A House Committee advances a bill to crack down on home burglars, by classifying that as a crime of violence. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 1 (33)  “I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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A bill to make general criminal song lyrics inadmissible in court advances from House Criminal Justice. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s “Buckle Up In Your Truck” campaign aims at bringing awareness and saving the lives of not only pick-up truck drivers in Louisiana but everyone. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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At the Capitol, a House bill to make simple burglary a violent crime in Louisiana clears its first legislative hurdle. The bill comes from Republican Kenner Representative Debbie Villio, who tells the House Criminal Justice Committee that burglary victims feel violated, even if they were not home when the crime occurred. She says it affects one’s trust and feeling of safety..:

Cut 4 (07)  “…anger and frustration.”

Her bill would add simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling to the list of violent crimes and punishable as such. She says she wants to make this crime a crime of violence partly because it would remove probation as an option and it would change the good behavior calculations. Testifying in opposition to Villio’s bill was Meghan Garvey, with the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, says if no one is threatened or hurt, how can it be a “violent crime”…?

Cut 5 (09)   “…this is not.”

Villio says she herself is a burglary victim twice over. In one of the burglaries, the perpetrator left a kitchen knife on her bed after finding and stealing her handgun. She says these are the things that make burglars deserving of stronger punishment…:

Cut 6 (10)  “…a property crime.”

However, Garvey argued that burglary suspects who have committed no violent acts would be deprived of benefits available to non-violent offenders, like time off for good behavior. She acknowledges the pain of homeowners, but says the current law is sufficient…:

Cut 7 (11) “…a serious crime.”

By a 9-2 vote, the committee advanced Villio’s HB 65 to the House floor.

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Legislation to keep nonspecific murder ballad lyrics from being submitted as evidence in a criminal trial advances from House Criminal Justice. Houma Representative and attorney, Tanner Magee wants to preserve artistic expression but at the same time recognize that one might describe an actual murder in a song.

Cut 8 (08) “…come in.”

Magee referred to a list of 25 Louisiana court cases where song lyrics were admitted as evidence, and more than half of the convictions were appealed based on the admittance of questionable evidence. These particular cases were linked to rap music.

The Republican lawmaker says basically if a song has criminal lyrics in general, they aren’t admissible as evidence.

Cut 9 (07)  “… as evidence.”

Rap lyrics aren’t the only songs with criminal lyrics. Magee says the first murder ballad written and recorded dates back to 1727.

Cut 10 (09) “…rap lyrics.” 

House Bill 475 is supported by the Louisiana Association of District Attorneys and was approved in House Criminal Justice on a 7-3 vote.

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Two bills to make college more affordable for military veterans advance without any opposition in the Louisiana House. Vacherie Representative Ken Brass is the author of House Bill 785, also known as the National Guard Patriot Scholarship Program.

Cut 11 (10)  “…the tuition.”

Louisiana National Guard members are already exempted from paying tuition at colleges and universities in Louisiana. Brass says fees at Louisiana colleges have increased more than 150% in the last decade.

Maj General Lee Hopkins, Assistant Adjutant General for LANG says the Patriot Scholarship would provide a significant incentive for an individual to join and serve in the Guard.

Cut 12 (05)    “…exemption program.” 

And House Bill 167, authored by Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox, provides tuition waves for disabled veterans.

Cut 13 (07) “…deserve this.” 

There are approximately 300,000 veterans in Louisiana and around 20% receive disability compensation.

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The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission initiative – “Buckle Up in Your Truck” aimed at saving the lives of pick-up truck drivers kicks off Saturday, April 22 through 29. LHSC Spokesperson Officer Greg Fischer says the seat belt law will be enforced across the state.

Cut 14 (10)  “…their seatbelts.”

In 2021, 144 pickup truck drivers in Louisiana died in crashes, and 95 of those drivers, or about 66% were not wearing seat belts according to the latest verified data from the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU. Fischer says more Louisiana drivers choose pick-up trucks.

Cut 15 (09)  “…driving cars.”

Seat belt usage among pickup truck front-seat occupants was 80.7% compared to 86.1% for occupants in all vehicles. Fischer says wearing seat belts remains the most effective action you can take to avoid being seriously injured or killed in a crash.

Cut  16 (13)  “…lower rates.” 

A first-offense ticket is $50 and subsequent tickets are $75.

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The top-ranked LSU Tigers face the defending champs in college baseball last season as the Bayou Bengals begin a three-game series tonight against Ole Miss.  The Rebels are 3-12 in the SEC, but Coach Jay Johnson says they have plenty of talent…

Cut 17 (18) “..t9 win” 

Swayze Field is known to be a hostile environment for opponents. Tonight’s starting pitcher for LSU Paul Skenes is looking forward to it…

Cut 18 (17) “…really cool.”

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Spring football comes to an end on Saturday for the LSU Tigers as the team will scrimmage in front of fans inside Tiger Stadium. Coach Brian Kelly says they got through it without any major injuries and the newcomers learned how to prepare the right way for a season in the SEC…

Cut 19 (19) “…were outstanding.”

Jayden Daniels exits the spring as the starting quarterback heading into the 2023 season. Kelly says Daniels is bigger and stronger and his comfort level with the offense is at another level…

Cut 20 (23)  “..the football”  

Legislation to require surgical facilities to mitigate smoke plumes advances from Senate Health and Welfare. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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A bill that would screen and detect students statewide who are suffering from dyslexia has been approved by the House Education Committee. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 2 (31)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx” 

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A bill to make operating rooms safer advances from Senate Health and Welfare. Bill author, Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux says heat-producing equipment used in surgeries can create a smoke plume that could obscure a physician’s view.

Cut 3 (10) “…other things.”

The legislation requires healthcare facilities to adopt policies and implement surgical smoke plume evacuation systems to mitigate health hazards.

Nineteen other states either have similar laws or legislation in process in relation to surgical smoke plumes. Boudreaux says he’s met with physicians and nurses about the legislation and says the bill is not about penalizing healthcare facilities and providers.

Cut 4 (09)  “…bring awareness.” 

The Louisiana Department of Health would verify compliance with the smoke plume evacuation and mitigating systems. Boudreaux says he’s fostered a good working relationship with medical associations about the legislation.

Cut 5 (08) “…address those.”

Senate Bill 29 passed favorably in committee.

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UL Lafayette’s CAPE team of student researchers will design and build a small solar-powered satellite that will be used by NASA to help keep astronauts and the public safe from radiation. Electrical and Computer Engineering Instructor, Dr. Jared Tessier (Tess-see-yay) says the students are excited to have been selected…

Cut 6 (12)  “…since 2007.” 

The satellite will orbit the earth at least twice a day and will gauge radiation in space through measurements taken with a neutron radiation detector. Tessier says the experimentation is rooted in technology.

Cut 7 (09)  “…in space.” 

UL Lafayette became the first university in Louisiana whose students designed, built, and launched a working satellite that orbited Earth in 2007. They also launched a satellite in 2013 and 2021. Tessier says this has been an incredible foundation for students interested in STEM fields.

Cut 8 (12)  “…this satellite.” 

NASA’s latest CAPE satellite is projected to blast off sometime between 2024 and 2027.

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Legislation that would mandate every Louisiana kindergartener to be screened for dyslexia is making its way to the House floor. The bill authored by Gretna Representative Joe Marino says it’s time to change the educational narrative for students in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (08) “….the school.”

Marino says screening tests are only $1.50 per and parents can request testing for their child. HB 69,  approved by the House Education Committee, would test students in the second semester of kindergarten.

Cut 10 (07) “…at risk.” 

Marino says nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population has dyslexia but this is a step in the right direction for the academic careers of many students.

Cut 11 (12)  “…to succeed”

Marino believes catching students early can equip them with the resources necessary to succeed.

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Authorities seized a little over 108 pounds of powder cocaine during a traffic stop on LA Highway 28 East of Pineville. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tommy Carnline says deputies assigned to the RADE Unit Highway Interdiction Team conducted a traffic stop on a semi-tractor trailer truck for improper lane usage.

Cut 12 (07) “…criminal activity” 

Deputies deployed their police canine ‘Izzy’ to do an air sniff of the tractor-trailer driven by 56-year-old Jose Calderon of Edinburg, Texas. During the investigation, they observed a positive alert of possible narcotics. Deputies located over 108 pounds of powder cocaine in the commercial rig hauling 45,000 pounds of mangoes.

Cut 13 (05) “…..part of” 

Calderon was arrested and remains in the Rapides Parish Detention Center on a $500,000 bond. Carnline says the RADE agents along with agents from the local field office of the FB and the Drug Enforcement Administration were helpful in the investigation.

Cut 14 (07)  “..of cocaine”

Calderon is charged with improper lane usage, obstruction of drivers view windshield, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Agents estimate the street value of the recovered cocaine is between $1-$3 million dollars.