A bill that would prohibit a public school teacher, employee or presenter from discussing sexual orientation or gender in front of a classroom is heading to the House floor, after receiving approval from the House Education Committee. However, Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says her legislation would allow these topics to be discussed between teacher and student in a one-on-one setting…
cut 7 (02) “…absolutely”

Legislation that would prohibit insurance companies from using gender as a factor in determing auto insurance rates was approved by the Senate Insurance Committee. The lone female on the panel, Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson, voted “Yes”….
cut 24 (09) “…down to”
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says insurance providers are not discriminating against females. He says predictive modeling is used to determine rates of female and male drivers.

The USDA approves a fourth round of Pandemic-EBT benefits for eligible children. Department of Children and Family Services Economic Stability Director Tim Jenkins says this is welcome news for recipients.
Cut 14 (11) “…public health emergency.”
Students who attended schools that were shut down for five consecutive days as a result of COVID are eligible for the funding also children who receive free or reduced price meals.

Upset over the lack of transparency when it comes to setting flood insurance rates under Risk Rating 2.0, St. Charles Parish has filed suit against FEMA seeking details on the new pricing methodology. Parish president Matthew Jewell says instead of using a model to create rates, the rates were calculated in reverse…
cut 13 (06) “……justify that”

The House Education Committee approves on a seven to five vote Haughton Representative Dodie Horton’s legislation that would ban discussion in public school classrooms about gender and sexual identity. Some on the committee believes this policy should be left up to local school boards, but Horton says it would be more defensible from a legal standpoint if it was a state law….
cut 5 (10) “….a policy around”
And Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson worries the bill would mean students can no longer seek advice from teachers…
cut 6 (09) “….have a question”
But Horton says a student can still have a one-on-one conversation with a teacher about gender and sexual identity issues. The legislation heads to the House floor for more discussion.

St. Charles Parish files a lawsuit against FEMA over Risk Rating 2.0.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The federal government has approved a fourth round of Pandemic EBT benefits. DCFS Stability Director Tim Jenkins says students who participate in the National School Lunch Program or saw their schools close for five consecutive days due to COVID are eligible…
cut 16 (07) “….statewide”
Schools will advise DCFS of the children who are eligible.

Haughton Representative Dodie Horton’s bill that would forbid school teachers and staff from classroom discussion of gender identity and sexual preference topics clears its first legislative hurdle. The House Education Committee approved the bill on a seven to five vote, but Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Frieberg believes Horton’s bill is not necessary…:
Cut 4 (09) “…shouldn’t control this.”
Horton says local school districts tell her the policy would be more defensible from a legal standpoint if it is was a state law.

After exhausting all other options, St. Charles Parish files a lawsuit against FEMA seeking transparency of the Risk Rating 2.0 calculations. Parish President Matthew Jewell says property owners in his parish have seen their flood insurance increase more than 200 percent.
Cut 11 (08) “…about 752%.”
Jewell says FEMA’s new rate pricing methodology has not been made public and even members of the state’s congressional delegation have been denied access.

Louisiana Entergy customers will receive refunds in the coming months. It’s part of a 36-million dollar settlement the Public Service Commission finalized with Entergy. The PSC sued Entergy for overcharging rate payers to cover the expenses of operating the Grand Gulf nuclear plant in Port Gibson, Mississippi.

A Louisiana teen has received one-point-two million dollars in college scholarships. Teiko Foxx has her story…
cut 2 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

A House bill, criticized as “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, clears its first legislative hurdle. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 1 (34) “I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The House Education Committee has also approved House Bill 81, which would require public school employees to use names and pronouns on students’ birth certificates unless parents provide written permission to do otherwise. That legislation by Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews heads to the House floor.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services receives approval to issue a fourth round of Pandemic EBT benefits. DCFS Economic Stability Director Tim Jenkins says they will begin disbursing payments in early May….
cut 15 (10) “…for the summer”
Schools will report to DCFS which students meet the criteria for eligibility. A family is eligible for the benefits if a child is already approved for free or reduced-price meals or if there school operated on reduced attendance or hours for at least five straight days.

Kelsie Tillage, a senior at Southern Lab High School in Baton Rouge, has secured one-point-two million dollars in academic and merit scholarships. Tillage says the best way to get a scholarship is to apply…
cut 10 (11) “….the day”
Tillage will attend Spelman College in Atlanta.

Legislation that would prohibit insurance companies from using gender as a factor in determing auto insurance rates was approved today by the Senate Insurance Committee. The lone female on the panel, Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson, voted “Yes”….
cut 11 (09) “…down to”
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says insurance providers are not discriminating against female drivers. He says predictive modeling is used to determine rates of female and male drivers.

An ATV crash near Slidell last night killed a 14-year-old girl and injured another 14-year-old girl. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says this is any parent’s worst nightmare…
Cut 6 (10) “…a tree”
The teenage girl who died has been identified as 14-year-old Samia Rogers of Slidell.

The top ranked LSU baseball went down in defeat last night as the Nicholls Colonels pulled off a dramatic upset victory over the Tigers. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (32) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”

Our next severe weather event is upon us. Scattered severe storms will move into northwest Louisiana tonight. The severe weather threat shifts to south Louisiana tomorrow from about 5 AM until mid-afternoon on Thursday. Damaging winds and isolated tornadoes are the biggest threats.

A bill to legalize recreational marijuana is nipped in the bud. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A 14-year-old girl died and another 14-year-old was injured in an ATV crash that occurred last night near Slidell. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says the ATV crashed into a tree and the girls were not wearing a helmet…
cut 7 (05) “…very dangerous”
14-year-old Samia Rogers of Slidell succumbed to her injuries.

Legislation that would chop off the minimum hours required to obtain a cosmetology license in Louisiana from 1,500 hours to 1,200 hours has been approved by the House Commerce Committee. All students would still be required to pass a national exam to become licensed. An opponent of the bill – Pineville Salon Owner Vivian Green says fewer training hours means a less qualified hair stylist…
Cut 15 (14) “…wrong, period.”
The debate will continue on the House floor.

Good economic development news for Shreveport, as Prolec GE, announces plans to add 153 new jobs so they can manufacture electrical transformers used in wind farms, solar parks and other renewable energy applications…
cut 4 (03) “…is booming”
That’s Prolec GE Business Director Sergio Fernandez.