The first week of the special session on crime is wrapping up and Governor Jeff Landry’s tough on crime proposals continue to advance. The Senate has approved a bill that requires 17 year olds accused of a felony to be charged as adults. The House has approved a bill that would result in a longer sentence for carjackers.

The Promise Justice Initiative has filed for a temporary restraining order against the Legislature claiming public input on the crime special session bills has been limited. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Governor Jeff Landry has sent a letter to the USDA requesting federal dollars for crawfish farmers who are having a difficult time harvesting mudbugs because of the 2023 drought. Chairman of the Crawfish Promotion and Research Board David Savoy says a few farmers are having some good days, but for a vast majority it’s a struggle…
cut 5 (10) “….little production”
Savoy says there are more than 100-thousand acres of crawfish ponds, but a third of them are not producing any crawfish this year.

It’s that time of year for crane flies. They look like giant mosquitoes. Assistant Professor in Urban Entomology at the LSU Ag Center Dr. Aaron Ashbrook says the long-winged insect may be a nuisance but they play an important role in our ecosystem.
Cut 10 (13) “…the environment.”
Ashbrook says the Bayou State typically sees large emergences of crane flies, known as mosquito hawks, in February and March. Most adults are typically attracted to light and water.

Governor Jeff Landry signs an executive order that keeps a big property tax break in place for manufacturers, but it removes the job creation requirement that was added during the Edwards’ administration. Landry says the job creation requirement only created bureaucratic red tape…
cut 9 (06) “…into Louisiana”
But the faith based group, Together Louisiana, says the change to the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program is just a gift for corporations.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife agents have charged a Morehouse Parish man for killing a black bear. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says 45-year-old George Mosely confessed to harvesting the bear with a bow and arrow in Richland Parish last October…
cut 14 (12) “…2024 hunting season”
Mosely faces hundreds of dollars in fines and could spend a few months in prison.

There are three bills sponsored by Kenner Republican Debbie Villio that will gut the 2017 Justice Reinvestment Initiatives and drastically reduce a prisoner’s opportunity for early release. In House Criminal Justice, Villio advocated for House Bill 9 that eliminates parole eligibility for crimes committed after August 1st of this year.
Cut 12 (13) “…a difference.”
Former Gretna Representative Joe Marino attended the hearing to speak against the bill. Marino says eliminating parole and forcing prisoners to serve 85% of their sentence…
Cut 13 (13) “…to want.”
The bill heads to the House floor for more debate.

Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says he’s bringing back a bill in the regular session that failed to pass in the past. This proposal would put an end to the requirement that motorists have to get a vehicle inspection sticker….
cut 2 (32) “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

Are you having trouble making a phone call this morning? AT&T and several other cell phone providers are reporting service outages and it’s a nationwide problem. AT-and-T encourages Wi-Fi calling until service is restored.

During this special session on crime, House and Senate committees have been approving bills that seek to limit parole opportunities for offenders, stronger penalties for car jacking and expanding the methods to execute a death row inmate. There’s also a bill that would give non felon adults the ability to conceal carry without a permit. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross…
cut 6 (13) “….other direction”

The state health department has confirmed two measles cases in the Greater New Orleans area. The individuals were diagnosed after returning from an out of state trip. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease expert Doctor Fred Lopez says measles symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days after an infection…
cut 11 (11) “…can be seen”
Lopez says get vaccinated against the measles if you are not already immune.

Governor Jeff Landy’s tough on crime proposals are facing little opposition in the special session. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Two criminal justice advocacy groups believe the public is not having enough of an opportunity to have their say on Landry’s criminal justice proposals and they’ve filed a restraining order in the hopes a judge will stop the Legislature from voting on these measures on the House floor.

45-year-old George Mosely of Oak Ridge faces hundreds of dollars in fines and possible jail time in connection with the killing of a Black Bear and other hunting violations. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck details what agents found in Mosley’s Morehouse Parish home….
cut 13 (07) “>…as well”
Einck says Mosely admitted to killing the black bear with a bow and arrow in Richland Parish last October.

Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley will ask lawmakers in the regular session if the state should remove the requirement that motorists have their vehicles inspected every year or every other year. Bagley says it serves no purpose because law enforcement can stop you if you’re driving an unsafe vehicle…
cut 8 (12) “….each year”
The bill will be heard in the upcoming regular session.

Today the Louisiana House and Senate will vote on several of Governor Jeff Landry’s tough on crime proposals….
cut 4 (09) “…his way”
That’s U-L M political science professor Pearson Cross. The Senate convenes at 9 AM and they’ll vote on a bill that would require 17-year-olds accused of a felony to be prosecuted as an adult.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife agents have charged a Morehouse Parish man for killing a black bear. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says 45-year-old George Mosely confessed to harvesting the bear with a bow and arrow in Richland Parish last October…
cut 14 (12) “…2024 hunting season”
Mosely faces hundreds of dollars in fines and could spend a few months in prison.

The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed two cases of measles in the Greater New Orleans area. Colleen Crain has the story…
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Two elderly residents from Saline were killed when their vehicle struck a tree that had fallen across both lanes of Louisiana Highway nine at the Bienville-Natchitoches Parish line on Tuesday night. State Police troopers say 82-year-old Clois Williams and 78-year-old Mary Williams were not buckled up and died at the scene.

The House and Senate are scheduled to vote today on several of Governor Jeff Landry’s proposals that attempt to reduce crime in Louisiana. The Republican controlled legislature is in support of these measures and ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says it appears the state will soon have much stricter criminal justice code that will not allow for many options for an inmate to get out of jail before their sentence is up…
cut 5 (09) “….of prison”

Louisiana has two confirmed cases of measles. The state health department says two New Orleans area residents who recently returned from an out of state trip were diagnosed with the viral infection. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease expert Dr. Fred Lopez says it’s a wake-up call to get vaccinated if you’re not immune…
Cut 10 (10) “…has measles.”

Could Louisiana’s vehicle inspection stickers become a thing of the past? A state lawmaker hopes his proposal to get rid of inspection stickers passes in the upcoming regular session. Teiko Foxx has more….
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”