’s deputy. Trooper Derek Senegal says during a traffic stop last Thursday on I-10 between Lake Charles and Iowa, 37-year-old Quinton Baker of Gadsden, Alabama, was killed when he attempted to drive off while a deputy was searching inside his SUV.

Cut 12 (05)  “…struck Baker.”

The 2023  Chevy Tahoe then struck a concrete barrier, and traveled across three lanes of traffic, a ditch, and struck several trees before coming to a stop. Baker was pronounced dead at a Lake Charles hospital and the deputy sustained injuries as well. Senegal says the deputy responded appropriately.

Cut 13 (05) “…incident.”  

The deputy received injuries to his neck and back along with abrasions and lacerations. Approximately two kilos of cocaine were recovered from the vehicle.