LRN PM Newscall June 19

A federal judge in Baton Rouge has been asked to issue an order that would prevent inmates at Angola from working on the prison farm when heat indices reach 88 degrees or higher.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Governor Jeff Landry vetoed House Bill 423 which sought to limit damages a jury can award to victims in auto accidents. Jeff Palermo reports it has resulted in Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple is asking for a special session to address the state’s insurance crisis. .

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

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A federal judge is considering whether to issue a preliminary injunction that would block Farm Line operations at Angola Prison when the heat index reaches or exceeds 88 degrees. Director of Civil Litigation at the Promise of Justice Initiative Lydia Wright…

Cut 3 (12) “…serious harm.”

Plaintiff Ronald Marshall says the brutality of the Angola Farm Line isn’t a secret and refusing to work would result in solitary confinement.

Cut 4 (08) “…day out.”

The state Department of Corrections says the work conducted on the Farm Line is in accordance with constitutional and industrial standards and policies are in place to make sure the inmates are safe.

Those policies include providing rest and water breaks every 30 minutes once a heat alert is issued. The D-O-C maintains this policy and the operation of the Farm Line, is constitutionally appropriate.

But Wright says Angola inmates should not be forced to work on the farm during hot summer months.

Cut 5 (07)  “…our trial.”

According to the filing, the officers who oversee the Farm Line used to ride horses, but no longer do. Prisoners contend that the practice was ended in order to protect the horses from the “blistering” heat.

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A group called Charge Ahead Partnership has yet to access 73-million dollars in federal funds that businesses could apply for to build electric vehicle charging stations. Ryan McKinnon is with Charge Ahead Partnership….

Cut 6 (11) “…help in that.” 

But Louisiana Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says the state has not received the 73-million dollars yet and there’s no deadline to spend the money. Mallett says the rules for this federal grant program also do not match their usual contracting methods, so there are few more hoops to jump through.

McKinnon says the program is intended to help small businesses get into the EV charging business, so he hopes the funds will get utilized soon…

Cut 7 (06) “…in Louisiana.”  

McKinnon says if there were more charging stations there would be more EVs on the road and that’s what the start-up funding is intended to remedy.

Cut 8 (11)  “…charging stations.” 

The Biden Administration has set a goal of 500-thousand charging stations by 2026.

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After Governor Jeff Landry vetoed the Collateral Source reform bill, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple calls on the governor and legislative leaders to hold a special session to address the state’s high auto insurance premiums. Temple says legislation is needed to improve the legal climate…

Cut 9 (08) “…do it now.” 

Landry vetoed House Bill 423 which supporters say would limit the amount juries can award to car crash victims, but the governor said the reform proposal would result in accident victims not getting what they deserved.

Temple says Governor Landry’s leadership was vital to the property insurance reform achieved in the regular session and he looks forward to working him on legal reform as well…

Cut 10 (12) “…bring a solution.”

Temple says the Collateral Source rule needs to be reformed because current law is allowing for amounts that go way above medical costs from a wreck…

Cut 11 (06) ” …premiums.”

2:30 LRN Newscast

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple would like to see the governor or lawmakers call a special session this year to address the legal environment around automobile crashes. This comes after Governor Landry vetoed a bill that Temple and pro business groups believed would help reduce auto insurance rates…
cut 10 (12) “…bring a solution”
Landry said at a press conference the legislation would not be fair for a car accident victim who won damages in a jury trial.

Governor Jeff Landry has signed into law legislation that gives judges the ability to sentence certain convicted sex offenders to surgical castration if the victim is the under the age of 13. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow hopes the new law sends a clear message to anyone who seeks to sexually abuse kids…
cut 12 (07) “…lifestyle change”

A federal judge in Baton Rouge has been asked to issue an order that would prevent inmates at Angola from working on the prison farm when heat indices reach 88 degrees or higher. Sean Richardson has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Governor Jeff Landry has signed into law legislation requiring all public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. Louisiana is the first state with such a mandate. At a Republican fundraiser in Tennessee, Landry said he can’t wait to be sued for signing the bill and the ACLU of Louisiana said today they will sue, because the U-S Supreme Court has already over turned a similar law more than 40 years ago.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry is receiving criticism for vetoing a bill that many say is a critical piece in the state’s effort to reform the insurance market. Landry says the legislation would have limited the monetary judgement a victim receives in an accident if their case goes to trial…
cut 13 (12) “…health insurance”
But supporters of House Bill 432 say the measure would make a person whole following a wreck by allowing juries to determine damage awards for victims of accidents using actual medical costs instead of the initial costs billed by providers.

Advocates for prisoners at Angola have asked a federal judge to issue an order that says inmates can not work on the prison prison farm when the heat index exceeds 88-degrees. Ronald Marshall is one of the plantiffs…
cut 4 (08) “…day out”
But the department of corrections says the inmates do receive breaks when a heat alert is issued.

The first phase of SUN Bucks will be issued this week. Brooke Thorington reports that means approximately 300-thousand children who live in a family that receives SNAP benefits will receive additional money to help pay for breakfast and lunch with kids out of school for the summer…
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

We have our first named storm of the hurricane season. Tropical Storm Alberto is expected to make landfall later tonight or early tomorrow morning in Mexico. No threat to Louisiana.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry has vetoed legislation that supporters of the bill say would help to reduce auto insurance rates by limiting the amount of money a car crash victim would get in a jury trial settlement. But Landry says the proposed reforms to the collateral source rule would have a negative impact on the citizen who pays health insurance…
cut 14 (09) “…coverage”
Legislative leadership is disappointed the governor vetoed the bill. Norco Senator Greg Miller says he will author legislation once a compromise has been reached…
cut 15 (12) “…four years ago”
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says a special session is needed after the veto.

A federal judge in Baton Rouge is considering a request from advocates for prisoners that seeks to prevent inmates from working on a farm located on the grounds of Angola when the heat index reaches 88 degrees. Director of Civil Litigation at the Promise of Justice Lydia Wright…
Cut 3 (12) “…serious harm.”
The state Department of Corrections says the work conducted on the Farm Line is in accordance with constitutional and industrial standards and policies are in place to make sure the inmates are safe.

Governor Jeff Landry has signed legislation that gives judges the option to order surgical castration of a convicted sex offender if the victim is under the age of thirteen. Baton Rouge Democrat, Senator Regina Barrow believes her bill will deter violent abuse against children.
Cut 10 (10) “…castration.”
The bill received bipartisan support in the 2024 Regular Legislative Session.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry has vetoed a bill that sought to lower payouts to car crash vicitms if their case was settled by a jury. Sean Richardson reports Landry expressed concern the legislation would reduce what a person should receive in medical costs from an accident caused by others.
Cut 29 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Governor Landry is in Lafayette this morning to sign a bill that would create a new school voucher program in Louisiana that’s designed to allow families of all income levels receive state dollars to pay for private, parochial or home schooling.

The first phase of SUN Bucks benefits, also known as Summer EBT, will go out this week. Tim Jenkins with the Department of Children and Family Services says approximately 300,000 children between the ages of five and 18 who received SNAP last school year will receive $120 on their card.
Cut 7 (10) “…be loaded.”
SUN Bucks uses mostly federal dollars to help eligible families buy additional groceries during the summer months when children are not receiving meals at school.

Governor Jeff Landry signs into law a measure that reduces the number of weeks a person can stay on unemployment. It’s currently 26 weeks, but Jennings Representative Troy Romero’s legislation reduces the time to 12 to 20 weeks. Romero says unemployment is designed to be a safety net for adults who lose their jobs and it’s not intended to be a long-term benefit.
Cut 5 (06) “…important.”
The change will go into effect on January 1st.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry has vetoed a bill that the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says could help lower auto insurance rates. It’s known as the collateral source bill and it’s goal would limit the amount of damages awarded to victims of car crashes if their case goes to a jury trial. LABI president Will Green…
cut 16 (11) “…you whole”
But Governor Landry says House Bill 423 would have hurt an accident victim’s chances of receiving a fair payout.

Families who receive SNAP benefits and have children between the ages of five to 18 will likely receive an additional 120-dollars per eligible child to help pay for food during the summer months when kids are not receiving breakfast and lunch at school. Tim Jenkins with DCFS says this Phase 1 of Sun bucks and Phase two will begin in late July. Jenkins on who is eligible for Phase 2….
cut 8 (09) “…lunch program”
For more information go to DCFS’s website.

Governor Landry has signed a bill that gives judges the option to order a certain sex offender be surgically castrated, if the victim in the case is under the age of 13. A punishment of chemical castration is already allowed under Louisiana law, but Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow believes a permanent procedure is warranted when children are victims…
cut 11 (10) “…actually stop”

Governor Jeff Landry has signed into law legislation that will reduce the amount of time a person can stay on  unemployment. Currently it’s 26 weeks, but Jennings Representative Troy Romero’s measure reduces the maximum time on unemployment from anywhere between 12 to 20 weeks. Romero says an individual can get an additional eight weeks of unemployment if they undergo workforce development training…
cut 6 (10) “….for the state”
The legislation keeps the maximum benefit at 250-dollars a week.

7:30 LRN Newscast

A newly signed bill will go into effect January 1st, reducing the time a person can receive unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 12 to 20 depending on the state’s unemployment rate. Sean Richardson has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

State offices are closed today in observance of Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned from Union soldiers they were free.

Governor Jeff Landry has signed into law legislation that gives judges the ability to sentence certain convicted sex offenders to surgical castration if the victim is the under the age of 13. The bill’s author, Baton Rouge Senator, Regina Barrow hopes the new law sends a loud and clear message to anyone who seeks to sexually abuse kids…
cut 12 (07) “…lifestyle change”

Families who are on SNAP will receive an additional 120-dollars per child this week to help pay for breakfast and lunch with kids out of school for the summer. Families on Medicaid, or received assistance from FITAP or the Kinship Care Subsidy Program are eligible for additional dollars in a few weeks and Tim Jenkins with DCFS says there’s a phase three of the Sun Bucks program that will include children who attended schools that offered free lunches for all students, but their families did not apply for EBT…
cut 9 (09) “….aor phase two”
Go to D-C-F-S’s website to check for eligibility.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU baseball has received a commitment from an outfielder who has SEC experience. Chris Stanfield spent two seasons at Auburn and last year for the War Eagles, the Tallahassee, Florida native hit .276 with four home runs and 25 RBIs and nine stolen bases. Stanfield will compete in the Tigers outfield that will also include Jake Brown, Ashton Larson, Josh Pearson and Derek Curiel, an incoming freshman from California. Curiel has withdrawn his name from next month’s Major League Baseball draft.

At the College World Series, Florida State eliminated North Carolina nine to five. There will be three games today because last night’s Florida-Kentucky elimination game was postponed to 10 AM today because of storms in Omaha. After that game, F-S-U will play Tennessee at around 2 PM. The Seminoles will need to win twice to advance to the championship round. Texas A-and-M plays tonight against the winner of today’s game between the Gators and Wildcats.

The Catholic High Bears are national champs in high school baseball. MaxPreps ranked Catholic number one in its Final Top 25 ranking of the season on Tuesday. The Bears were 38-2 in 2024 and won the Division One select state championship game by blanking John Curtis five to nothing. Twelve players on this Catholic team have signed or committed to play in college, including LSU signee and potential first-round draft, pitcher William Schmidt. Outfielder Brooks Wright is a U-L Lafayette signee and left fielder Noah Lewis is a Ragin Cajuns commit for the Class of 2025.

Major League Baseball is mourning the death of a legendary player. Former San Francisco Giant great Willie Mays has passed away at the age of 93. Mays was named an M-L-B All-star 24 times and the Say Hey Kid won twelve Gold Gloves.

6:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry is receiving criticism for vetoing a bill that many say is a critical piece in the state’s effort to reform the insurance market. Landry says the legislation would have limited the monetary judgement a victim receives in an accident if their case goes to trial…
cut 13 (12) “…health insurance”
But supporters of House Bill 432 say the measure would have made a person whole following a wreck by allowing juries to determine damage awards for victims of accidents using actual medical costs versus the initial costs billed by providers.

Governor Landry has signed legislation that reduces the amount of time a person can receive unemployment benefits. Currently it’s 26 weeks, but under Jennings Representative Troy Romero’s legislation the amount of time a person can receive unemployment is 12 to 20 weeks…
cut 4 (12) “…employees”
This change in unemployment benefits will go itno effect on January 1st.

The first phase of SUN Bucks will be issued this week. Brooke Thorington reports that means approxmimately 300-thousand children who live in a family that receives SNAP benefits will receive additional money to help pay breafast and lunch with kids out of school for the summer…
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LRN Am Newscall June 19

A newly signed bill will go into effect January 1st, reducing the time a person can receive unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 12 to 20 depending on the state’s unemployment rate. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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The first round of benefits will be added to EBT for the Summer EBT also known as Sun Bucks this week. Brooke Thorington explains…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Governor Jeff Landry vetoed the Collateral Source bill that would have allowed juries to determine damages for victims of accidents using actual medical costs versus costs billed by providers. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.” 

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A newly signed bill that goes into effect January 1st will reduce unemployment benefits to twelve to 20 weeks depending on the state’s unemployment rate. Bill author, Jennings Republican Representative Troy Romero says 26 weeks is far too generous.

Cut 4 (12) “…employees.”

The legislation keeps unemployment benefits at $250 a week. Romero says unemployment is designed to be a safety net for adults who lose their jobs and it’s not intended to be a long-term benefit.

Cut 5 (11) “…important.”

The new law says a jobless individual can receive up to 12 weeks of benefits when the unemployment rate is below five-percent and as much as 20 weeks when the unemployment rate is above five percent. Romero says an individual can get an additional eight weeks of unemployment if they undergo workforce development training.

Cut 6 (10) “…for the State.”

The current unemployment rate in the state is 4.3 percent from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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The first phase of SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, is being issued this week. Tim Jenkins with the Department of Children and Family Services says approximately 300,000 children between the ages of five and 18 who received SNAP during the 2023-24 school year will receive $120 on their card.

Cut 7 (10) “…be loaded.”

SUN Bucks is a federal program to help provide grocery benefits for eligible families during the summer months when children are not receiving meals at school.

The second phase of Sun Bucks benefits will begin in late July. He says those will include children…

Cut 8 (09) “…lunch program.” 

Those schools will be sending DCFS information to certify those students.

Phase 3 is for children who attended schools that offered free lunches for all students, but the individual student has not applied for EBT.

Cut 9 (09)  “…or phase 2.

To check your benefits, order a replacement card, apply, or other information concerning SUN Bucks visit dcfs.louisiana.gov

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Governor Jeff Landry signed off on legislation to allow judges the option to add surgical castration to a convicted sex offender’s sentence if the victim is under the age of thirteen. Baton Rouge Democrat, Senator Regina Barrow believes the bill she authored will deter such abuse against children.

Cut 10 (10) “…castration.”

The bill received bipartisan support in the 2024 Regular Legislative Session.

Judges already have the option to add chemical castration to an offender’s sentence regardless of the victim’s age, but this bill allows for surgical castration depending on the victim’s age. Barrow believes a permanent procedure is warranted when children are violated.

Cut 11 (10) “…actually stop.”

Barrow says she hopes the new law sends a message, loud and clear, of what can happen to individuals who sexually abuse children in Louisiana…

Cut 12 (07) “…lifestyle change.” 

The law applies to both male and female offenders and requires a medical expert to determine if the procedure can be safely performed on the offender.

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Governor Jeff Landry vetoed the Collateral Source bill that would allow juries to determine damages awarded for victims of accidents using actual medical costs versus the initial costs billed by providers. Governor Landry…

Cut 13 (12)  “…health insurance.”

Landry says the Collateral Source doctrine protects those who have obtained health insurance and receive benefits. Landry believes this bill would take away and give the benefits to the uninsured.

Cut 14 (09)  “..coverage.”

State Senator Greg Miller says he’s disappointed but believes Landry wants to be fair to everybody and plans to author legislation once a compromise has been reached.

Cut 15 (12)  “…four years ago.”

Louisiana Association of Business and Industry CEO Will Green says a key part of the insurance reform package was the Collateral Source bill and Landry’s veto is incredibly disappointing and believes his reasoning is flawed.

Cut 16 (11) “…you whole.” 

The bill passed the House in a 88-10 vote and 25-14 vote in the Senate.