The bill that would increase hunting and fishing license fees for commercial and residential users continues to make progress through the state legislature. The measure has received House approval and more adjustments were made today in the Senate Natural Resources Committee. The bill’s author, Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says he’s working with a lot of different parties so no one gets hurt too badly by the fee increases…
cut 12 (09) “….middle ground”

The state legislature also seems poised to pass a bill that would allow citizens 21 and older to carry a concealed handgun without a permit. The House-passed bill cleared the Senate Judiciary B committee today, despite objections from Shreveport Senator Greg Tarver…
cut 15 (11) “…killed
Governor Edwards is opposed to this legislature and could veto it once it reaches his desk.

Southwest Louisiana continues to struggle with recovery from the 2020 hurricanes and today marks the beginning of the 2021 season. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (28) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington”

State Police report a Vicksburg, Mississippi man is dead after a standoff law enforcement. L-S-P says the incident happened yesterday when 29-year-old Michael Jackson barricaded himself in his vehicle on U-S Highway 65 north Tallulah. Jackson was wanted on several offenses, including dragging a Warren County Sheriff’s deputy. State Police say after several hours of negotiations Jackson approached LSP personnel and attempted to draw his handgun, which is when he was fataly shot.

The Senate Finance Committee will take up legislation this week that would turn the .45 percent of the state’s sale tax expiring in 2025 into a long-term infrastructure-only dedication. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says by 2025 his proposal would generate 350 to 380 million dollars a year to build new infrastructure and repair aging roads and bridges.
Cut 13 (10) “…infrastructure.”
Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Louis Gurvich opposes the effort as the state GOP says the legislators promised this portion of the state sales tax would go away in 2025 when it was approved in 2018.

Today marks the start of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season and another above-average hurricane season is predicted. State Climatologist Barry Keim says because of increased activity over the last several years, the storm total for what is considered an average season has gone up…
cut 5 (08) “…new normal”
NOAA predicts 13 to 20 named storms this year.

Starting today, you can get a free drink at a participating restaurant and bar if you’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 within the preceding seven days. The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Ernest Legier says it’s a fun way to get more people vaccinated…
cut 11 (08) “..before COVID”
The ATC and the Louisiana Restaurant Association will partially reimburse restaurants and bars for handing out the drinks as part of their “Shot for a Shot” campaign.

Legislation is awaiting discussion on the Senate floor that would set up a grant program for the 180-million dollars the state is receiving from the federal government to expand high-speed internet to rural areas. Marksville Representative Daryl Deshotel…
cut 8 (11) “….of next year”

A Port Allen Senator wants to take the roughly half percentage point of sales tax that is set to expire in 2025 and extend it long term but dedicate it solely to infrastructure projects. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

U-S Senator John Kennedy has announced he’s running for re-election. Kennedy will seek his second six-year term in 2022. There has been no talk of any major challengers.

State Police is investigating a deputy-involved shooting in St. Mary Parish. Very few details have been released. We know one person is dead and State Police detectives are investigating.

The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season starts today and forecasters predict another above-average season. NOAA estimates 13 to 20 named storms, 6 to 10 hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes. State Climatologist Barry Keim says that’s because the odds are low of an El Nino forming.
Cut 4 (10)”… to be weak.”
GOHSEP is encouraging residents to have a game plan ready if a storm approaches Louisiana’s coast.

A bill that creates a grant program for the $180-billion dollars in federal funds dedicated for broadband expansion in the state heads to the Senate floor today. Marksville Representative Daryl Deshotel says House Bill 648 establishes a structure in which unserved communities can apply for funding.
Cut 7 (12) “…that grant.”
Deshotel says the state currently has about 1.2 million residents who do not have access to broadband.

The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season starts today and forecasters expect an above-average number of named storms this year. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Gunfire across the state led to several deaths of young people over the holiday weekend. A teenager was fatally shot in Shreveport last night. Three people were killed in Baton Rouge last night and one of the victims was a toddler. And a 12-year-old girl in New Orleans was killed in a drive-by shooting in New Orleans on Sunday night in the Lower Ninth Ward.

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to take up legislation this week that would make a temporary portion of the state sales tax permanent and use that money on major highway projects. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward on how the money can be used…
cut 14 (11) “…north shore”
But critics say the temporary sales tax of .45-percent that’s set to expire in mid-2025 should roll off the books because lawmakers promised that would be the result when approved in 2018.

The ‘Shot for a Shot’ campaign kicks off today. Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Ernest Legier (Leh-jay) says during June you can get a free shot at participating bars or restaurants by showing proof you have been vaccinated in the last seven days.
Cut 10 (07) “…nonalcoholic beverage.”
Legier says ATC and the LRA came up with the campaign when the governor asked state agencies to submit ideas for vaccine incentives

The 2021 hurricane season begins today. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 6 (11) “…above average”
NOAA predicts 13 to 20 named storms, six to ten hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes. Last year we saw a record 30 named storms and we’ve already had one named storm this year.

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to take up legislation this week that would take .45-percent of the state’s sales tax which is expected to expire in mid-2025 and make it permanent and use that revenue on transportation projects. Port Allen Senator Rick Allen says there’s a lot of talk about the importance of infrastructure and lawmakers need to start backing up that talk with action.
Cut 15 (05)“…be a priority.”
There are ten days left in the session to pass the legislation.

The Shot for a Shot campaign kicks off today in hopes of increasing the state vaccine roll by ten thousand. Brooke Thorington pours out the details.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

There are less than two weeks to go in the legislative session and lawmakers have already approved a record 38 billion dollar spending plan for the fiscal year starting in July. Senate President Page Cortez highlights a few of the major investments thanks to federal coronavirus aid…
Cut 23 (11)“..lines”

Also included was an 800 dollar teacher pay raise and a roughly two and a half percent higher education faculty pay raise.

U-L System President Jim Henderson says faculty at their schools are still about 8,000 to 10,000 dollars a year behind the southern regional average and this increase gets them about a quarter of the way there. Henderson says the budget fully funds TOPS and even increases the size of the Go Grant program.
Cut 4 (09)”…educators”
Despite the big increase in higher ed investment this year, Henderson says the state still hasn’t made up for the steep budget cuts enacted during the Jindal Administration.
Cut 5 (06)”…Legislators.”
A House committee has rejected an effort to give 1,500 Louisiana inmates convicted on non-unanimous verdicts another chance at another trial. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”