Legislation has been signed into law that would make it a crime for a person to approach a police officer if they’ve told that person not to come any closer. The measure creates a 25-foot buffer zone around working law enforcement officers. ACLU Policy Strategist Stephanie Willis says the legislation stops the public’s ability to hold police accountable…
Cut 15 (10) “…enforcement accountable.”
Anyone who fails to stay at least 25 feet from law enforcement after being told to stay away could face up to 60 days in prison.

The search continues for two inmates who escaped the Tangipahoa Parish jail over the weekend. Chief Jimmy Travis says 19-year-old Omarion Hookfin and 20-year-old Jamarcus Cyprian may have left the state…
cut 6 (06) “….armed bobbery”
Travis says they broke through a corroded piece of chain-link fence, crawled under an eight-inch gap in a wall and scaled two razor-wire fences.

The Louisiana House approved a bill that creates the Gator Scholarship Program that will provide families with state dollars that can be used to pay for private school tuition. Opponents have expressed concerns about the program’s costs. One estimate had it at 500-million dollars a year once all families would become eligible. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson says BESE will determine how much tuition money gets handed out and when to make higher-income families eligible…
cut 12 (09) “….that nature”
The legislation needs Senate approval of House changes before it heads to the governor’s desk.

Governor Landry signed legislation sponsored by Kenner Representative Joseph Stagni that makes Louisiana the first state to ban retail sale of nitrous oxide. Stagni says the law is in response to the abuse of nitrous oxide, which is on the market for food preparation, but some use it as a party drug.
Cut 7 (10) “…long time.”
The law forbids retailers from selling nitrous oxide to individuals, not to those who need the drug for professional reasons such as dentists.

Two of the four inmates who escaped from the Tangiaphoa Parish jail remain on the large. Chief Jimmy Travis with the Tangiaphoa Parish Sheriff’s Office says unfortunately they did not learn about their escape until they received a call from one of the inmates relatives…
cut 5 (11) “…seeking shelter”
Travis says it’s very concerning that the guards at the jail didn’t realize four inmates were missing. He blames it on manpower shortages and insufficient experience and training. 19-year-old Omarion Hookfin and 20-year-old Jamarcus Cyprian are still at large.

Louisiana is the first state to ban the retail sale of nitrous oxide. Governor Jeff Landry …
cut 9 (11) “…limited”
Nitrous oxide can be used in food preparation, but some were using it as a party drug.

Legislation has been signed into law that would make it a crime for a person to approach an officer while they are conducting an investigation or making an arrest and they’ve told that person not to come any closer. Thibodaux Representative Bryan Fontenot’s measure creates a 25-foot buffer zone around working law enforcement officers…
cut 14 (08) “…and arresting”
ACLU Policy Strategist Stephanie Willis says the legislation stops the public’s ability to hold police accountable, it is impractical to enforce, and violates a citizen’s 1st amendment rights.
Cut 15 (10) “…enforcement accountable.”
Anyone who fails to stay at least 25 feet from law enforcement after being told to stay away could face up to 60 days in prison or a $500 fine under the new law.

The Louisiana House approved a bill that creates the Gator Scholarship Program that will provide families with state dollars that can be used to pay for private school tuition. Opponents have expressed concerns about the program’s costs. One estimate had it at 500-million dollars a year once all families would become eligible. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson says BESE will determine how much tuition money gets handed out and when to make higher-income families eligible…
cut 12 (09) “….that nature”
The legislation needs Senate approval of House changes before it heads to the governor’s desk.

Governor Landry has already signed a law that bans the retail sale of nitrous oxide. It’s currently sold at convenience stores for food preparation, but Kenner Representative Joseph Stagni says some are using it to get high…
cut 8 (10) “….recreational drugs”
The new law will go into effect August 1st.

Two of the four inmates who escaped the Tangipahoa Parish Jail over the Memorial Day weekend are still on the loose. Sean Richardson has more.
Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Two people are dead after a fishing barge capsized in the Pirates Cove area of Toledo Bend Lake. The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s office says there were six people on the barge and four swam to safety. The bodies of two people who drowned have been recovered.

The Gator Scholarship program, an expanded version of school vouchers, is nearing final passage. The amended bill passed in the House on a 67-29 vote. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson presented the amendments in the House and says instead of phasing in a dollar amount annually…
Cut 10 (13) “…funds allow.”
Supporters of the legislation have been changing the bill to alleviate concerns that this expanded voucher program will be too costly.

Governor Jeff Landry signed legislation sponsored by Kenner Representative Joseph Stagni that makes Louisiana the first state to ban retail sale of nitrous oxide. Stagni says the law is in response to the abuse of nitrous oxide, which is on the market for food preparation, but some use it as a party drug.
Cut 7 (10) “…long time.”
The law forbids retailers from selling nitrous oxide to individuals, not to those who need the drug for professional reasons such as dentists.

Thibodaux Representative Bryan Fontenot’s bill that gives law enforcement a twenty-five-foot buffer from the public when they are attempting to make an arrest or performing an investigation is signed into law.
Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Governor Jeff Landry signed a law classifying two abortion-inducing drugs as controlled and dangerous substances at a bill signing session today. He officially signed the measure last Friday. Bill sponsor Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly explained the bill amid cries from his baby niece.
Cut 6 (09) “…Schedule IV drug. ”
Pressly’s niece almost died in her mother’s womb after Pressly’s brother in law attempted to sneak these drugs into her mother’s drinks to induce an abortion. But health professionals say making the drugs a controlled substance is going too far and could hurt reproductive care.

Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves has said he may run in another district because his district is now a majority-minority district. But U-S House Speaker Mike Johnson opposes that idea…
cut 10 (12) “…forgone conclusion”
Johnson was a guest on Talk Louisiana. If Graves seeks to represent the Sixth District, he will likely face a challenge from Black Democratic state senator Cleo Fields.

A Zachary woman was shot multiple times while trying to stop a suspected car burglar early this morning. Zachary PD Chief Darryl Lawrence says they received a call around three am of an individual trying to steal a car. He says while two women were watching, one approached the suspect and they got into a verbal altercation.
Cut 12 (09) “…injuries.”
An arrest in this case has not been made.

Police apprehended a 12-foot python that was living in the backyard of a home in Houma. Officials believe it may have slithered out of a nearby bayou. Houma Police Chief Travis Theriot says thankfully Officer Donald Aubrey was not afraid

cut 4 (08) “…haul it off
Houma Police turned over the snake to Wildlife and Fisheries officials. It unfortunately ate two of the homeowner’s pet geese.