Big news for Jefferson Parish, Japanese Chemical Company UBE to construct the first US facility to manufacture key components for electrical vehicle car batteries there. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (26)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Governor Jeff Landry is calling the crime special session a great success, Democrats says it failed to address the root causes of crime. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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The first U.S. manufacturing plant for Japanese Chemical Company UBE, which makes components for electric vehicle batteries, will be in Jefferson Parish.  President of Jefferson Parish Economic Development Jerry Bologna says it’s a significant foreign direct investment of $500 million to the community.

Cut 3 (12) “…supply chain.”  

Bologna says the synergy from Cornerstone Energy Park played a vital role in UBE’s decision to choose Jefferson Parish. He says they also liked the logistics the area provides…

Cut 4 (10) “…their capital.” 

The project intends to bolster the domestic battery components supply chain and reduce the current reliance on Asian imports. Bologna says the plant in Jefferson Parish will manufacture key elements for EV batteries.

Cut 5 (12) “…those batteries.”

To secure the project Louisiana offered a competitive incentives package that includes workforce development.

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Iowa women’s basketball player Cailtin Clark is 18 points away from surpassing LSU legend Pete Marvaich’s Division one career scoring record of 3,667 points. Clark could pass Pistol Pete when the Hawkeyes host Ohio State on Sunday. Maravich’ s eldest son, Jaeson Maravich, doesn’t see it as Clark breaking his dad’s record….

Cut 6  (07) “…5,000 points” 

Maravich scored 3,667 points from 1967 to 1970 at LSU, without a three-point line and averaged 44 points a game. Clark is in his fourth season at Iowa and averages 28 points a game. Jaeson Maravich says it’s an apples to oranges comparison….

Cut 7 (09) “…true record”  

Jaeson Maravich is also very complimentary of Caitlin’s game and her style reminds him a lot of his Dad’s…

Cut 8 (07) “…closest” 

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Governor Jeff Landry says the crime special session produced legislation that will make the state safer

Cut 9 (07) “…right direction” 

The Legislature approved measures to expand methods used to carry out executions, lowering the age one can be charged with a felony from 18 to 17 years old, restrictions on parole and probation and permitless conceal carry. Landry says he appreciates the legislators who passed these bills

Cut 10 (11) “…that process.”

But House Democratic Caucus Chairman Matthew Willard says the special session failed to address the root causes of crime. He says the lock them up and throw away the key approach does not work…

Cut 11 (11) “…special session”

Willard says the bills passed will explode Louisiana’s prison population and produce higher costs for taxpayers

Cut 12 (11)  “..costs”  

Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign these bills next week.

After the body of missing 19-year-old Sheryl Turner of New Iberia was found in Catahoula Parish, authorities say they are following up on multiple leads. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Legislation that would restart executions of death row inmates in Louisiana received final legislative approval after an emotional vote on the Senate floor. Jeff Palermo has the story….

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The body of 19-year-old Sheryl Turner of New Iberia was positively identified as the one found on January 24^th in the Ouachita River. She was last seen alive around New Year’s. Catahoula Parish Sheriff Toney Edwards says they are following up on leads which includes Turner’s social media activity and friends.

Cut 3 (09) “…particular area.”  

Turner’s dismembered body was found floating in the Ouachita River by a fisherman approximately three miles north of Jonesville. Edwards says deputies are working with deputies in Iberia Parish and areas in between.

Cut 4 (11) “…incident.” 

Edwards says Turner was last seen by family members and left with a friend headed to north Louisiana at the beginning of the year. He says they are following up on leads as to that person’s identity and multiple law enforcement agencies are assisting in the investigation.

Cut 5 (10) “..work with.”

If you have any information about the case, you are asked to contact the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Department.

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Preliminary estimates show Louisiana’s crawfish crop loss approaches 140 million dollars and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain has written 2 letters this month to the Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture Tom Vilsack requesting federal assistance under the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program. His second letter sent Wednesday requested expansion or clarification…

Cut 6  (10) “…for crawfish.” 

Last year’s drought was unprecedented and losses to several of Louisiana’s industries reached around one point seven billion dollars. Strain says ELAP needs to expand to help struggling crawfish farmers.

Cut 7 (10) “…main problem.”  

Strain was in Washington D.C. earlier this month and met with Louisiana’s congressional delegation. He discussed the struggles of the crawfish farmers and how slow the season is going. He’s also meeting with state legislators.

Cut 8 (09) “…the drought.” 

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Legislation that would expand the methods Louisiana can use to carry out a death sentence has received final legislative passage. The Louisiana Senate approved the bill that would allow the state to use the electric chair or nitrogen gas to end a death row inmate’s life. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis voted against the proposal…

Cut 9 (09) “…simply unacceptable.” 

Religious arguments were also made against the bill. New Orleans Senator Gary Carter says the legislation is unconstitutional because the death penalty is applied in a discriminatory way…

Cut 10 (13) “…against this.”

The last execution in Louisiana was in 2010 as the state can not obtain the drugs needed to carry out a lethal injection. This bill requires that lethal injection records must be sealed. This will give the drug companies who make the chemicals needed for a lethal injection more confidence to supply the necessary drugs.

Turkey Creek Senator Heather Cloud says the death penalty is already legal and this legislation gives the state the tools to resume executions…

Cut 11 (10) “…this vote”

Right before the vote, Port Allen Senator Caleb Kleinpeter recognized the families of victims of death penalty cases who were watching from the Senate Gallery with Governor Jeff Landry…

Cut 12 (05)  “…the victims”  

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Louisiana lawmakers passed a bill that will lengthen the amount a time a first-offense DWI offender must have an ignition interlock device in order to drive. Current law is three months, a bill approved by the House extends it to six months. Covington Representative Mark Wright says the longer time period will help create the habit of not drinking and driving

Cut 13 (09) “..what’s necessary”  

The bill passed the House on 93-to-1 vote. Several lawmakers raised concerns about the installation and maintenance of the interlock ignition device, which Wright estimated was 500-dollars. He says financial assistance is available for low-income individuals…

Cut  14 (08) “..drink or drive.”