A preliminary report by the National Weather Service on the deadly E-F 3 tornado that hit Arabi on Tuesday has found the twister had maximum sustained winds of 160 miles per hour. N-W-S forecaster Lauren Nash says it’s one of the strongest twisters to ever hit the New Orleans area…
cut 12 (08) “….stronger than that”

The tornado caused significant damage to about 150 homes in St. Bernard Parish. CEO of the United Way of Southeastern Louisiana Michael Williamson says a recent study indicated as much as 60-percent of the households in the area were already struggling with basic needs…
cut 9 (12) “…..already there”
Tornado relief efforts can be found at united-way S-E-L-A-dot-org.

Louisiana is closing in on reaching a 100-million dollar settlement on a class-action lawsuit that dates back to 1983 when about 12-hundred home and business owners in Tangipahoa Parish sued the state over flooding caused by the construction of I-12. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne…
cut 3 (13) “….this to rest”
The state already has 21-million dollars set aside and it plans to allocate 45-million dollars this year and another 35-million dollars next year to satisfy the settlement.

Individuals who kill a parent in a car crash and are convicted of vehicular homicide would have to pay restitution charges to the victim’s children under legislation heading to the House floor. There’s opposition from the Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana…
cut 15 (09) “….attached”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

New 2021 census data shows that Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes had among the largest one-year population percentage declines in the country. Hurricane Laura is the reason. Cameron’s population declined from 2020 to 2021 by 9.5 percent, Calcasieu five percent.

The Louisiana Board of Regents is removing a major roadblock on the path to graduation. David Grubb has the story.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m David Grubb.”

At least 150 homes were significantly damaged in St. Bernard Parish from an EF3 tornado that killed one person in Arabi. Michael Williamson, CEO of the United Way of Southeast Louisiana says they are collecting basic needs items and distributing them to those in need.
Cut 7 (10) “…and supplies.”
Williamson says within hours of the tornado they launched a link on their website at UnitedWaySELA-dot org to collect donations and received a tremendous outpouring from all over.

Individuals who kill a parent in a car crash and are convicted of vehicular homicide would have to pay restitution charges to the victim’s children under legislation heading to the House floor. The House Criminal Justice Committee approved the bill but heard opposition from the Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana…
cut 15 (09) “….attached”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

The National Weather Service has determined that the deadly tornado that tore through Arabi on Tuesday had maximum sustained winds at 160-miles per hour. N-W-S forecaster Lauren Nash says the twister began its track through the New Orleans area in Gretna…
cut 11 (09) “….tracked through Arabi”
The 160-mile per hour winds make it one of the strongest tornadoes to ever hit the New Orleans area.

The tornado caused significant damage to about 150 homes. CEO of the United Way of Southeastern Louisiana Michael Williamson says a recent study indicated as much as 60-percent of the households in the area were already struggling with basic needs…
cut 9 (12) “…..already there”
You can donate to tornado relief efforts at united-way S-E-L-A-dot-org.

The Board of Regents is eliminating remedial courses at Louisiana colleges instead students who need remediation will be placed in gateway math-English courses. Doctor Tristan Denly says this new approach gives students more time on task and helps them earn actual credits towards graduation, rather than shorter, non-credited, remedial courses…
cut 5 (11) “….credit-bearing class”
The new policy will go into place for math courses in the fall of 2023 and English courses in the fall of 2024 semester.

A bill to force those guilty of vehicular homicide of a parent to pay restitution advances from the House Criminal Justice Committee. Bill author Lafayette Representative Johnathan Goudeau says the offender would make payments to the victim’s minor child until the age of 18 or 21 if enrolled in college.
Cut 13 (12) “…that difference.”
The measure heads to the House floor.

During debate on a bill that would make vaccine discrimination a crime, Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says the COVID vaccines are what may have caused a heart attack he suffered earlier this month. But the American Heart Association recommends that people should get the COVID vaccine and studies have shown getting COVID increases the risk of heart problems.

Within hours after the tornado hit the community of Arabi, the United Way of Southeast Louisiana was collecting donations. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Legislation that would force a person found guilty of vehicular homicide to pay restitution to the children of a parent who dies in the crash heads to the House floor. Valerie Sanders testified in favor of the bill after her son was killed by a drunk driver and left behind two small children to be raised by her son’s widow.
Cut 14 (10) “…financial responsibility.”
The measure heads to the House floor.

The Louisiana Board of Regents has approved a new policy that eliminated remedial courses in colleges, instead, college students needing remediation will be placed in gateway math-English courses while given additional academic support, an approach known as co-requisite. Doctor Tristan Denly says this new approach will help current students but also attract adult learners to come back to campus as well…
cut 6 (13) “….continue their studies”

The tornado that ravaged the community of Arabi Tuesday night also claimed the life of 25-year-old Conner Lambert. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Legislation that would result in fines against businesses that deny a person from entering a building based on their vaccination status runs into resistance in the House Criminal Justice Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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25-year old Conner Lambert was killed Tuesday night in the tornado that struck the community of Arabi. Lambert, a UL-Lafayette graduate who worked as an engineer at Stennis Space Center is remembered fondly by his Chalmette High School football coach Jason Tucker.

Cut 3 (06) “…hang out with”

Tucker says Lambert was in the home he’d just purchased three months ago when the tornado hit. In addition to playing football at Chalmette, Lambert also excelled at track and baseball and was even a National Merit finalist.

Tucker says Lambert was very family-oriented and moved back to the area to be near his relatives, and the loss is felt throughout the community.

Cut 4 (11) “…be missed.”

Lambert not only excelled on the field at Chalmette, but Tucker says in high school he received about 15 academic scholarships and even a National Merit Scholarship from Alabama. Lambert got his engineering degree at ULL and Tucker says the loss is even more tragic because of all Lambert’s potential.

Cut 5 (08) “…great kid.”

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In the midst of a mostly-positive press conference on the eve of Brian Kelly’s first spring practice session at LSU, the new head coach chose to step into the murky legal waters surrounding the lawsuit filed by former associate athletic director Sharon Lewis. Kelly was asked directly about the status of running backs coach and associate head coach Frank Wilson who has been added to Lewis’ complaint.

 Cut 6  (12) “…status has unchanged.” 

While Wilson’s status may be unchanged with regards to his position on Kelly’s staff, LSU should be aware that Lewis amended her lawsuit earlier this month alleging that Wilson showed her his genitals and harassed another female employee as well. USA Today has reported it interviewed two other women with similar allegations against Wilson. Kelly pushed back against those reports.

Cut 7 (10) “…that were unfounded.” 

Lewis alleges the incident occurred in 2013 when Wilson was a member of Les Miles’ staff, and that she reported it to two other associate ADs at the university without any investigation made or action taken. Wilson could also be attached to the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations citing a lack of institutional control within the football program over multiple years. Regardless, Kelly says he’s in Wilson’s corner.

Cut 8 (10) “…of our staff.” 

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Legislation that would make state waters more attractive to companies interested in developing wind energy projects off of the state’s coastline is headed to the House floor. Houma Representative Jerome Zeringue says he supports oil and gas production but also recognizes alternative energy is coming

Cut 9 (10) “…jobs”

Zeringue says a recent study shows a single offshore wind project could generate over five-thousand jobs.

The House bill would increase the maximum size of a lease from five thousand to 25-thousand acres. Larose Representative Joseph Orgeron says wind turbines need more space than oil and gas rigs

Cut 10 (09)  “…appropriately.”

Louisiana Natural Resources Secretary Thomas Harris says he’s heard from several wind energy developers but decided not to do business because of the current five-thousand-acre limit…

Cut 11 (12)  “…do business.”  

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A proposal to make it a crime to deny someone entrance into a building based on their vaccination status received a hearing today in a House committee, but even Republican lawmakers who oppose vaccine mandates had issues with the measure. The bill’s author, Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley, blames the COVID vaccine for his recent heart attack…

Cut 12 (12) “…heart attack.” 

Bagley says since there are concerns over the safety of the COVID vaccine and its effectiveness, businesses, and schools should not require people to be vaccinated. But Baton Rouge Representative Scott McKnight doesn’t like the bill because it’s telling businesses what to do

Cut 13 (10) “…to run it”

Bagley’s bill called for fines if a person or business denied a person entry into a building based on their vaccination status. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson is not comfortable with the potential penalties…

Cut 14 (09)  “..this work”  

Bagley voluntarily deferred his bill, but plans to present a revised version later in the session.

Governor Edwards declares a state of emergency for four southeast Louisiana parishes affected by Tuesday’s tornadoes. Edwards spoke with the media after surveying the damage in Arabi. The governor says teams will make their best estimate of damage to homes and businesses, to prepare the state’s request for FEMA assistance…:
Cut 10 (11) “…from the federal government.”
The National Weather Service says the approximate path of the tornado is 11 miles stretching from Gretna to Arabi. About 150 homes were significantly damaged in St. Bernard and one person was killed.

The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Conner Lambert who graduated from U-L Lafayette and worked as an engineer at Stennis Space Center. Chalmette football coach Jason Tucker…
cut 3 (06) “….hangout without”
Tucker says Lambert purchased his home that was completely destroyed just three months ago.

A bill that would restrict law enforcement from releasing to the media mug shots of people who are arrested is heading to the House floor. New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis says mug shots are sometimes used to shame people, even though they have not been convicted. Duplessis believes Louisiana should follow the U-s Marshal’s Service’s policy…
cut 8 (09) “…..invasion of privacy”
The House Governmental Affairs Committee voted 11 to 1 in favor of the bill and it faces another discussion on the House floor.

Since the start of the pandemic, home food delivery has become a bigger part of our lives. But record-high gas prices are impacting drivers. So Waitr has implemented a new GasCard program, giving drivers 5% off on gas from all major gas stations. Chris Barnes, the company’s director of driver experience…
cut 14 (10) “…time of purchase”
Barnes says GasCard program will continue even when gas prices go back down.

Governor Edwards declares a state of emergency for four parishes hit by Tuesday night’s tornadoes. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The governor returns to southeast Louisiana today to talk with homeowners and business owners who are still fighting with their insurance companies following the 2020 and 2021 hurricanes. Edwards will hold two insurance reform roundtable discussions today, one in New Orleans and the other in Larose.

The House Insurance Committee approves a bill on a seven to five vote that would create the Louisiana Named Storm Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority which will work to prevent insurance fraud for home and business owners affected by a tropical storm or hurricane. But Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says such a board is not needed, because his department already looks into such matters…
cut 6 (07) “….in my opinion”
The measure still passed on a seven to five vote and heads to the House floor for more discussion.

Since the start of the pandemic, home food delivery has become a bigger part of our lives. Chris Barnes, with Waitr, says soaring fuel costs have impacted operations.
Cut 13 (11) “…everyone and everything.”
Barnes says to help with the high fuel prices they have established a gas card program that will save drivers’ money on fuel.

Governor Edwards declares a state of emergency for four southeast Louisiana parishes affected by Tuesday’s tornadoes. Edwards spoke with the media after surveying the damage in Arabi. The governor says teams will make their best estimate of damage to homes and businesses, to prepare the state’s request for FEMA assistance…:
Cut 10 (11) “…from the federal government.”
The National Weather Service says the approximate path of the tornado is 11 miles stretching from Gretna to Arabi. About 150 homes were significantly damaged in St. Bernard.

New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis wants to limit the release of mugshots in an effort to prevent those who are innocent from the public embarrassment that it can impose.
Cut 7 (12) “…to the public.”
The measure passed out of a House committee and heads to the House floor.

A Fort Polk spokesperson says an Oklahoma National Guard pilot ejected safely from an F-16 fighter jet that crashed in rural Beauregard Parish on Wednesday morning. The jet left from an airbase near Houston and was conducting a training exercise when the crash happened. The pilot walked away after parachuting out of the cockpit.

Delivery drivers are feeling the pinch of high gas prices, so Waitr has found a way to ease that pain. David Grubb has more.
cut 3 (33) “…I’m David Grubb”