An effort to legalize the recreational use of marijuana is dead for this session after the bill that would have taxed the sale of marijuana fails to get the 70 votes needed to pass in the Louisiana House. Thibodaux Representative and former police officer Brian Fontenot led the charge against the bill. Fontenot says we do not know enough about the impacts of legalizing recreational use of pot in Louisiana…
cut 14 (09) “….the answer” (2x)
The bill’s author, Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson, countered…
cut 15 (11) “…use it”
The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association is staunch opponents of legalizing marijuana saying it would lead to more traffic accidents and crime.

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo tells the Louisiana Radio Network why he’s no longer the chairman of the House Education Committee. Garofalo on his conversation with House Speaker Clay Schexnayder…
cut 11 (09) “….as chairman”
The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus demanded Garofalo’s removal as chair after he said students should hear the good, the bad, and ugly of slavery. Black lawmakers say there is no good when it comes to slavery, Garofalo says his comments were taken out of context.

Senator Bill Cassidy spoke on the U-S Senate floor about Lake Charles recovering from another natural disaster…
cut 5 (10) “…natural disaster”
The city is still pushing Congress to pass a disaster relief bill to assist victims of last year’s hurricanes.

An effort to legalize the recreational use of marijuana is dead for this session after the bill that would have taxed the sale of marijuana fails to get the 70 votes needed to pass in the Louisiana House. Thibodaux Representative and former police officer Brian Fontenot led the charge against the bill. Fontenot says we do not know enough about the impacts of legalizing recreational use of pot in Louisiana…
cut 14 (09) “….the answer” (2x)
The bill’s author, Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson, countered…
cut 15 (11) “…use it”
The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association is staunch opponents of legalizing marijuana saying it would lead to more traffic accidents and crime.

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo tells the Louisiana Radio Network why he’s no longer the chairman of the House Education Committee. Garofalo on his conversation with House Speaker Clay Schexnayder…
cut 11 (09) “….as chairman”
The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus demanded Garofalo’s removal as chair after he said students should hear the good, the bad, and ugly of slavery. Black lawmakers say there is no good when it comes to slavery, Garofalo says his comments were taken out of context.

Senator Bill Cassidy spoke on the U-S Senate floor about Lake Charles recovering from another natural disaster…
cut 5 (10) “…natural disaster”
The city is still pushing Congress to pass a disaster relief bill to assist victims of last year’s hurricanes.

The marijuana legalization effort appears to be dead for this legislative session after legislation that would tax recreational sales fell well short of the 70 votes needed to pass the Louisiana House. Matt Doyle has more
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

There’s the potential for more flooding today. The National Weather Service says the greatest risk for excessive rainfall is along and south of the I-10 corridor. Governor Edwards says the severe weather on Monday caused at least four deaths.

Senator Bill Cassidy addressed fellow lawmakers in DC about the flooding and loss of lives in Louisiana this week when as much as 18 inches of rain fell in southwest Louisiana. Cassidy urged lawmakers to pass a comprehensive disaster relief bill for the state, which endured five named storms last year, including Hurricanes Laura and Delta.
Cut 4 (09)“…unaddressed.”
Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says they need help.

The Revenue Estimating Conference has adopted new revenue projections that will result in the state having an extra 677-million dollars to spend over the course of this fiscal year and next fiscal year. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne…
Cut 8 (11) “…the others.”
Dardenne expects the state legislature to appropriate some of this newly recognized tax revenue towards teacher pay raises.

An effort to legalize recreational marijuana use is done for this legislative session after Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s bill to tax the sale of pot failed to get the 70 votes needed for passage. Nelson attempted to win over skeptics by dedicating 20 percent of all legal pot revenue to local law enforcement. That did not sway the Sheriffs’ Association or Thibodaux Representative Brian Fontenot…
Cut 16 (05) “…vote no.”
Nelson says the bill could have generated 100-million dollars a year for the state.

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo says he’s no longer the House Education Chairman…
Cut 10 (06) “….you’re out.”
The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus asked House Speaker Clay Schexnayder to remove Garofalo from his post after he said the good, the bad, and ugly of slavery. Black lawmakers say there was no good from slavery and Garofalo said his comment was taken out of context.

The Revenue Estimating Conference upgrades the state revenue forecast for the current fiscal year by 357 million dollars and 320 million dollars for the next fiscal year beginning in July. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (29) “…Matt Doyle”

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board says there was an effort to anchor the Seacor Power before it capsized during rough weather off the coast of Port Fourchon on April 13th. The NTSB says the vessel’s crew was trying to drop Seacor Power’s three large legs in an effort to stabilize the lift boat.

An effort to legalize recreational marijuana use in Louisiana is dead for this legislative session. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s legislation to tax the sale of recreational marijuana failed on a 47-48 vote. It needed 70 “yes” votes, because it’s a tax bill. Nelson made the argument that legalizing pot use would generate millions of dollars for the state…
cut 13 (11) “….after that”
Despite the bill’s defeat, Nelson believes attitudes are changing on marijuana legalization.

After receiving over a foot of rain in some parts of Lake Charles, Mayor Nic Hunter is pleading with Congress to approve disaster relief assistance for those who suffered damages from last year’s two hurricanes. Senator Bill Cassidy says they are trying to get something done…
cut 6 (11) “…..rebuilding process”

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo says he was told to step aside or be removed as House Education Chairman because House Speaker Clay Schexnayder feared the tax reform agenda wouldn’t pass. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Over a foot of rain fell over parts of Lake Charles and Baton Rouge yesterday as a result of a slow-moving storm system. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Lake Charles is once again dealing with storm damage…
cut 3 (14) “…that flooded”
In the Baton Rouge area, nearly 15 inches of rain fell in Gonzales.

South Louisiana is trying to dry out today after a foot of rain fell in parts of the Lake Charles and Baton Rouge areas. State Fire Marshal deputies and Wilflife and Fisheries agents participated in dozens of high water rescues. West Baton Rouge Sheriff deputies say one person is dead and another is missing after a vehicle crashed in a flooded ditch in Port Allen.

A tense debate broke out in the House Civil Law committee over the efficacy and long-term effects of COVID vaccines….
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo says he’s out as House Education Chairman. The Legislative Black Caucus asked for Garofalo’s removal after he said during committee debate there was good with slavery to go along with the bad and ugly. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says House Speaker Clay Schexnayder did not give any indication this move would occur
Cut 12 (09) “…on this”
Alford says it remains to be seen if the Legislative Black Caucus will support the Republicans’ plan to lower the overall income tax rate in exchange for the elimination of the deduction for federal income taxes paid.

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson says he will bring his bill to legalize recreational marijuana up for a vote on the House floor today. Nelson says support is growing for his legislation…
cut 14 (10) “…bad guys”
The full House convenes at 2 PM.

Over a foot of rain fell over parts of Lake Charles and Baton Rouge yesterday as a result of a slow-moving storm system. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Lake Charles is once again dealing with storm damage…
cut 3 (14) “…that flooded”
Another four to six inches of rain could fall today across the I-10 and I-12 corridor.

Today the full House is expected to vote on whether recreational marijuana use should be legalized. JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillion says he polled voters in nine Republican-held districts and he found even Evangelicals and older voters backed the legislation…
cut 16 (08) “….are”
The full House convenes at 2 PM.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says they’ve charged 39-year-0ld Angela Lirette of Houma with Human trafficking, after allegedly forcing a juvenile into sexual encounters with boys. Sheriff Tim Soignet says Lirette allegedly made contact with several different teenage males by pretending to be a teenage female on multiple social media websites…
cut 8 (08) “….investigate”
Lirette is in jail on a one-million-dollar bond.

Disney Plus will produce a 40-million dollar film at Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge. The feature film is called Crater and Celtic Director of Studio Operations Aaron Bayham says the plot is described as a “futuristic teen adventure’….
cut 5 (09) “….production”
Bayham says the film production is expected to employ 325 crew members and 400 extras.