Louisiana voters rejected three of the four constitutional amendments on Saturday’s statewide ballot. Jeff Palermo has more…

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The President will sign the historic $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill today. It contains a reported $6-billion for roads and bridges in Louisiana.  Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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A legal showdown is brewing over whether persons convicted by split jury verdicts in Louisiana should get a new trial. Kevin Gallagher has that…:

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

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Three of the four constitutional amendments on Saturday’s ballot failed, including Amendment One supported by business groups and legislative leaders. Proponents say it would streamline tax collections. But political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says many local governments opposed the measure over concerns they would lose out on tax revenue…

Cut 4 (11) “…pretty good. “

Voters also rejected Amendments 3 and 4. Amendment three would have increased taxing authority for some local levee districts.  Amendment four would have allowed lawmakers to cut protected funds during tough budget times. Pinsonat says voters are feeling constitutional amendment fatigue

Cut 5 (08) “of it”

Voters approved amendment two. Tax policy expert Jason Decuir says it’s real tax reform that’s revenue-neutral for the state. He says it will lead to lower income tax rates for many individual tax filers and reduce taxes on small businesses…

Cut 6 (10) “…the franchise tax.”

If the amendment had been voted down, the Constitution’s current tax rates would remain and continue to allow the federal taxes paid deduction.

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Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson is in the nation’s capital for the President’s signing of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. Wilson says it’s going to make a big impact in Louisiana in terms of guaranteeing revenue for projects.

Cut 7 (11) “…on bridges.”

Wilson says not only will the bill allow for spending up to $470-million on public transportation in Baton Rouge but also things like electric vehicles and close to $200 million for airport investments

Cut 8 (08) “…new program.”

Governor John Bel Edwards, Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Broome, and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell are also in DC for the bill signing today, along with Senator Bill Cassidy who co-authored the legislation, and Congressman Troy Carter who also voted for the bill.

Wilson says he’s looking forward to rolling out EV charging stations at public facilities and delivering what he believes will be the first passenger rail expansion in the state for quite some time with service from New Orleans to Mobile.

Cut 9 (07)  “…businesses alike.”

In addition to major transportation projects, Wilson says he also wants to use infrastructure funds for road safety projects due to the state being one of 16 that failed to meet safety goals. Wilson says along with infrastructure projects to make our roads safer he envisions using funds for safety education and technology to reduce crashes.

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A legal showdown is brewing over whether persons convicted of serious crimes by split jury verdicts in Louisiana should get a new trial. After voters statewide banned non-unanimous convictions, the New Orleans-based 4^th Circuit Appeals Court ruled in favor of re-trials, but the Lake Charles-based 3^rd Circuit ruled new trials weren’t needed. Hardell Ward is a defense attorney, who represents two men – one in each court district – whose fates would be affected either way…:

Cut 10 (08)  “…is a new trial.” 

Louisiana’s law allowing 10-to-2 convictions was over 120 years old, and many agree it smacked of Jim Crow and often led to sometimes innocent persons of color going to prison. It was overturned by voters in 2018. The differing court decisions on re-trying those convictions mean the state Supreme Court will have to settle the matter. Ward feels it’s the only correct thing to do…:

Cut 11 (08) “…criminal justice system.”

Opponents of re-trials say that would create chaos on court dockets, but Ward thinks a great number of the hundreds of cases could be settled with a plea deal and no jury involvement…:

Cut 12 (13) “…actually affect things.”

Ward says the Louisiana Supreme Court could take up the case in Spring of 2022, but he cannot be certain.

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Governor John Bel Edwards will be next to act on the Louisiana Pardon Board’s unanimous recommendation to posthumously pardon the late Homer Plessy. The man known as a 19th-century civil rights pioneer was arrested for trying to sit in the White section of a segregated train bound for Covington. Orleans Parish D-A, Jason Williams, spoke Friday in favor of Plessy’s pardon.

Cut 13 (12) “…in this country.”

Plessy died in 1925 with the conviction for violating the railroad segregation law still a part of his record.

Louisiana’s 2006 Avery C. Alexander Act required the pardon board to recommend Plessy’s posthumous pardon for those convicted of violating segregation laws, and brought noteworthy comments from District Attorney Williams.

Cut 14 (12)  “…is deeply symbolic.”

Keith Plessy, Homer’s first cousin, three generations removed, also appeared before the Louisiana Pardon Board, to press the panel for the posthumous pardon of his relative.

Cut 15 (10)  “…Homer Adolph Plessy.”

There’s no indication when Governor Edwards will act on the Pardon Board’s recommendation of a posthumous pardon for Plessy whose name was part of the infamous U.S. Supreme Court Case, Plessy v. Ferguson.

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LSU football will finish in last place in the SEC West after losing to Arkansas 16-13 in overtime on Saturday. It’s the second straight game the Tigers multiple chances to win but couldn’t get over the hump…

Cut  16 (15) “..don’t score again”

Freshman quarterback Garrett Nussmeier played most of the game and threw for 179 yards and a touchdown. But he was also intercepted twice….

Cut 17 (15) “ keep fighting.” 

Even though LSU made a change at quarterback, it’s the third straight week they failed to score more than two touchdowns. Orgeron is not happy with the play calling including an ill-timed play call that had Ty Davis Price lining up at quarterback and it resulted in a turnover…

Cut 18 (23) “..do that.”  

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For the second straight week, the Saints nearly pulled off another great comeback but came up two points short in a 23-21 loss to Tennessee. The difference in this game was two missed extra points. Coach Sean Payton says it was a disappointing loss…

Cut 19 (15)  ” hard-fought game.” 

The Saints were penalized nine times for 65 yards. Quarterback Trevor Siemian was sacked four times, but he threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns. Not only is New Orleans down All-pro receiver Michael Thomas, but star running back Alvin Kamara and offensive tackle Terron Armstead did not play because of injuries. Siemian says they can’t use injuries as an excuse…

Cut 20 (15) “…get it fixed.” 

Voters across Louisiana are finally getting their chance to vote Saturday after weeks of delay caused by Hurricane Ida. More from Dave Brannen.

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Bonfires on the Levee are officially greenlit for this Christmas Eve in St. James Parish after COVID snuffed them out last year. Brooke Thorington has more.

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Voters head to the polls tomorrow in Louisiana, but for most, there’s not a lot to cast their votes on. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says every registered voter will have the opportunity to decide the outcome of four constitutional amendments.

Cut 3 (09) “….what we have.”

Orleans Parish has the most items on the ballot because of municipal races, including the bid by Mayor LaToya Cantrell for a second term. The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.  (Any absentee ballots have to be received by 4:30 this afternoon.)

Ardoin says because of an expected 35 percent voter turnout in Orleans Parish, voters statewide should be aware that New Orleans could have the largest impact on the fate of the constitutional amendments.

Cut 4 (13) “…folks would want.”

Ardoin says if you aren’t sure where your polling location is or what’s on your ballot you can visit the website geauxvote.com. (that’s g-e-a-u-x vote-dot.com)”

Cut 5 (11) “…experience, I promise.”

A note, that Terrebonne Parish has moved 40 of its 77 polling locations and Lafourche relocated ten in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida.

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The National Average for a gallon of regular gas has decreased by a penny to $3.41. The decrease in demand has led to a slight price relief. Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says with holidays around the corner he’s hoping the slight decrease is a sign that prices might be stabilizing for the winter at least…

Cut 6 (11) “…going up.” 

The statewide average in the Bayou State is $3.16 a gallon and crude oil prices remain above $80 a barrel.

Redman says while there has been a slight decrease, he doesn’t expect to see prices change drastically one way or the other as we approach winter.

Cut 7 (11) “….into the winter.”  

And even though most of us tend to dislike the time change, Redman says it might have one redeeming quality, especially right now because it’s darker on your commute home.

Cut 8 (11) “…the price.”

Redman says and while OPEC has agreed to slowly increase production he says we most likely won’t see an impact in prices at the pump for some time.

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The longtime Louisiana Christmas tradition of the Lighting of Bonfires is officially back on the calendar after being extinguished last year due to the pandemic. St James Parish President Pete Dufresne says the Christmas Eve pastime of lighting the way for Papa Noel has been a community event for decades…

Cut 9 (10) “…St James Parish.”

Dufrense says canceling it last year was the most difficult thing he’s had to do as parish president and he’s overjoyed the event can finally be held again this year, weather permitting.

Cut 10 (11)  “…normalcy.”

The Parish will begin issuing permits for the bonfires at the Parish Welcome Center on November 20^th and the bonfire season runs from November 21^st to December 27^th. As for Christmas Eve Dufrense says they are lit at 7 PM and thousands come to witness it.

Cut  11 (08)  “…Chrismas morning.”  

As for when the tradition began in southeast Louisiana, Dufrense says that’s a hard question to answer but well over a century ago.

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New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is up for re-election on Saturday. Cantrell also opposes Constitutional Amendment one on the ballot which creates a single commission to collect sales and use taxes. LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says business groups support amendment one

Cut 12 (07) “…almost immediately”  

Cantrell is expected to win re-election on Saturday as she does not face any well-funded challengers.

There are races for open legislative seats in New Orleans, Lake Charles and Monroe. He says the most interesting race is in Lake Charles as Republican businessman Jeremy Stine is battling with a high-profile Democrat…

Cut 13 (14) “…year ago.”

Alford says the other major storyline in this election is the expected low turnout…

Cut 14 (09) “..lines.” 

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A suspect has been arrested in the second of two fatal shootings that took place on Grambling State’s campus during homecoming week. Trooper Michael Reichardt says the suspect has been identified as Ahmad Green

Cut 15 (08) “…been arrested.” 

Green was arrested in Shreveport and booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on a four-million dollar bond. Reichardt says they are still looking for the suspect in the first shooting, that occurred on October 13th. His name is Jatavious Carroll of Delhi…

Cut  16 (10) “..get your information”