A grand jury has declined to bring charges against Lafayette Police officers who fatally shot Trayford Pellerin, a 31-year-old black man, who died from gunshot wounds he received while trying to enter a Circle K store. Body camera video shows Pellerin holding what appeared to be a knife. Family Attorney Ronald Haley…
cut 12 (08) “…the country”

A person would no longer face jail time if convicted of possessing 14 grams or less of marijuana as a result of a bill approved by the Louisiana House. Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover says the possession of a small amount of marijuana should no longer result in two things…
cut 3 (10) “….go to prison”
The proposal heads to the Senate for more discussion.

A CDC advisory committee is expected to give emergency use authorization today for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 to 15-years-old. Senator Bill Cassidy says most children do not suffer severe effects from COVID-19, but that’s not a reason to have your child immunized.
Cut 7 (09) “…a grandparent..”

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services announces another round of Pandemic EBT benefits will be available for children who did not go to school because classes were virtual and they normally receive free or reduced-price lunches. DCFS Assistant Secretary Shavanna Howard expects the first P-EBT cards will be mailed next month…
cut 6 (09) “…eligible students’
Howard says no need to apply, schools will report to DCFS who is eligible.

A grand jury has declined to indict the Lafayette Police officers who fatally shot 31-year-old Trayford Pellerin as he attempted to enter a Circle K store. Video evidence appears to show Pellerin holding a knife as he ignored commands from the officers who were following him. District Attorney Don Landry says Pellerin threatened to stab officers earlier in the incident and the officers showed restraint by waiting as long as they did to shoot…
Cut 11 (11) “….hindsight.”
An attorney representing the Pellerin family say he didn’t deserve to die for failing to comply with officers.

A panel from the CDC is expected to authorize the emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine for 12-15 year-olds today. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is encouraging adolescents to get the vaccine…
cut 8 (09) “…dinner”
About 29-percent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services announces a second round of Pandemic E-B-T benefits are coming to eligible Louisiana children. Students are eligible if they would normally receive free or reduced-price meals at schools, but didn’t receive them because classes were not held at the school. Shavanna Howard says they expect the first round of cards will be mailed out to eligible families next month…
cut 5 (09) “….school year”
Schools will report to D-C-F-S which students meet the criteria, so no need to apply.

It’s that time of year again, termites begin to swarm especially in south Louisiana. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says you can turn off outside lights and clean and repair gutters on your home to prevent termites, but the most important prevention method might be…
Cut 15 (07)“…moisture.”

The state House has approved a bill that would decriminalize possession of a small amount of marijuana. Currently, a person who possesses 14 grams or less of marijuana could face up to 15 days in jail and up to six months if convicted a second time. The legislation that passed the House removes the possibility of jail time for possession of small amounts. The proposal still needs Senate approval.

A grand jury declines to indict the Lafayette Police officers who fatally shot Trayford Pellerin…
cut 3 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

The state Department of Children and Family Services receives approval to issue a second round of Pandemic EBT benefits to eligible families. DCFS Assistant Secretary Shavana Howard says distribution this time will be different than before.
Cut 4 (10)“…priced meals.”
Students are eligible to receive P-EBT if they would normally receive free or reduced priced meals, but haven’t because their school is fully virtual or on a hybrid learning schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the C-D-C is dragging its feet when it comes to revising its masking and other COVID-19 guidance. He says changing the mask guidelines could encourage those who are vaccine-hesitant to get a shot, especially if they want to travel…
cut 9 (08) “….credibility”

A grand jury has declined to indict the Lafayette Police officers who fatally shot Trayford Pellerin outside of a gas station last August. 15th Judicial District Attorney Don Landry says State Police reviewed the incident from every angle available and found the shooting was justifiable…
cut 10 (09) “….a case”
Body camera video shows Pellerin attempting to enter a gas station with a knife. He was repeatedly asked to drop the knife. Two officers also deployed tasers before he was fatally shot. Pellerin family attorney Ron Haley says Pellerin was experiencing a mental health crisis and likely fled from police because of where the country was at that point….
cut 13 (13) “….enforcement”

The Louisiana House has passed a bill that would decriminalize possession of marijuana. The vote was 67-25 in favor. If the Senate approves the bill, a person found with a small amount of marijuana would be charged with a misdemeanor, instead of a felony.

A second round of Pandemic EBT cards for students that receive free or reduced-priced meals normally at school will begin going out next month. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A cyber-attack against one of the nation’s largest pipelines threatens to increase gas prices locally and potentially result in fuel shortages elsewhere. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”

Governor John Bel Edwards is in Washington D.C. to testify before the U-S Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday. His office says Edwards will address the adverse impact that a protracted moratorium on mineral leases in the Gulf of Mexico will have on Louisiana’s economy.

The Louisiana House has approved a sports betting bill that would allow restaurants that serve alcohol to have kiosks where you would be able to place a wager on a game in 55 of the 64 parishes where voters approved sports betting. Crowley Representative John Stefanski says the Louisiana Lottery will oversee these kiosks…
cut 11 (12) “…the lottery”
Stefanski says a separate bill is moving through the legislature that would establish sports betting parlors at the state’s casinos and racetracks.

Democrat Troy Carter was sworn in as Louisiana’s newest member in the U-S House as he’ll represent the state’s second Congressional District…
Cut 14 (11) “..great country”

A House floor vote on legalizing recreational marijuana use is once again delayed. Matt Doyle asked a political analyst what’s going on with this controversial bill
Cut 3 (27) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The Louisiana House has approved a bill that would allow consumers of wine to receive wine straight from a manufacturer. The author of the proposal, Larose Representative Joseph Orgeron, says 44 other states have a similar law, which increases consumer access. Opponents say the measure could hurt wholesalers and retailers that sell wine.

Small businesses are dealing with a worker shortage. Louisiana NFIB Director Dawn McVea says they are looking for the legislature to pass legislation similar to what was approved in Montana, which enacted a hiring bonus of $1,200 and eliminated federal enhancements of unemployment benefits…
cut 8 (06) “….that job”
But opponents of the legislation say if employers want to hire workers, they need to pay a fair wage.

The plan is for the United States to land a space ship on the moon next year and five LSU students have helped develop a radiation detective device for the astronauts to use. Assistant professor Jeffery Chancellor in the LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy says these scientists may be young, but that’s not unusual in this field…
cut 6 (10) “….experience”

For the second time in this session, a vote to legalize recreational marijuana has been delayed by the bill’s author, Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the bill has everything going against it right now except broad public support, but he warns against giving up on it just yet.
Cut 14 (10)“…issue”
The bill has been re-scheduled for a vote for tomorrow.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, along with a bipartisan group of more than 40 attorneys general, wants Facebook to reconsider launching Instagram for Kids. Landy fears a child-friendly Instagram for ages 13 and under will be misused by predators.
Cut 10 (11) “…smartphone.”
But Facebook says the app they are developing would give parents more control.

Business groups are calling on lawmakers to cease federally enhanced unemployment benefits to help end the worker shortage. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

According to the state health department, one-point-three million Louisiana residents have completed the COVID vaccine series. 28-percent of Louisiana residents are fully vaccinated, but the national average is 35-percent. Out of three Louisiana residents have received at least one shot.