5:30 LRN Newscast Legislative Report

After a lengthy debate, the House Education Committee voted against a bill that would have prohibited teachers from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity in front of the entire classroom. The measure died on a four to seven vote, New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman voted against it…
cut 9 (10) “…cannot support this bill”

Lawmakers are working on legislation to incentivize retired teachers to come back to the classroom to help address a teacher shortage…
cut 4 (10) “….get it”
Currently, retired teachers can return to the classroom and collect 25-percent of their final average compensation. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds’ bill boosts that percentage up to 50-percent. It has been approved by the House.

The lawyer for former State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves says a legislative committee investigating the fatal arrest of Ronald Greene has the information they need from the journals kept by Reeves. Houma Representative Tanner Magee has threatened to charge Reeves with contempt, but attorney Lewis Unglesby says that would be an unreasonable response…
cut 14 (10) “…confusion there’
Magee met with Unglesby on Monday to make copies of pages in the journal pertaining to anything written about the Greene case. Magee believes Reeves is acting in contempt for refusing to provide an entry dated June 17th, 2020 that mentioned the governor by name and police brutality…
cut 11 (12) “….contempt charges”
Unglesby says anything in the journals kept by Reeves pertaining to the Greene case has been given to lawmakers

LRN PM Newscall May 3

The Louisiana House approves a bill that expands the state’s medical-marijuana program. Michelle Southern has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

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Based on a draft opinion from the Supreme Court, abortions in Louisiana could soon be illegal in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

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The Louisiana House unanimously backs legislation that would allow some retired teachers to return to work, while still receiving their full retirement benefits. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds on why this bill is needed…

Cut 3 (04) “…door step”

Edmonds is the sponsor of the legislation and the state department of education has expressed concern about not having enough qualified teachers…

Cut 4  (10) “..get it”

Currently, retired teachers can return to the classroom and collect 25-percent of their final average compensation. Edmonds boosts that percentage up to 50-percent. He was asked why not move the percentage higher…

Cut 5  (09) “…we can pass”

Edmonds bill heads to the Senate for further consideration. The Senate has already passed its own bill to bring back retired teachers.

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The Louisiana House overwhelming approves a bill to expand the medical marijuana program. There are currently nine licensed medical marijuana pharmacies in Louisiana and Houma Representative Tanner Magee’s measure awards a tenth license and allows licensee holders to open multiple pharmacies…

Cut 6  (10) “…who are closer” 

A big complaint from medical marijuana patients is access with only nine pharmacies that dispense the drug. Gretna Representative Joe Marino added an amendment to the bill that allows a medical marijuana license holder to open another location if they have 25-hundred patients…

Cut 7 (12) “…locations.” 

The bill also allows home delivery.

Magee says the legislation also shifts regulatory authority from the department of agriculture to the department of health

Cut 8 (10) “…products.” 

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The bipartisan committee investigating the circumstances of and events following the deadly arrest of Black motorist Ronald Greene is set to hold the former head of the Louisiana State Police, Kevin Reeves, in contempt for his refusal to turn over documents that could shed additional light on the actions of LSP. Here’s the committee chair, Representative Tanner Magee…

Cut 9 (12) “…the subpoena.”

Magee says he arranged to meet with Reeve’s attorney, Lewis Unglesby to review the journals only for notes related specifically to the Greene case. When he arrived, the meeting did not go as planned…

Cut 10 (10) “…got a little heated.”

During the meeting, Magee said he identified an entry date of June 17, 2020, that referenced Governor John Bel Edwards by name along with notes about police brutality and body cams, and wanted to review it in greater detail. Unglesby refused to turn it over, along with the other requested materials, leading to the current situation…

Cut 11 (12)  “…contempt charges.” 

In response, Unglesby says that Col. Reeves hasn’t done anything to warrant contempt charges and has been wholly cooperative with the investigation.

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Based on a draft opinion leaked to Politico the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to overturn the 1973 case Roe versus Wade that legalized abortion nationwide. Such a decision would mean abortion would be illegal in Louisiana. Louisiana Right to Life Director Ben Clapper explains why…

Cut 12 (08) “..overturned.”  

That 2006 trigger law was signed by former Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco.

The Supreme Court is making its ruling based on a legal challenge to a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks. Clapper says an initial draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito says Roe was wrong from the start and it’s time to return the abortion issue to the public’s elected representatives

Cut 13 (09) “…in Washington D.C.”

Because of Louisiana’s trigger law, three abortion clinics in this state will close immediately if the Supreme Court overturns Roe versus Wade. New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry tweeted that she is so sorry for what will happen to women in our country. Clapper had this response

Cut 14 (12)  “…filer.”

11:30 LRN Newscast

Improving access to medical marijuana is one of the goals of state lawmakers during the ongoing session. The Louisiana House has approved a bill that allows the nine medical marijuana license holders to open more than one pharmacy if they have a patient count over 25-hundred. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says the legislation also shifts regulatory authority from the ag department to the department of health…
cut 28 (10) “…..products”

Louisiana schools would offer free menstrual supplies in bathrooms as a result of a bill that’s awaiting discussion on the House floor. The House Education Committee approved the measure and Ananya Bhatia from Caddo Magnet in Shreveport testified in favor…
cut 8 (12) “…basic needs”
Eleven states already have bills requiring schools to provide menstrual products.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says lawmakers are still looking at legislation to prevent huge increases in flood insurance premiums as a result of Risk Rating 2.0. Graves says one proposed bill has bipartisan support…
cut 12 (13) ‘…these rates together”
Graves says the ultimate solution is to build better storm and flood mitigation measures, so flood insurance is not a necessity.

A student from Southern University Lab in Baton Rouge has received the honorable Gold Medal Congressional Award. The accolade awarded to Kelsie Tillage, who is in 11th grade, is the highest honor a young person can achieve from Congress. Tillage says she’s so grateful…:
CUT 13 (06) “community as well”
Tillage has a 4.29-grade point average and performs hundreds of hours of community service.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Legislation to require Louisiana schools to provide menstrual products for students advances to the House floor. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana House unanimously backs legislation that would allow some retired teachers to return to work, while still receiving their full retirement benefits. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds on why this bill is needed…
Cut 3 (04) “…doorstep”
Currently, retired teachers can return the classroom and collect 25-percent of their final average compensation. Edmonds boosts that percentage up to 50-percent. The bill heads to the Senate for more discussion.

A bill that expands the state’s medical-marijuana program has received approval from the Louisiana House. The legislation contains an amendment by Gretna Representative Joe Marino, which allows a medical marijuana license holder to open another location if they have 25-hundred patients…
cut 7 (12) “….locations”
The bill heading to the Senate also allows for mail delivery.

Kelsie Tillage, a junior at Southern Lab High School has received a Gold Medal Congressional Award. It’s the highest honor a youth civilian can achieve. Tillage is a member of her school’s student government association, volleyball team, was named student of the year in her district, and completed hundreds of hours of community service, mostly focused on child literacy…
cut 14 (10) “…able to learn”
Tillage is one of Louisiana’s first high school students to achieve the gold medal award.

LRN PM Newscall May 2

After a 13-year-old Shreveport teen was killed by a stray bullet in her home Sunday afternoon, her teachers and classmates are coping with her sudden loss. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The Honey Badger is coming home. David Grubb has the latest on Tyrann Mathieu joining the Saints…

Cut 2 (34)…I’m David Grubb.”  

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The House Ways and Means Committee approves a proposal to begin phasing out a state temporary sales tax that’s set to expire in July of 2025. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala’s bill would begin to phase out the .45-percent sales tax in July of 2023 to avoid a sudden drop in revenues…

Cut 3 (10) “…today.”

The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion. The .45-percent state sales tax generates 420-million dollars in tax revenues a year and Bacala says the Legislature needs to begin planning for that loss of revenue…

Cut 4  (11) “…talk about”

Bacala’s bill would drop the temporary sales tax rate to .3-percent in July of 2023 and then .15-percent in July 2024. The tax would completely disappear in July of 2025.

New Orleans Representative Matthew Willard suggested having a discussion on expiring .45-percent sales tax next year when there’s a fiscal session, but Bacala says the sooner legislators address it, the better…

Cut 5  (11) “…following year.”

The Ways and Means Committee approved a separate bill to take the money generated from this temporary sales tax and use it to pay for better roads and bridges until it expires in 2025.

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The school where 13-year-old Landry Anglin attended is in shock today after she was killed Sunday afternoon at her Shreveport home by a stray bullet. Police say a shooting between three vehicles outside the home led to her death. Caddo Middle Magnet School Principal Robin DeBusk says Landry always greeted everyone at school.

Cut 6  (09) “…at CMM.” 

DeBusk says students are aware of the tragic shooting and they have extra counselors at the school today for students and teachers. She says it’s been a tough day as they are trying to grapple with the sudden loss of their 8th-grade classmate.

Cut 7 (06) “…day today.” 

Anglin was a member of the school’s lacrosse team and DeBusk says she spoke with her mother after the shooting, and even in her profound grief, she asked the school to look after those who were close to her daughter.

Cut 8 (11) “…been doing.” 

DeBusk says the school plans to hold an event in her memory later in the school year.

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After a lengthy courtship, it looks like the Saints and former LSU standout safety Tyrann Mathieu will finally be joining forces. The NFL Network reports that the two-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion has reached an agreement with the team. Kyle Mosley of the Saints New Network says it’s a long-awaited homecoming for both the New Orleans native and Saints fans.

Cut 9 (12) “…New Orleans Saints.”

The Saints lost both starting safeties this offseason, with the retirement of Malcolm Jenkins and Marcus Williams moving on to join the Baltimore Ravens. Mosley says the ball-hawking Honey Badger brings a lot of skills to the New Orleans defensive, both in his playing ability and his presence in the locker room.

Cut 10 (11) “…defensive backfield.”

New Orleans has ranked in the top 10 defensively each of the past two seasons, due in no small part to its secondary. Looking at what the Saints have added through free agency and the draft, Mosley thinks the group has the potential to be even better this season.

Cut 11 (12)  “…talented group.” 

No word yet on whether Mathieu, who has worn number 32 throughout his career, will try to obtain number seven from Taysom Hill.

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The House Transportation Committee approves a bill that levies a road usage fee on owners of electric and hybrid vehicles and the money will go towards highway and bridge maintenance. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says Louisiana relies on its gasoline tax to pay for road work and E-V and hybrid vehicle owners are not paying their fair share…

Cut 12 (09) “..not taking advantage.”  

The measure passed out of a committee on a nine-three vote but still needs full House and Senate approval. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton supports the measure. Horton says hybrids and E-Vs are using the same roads as other vehicles, but not paying as much in gas taxes…

Cut 13 (06) “…usage fee”

The legislation calls for electric vehicle owners to pay an additional $110 a year, while hybrid owners would pay a 60-dollar fee. Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Freiberg says the money would be collected when the owners of these types of vehicles file their state income taxes

Cut 14 (12)  “…filer.”

11:30 LRN Newscast

The school where 13-year-old Landry Anglin attended is in shock today after she was killed Sunday afternoon at her Shreveport home by a stray bullet. Police say a shooting between three vehicles outside the home led to her death. Caddo Middle Magnet School Principal Robin DeBusk says Landry was very friendly.
Cut 6 (09) “…at CMM.”
No arrests have been made in the case.

A new statewide survey out of LSU says 51-percent of the respondents say they still favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. That’s down from 58-percent in 2018. LSU Pollster Mike Henderson says the death penalty is becoming less popular over concerns of executing a person that could have been wrongly convicted…
cut 11 (10) “…kinds of crimes’

A bill to test Louisiana students for reading proficiency before being promoted to 4th grade is set to be heard in the House this week.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

cut 30 (calling Baton Rouge)
For the 102-thousand fans that got to witness it, they are still talking about it, Garth Brooks’ legendary performance inside Tiger Stadium on Saturday night. When he sang Callin Baton Rouge, it registered as a small earthquake on a seismograph in Nicholson Hall.

8:30 LRN Newscast

An East Feliciana Parish grand jury will be asked to decide today if Clay and Shelia Fletcher should be charged with second murder for the death of their 36-year-old daughter Lacey Fletcher, who died in her own feces on her parents’ couch. Authorities say Lacey’s body basically melted into the couch. The district attorney in East Feliciana Parish is Sam D’Aquilla…
cut 6 (13) “…it’s just horrifying”

A new statewide survey out of LSU says 51-percent of the respondents say they still favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. That’s down from 58-percent in 2018. LSU Pollster Mike Henderson says the death penalty is becoming less popular over concerns of executing a person that could have been wrongly convicted…
cut 11 (10) “…kinds of crimes’

A bill to test Louisiana students for reading proficiency before being promoted to 4th grade is set to be heard in the House this week. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

cut 30
For the 102-thousand fans that got to witness it, they are still talking about it, Garth Brooks’ legendary performance inside Tiger Stadium on Saturday night. When he sang Callin Baton Rouge, it registered as a small earthquake on a seismograph in Nicholoson Hall.

7:30 LRN Newscast

An East Feliciana Parish grand jury will hear a case today against a Slaughter couple accused of extreme neglect in the death of their 36-year-old daughter. 20th Judicial District D.A. Sam D’Aquilla says Lacey Fletcher had developed a mental illness and became a shut-in; literally living on the couch in Clay and Sheila Fletcher’s home. He says she was found in early January – on that sofa – dead and in horrible conditions…:
Cut 4 (08) “…jumped right on it.”
D’Aquilla believes there was intent to kill Lacey and her parents should be indicted for murder.

The percentage of Louisiana residents who support the death penalty falls from 58-percent in 2018 to 51-percent in this year’s Louisiana Survey, conducted by LSU Public Policy Research Lab. In the last three years, Colorado, New Hampshire, and Virginia have abolished the death. LSU pollster Mike Henderson says Louisiana could join them one day…
cut 12 (11) “…perhaps sooner”
An attempt to abolish the death penalty was defeated in a Senate committee this session.

A bill to improve literacy rates in Louisiana will be heard in the House this week. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s bill is modeled on a Mississippi law that prohibits students with reading deficiencies by the end of the third grade to be promoted to fourth grade. Nelson says since it was enacted in the Magnolia State in 2013…
Cut 7 (10) “…grade literacy.”
The bill allows the Louisiana Department of Education to determine testing qualifications for students and the criteria for promotion to the fourth grade.

If you are planning a trip to California in the summer or fall, Allegiant Air announces they are offering 65-dollar one-way flights from Shreveport to Los Angeles and back from May 27th to November 14th. Shreveport Regional Airport Authority Mark Crawford on why Allegiant Air would offer such a low fare…
Cut 13 (10) “…each way”

6:45 LRN Sportscast May 2

LSU pulled off a big series win against Georgia and it ended in thrilling fashion as Cade Doughty drilled a two-run walk-off homer on Sunday as the Tigers earned a four to three victory. The Bayou Bengals are 12 and 9 in the SEC and in a three-way tie for second place in the West.

The Saints ended up taking five players in the NFL draft and they hope they found their left tackle in the future by selecting Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning with the 19th overall pick. Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis says they’ve had success in drafting offensive linemen from small schools…
Cut 16 (25) “…our coaches”

Louisiana Tech baseball responded from a shutout loss to Old Dominion on Friday to win the next two games against the Monarchs. The Bulldogs are 14-and-7 in Conference USA and tied for second with UTSA. La Tech hosts ULM on Tuesday.

The Warhawks were swept in Little Rock, while the Cajuns took two of three from Appalachian State. In the Southland, Nicholls, McNeese and HBU are all tied for first place.

The Pelicans are beginning their offseason evaluations. One of the most memorable parts of the season was the Pelicans’ win over the Clippers to get in the playoffs and Coach Willie Green’s speech to his team where he told them to keep fighting as they overcame a double-digit deficit…
cut 18 (18) “….all season”

6:30 LRN Newscast May 2

A grand jury in East Feliciana Parish will hear the case against a couple accused of neglecting their adult daughter to death.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Twelve people were shot in downtown Lafayette early Sunday morning. Officers responded to a report of shots fired in progress on Jefferson Street and when they arrived they came in contact with a suspected gunman, who was shot by an officer. The suspect is in critical condition, while the 11 victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The 2022 Louisiana Survey finds that 51-percent of Louisiana residents support the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. That’s down from 58-percent in 2018 when the Lousiana Survey last included this question. LSU pollster Mike Henderson says opposition to the death penalty is up to 38-percent…
cut 10 (08) “…13 points”

According to Air D-N-A, summer 2022 travel will be up 20 to 25-percent relative to 2019. Shreveport Regional Airport Authority spokesperson Mark Crawford says it’s great to see travelers pack airports, but there are fewer flights….
cut 15 (10) “….aircraft availability”
Allegiant Air is offering 65-dollar one-way flights from Shreveport to Los Angeles this summer and fall.

LSU pulled off a big series win against Georgia on Sunday and it ended in thrilling fashion as Cade Doughty drilled a two-run walk-off homer on Sunday as the Tigers earned a four to three victory. The Bayou Bengals are 12 and 9 in the SEC and in a three-way tie for second place.