A national survey finds small business optimism increased slightly in April, but NFIB’s small business optimism index remains below a 50-year average for a 28th consecutive month. NFIB state director Leah Long says there’s a lot of discouraging news about the economy…
cut 6 (11) “…right now”
Long says 22-percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem.

The debate over banning consumable hemp products containing THC continues at the state capitol. Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressley says there are dozens of THC products available to buy that can get you high…
Cut 13 (11) “..gets you high.”
Pressly’s bill needs a positive vote from the House and then it heads to the governor’s desk.

For the past four years, driving past the Hertz building in Lake Charles has been a sad reminder of Hurricane Laura’s destruction but that is about to change. Colleen Crain explains…
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

There is still about 12-thousand Entergy customers without power as a result of Monday’s severe weather that’s responsible for three fatalities. More severe weather could impact the state Friday and flooding rains are a concern beginning Thursday afternoon for central and southwest Louisiana.

Christopher McCoy of Bunkie has pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide in the death of Lauren Vaughn. She was a 22 year-old nursing student from Alexandria. The incident happened on Good Friday in 2023. Bridget Vaughn, Lauren’s mother, says McCoy was sentenced to six years in prison.
Cut 3 (12) “…grieving process”
State Police says McCoy’s blood alcohol level was .15 at the time of the fatal crash. Lauren Vaughn was a passenger in his vehicle when it ran off the road.

Turns out there were multiple tornadoes that touched down in southwest Louisiana late Monday. National Weather Service Meteorologist Jeremy Michael says two tornadoes touched down in the Lake Charles area and the other in St. Martin Parish
Cut 8 (08) “…rolled over”

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter has announced the Hertz Building, formerly known as the Capital One Tower, will be torn down this Summer. It’s been vacant since Hurricane Laura damaged many of its windows. Hunter says the city does not own the Hertz Building but he is among many who wanted to save it. He and city officials met with a least a dozen private developers in hopes of finding a way…
Cut 11 (09) “…this building.”
Hunter looks forward to replacing the building with something that will enhance downtown Lake Charles.

Today is the last day to pay your 2023 state income taxes. If you are unable to file today, you still have to submit an estimated payment, but the act of filing can wait another six months as the state now offers an automatic extension. Certified Public Accountant Connor Brown says the extension is automatic because of a law passed in 2022…
cut 6 (12) “….the extensions”

Legislation that would prohibit the sale of consumable hemp products that contain THC is closer to final legislative passage. In 2022, Louisiana lawmakers approved a THC-legalization bill. But Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly says that opened the door for the sale of products in Louisiana that contains enough THC to get a person high and several of these products are marketed towards children. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton supports the legislation…
cut 22 (10) “…voted for that bill”
Darrell Chouest, Director of the Hemp Association of Louisiana, argued against the legislation. He says better regulation is needed to protect the thousands of Louisiana business owners that have invested in the hemp market…
cut 16 (06) “…33,000 Louisiana businesses’
The bill needs House approval and it then heads to the governor’s desk.
The National Weather Service says three tornadoes touched down in southwest Louisiana on Monday, two in the Lake Charles area and another in St. Martin Parish. The Louisiana Department of Health says there were three storm related deaths, one in Cecilia and two in Port Allen. National Weather Service meteorologist Jeremy Michael says more rain is on the way, starting tomorrow… and rivers and bayous are already full…
cut 9 (08) “….flash flooding”

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says the Hertz Tower, formerly known as the Capital One Tower, will be demolished this summer. The building has been vacant since Hurricane Laura blew out many of the sky scraper’s windows. Hunter says the demolition will pave the way for better use of the space…
cut 12 (12) “…Lake Charles”

A Senate approved bill that would make sale of any hemp product containing THC illegal statewide has passed the House Criminal Justice Committee with a 7 to 5 vote and moves to the House floor for final legislative passage. Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressley says there are dozens of THC products available to buy that can get you high…
Cut 13 (13) “..gets you high.”
Joe Gerrity, CEO of Crescent Canna makes that product and says Senator Pressly’s accusation is inaccurate and misleading.
Cut 14 (11) “..entire country.”
Gerrity says prohibiting the sale of THC in a regulated, licensed, and taxable market will only drive people back to the black market.

One of the bills that sought to restrict what documents and emails can be released involving communication with the governor’s office through a public records request is dead for the legislative session. There is pushback against Governor Landry’s efforts to restrict public access to certain government records. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says he agrees with the governor’s desire to keep certain records out of public view, but it’s hard to find a balance between transparency and keeping government information hidden
Cut 12 (09) “…of the Senate.”
There are still two other bills alive in the legislative session that would limit public access to state government records, but it remains to be seen if they can get approval in the Senate.

Former state senator Bodi White has stepped as Governor Landry’s legislative liaison to the Senate. The Advocate reports White got into a heated argument with one of Landry’s staffers over whether a bill the governor wants passed has adequate funding.

The state health department has confirmed three people have died as a result of yesterday’s severe weather. A 31-year-old woman who was nine months pregnant died when a tree fell on her home in Port Allen. Her fetus is counted as a storm related death. Also, a 24-year-old Texas woman in St. Martin Parish died from her injuries after her camper flipped. West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office sergeant Landon Groger is asking the public to stay off the roads in stotm damaged areas…
cut 5 (08) “…everyone”

A scary moment at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Abbeville as teenager brandished a gun during a first communion ceremony….
cut 11 () …..
The 16-year-old, who was dressed in black and wearing a mask, has been charged with terrorizing.

At the state capitol, the Louisiana House has given final legislative approval to a measure that repeals a 2022 state law that called for cameras on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge that would issue tickets to motorists who drove over the speed limit. New Iberia Senator Blake Miguez says human police officers should issue traffic citations and the operator of the camera system would take money away from local criminal justice systems…
cut 15 (08) “….of the funds”
The bill received unanimous support in both the House and Senate.

The state department of health says three people died as a result of yesterday’s severe weather that struck south Louisiana. A Port Allen mother and her nine-month old fetus died when a tree fell on her trailer. L-D-H is counting that as two storm deaths.

West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office Sergeant Landon Groger says there are multiple reports of trees and powerlines down…
cut 4 (14)“…machinery”

There was also a fatality outside the town of Henderson from a suspected tornado. Henderson Mayor Sherbin Collette says they have a big cleanup on their hands…
Cut 17 (08) “…the place.”
The woman who died in St. Martin Parish has been identified as a 24-year-old woman from Texas.

It was a record turn out for Love the Boot Week’s 3rd annual litter removal and beautification throughout the state. Sean Richardson has the story.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Jury selection is underway in Avoyelles Parish where Christopher McCoy of Bunkie is facing vehicular homicide charges. State Police say last June McCoy was nearly twice the legal limit when his vehicle ran off the road, killing a passenger inside his vehicle, Lauren Vaughn.