A bill to end capital punishment in Louisiana got a death sentence in the House Criminal Justice Committee Wednesday. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 1 (33)  “…Kevin Gallagher.”

_______________________________________________

Do you plan to travel this Memorial Day holiday? If so, AAA projects a 7 percent increase of travelers compared to last year. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

_______________________________________________

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee votes down on a House-approved bill that sought to ban gender-affirming care for minors. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

_____________________________________________

Delta Biofuel will break ground in late June on a $100 million renewable facility in Jeanerette that will produce 340,000 metric tons of biomass fuel pellets annually. CEO Phil Keating says this will solve a serious problem for the sugar cane industry…

Cut 4 (11)  “…in utilities”

The facility will be the first of its kind in North America for its use of bagasse, a byproduct of sugarcane production, to manufacture biomass fuel pellets on a commercial scale. Louisiana is one of the nation’s top producers of sugarcane, producing more than 2 million tons of raw sugar in 2022. Keating says it will create alternative fuel from unneeded bagasse.

Cut 5 (13)   “…industrial scale.”

Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in a total of 275 new jobs in the Acadiana region. Keating says the average salary will be around 63 thousand dollars.

Cut 6 (12)  “…for everybody.”

Delta Biofuel plans to source from nearby sugar mills in Iberia, St. Mary, and St. Martin parishes. The company also has long-term contracts primarily with power utility companies across Europe for the sale of more than 1.8 million tons of pellets over the next several years.

_____________________________________________

A bill that would end capital punishment in Louisiana has failed to pass out of the House Criminal Justice Committee. HB 228 was from Marrero Democrat Representative Kyle Green, who tells committee members the death penalty needs to go forever…:

Cut 7 (09) “…innocent people.”

Louisiana is one of 27 states that still allow capital punishment, but no one has been put to death here since 2010. Among those speaking FOR Green’s bill was defense attorney Ralph Capitelli, who says the process – from conviction to actual execution – simply takes too long to play out, and it should be eliminated…:

Cut 8 (11) “…criminal justice system.”

Opposing the bill was West Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Tony Clayton, who tells members the death penalty still has a place in Louisiana justice…punishment for the worst of the worst…:

Cut 9 (09)  “…the death penalty.”

Also against the bill, Chief Deputy Attorney General John Sinquefield, who says virtually all Gulf South states still have the death penalty, and he worries what message ending capital punishment might send…:

Cut 10 (12) “…no death penalty. ” 

The measure failed by a vote of 4 “yeas” to 11 “nays”, which is a death sentence for Green’s bill.

________________________________________

AAA says 42 million people will travel out this Memorial Day holiday weekend, a 7 percent increase from last year. Analyst Don Redman says despite inflation, more people are planning trips and booking them early.

Cut 11 (12)  “…in 2000.”

Despite high ticket prices, demand for flights is soaring. Air travel will surpass pre-pandemic levels, with 3 million people boarding planes for the weekend, that’s an 11 percent increase over last year. Redman says that’s about 170,000 more passengers than 2019.

Cut 12 (13)    “…people fly.” 

Road trips are up by 6 percent, with 37 million people expected to drive to their destination, an increase of more than 2 million from last year. The good news, gas prices are lower this year compared to last year when the national average was more than $4 a gallon. Redman says it’s also important to check your vehicle before hitting the road.

Cut 13 (13) “…for help.”  

More travelers are taking other modes of transportation, like buses and trains totaling nearly 2 million, an increase of 20.6 over last year.

_______________________________________________

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee kills a bill that would prohibit gender affirming care for minors. The vote was five to four to defer the legislation for the regular session. Republican Chairman and St. Martin Parish Senator Fred Mills casted the tie-breaking vote…

Cut 14 (07)  “…vote yes.”

Pollock Representative Gabe Firment’s bill would prohibit doctors from giving minors puberty blockers or performing any gender-transitioning procedures. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says there are no cases of a parent allowing their child to have a sex change before they are 18….

Cut 15 (13)  “…has occurred”

Firment says he’s trying to protect children from what he calls experimental treatments. He believes gender dysphoria should be treated as a mental health issue that includes counseling. But Luneau says gender-affirming care has the support of several major medical organizations

Cut  16 (12)  “..needed therapy” 

Opponents of the legislation pointed to studies that show transgender youth are less at risk for depression and suicidal thoughts if they are able to access gender-affirming care.

_____________________________________

Louisiana Tech hit five home runs yesterday to beat Charlotte 13 to eight in the Conference USA Tournament. Dalton Davis hit two dingers and Phillip Matulia mashed his 19th home run of the season. Bulldogs Coach Lane Burroughs had a feeling some runs would be scored in Houston

Cut 17 (12) “..proud of our guys” 

Sixth seeded Louisiana Tech will face seventh seeded Middle Tennessee at 12:30 today. The Blue Raiders upset second-seeded UTSA five to one yesterday. Tech is trying to repeat as Conference USA Tournament champs and receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Burroughs says the key is to stay focused on the present…

Cut 18 (12) “…right now”

_____________________________________

The fifth-ranked LSU baseball team opened the SEC Tournament with a solid 10-3 win over South Carolina. The Tigers got a good start on the mound from Thatcher Hurd and left-hander Nate Ackenhausen was brilliant in relief as he pitched 3.2 innings for his second save of the season. Coach Jay Johnson went to Ackenhausen in the sixth inning when the Gamecocks were mounting a comeback…

Cut 19 (21) “….playoff baseball” 

For LSU to win its seventh national championship in program history, pitching will be the key. Johnson says the win over South Carolina was a good sign for a staff that does not have to be dominant…

Cut 20 (21)  “…at bats”  

State Treasurer John Schroder announce more than 25 thousand unclaimed property checks totaling $4.4 million dollars will be mailed out to Louisiana residents today. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

______________________________________

Louisiana Congressman Garrett Graves is in the middle of the debt ceiling talks. Jeff Palermo reports the Republican from Baton Rouge gives an update on how talks are going…

Cut 2 (32)  “….I’m Jeff Palermo” 

______________________________________

The Department of Treasury is shipping out nearly 26,000 unclaimed property checks today, totaling $4.4 million. State Treasurer John Schroder says the checks are real, so take it to the bank.

Cut 3 (11) “…of Treasury.”

Each year businesses turn over millions of dollars in unclaimed cash, stocks, bonds, securities, and insurance proceeds to the Treasurer’s Office. Schroder says the Department of Revenue shares its database of current addresses so that recipients have a better chance of receiving checks.

Cut 4 (12)  “…the people.” 

These funds include payroll checks, old bank accounts, utility deposits, and life insurance proceeds. Schroder says one in six individuals in Louisiana has “unclaimed property”, with claims averaging $900.

Cut 5 (11) “…cash it.”

To find out if you have unclaimed property, search LaCashClaim.org or call 888-925-4127.

__________________________________________________

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is one of the top Republican mediators in the debt ceiling talks. President Biden is urging Congress to raise the nation’s debt limit, now at 31 trillion dollars. Graves says the G-O-P is willing to raise the debt ceiling but they want to cut spending…

Cut 6 (12)  “…unsustainable.” 

But the White House believes deficits can be reduced if tax breaks end for wealthy households and some corporations.

Negotiators are facing a June 1st deadline and if a deal is not reached, financial markets could be thrown into upheaval as the federal government would default on its debts. Graves says they are making some progress in negotiations…

Cut 7 (12)  “…what’s reasonable” 

Graves says taking tax breaks away is not a way to raise revenue, instead it’s time the federal government spends less money than it did this year…

Cut 8 (10)  “…to Japan” 

_________________________________________________

A bill that would limit certain foreign entities from leasing or buying property in Louisiana has won approval in the state House of Representatives. HB 537 comes from Livingston Parish Republican Rep. Valarie Hodges, who call the bill a “Louisiana sovereignty bill”…:

Cut 9 (08) “…major assets.”

The bill would ban agents of China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela or Russia from buying and titling property in the state. In committee, many Asian Americans voiced worries the bill would limit their ability to buy land or businesses here. Hodges says the bill isn’t concerned with persons or small businesses…:

Cut 10 (06) “…our farmland.”

The help clarify the language, Houma Republican Rep. and Speaker Pro Tem Tanner McGee offered an amendment…:

Cut 11 (08)  “…foreign adversary.”

By a 78-to-22 vote (pretty much down party lines) HB 537 moves now to the Senate.

____________________________________________________

The top ranked LSU baseball team moved into the winner’s bracket of the SEC Tournament today with a ten to three win over South Carolina. Left fielder Brayden Jobert homered for the Tigers and Thatcher Hurd and Nate Ackenhausen were outstanding on the mound. It was win number 400 for Coach Jay Johnson…

Cut 12 (11) “…well today” 

Ackenhausen earned his second save of the season while Hurd picked up the win. The right-hander was using Paul Skenes is glove and he allowed four hits and three runs in the outing…

Cut 13 (12) “…with it” 

LSU’s next game in the SEC Tournament is Thursday afternoon at 4:30 PM.

_____________________________________