In Lafayette, a 13-year-old female is fighting for her life after being shot last night and authorities say the suspect, 18-year-old Trevon Bonner was killed after an exchange of gunfire with police. Lafayette Police Sgt. Robin Green says Bonner barricaded himself inside his residence. Green says a neighbor of a female victim heard the original gunshots.
Cut 3 (06) “…called 911.”
She is listed in critical condition and State Police are investigating the officer-involved shooting of the suspect Bonner.

Senate Health and Welfare has approved a bill that addresses what happened in Tangipahoa Parish when hundreds of nursing home residents were sent to a warehouse during Hurricane Ida. Covington Senator Patrick McMath on a measure that would require the State Fire Marshal to approve nursing home evacuation plans…
cut 12 (10) “…State Fire Marshal”
The bill is heading to the Senate floor.

There are many Easter baskets filled with Elmer’s Chocolate which is made in Ponchatoula. CEO Rob Nelson says a corn starch shortage limited production of the Heavenly Hash Eggs and there were also fewer pecans, so that affect their Pecan Eggs. Nelson says supply is a little light this year, but demand is high as the confectionary business has done well during the COVID pandemic….
cut 8 (09) “…our area here”

Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey Junior has a bill to make the Gulf Fritillary (frit-ah-lar-ee) the state butterfly….
cut 15 (06) “….studies butterflies”
Cathey says the Gulf Fritillary is the state’s only indigenous butterfly and filed the bill at the request of a constituent. The legislation is heading to the Senate floor.

Two bills to ensure the safety of nursing home patients during natural disasters pass unanimously in Senate Health and Welfare. Senate Bill 33 requires all long-term care facilities to have generator power. Mark Berger, Executive Director of the Louisiana Nursing Home Association says while most facilities have generators large enough to support their heating and cooling systems…
Cut 10 (07) “…their peers.”
Berger estimates about two dozen facilities do not meet the standards outlined in the bill. Also moving to the Senate floor is a bill that puts the State Fire Marshal in charge of approving nursing home evacuation plans.

Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey, Jr. wants to make the Gulf Fritillary (frit-ah-lar-ee) the official state butterfly.
Cut 16 (11) “…first for me”
Senate Governmental Affairs approved the bill and it heads to the Senate floor.

Port Allen Senator Rick Ward has released a 30-second campaign commercial. He’s not asking voters for their vote, but to call their local legislator and demand they approve a proposal to put 500-million dollars towards a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge…
cut 6 (08) “…projects”
But some lawmakers would like to use that 500-million dollars elsewhere.

Ponchatoula-based candy maker Elmer Chocolate has been producing sweets since 1855, but the last year has presented some challenges in meeting the demand for Easter. CEO Rob Nelson…
Cut 7 (11) “…pecan egg supply.”
Nelson says supply is a little light this year, but demand is high as the confectionary business has done well during the COVID pandemic.

State Police is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that took place in Lafayette during the overnight hours. Very few details are known at this time. The shooting occurred on Paul Breaux Avenue at 2:30 this morning involving a Lafayette Police Officer.

Two bills to ensure the safety of nursing home patients during natural disasters passed unanimously in Senate Health and Welfare. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Port Allen Senator Rick Ward has launched a social media campaign to drum up support to set aside 500-million dollars for the construction of a new I-10 Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. Governor Edwards supports the proposal, but Ward says he’s heard from lawmakers who believe that’s a lot of money to set aside when construction of a new bridge is years away….
cut 5 (12) “….to something else”
Ward has a 30-second commercial running on social media that makes the case to use surplus and federal infrastructure dollars to get the ball rolling on building a new bridge.

Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey Junior has a bill to make the Gulf Fritillary (frit-ah-lar-ee) the state butterfly….
cut 15 (06) “….studies butterflies”
Cathey says the Gulf Fritillary is the state’s only indigenous butterfly and filed the bill at the request of a constituent. The legislation is heading to the Senate floor.

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee has approved two bills that addresses what happened in Tangipahoa Parish when hundreds of nursing home residents were sent to a single facility during Hurricane Ida. One of the measures approved will require the State Fire Marshal to approve nursing home evacuation plans. Covington Senator Patrick McMath…
cut 12 (10) “…State Fire Marshal”
Another bill heading to the Senate floor would require that long-term health care facilities must have generator power.

When Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey, Jr. introduced Senate Bill 93 to members of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, he warned it could metamorphosis into divisive legislation.
Cut 14 (09) “…state butterfly.”
Cathey says the Gulf Fritillary (frit-ah-lar-ee) is the only butterfly indigenous to the Bayou State and he introduced the bill to fulfill a campaign promise.

Loading your Easter basket with Elmer Candy is a longstanding tradition. David Grubb has the latest from the Louisiana confectionary.
cut 2 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.”

Senator John Kennedy’s re-eleciton campaign reports the Republican from St. Tammany Parish has raised five million dollars in the first quarter of 2022 and has 14-million in his war chest.
Cut 2 (31)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A UNO poll finds that 58-percent of Louisiana residents favor legalzing recreational use of marijuana, up from 36-percent in 2016. UNO Pollster Ed Chervenak says the public’s attitude is changing, but what about the governor???
cut 9 (07) “…final decision”

A House committee approves legislation that would give the Legislature the ability to end certain portions of a governor’s emergency executive order. Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman’s measure is in response to the governor’s public health orders during the pandemic that placed restrictions on businesses…
Cut 13 (10) “…end those”
A similar bill was vetoed by Governor John Bel Edwards last year, but today the House Governmental Affairs approved Frieman’s proposal that would allow a majority vote from the House and Senate to overturn a governor’s emergency order. New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis voted no because he believes in a separation of powers in state government…
Cut 14 (10) “…to do that”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

A nationwide survey by the NFIB finds that inflation has overtaken labor quality as the top problem for small businesses. Aside from inflation, NFIB state director Dawn McVea pointed to several other areas of frustration…
cut 9 (06) “….labor shortages”
McVea says the percentage of business owners expecting conditions to improve over the next six months is at its lowest love in the 48-year history of the survey.

Many residents in Northwest Louisiana are without power after storms swept through the area last night. SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says about 37,000 customers in the Shreveport-Bossier area are without power.
Cut 5 (12) “…and dangerous.”
Sullivan says approximately 1,500 customers in the Mansfield area and nearly 600 in Logansport are also without service.

Legislation is heading to the Senate floor that will make it harder for a pregnant woman to get abortion-inducing medications without a prescription Bill author, Slidell Republican Senator Sharon Hewitt…
Cut 14 (10) “…medical oversite.”
An abortion-rights lawyer is concerned the legislation will also penalize the pregnant woman, but Hewitt says she’ll amend the bill to make sure that does not happen.

The House Health and Welfare Committee has approved a resolution that would prevent a rule from the governor going into effect that would mandate children 16 and up must be vaccinated to attend a public school, college or university. Shreveport Pediatric Infectious Disease specialist Dr. Joseph Bocchini spoke in opposition and says the decision to incorporate any vaccine into the routine schedule for children is based on the merits of the vaccine.
Cut 6 (08) “…other staff.”
Supporters of the resolution say the COVID vaccine has shown it does not prevent infection and they claim there are still health risks with getting the vaccine.

The House Health and Welfare Committee voted 12 to 5 in favor of a bill that would prevent state and local governments from issuing proof of COVID-19 vaccine requirements in order to enter schools, restaurants, and businesses. Shreveport Representative Thomas Pressly says House Bill 990 does not pertain to federal vaccine mandates…
cut 7 (05) “….to do so”
The measure heads to the House floor.

Legislation is heading to the Senate floor that will make it harder for a pregnant woman to get abortion-inducing medications without a prescription Bill author, Slidell Republican Senator Sharon Hewitt…
Cut 14 (10) “…medical oversite.”
An abortion-rights lawyer is concerned the legislation will also penalize the pregnant woman, but Hewitt says she’ll amend the bill to make sure that does not happen.

New voter research from UNO shows overall job approval for Louisiana’s two U.S. Senators is under 50-percent. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

And Kennedy’s re-election campaign says the junior senator now has 14-million dollars in cash on hand after raising five million dollars during the first quarter of this year.

Strong storms last night caused significant power outages in northwest Louisiana. There’s another chance for severe weather today.

The House Health and Welfare Committee approves a measure that removes the COVID-19 vaccine from the state health department’s immunization schedule, meaning children five and up would not have to be vaccinated against COVID in order to attend school. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes voted against it because he says parents can opt-out by signing a form…
cut 4 (08) “….need this”
But Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says some schools have not allowed parents to opt-out.

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy is up for re-election this year and a UNO survey has his approval rating at only 36-percent, but pollster Ed Chervenak says Kennedy has a much higher rating from his political base…
cut 11 (09) “….job that he is doing”
Kennedy’s campaign reports the junior senator has raised five million dollars in the first quarter and now has 14-million in his war chest.

A new report shows historic lows in confidence among small business owners. David Grubb has more…
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m David Grubb.”

66-percent of the adults who participated in an LSU Public Policy Research Lab poll say the state is heading in the wrong direction. LSU Manship School associate professor Doctor Michael Henderson says only 26-percent say the state is heading in the right direction
Cut 29 (06) “…2004″
Just over 600 adults participated in the online survey.