Monuments taken down could be relocated to state parks under a bill making its way through the legislature. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Republican lawmaker at the center of the redistricting debate says he’s received death threats after accused of using a derogatory word towards the executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Monuments which are taken down may have new life, thanks to a bill advancing in the legislature. Chalmette Representative Mike Bayham’s bill would transfer any publicly-owned historical statue or monument removed from public display to the Office of State Parks. Bayham says it’s a good compromise.

Cut 3 (09) “…their land anymore.”

Bayham says under his bill, the office would be required to move any such monument to a location in a different parish which is open to the public. 

Cut 4 (12) “…protection from vandalism.”

While Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, who oversees the Office of State Parks, says House Bill 1215 was designed to deal with Confederate monuments which were taken down in New Orleans in 2017, Bayham says his bill makes no mention of Confederate monuments and applies to other monuments as well.

Cut 5 (09) “…been taken down.”

The bill passed in the House last week on a vote of 78 to 14 and now moves to the Senate.

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A bill that would increase the pay of the governor and other statewide elected officials barely gets enough votes to pass the Louisiana House. Harahan Representative John Illg’s legislation would increase the governor’s salary in 2028 from 130 thousand to 174-thousand dollars, the same amount a U-S Representative receives…

Cut 6 (09) “…appropriate measure.”

The bill passed on a 54-35 vote. Fifty-three “Yes” votes are needed for a bill to pass the 105-member House, and there were several state representatives who tried to change their vote afterwards, but it was too late.

Illg’s legislation also increases the salary of the state’s other six statewide elected officials from 115 thousand to 154-thousand dollars.

He says the measure does not raise the pay for state lawmakers, which would stay at $16,800. But the measure would provide legislators with additional opportunities to receive per diem…

Cut 7 (11) “…already do this”

Illg says it’s been decades since the state addressed the pay of elected officials…

Cut 8 (11) “…their own.”

The measure heads to the Senate and it’s unknown what kind of support the bill will receive.

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State Senator Jay Morris says he and his staff received multiple death threats for something he says he never said. The executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party Dadrius Lanus says Morris used a racial slur during last Friday’s racially charged debate over a new Congressional map. Morris says the untrue allegation led to 150 nasty voice mails for his legislative assistant to hear…

Cut 9 (13)  “…to be party”

Morris says news outlets support his story that he did not use the word “Boy” when he told Lanus, a Black Man, to “Shut Up.”

The Republican from West Monroe says one voice mail threatened to carry out a mass shooting at his office….

Cut 10 (06) “…family”

Morris blames the leaders at the Louisiana Democratic Party of using lies to generate hate

Cut 11 (08) “…know better.”

Lanus says Morris told him, a Black man, to shut up boy. Morris admits to telling the crowd behind him to shut up because they were distracting him while he was answering questions from the committee.

State Police is investigating.

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New Orleans Senator Gary Carter is no longer on the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee after his heated exchange with West Monroe Senator Jay Morris. Carter’s emotions boiled as he questioned Morris about his intentions with legislation that he believes is attempting to remove Black people from political office…

Cut 12 (13) “…heart”

Senate Governmental Affairs Chairman Caleb Kleinpeter had to stop the meeting so emotions could subside.

Carter issued a public apology to Morris on the Senate floor….

Cut 13 (10) “…my temper.”

On Tuesday, Senator Carter announced he is stepping away from Senate Governmental Affairs and will be replaced by fellow Democrat and New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis. Carter says his decision to remove himself from the panel will help restore the decorum and focus this moment demands.

During a speech to fellow Senators, Carter admits he lost his cool while discussing a contentious issue…..

Cut 14 (11) “…we had Friday”

Some surprising early voting numbers released by the Secretary of State’s office. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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State Senator Jay Morris is accused of using a derogatory word towards Black people at a racially charged Senate Committee meeting. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (45) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The early voting numbers released by the Secretary of State’s office paint a startling picture. Of the nearly quarter-million ballots cast in the seven days of early voting, including the absentee ballots which have been returned, Democrats outnumbered Republicans by nearly 45-hundred. JMC Analytics Pollster John Couvillon says three factors especially motivated Democrats to show up to the polls.

Cut 3 (13) “…contentious redistricting hearings.”

Couvillon says Democrats may also be motivated to vote against all five constitutional amendments, including the amendment to create a new school district in the newly incorporated city of St. George in East Baton Rouge Parish. Couvillon says with the heavy Black turnout statewide, especially in East Baton Rouge Parish, the amendment appears to be in jeopardy.

Cut 4 (08) “…to pass it.”

While the early vote totals indicate the party affiliations of those who cast ballots, they do not indicate who they voted for – we won’t find out until Saturday night. Couvillon says regardless of the vote totals, we likely will not be in for a repeat of John Bel Edwards’ win in 2015 – the Republican who secures the U.S. Senate nomination will still likely win in November.

Cut 5 (07) “…John Bel Edwards did.”

Couvillon says the early voting totals represent a voter turnout of a little more than 25-percent. Of course, there’s still Election Day this Saturday to go.

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West Monroe Senator Jay Morris is accused of using a racially derogatory term during a heated debate over a new Congressional District map. Because tensions were running high, the meeting was briefly paused. Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Director Dadrius Lanus says when Morris got up from his seat, he told him to “Shut Up Boy”…

Cut 6 (14) “…say that.”

Lanus was a guest on WRKF’s “Talk Louisiana.”

Morris denies using the word boy. Senate Governmental Affairs Chairman Caleb Kleinpeter spoke with reporters and he does not believe he used the word “Boy”…

Cut 7 (08) “…saying”

The video from media members is inconclusive on whether Morris said the word “Boy” when confronting audience members that he said were talking loudly during the debate making it hard for him concentrate and answer questions.

Kleinpeter says he spoke with several news organizations who were covering the tense committee meeting and none of them heard Morris use the word “Boy

Cut 8 (04) “…debunked that.”

But Lanus says he knows what he heard…

Cut 9 (04)  “…he said”

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee will meet again on Wednesday. It’s expected they will approve a map that eliminates one, if not both, Black Majority districts from the state’s Congressional map.

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AAA is expecting a record 39.1 million people to travel by vehicle this Memorial Day holiday, despite soaring gas prices. Spokesman Don Redman says part of the reason is that people had already made their plans before the war in Iran began, which directly led to the sharp increase in gasoline prices.

Cut 10 (05) “…already baked in.”

The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is four dollars in Louisiana, up $1.30 from last year.

Redman says even with gas prices being a lot more expensive now than they were a month and a half ago, the additional money people planning a Memorial Day road trip will need to set aside won’t be all that much, with all things considered.

Cut 11 (09) “…just gasoline alone.”

Redman says the bigger concern is if the war in Iran lingers on and, in effect, gasoline prices remain high, that could put a huge dent into holiday travel late in the year.

Cut 12 (08) “…the discretionary income.”

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Two teens were killed in a crash in Concordia Parish, and the teen driving the SUV is under arrest. Investigators say shortly after 12:30 yesterday morning, 18-year-old Gregory Steele of Vidalia lost control of the SUV and drove it off the roadway, causing it to overturn. Steele suffered minor injuries, but 19-year-old Jacob Bonnette of Vidalia and 17-year-old Michelle Baity of Natchez, Mississippi, were killed. State Police Trooper Casey Wallace says alcohol appears to have been a factor.

Cut 13 (08) “…the traffic violations.”

Wallace says to what extent that Steele was intoxicated remains to be seen.

Cut 14 (05) “…report finalize that.”

Another 18-year-old suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Wallace says none of the four teens inside the SUV were restrained.