The House Labor Committee is set to hear a number of bills today seeking to increase the minimum wage in Louisiana, but the passage of any of the bills is far from assured. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat…

cut 13 (10) “….Kathleen Blanco

Three bills to be considered would raise the minimum wage for all workers, a 4th would increase the minimum for state employees and a 5th is a minimum wage hike for tipped employees; like waiters and waitresses.

In Opelousas, a shooting at an apartment resulted in two deaths, a 46-year-old man and a four-year-old, and injured three children, with two of them sent to the hospital. Police Chief Martin McLendon…
cut 9 (05) “…gone to”
McClendon says they have a warrant out for the shooter and he expects an arrest soon.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says this is the time of the year when people come across a snake in their yard. But they are asking people to think twice before you kill them. LDWF herpetologist Keri Lejuene says these reptiles play an important role in the state’s ecosystem and they do far more good than harm…
cut 12 (08) “….rodent species”
And Lejuene says contrary to popular belief, snakes do not seek out humans or pets for food.

If you plan on going to the Garth Brooks concert in Baton Rouge on Saturday night, good luck trying to find a hotel room. Paul Arrigo is the CEO of Visit Baton Rouge…
cut 5 (11) “…revenue”
The concert is expected to draw over 102-thousand people.

The highly anticipated return of Garth Brooks to Baton Rouge could make a call for the record books. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (39) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

It’s a big night of sports in Louisiana. The Saints have two picks in tonight’s first round of the NFL draft. Former LSU star Derek Stingley could be taken in the top ten. And the Pelicans will try to stave off elimination when they host the Suns at 6:30.

A 78-year-old Slidell man is recovering after authorities say he was attacked by a squirrel. Slidell Police PIO Daniel Seuzeneau says the elderly man was walking around the outside of his home when the squirrel came from the direction of the roof and attacked him unprovoked. When first responders arrived, they found the man still sruggling with the squirrel, which eventually died from its injuries. Seuzenau says this is the second reported squirrel attack in Slidell this year, the other occurrued during a Mardi Gras parade…
cut 28 (10) “…start a study

And the State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says it’s not uncommon to see snakes in your yard at this time of the year. LDWF herpetologist Keri Lejuene says most of the time, there’s no need to worry, especially if you know the type of snake you’ve encountered…
cut 10 (12) “….and non-venomous”
There are 47 different species of snakes native to the state and only seven are venomous

Several bills seeking to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana go before the House Labor Committee today. Kevin Gallagher looks at their chances of advancing…:
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The House Education Committee approved a bill that will ban corporal punishment in public schools. The Louisiana Association of School Superintendents say there are 19 school districts that still allow it. While the Louisiana Senate rejected a bill that sought to require cable and internet providers to offer automatic refunds if their service was down for more than 24 hours during a declared disaster.

An early morning shooting in Opelousas left a 46-year-old man and a four-year-old dead and three children injured. Opelousas Police Chief Martin McLendon says officers had already visited the Mia Street address Tuesday night after reports of fighting, but when they arrived all was calm, but at 1 AM they received a frantic 9-1-1 call.
Cut 7 (10) “…gunshots.”
McLendon says they have a suspect and hope to apprehend that person soon.

Over in Baton Rouge, the capital city is gearing up for a huge influx of visitors with country music star Garth Brooks set to take the stage in Tiger Stadium before an anticipated crowd of more than 102,000 Saturday night. CEO of Visit Baton Rouge, Paul Arrigo believes it will be the largest outdoor attended concert in the US.
Cut 4 (08) “…says a lot.”
Arrigo says very few hotel rooms are available and if you can get one, it will cost you.

A bill that would result in more 17-year-old violent offenders being charged as adults is heading to the Senate floor. 18th judicial district attorney Tony Clayton says he wants the ability to charge 17-year-olds as adults…
cut 8 (08) “….with the rest of us”
Opponents say current law doesn’t prohibit a prosecutor from trying a 17-year-old for murder as an adult.

A Baton Rouge man found not guilty by reason of insanity after telling authorities God told him to kill himself when in 2019 he plowed his truck into the back of a 51-year-old woman’s car, killing her, is no longer in a state mental facility. 21-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney James Manasseh says his client has met all the conditions set forth by the hospital.
Cut 3 (11) “…or himself.”
Manasseh says doctors believe Jordan had a psychotic moment in 2019 and is now under heavy medication and no longer allowed to drive.

Next month Entergy customers will have the option to pay extra for electricity from renewable energy sources. Director of regulatory affairs Elizabeth Ingram says the Green Select program allows customers the option of receiving 25 to up to 100 percent of their power from facilities like the Capital Region Solar site in West Baton Rouge.
Cut 10 (08) “…renewable sources.”
Visit renew-dot-Entergy-dot-com for more information.

Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says sports gamblers wagered $628.3 million in the first five months of the expansion for online betting.
Cut 13 (10) “…it works”
Sports wagering has generated seven million dollars in tax revenue for Louisiana.

A Senate committee passes a bill to repeal Louisiana’s“Raise the Age” law. Supporters say it will lead to more 17-year-olds being tried as adults. and it’s needed to combat a spike in violent crimes involving teens. Speaking in opposition Rachel Gassert, with the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, says current law merely stops the automatic routing of 17-year-olds through the adult court system and calls the measure is unnecessary…:
Cut 9 (09) “…question is relevant.”
The bill heads to the Senate for more discussion.

State Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says there are 500-thousand people who have registered for legalized mobile sports betting in Louisiana and the activity has resulted in seven million dollars in tax revenue in the five months it’s been launched…
cut 14 (11) “we did”

Starting next month, Entergy will give residential and business customers the opportunity to receive some or all of their electricity usage from a clean, renewable energy generator. Director of regulatory affairs Elizabeth Ingram says customers will pay a slight surcharge depending on which tier they select…
cut 11 (09) “….per kilowatt hour”
The solar energy would come from Entergy’s Capital Region Solar site in West Baton Rouge Parish.

The weather looks great for the return of Festival International in Lafayette as the free music festival returns tonight after not holding in-person concerts the last two years. Spokesperson Brad Cradeur says music from around the world can be heard at the five-day event in downtown Lafayette…
cut 6 (10) “….something years now”

A bill that would result in more 17-year-old violent offenders being charged as adults is heading to the Senate floor. A few years ago, Louisiana changed the law so that 17-year-olds would be charged as juvenile offenders, but because of a spike in violent crime among teens, 18th judicial district attorney Tony Clayton says he wants the ability to charge 17-year-olds as adults…
cut 8 (15) “….with the rest of us”
Opponents say current law doesn’t prohibit a prosecutor from trying a 17-year-old for murder as an adult.

Starting next month, Entergy will give its customers the option to purchase power that comes from a renewable energy source like solar power. Entergy’s director of regulatory affairs Elizabeth Ingram says it’s part of their goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050…
cut 12 (10) “….to bring customers”
If customers decide to receive their electricity from a renewable energy source, it will cost them a little more.

The anticipation for Festival International is at an all-time high as the global musical event returns to Acadiana tonight after a two-year absence. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says gamblers have wagered 628-million dollars in the five months since sports betting started in Louisiana and that’s resulted in seven million dollars in tax revenue for the state….
cut 15 (06) “…pleased with”

A Senate committee passes a bill to repeal Louisiana’s 2016 “Raise the Age” law. Current law assures all persons under 18 who commit serious crimes are tried in juvenile court. But The bill seeks to lower the age limit to 17 so that convicted 17-year-old offenders are sent to an adult prison, instead of a juvenile detention center. Speaking for it, e Attorney General Jeff Landry referenced a New Orleans carjacking in which a woman was dragged to death. He says the persons arrested were minors…:
Cut 7 (10) “…tried as adults.”
Speaking in opposition Rachel Gassert, with the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, says the 2016 law merely stops the automatic routing of 17-year-olds through the adult court system, and she says the measure is unnecessary…:
Cut 9 (09) “…question is relevant.”
The bill heads to the Senate for more discussion.

Entergy announces a program where customers can pay a little bit more in order to receive solar power…
cut 3 (29) “…I’m David Grubb”

The Pelicans fell behind by double digits in the first quarter last night and lost to Phoenix 112 to 97 in game five of their playoff series. The Suns are one win away from eliminating the Pels. New Orleans Coach Willie Green…
cut 20 (13) “…really good team”
Game Six is tomorrow night. tip-off will be at 6:30.