For the second straight year, the governor will have to decide whether to veto a bill that prohibits transgender women and girls from competing in organized female sports. John Bel Edwards vetoed the bill last year and it’s heading to his desk again after the Senate gave final legislative approval yesterday. The bill was amended to remove the ban from intramural sports. Political Analyst Pinsonat says Edwards has said the amendment is significant.
Cut 11 (05) “…better bill.”

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports the state has added 200-thousand jobs since April 2020, which was the height of the economic shutdown due to COVID. L-W-C Secretary Ava Cates says in the last year, the leisure and hospitality industry gained more than 16-thousand jobs…
cut 6 (05) “….back from New Orleans”
The state’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of three-point-five percent history is the lowest in recorded history which dates back to 1976.

With about a year & half until the next governor’s race in Louisiana, where are all the declared candidates? Kevin Gallagher has that…:
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

U-S Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is in Louisiana to take a tour of the G-E wind turbine blade test center at Michoud in New Orleans East. Secretary Granholm will also tour the Strategic Petroleum Reserve site at Bayou Choctaw which is located in Iberville Parish, 12 miles southwest of Baton Rouge.

Heading into their series against Vanderbilt, LSU baseball was up against the ropes. So the Tigers came out swinging and delivered a three-game knockout of the Commodores, scoring 42 runs. Dylan Crews, the newly crowned SEC Co-Player of the Year says that the Tigers understood the assignment and came through at the right time.
Cut 16 (17) “…needed to do.”
Crews, who leads the SEC in home runs, runs scored, and ranks in the top four in nearly every major offensive category, is the first Tiger to be named Player of the Year since Raph Rhymes in 2012.

ULM faces Georgia State in the Sun Belt Tournament at noon today in Montgomery, Alabama. It’s a single-elimination game with the winner advancing to the double-elimination bracket. The Warhawks took two of three from the Panthers this season and have won 10 of the last 13 meetings.

The Ragin Cajuns are the four-seed in the Sun Belt Tournament. U-L Lafayette will play South Alabama on Wednesday afternoon after taking two of three from Little Rock last weekend.

Louisiana Tech is the two seed in the Conference USA Tournament and will play Charlotte on Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs just two took of three from the 49ers.

Louisiana Tech forward Kenneth Lofton Junior says he’s 100-percent committed to staying in the NBA draft. The Port Arthur, Texas native participated last week at the NBA G-League Elite Camp and has received an invitation to the NBA Combine.

For the second straight year, the Louisiana Legislature has sent a bill to the governor’s desk that would ban transgender athletes from competing in girls and women’s sports. The Senate gave final legislative passage yesterday on a 32-6 vote. There are still about two weeks left in the regular session, so Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says if the governor vetoes the bill again…
cut 12 (07) “…and when”
Pinsonat says the governor could also not sign the bill and just let it become law without his approval.

Louisiana will elect a new governor in about 18 months, but there are NO officially announced candidates. Political analyst Ron Faucheux says, in years past, prospective candidates would have announced their intentions by now to maximize campaign fundraising…:
Cut 7 (07) “…than they used to.”
Potential candidates include Attorney General Jeff Landry, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and state treasurer John Schroder, Congressman Garret Graves and Senator Bill Cassidy.

Some unwelcome visitors could be in your garden…David Grubb has the story…
Cut 3 (36) “…I’m David Grubb.”

The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act is on its way to the Governor’s desk, after the Senate voted 32-6 to concur a House amendment. The lower chamber voted for it last week. The bill which bans transgender females from competing in female sports was vetoed by Governor John Bel Edwards last year. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat on what’s next for the bill.
Cut 10 (09) “…sign it.”
The bill which bans transgender females from playing female sports in K-12 and college competitions was amended to remove the ban from intramural sports. Pinsonat says Edwards has said the amendment is significant
Cut 11 (05) “…better bill.”
But even with intramurals taken out, he says the legislation is unnecessary. But supporters of the legislation point to Lia Thomas, a biological male who won an NCAA swimming championship in female swimming.

There are two weeks left in the legislative session and Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is looking to get his bill approved that would allow non-felons over the age of 21 to conceal carry a weapon without a permit. It has passed the House and it will be heard by a Senate Committee Tuesday…
cut 20 (05) “….on the Senate”
Governor Edwards opposes the bill because he doesn’t want to see the training component go away, which is required in order to obtain a permit. But McCormick says a majority of voters would like the opportunity to conceal carry without a permit…
cut 19 (10) “…constitutional carry:

In other legislative action, the Louisiana House approves a constitutional amendment to raise the mandatory retirement age of judges from 70 to 72. It still needs Senate approval. And the House also approved a bill to ban hand held cell phone use while driving. It also needs Senate approval.

Lafayette Police are investigating a tragic shooting that claimed the life of a 16-year-old female and another juvenile has been charged with her murder. Sgt Robin Green says last night detectives found the victim and the alleged 14-year old shooter sitting inside a parked vehicle. Green says the victim suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Cut 5 (09) “…here in Lafayette.”
Green says details on a motive or the relationship between the two teens have not been released.

Two people are dead after two boats collided on the False River in Pointe Coupee Parish on Friday night. State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson says Adam Einck says 31-year-old Shea Mouton’s body was recovered Friday night and they searched most of the weekend for Kenneth St. Romain…
Cut 3 (10) “..two injuries”
Einck says a good Samaritan recovered from the water two people who received minor injuries.

Driving without a seat belt can cost you your life, or at the very least a $50 fine. David Grubb has more…
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.”

This weekend is the Memorial Day holiday and motorists will be paying record high prices at the pump. The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $4.24, which is up ten cents from a week ago. Gas prices are up nearly 40-cents from a month ago.

The recently passed state budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st gets a big “thumbs up” from college and university leaders. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The budget also contains 84-million dollars for early childhood education. Executive Director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Libbie Sonnier says that’s a historic investment for early childhood education…
cut 5 (11) “….that we spend”

There are two weeks left in the legislative session and Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is looking to get his bill approved that would allow non-felons over the age of 21 to conceal carry a weapon without a permit. It has passed the House and it will be heard by a Senate Committee tomorrow…
cut 15 (05) “….on the Senate”
Governor Edwards opposes the bill because he doesn’t want to see the training component go away, which is what’s needed in order to obtain a permit.

Louisiana law enforcement starts its click it or ticket safety campaign today. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says according to the latest data, only 86-percent of the drivers and passengers wear a seat belt in Louisiana, which is below the national average of 90-percent…
cut 8 (09) “….their seatbelts”

The budget lawmakers sent to the governor’s desk contains 84-million dollars in early childhood education…
cut 1 (29) “….I’m David Grubb”

Lafayette Police have arrested a 14-year-old boy for fatally shooting a 16-year-old girl. Authorities say the victim and the 14-year-old male were sitting inside a parked vehicle when the 14-year-old shot the girl in the chest. The 14-year-old male suspect was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and law enforcement agencies across the state begin their Click it or Ticket campaign today. Louisiana saw a 14 percent increase in traffic fatalities in 2020 and preliminary figures for last year show that tragic trend continuing. Spokesperson Mark Lambert says reckless behavior among drivers is on the rise…
Cut 7 (10) “…a dangerous combination.”
To help put extra officers on the roads, the LHSC has provided grant money to Louisiana law enforcement agencies.

A House-passed bill that would allow adults over 21 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit is scheduled for Senate Committee review tomorrow. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is the bill’s author. His bill passed in the House with 64 “yes” votes to 27 “no’s”. He says he expects it WILL pass committee muster…:
Cut 13 (10) “…have Constitutional Carry.”
Similiar legislation was vetoed by the governor last year.

The Louisiana Legislature has prioritized education funding during this year’s session, including an $84-million investment in early childhood education. The money is contained in the state budget that has been sent to the governor. Libbie Sonnier is the Executive Director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children,
Cut 4 (09) “…$84-million.”
Sonnier says the money will help local school districts invest in pre-K programs and dollars will also be used to help low-income and working families participate in the L-A four program.

U-L System President Doctor Jim Henderson says the operating and capital outlay budgets also contain the largest investment in their schools in more than 15 years. Henderson says the way the Legislature allocated dollars gives him hope, the funding levels will remain high in future years…
cut 12 (11) “….budget”

Driving without a seat belt can cost you your life, or at the very least a $50 fine. David Grubb has more…
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.”