The Louisiana House passes a bill that would shift the state from a jungle primary system to closed party primaries.
Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has reappointed Doctor Cade Brumley as the state’s superintendent of education. BESE president Doctor Ronnie Morris says Brumley’s leadership has led to improved academic outcomes.

The Louisiana Senate approves a redrawn Congressional map that creates a second majority-Black district currently held by Republican Garret Graves. The map makes it easy for Republicans Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise and Julia Letlow to win re-election. Lake Charles Senator Jeremy Stine on the importance of keeping Letlow in Washington D-C..
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A House committee will debate the bill this morning.

The first of three meetings seeking public input on the return of a proposed black bear hunting season in Louisiana will be held tonight. State Wildlife Large Carnivore Program Manager John Hanks says potential hunters would enter a lottery for the ten tags and they must take a course.
Cut 7 (09) “…a male deer.”
The proposed season would be in December. Tonight’s meeting is in West Monroe.

The Louisiana House has approved a bill that would change congressional, statewide, legislative and certain judicial elections to closed primaries. If it becomes law, the Republican and Democratic Party can set up a rule that says only registered voters of their party can vote in the primaries. Harahan Representative John Illg says he’s hearing from Independents who do not like this…
Cut 11 (04) “…left out.”
The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee will discuss the bill today and could make changes to it.

The Pelican Institute’s Center for Justice has filed suit against the Biden Administration over a rule requiring shrimp boats from having to use turtle excluder devices while trawling in Louisiana’s inshore waters. Attorney James Baehr says it’s costly and unnecessary…
cut 5 (12) “…was harmed’

LDWF is holding the first of three meetings tonight to receive public input on the proposed return of a black bear hunting season…
cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Today is a big day for those who love going to Jazz Fest. The popular music festival in New Orleans will announce its lineup today. We already know the Rolling Stones will will play at the New Orleans Fairgrounds on May 2nd. There’s speculation Louisiana natives Lauren Daigle and Jon Batiste could also be part of the line-up.

The Louisiana Senate has approved a Congressional map that makes the state’s sixth Congressional distirct a black majority district and the House has approved a bill that moves Louisiana elections from open primaries to closed party primaries.

In our last newscast we heard from the proponents of these bills. Let’s now hear from the opponents. Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressley does not want a Congressional map that has the sixth district stretching from Baton Rouge to Shreveport…
cut 15 (15) “…northwest Louisiana”
And New Orleans Representative Matthew Willard says there was a recent poll that showed the public favors open primaries….
cut 13 (13) “….primary system”

Louisiana shrimpers have filed suit against the Biden Administration over a rule that’s requiring skimmer trawl vessels to use turtle excluders devices while operating in Louisiana’s inshore waters. Attorney James Baehr says the cost of the rule will be disastrous to Louisiana shrimpers. He says the state had some success in the courts in delaying implementation of the rule…
cut 6 (09) “….individual shrimpers”

Hunters interested hunting black bears in December can attend a public meeting at the West Monroe Convention Center tonight, hosted by LDWF. Humane Society of Louisiana president Jeff Dorson is pushing for a more humane approach when it comes to controlling the growing black bear population and encourages the state to follow Florida’s BearWise program…
Cut 10 (08) “…all about.”

We’re close to the halfway point of the special legislative session and Governor Jeff Landry’s agenda is moving along as the House and Senate approved legislation he supports. The House approved a bill that would move Louisiana from an open primary system to closed party primaries for federal, state, legislative and certain judicial elections. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson is the sponsor of the bill..
cut 12 (10) “….general election ballot.
The House approved the bill 64 to 40 and it now goes to the Senate. The Senate approved a new Congressional district map that makes Republican Garret Graves’ sixth district a black majority voting district by having it stretch from Baton Rouge to Shreveport. Senator Glen Womack is the sponsor of this legislation…
cut 16 (10) “….the country”
It passed on a 27-11 vote and heads to the House for more discussion.

The Louisiana Shrimp Association has filed a suit against the Biden Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service over their rule requiring skimmer trawl vessels to use Turtle Excluder Devices in Louisiana’s Inshore waters. James Baehr, a Lawyer with the Pelican Institute’s Center for Justice says the rule is an unnecessary attack on shrimpers livelihoods and culture…
Cut 4 (09) “…sea turtles.”
Baehr says there are studies showing the devices can increase turtle mortality.

In West Monroe tonight, LDWF is holding the first of three public meetings to discuss a black bear hunting season that would run from December 7th to the 22nd. State Wildlife Large Carnivore Program Manager John Hanks estimates the state’ black population at around 15-hundred….
cut 9 (12) “…excess animals”
Tonight’s meeting begins at 6:00 at the West Monroe Convention Center.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson believes Louisiana’s current Congressional map is constitutional and the state legislature should not approve a new map with two Black majority districts. But Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says the state has exhausted all of its legal avenues…
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Governor Jeff Landry is backing a map that makes Republican Garret Graves’ sixth district the second Black voting district. Catahoula Parish Senator Glen Womack is the author of the map and he says it protects Speaker Johnson and majority leader Steve Scalise…
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The senate is expected to vote on this map this afternoon.

The Bayou State is coming out of a deep freeze but don’t put away your hats and gloves just yet.
cut 6 (09) “….on Friday”
That’s Montra Lockwood with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says who says high temperatures on Saturday will be back in the upper 30s for north Louisiana, and lows will be in the upper 20s for south Louisiana.

Nicholls State University has received a $3-million donation, which is the largest in the school’s history. Nicholls’ spokesperson Jerad David says the Mary and Al Danos Family Foundation commitment will be used to construct a new College of Business Administration.
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David says Al Danos was always a big fan and supporter of the university

A Senate committee approves a congressional map backed by Governor Landry that drastically changes Congressman Garret Graves district. Brooke Thorington has more…
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The senate convenes at 1 PM today and a vote on this proposal could happen this afternoon.

The House Governmental Affairs Committee approves a closed-party primary bill supported by Governor Jeff Landry. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson’s proposal would shift, federal, statewide, and certain judicial elections from a jungle primary to closed-party primaries. New Orleans Democrat Candace Newell says the Legislature should not rush to do this
Cut 7 (12) “…dedicate to it.”
Governor Jeff Landry wants lawmakers to pass this legislation during the current special session which ends next Tuesday.

Opponents also raised concerns that Independents will be disenfranchised because they can’t vote in the primaries. But Emerson says that’s not accurate…
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The proposal was approved by the House Governmental Affairs and the full House could vote on the measure this afternoon.