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.

The House Criminal Justice Committee voted nine to four to kill a proposal to legalize marijuana in Louisiana. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell was upset she didn’t have the chance to voluntarily defer the bill, with the hopes of bringing it back before the session ends…
cut 7 (10) “….very much”

We were expecting a debate this afternoon in the Senate Labor Committee on a bill to increase the state’s minimum wage to ten dollars an hour starting on January 1st. But the proposal was removed from today’s agenda late yesterday afternoon. Jeremy Alford of La Politics-dot-com says there’s strong opposition to raising the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour…
cut 10 (06) “…the capitol”
No word on when the bill will be heard.

The House Commerce Committee has approved legislation that would cut the minimum number of training hours down from 15-hundred to 12-hundred to a get a cosmetology license. Jeremy Aydell, who owns several Sport Clips, says he has 25 job openings at this site and this legislation could help…
cut 14 (10) “…minorities”
But there were salon owners who testified against the bill, claiming 15-hundred training hours is needed to produce a professional haircut. More debate will take place on the House floor.

The 37th Annual Festival International De Louisiane begins today and runs through Sunday in downtown Lafayette. Marketing Director Carly Viator Courville says there will be great art, food, and its a cultural melting pot of diverse music
Cut 11 (10) “…in Louisiana.”
One of the headline acts is Louisiana’s own Lauren Daigle.

A bill to raise the state’s minimum wage was set to be heard this afternoon in the Senate Labor Committee, but the legislation was removed from today’s agenda late yesterday afternoon. Jeremy Alford of La-Politics-dot-com says the propsoal does not have much of a chance at passing…
cut 9 (07) “…in Louisiana”
Simliar minimum wage hike bills have failed in the past, despite support from Governor John Bel Edwards.

There’s growing support from the public to legalize recreational marijuana use, but a bill to do that in Louisiana was killed by the House Criminal Justice Committee. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell tried to make the case that legalization could benefit the state by taxing the sale of the product. She says the legalization in DC has been profitable…
cut 5 (11) “…tax funding”
Despite that argument, the bill was defeated nine to four.

A proposal to clip required training hours for a cosmetology license in Louisiana was approved by the House Commerce Committee but opponents were vocal..
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Proposed legislation to sentence fentanyl dealers to life behind bars passed out of the House Criminal Justice Committee. Crowley Representative John Stefanksi is the author of the legislation…:
CUT 29 (07) “…how I feel.”
The bill would impose life without parole for distributing an ounce or more of fentanyl. Approved by a 12-to-1 vote, the bill goes to the House floor.

A bill to legalize recreational use of marijuana died in the House Criminal Justice Committee yesterday. Will Hall of the Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy spoke in opposition…

cut 6 (09) “….financially”

This afternoon, Senate Labor will consider a bill to raise the state’s minimum wage…
cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher”

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. Slidell Representative Mary Dubbison –the bill’s author- says less time would mean less financial obligation.
Cut 14 (04) “…must repay.”
All students would still be required to pass a national exam to become licensed in Louisiana. A very vocal opponent to the bill – Pineville Salon Owner Vivian Green says less time means fewer qualified students.
Cut 15 (14) “…wrong, period.”
The debate will continue on the House floor.

Big upset in college baseball last night as Nicholls knocked off top ranked LSU six to five.