Using a hand-held cell phone while driving will soon be illegal in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A bill that effectively bans local governments from using speed cameras is heading to the governor’s desk. There are some exceptions, ticket writing speed cameras can be used in school zones and the town of Opelousas is exempted from the new law that will go into effect August 1^st.

New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd’s effort to create an exception to the state’s near total ban on abortion fails to get out of the House Criminal Justice Committee. For the third year in a row Boyd, authored legislation to legalize abortions in cases where rape and incest led to a pregnancy of a girl 17 and younger…

Cut 15 (10) “….that choice”

The bill was defeated in committee on an eight to three vote.

Pope Leo the 14^th has named Uganda-born priest, Father Simon Peter Engurait as Bishop-elect for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. The 53-year-old was ordained as priest for the diocese in 2013….

Cut 9 (14) “…to the church”

Bishop Elect Engurait has served as the Diocesan Administrator in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux since January 2024, upon the sudden passing of Bishop Mario Dorsonville. He previously served as the Vicar General since 2017 and has also served as the pastor of St. Bridge Parish since that time as well.

A ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving is headed to Governor Landry’s desk. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says this is something that the auto club has been pushing for for years. He says making phone calls has practically become a secondary use of cell phones while in vehicles.

Cut 4 (10) “…conference calls, shopping.”

The new law will go into effect on January 1^st.

Seventy-five-year-old Loretta Wiley has received a Master’s degree in counseling from Louisiana Tech. Wiley started the program back in 2006, but life circumstances forced her away from the classroom two years later. Her desire to complete the program never wavered; and she went back to school following the death of her husband.

Cut 8 (12) “…me on target.”

Wiley also serves as a substitute teacher in Bossier Parish and will explore new opportunities through counseling or mentoring.

After years of receiving “D” and “F” grades, Louisiana has received a “C” grade on R Street’s latest insurance regulation report card. Kace Kieschnick (KEESH-nick) reports the higher grade is the result of improvements to the state’s regulatory environment…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Louisiana’s Bill Cassidy was one of several senators who met with President Donald Trump about the One Big Beautiful Bill that needs Senate approval…

Cut 30 (12) “…deficit”

Since 2013, the state has received “D” and “F” grades from the R Street Insurance Regulation Report Card. But this year the state received a “C” grade. The report attributes Louisiana’s increased rating to improvements in the state’s insurance regulatory environment and expansion of the Louisiana Fortify Homes program…

Cut 11 (07) “….the resiliencies”

That’s Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple who says he’s encouraged by the C grade but there’s still more work to do.

The House Criminal Justice Committee voted down legislation that would have provided an exception for pregnant women under the age of 17 to get an abortion if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. The vote was 8 to 3 against. New Orleans Democrat Alonzo Knox gave passionate testimony for the bill. He says government should not be making the decision for a teenager who is pregnant because of a sexual assault.

Cut 14 (10) “…monster’s child.”

A Bossier Parish woman is living proof that you’re never too old to chase your dreams. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Pope Leo the 14^th has appointed Reverend Simon Peter Engurait, a priest at the Dicoese of Houma-Thibodaux and current diocesan administrator, as the Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux. Father Engurait is from Uganda and studied at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He was ordained as a priest in 2013 and since 2017 he’s served as pastor of Saint Bridge parish in Schriever.

Using a hand-held cell phone while driving will soon be illegal in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A bill that effectively bans local governments from using speed cameras is heading to the governor’s desk. There are some exceptions, ticket writing speed cameras can be used in school zones and the town of Opelousas is exempted from the new law that will go into effect August 1^st.

The House Criminal Justice Committee votes against legislation that would have allowed a girl under 17 to seek an abortion if her pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. Republicans and Democrats voted “no” on the bill, including Monroe Democrat Patricia Moore.

Cut 13 (08)  “…good.”

Moore says this issue weighs heavily on her, because her own mother was 14 when she gave birth to her and the pregnancy was the result of a rape.

After receiving D and F grades since 2013, Louisiana has received a C grade in a report that looks at Insurance Regulation. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says it’s a sign the state is moving in the right direction when it comes to insurance reform and insurance companies will take note of this improved grade…

Cut 12 (10) “…do considered”

The Louisiana Department of Insurance has approved licensing of ten new homeowners’ insurers in the state since early 2024.

After years of receiving “D” and “F” grades, Louisiana has received a “C” grade on R Street’s latest insurance regulation report card. Kace Kieschnick (KEESH-nick) reports the higher grade is the result of improvements to the state’s regulatory environment…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Forty-two-thousand students in Louisiana took the ACT in 2024 and the average score was 17.7. The national average ACT score last year was 19.4. St. Tammany Parish had the highest average ACT score, followed by West Feliciana, Ascension, Vernon, Lincoln and Livingston Parishes.

Starting January 1^st, Louisiana drivers can be ticketed for handling their cell phone while driving because of legislation approved by the Louisiana Legislature. It’s important to note that being caught handling a cell phone while driving will be a secondary offense, meaning that an officer will not pull you over for that offense alone. But if he notices a driver handling a cell phone while committing another moving violation that would be an additional fine. Triple-A’s Don Redman says after several years of trying to pass this law, it will finally go on the books on January 1^st…

Cut 6 (09) “…a big concern.”

Seventh-five-year-old Loretta Wiley received her master’s degree in counseling and guidance with a specialization in human services at Louisiana Tech. In all, Wiley’s gap in her Master’s program lasted more than ten years. As such, while she was able to carry over a small handful of credit hours she had previously earned, she had to take most of her core courses over again.

Cut 9 (09)  “…the courses over.”

The Louisiana Legislature has sent a bill to the governor’s desk that would make it illegal starting at the first of the year to handle a handheld cell phone while driving. AAA’s Don Redman says the legislation is designed to cut down on distracted driving…

Cut 5 (15) “…a huge distraction”

It’s important to note that being caught handling a cell phone while driving will be a secondary offense, meaning that an officer will not pull you over for that offense alone. But if he or she notices a driver handling a cell phone while committing another moving violation that would be an additional fine.

New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd’s effort to create an exception to the state’s near total ban on abortion fails to get out of the House Criminal Justice Committee. For the third year in a row Boyd, authored legislation to legalize abortions in cases where rape and incest led to a pregnancy of a girl 17 and younger…

Cut 15 (10) “….that choice”

The bill was defeated in committee on an eight to three vote.

In a sign that Louisiana’s insurance crisis may be easing. The state has earned its highest grade and rank since 2013 on the R Street Institute’s Insurance Regulation Report. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the state has received D and F grades every year since 2013, but this year Louisiana received “C” grade.

Cut 10 (07) “…on the ranking.”

The report attributes Louisiana’s higher grade to improvements in the regulatory environment and the expansion of the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program.

A Bossier Parish woman is living proof that it’s never too late to fulfill your dreams. Loretta Wiley walked across the stage at Louisiana Tech to receive her master’s degree in counseling and guidance – at the age of 75….

Cut 7 (11) “…me their support.”

Wiley started the program back in 2006, but life circumstances forced her away from the classroom two years later. Her desire to complete the program never wavered; and she went back to school following the death of her husband.

A man posing as a police officer in Webster Parish is arrested for shooting a dog. Webster Sheriff Jason Parker says 54-year-old Reginald Ferguson, wearing a Cullen Police Department uniform and badge, showed up to question a lady about an aggressive dog complaint. Parker says Ferguson is not on the force.

Cut 5 (11) “…in the town.”

At last report, the dog is still alive, but Parker says there’s a possibility it may be put down.

State Police have arrested three men for staging a vehicle crash and then trying to claim ten-million dollars in damages from the insurance company of a trucking company that was involved in the crash. State Police Trooper Peggy Bourque says one of the subjects, 37-year-old Alfred Onezine of Breaux Bridges faces multiple charges…

Cut 13 (13) “…an officer”

Bourque says Onezine is facing cruelty to juvenile charges because he had three children in a vehicle that was hit from behind by a company truck.

The House Education Committee has approved a Senate bill that would give parents of K-through-12 students the ability to allow for a mental health screening on their children. The measure passed on a 10-1 vote. State Representative Beryl Amedee of Terrebonne Parish voted against the legislation over concerns the mental health screenings could lead to unintended consequences…

Cut 11 (06) “…..and the school”

The measure, already approved by the Senate, heads to the House floor for a vote.

Former Rosepine star Ethan Frey has become LSU’s best hitter this season. Frey’s high school baseball coach at Rosepine, Jeff Smith, says he first saw Frey swing a bat in T-Ball and knew right then he would be something special…

Cut 7 (14) “….his part”

Frey and the Tigers will play West Virginia in the Super Regionals. Game one is Saturday at 1 PM.

Governor Jeff Landry has this message for the two inmates who remain at-large after escaping from the Orleans Parish jail on May 16^th….

Cut 22 (08) “…day in court”

Authorities raided a home in New Orleans yesterday in search of 32-year-old Antoine Massey. It’s believed that Massey recorded an Instagram video from that house where he used the social media platform to declare his innocence and he also asked for help from several different celebrities and President Trump.  Convicted killer Derrick Groves also remains at-large.

Cotton planting season is wrapping up, and the LSU AgCenter says this year’s crop could be the smallest one on record. LSU AgCenter Cotton and Corn Specialist Shelly Pate Kerns says acreage is way down from last year.

Cut 10 (10) “…all-time low.”

Pate Kerns says cotton acreage is down due to low demand and low prices.

The Louisiana House approves legislation that would result in a long prison sentence for anyone convicted of intentionally infecting another person with an incurable sexually transmitted disease. Monroe Democrat Pat Moore’s measure calls for a person to serve at least ten years in prison if convicted of this crime and serve at least 25 years of hard labor if the victim is a juvenile or a senior citizen…

Cut 12 (10) “…incurable disease.”

The bill passed the House on a 68-18 vote, but it received pushback from New Orleans Democrat Jason Hughes.  Hughes says unless there’s a written contract, how can a prosecutor prove someone did not verbally disclose they have an incurable sexually transmitted disease?

Cut 13 (11)  “…safe place?”

The Louisiana Senate still needs to approve the bill.