A Senate-passed bill to use a tiered risk assessment system to evaluate and house juvenile offenders wins House committee approval. More on that from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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House approved legislation to limit the release of mugshots in Louisiana advances in Senate Government Affairs. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Governor Edwards is dropping the COVID vaccine as a requirement for Louisiana elementary and high school students. David Grubb has more…

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

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A Senate-passed bill proposing risk assessment for juveniles who run afoul of the law clears another legislative hurdle. Central Louisiana Senator Heather Cloud’s SB 323 has already won approval from the full Senate. She tells members of the House Criminal Justice Committee the bill is in response to a big uptick in violence among juvenile offenders…:

Cut 4 (11)  “…to a tiered system.”

Cloud’s bill would require that juveniles arrested and brought into the system be assessed for their tendencies toward violent behavior, and would be housed under a tier system; assessing them from least dangerous to most dangerous. Michelle Piazza is a corrections officer at a youth detention center in Bunkie. She tells members of her attack and serious injury by a violent teen…:

Cut 5 (10) “…in the face.”

Cloud says evaluating and housing juvenile inmates based on a tiered system will be safer for guards and other detainees…:

Cut 6 (08)  “…in that facility.”

The committee advanced the bill, sending it to the House floor for debate, and what could be final passage.

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House-approved legislation to limit the release of mugshots in Louisiana advances in Senate Government Affairs. New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis says the bill is an effort to protect innocent individuals from the embarrassment of the photo.

Cut 7 (12) “…release it.”

House Bill 729 was amended in committee allowing the photo to be released upon conviction and/or in the event an individual is charged with a violent crime. Committee Chair, Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt…

Cut 8 (11)  “…be used.”

Duplessis says he knows of situations where an innocent person has lost their job due to a mugshot and its intention to keep those who are innocent from being negatively impacted by a mugshot.

Cut 9 (09)  “…effect.”

The bill advances to the Senate floor.

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Though things look back to normal, Louisiana isn’t out of the COVID woods just yet. After seeing numbers fall for the past several weeks, 114 people were hospitalized due to the virus as of Wednesday…the highest figure in the state since March 24. Speaking with Jim Engster on Ask the Governor, John Bel Edwards expressed his concern with the rise…

Cut 10 (12) “…certainly increasing.”

Despite those concerns, Edwards says the Louisiana Department of Health has removed the COVID-19 vaccine as a requirement for elementary and secondary school students, citing a lack of full approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

Cut  11 (10)  “…17-year-olds.”  

Though the COVID vaccine will not be on the schedule this fall, Governor Edwards and the LDH are still in agreement with the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations that all children between the ages of five and 17 get vaccinated.

Cut 12 (11) “…any boosters.” 

According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, COVID-19 was the fourth leading cause of death among children ages 5-14 and individuals between 15-24 as recently as January of this year.

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To address the ongoing baby formula shortage the US Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee will hold a hearing today. Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow who was just named to House Appropriations, says it will be her first hearing on the committee.

Cut 13 (11) “…searching.”

The committee will hear from FDA Commissioner about the baby formula shortage. Letlow says it’s frightening to hear that some children are being admitted to the hospital as a result.

Cut 14 (13)  “…months ago.”

Letlow says in an effort to help desperate parents she’s signed on to co-author Republican legislation House Resolution 7718, also known as the Formula Act.

Cut 15 (06)  “…for parents.”

House Democrats also proposed legislation to give the FDA $28-million to address the formula shortage.

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There’s a lot on the line for LSU baseball as they head to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt in their SEC regular-season finale. Less than a week ago the Tigers were a near lock to host an NCAA regional, and now they’re flirting with a below .500 finish in the SEC. Pitching will be key against the Commodores and Jay Johnson likes what he’s seen lately from sophomore Ty Floyd.

Cut 16 (20)  “…him in there.”

Adversity has been a big part of Jay Johnson’s first year in Baton Rouge. Key players have missed time with injury, the starting rotation has been in flux, and LSU’s defense has been inconsistent. Johnson says his team has shown grit all year long and he expects them to continue to do so this weekend.

Cut 17 (18) “ …this week.” 

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The U-L Ragin Cajuns are fighting to get back into the NCAA tournament for the first time in six years. Matt Deggs’ squad was on a major roll before being swept by Texas State last weekend. Now the Cajuns likely need a big weekend against Little Rock and a strong showing in the Sun Belt tourney to reach the postseason. Deggs says he’s been here before…

Cut 18 (19) “ …big at-bats.” 

Deggs’ biggest concern leading up to the conference tournament is his pitching staff. The Cajuns will use this weekend to set up their rotation, but Deggs says they’ll adapt to matchups and hopefully get some hitting.

Cut 19 (19) _“…be a grinder.” 

According to the Consumer Price Index, the inflation rate for April was 8.3-percent. Brooke Thorington has more from a local economist.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The Louisiana Senate is poised to make an unprecedented financial commitment to improving the state’s infrastructure. David Grubb has the story…

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

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The House Civil Law Committee approves a bill that would prohibit employers from firing an individual for a certain hairstyle. David Grubb has the story…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

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The consumer price index for the month of April rose to 8.3-percent, another forty-year high. Economist Loren Scott says each month the Bureau of Labor and Statistics looks at the average price for a basket of goods, for example, gas, a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, and a month’s rent.

Cut 4 (11)  “…the economy.”

Scott says the Russian invasion of Ukraine and continued supply chain issues are impacting the inflation rate. The inflation rate has hovered around the 8-percent mark for a few months now and Scott says the lingering question among those with fixed incomes is whether the inflation rate is transitory due to supply chain issues.

Cut 5 (10) “…right now.”

Scott says however it’s not all doom and gloom, he says predictions from Well Fargo Economics Department and USA Consensus Forecast indicate things should improve.

Cut 6 (09)  “…next year.”

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An effort to begin phasing out a temporary sales tax that is set to expire in 2025 is dead for the legislative session. The .45-percent sales generates about 400-million dollars in tax revenue for the state and Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says the state can use that money on major projects…

Cut 7 (12) “…make sense.”

Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala’s bill proposed to begin reducing the temporary sales tax in 2023. Bacala says the goal of his legislation is to prevent a sharp drop-off in revenue and a significant budget shortfall. But Norco Senator Gary Smith says Bacala’s proposal will actually cause more financial problems…

Cut 8 (14)  “…than later.”

Smith is concerned Bacala’s bill will produce budget deficits when a new governor and legislature take office in 2024…

Cut 9 (12)  “…are tied.”

The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee rejected the House-approved bill.

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It isn’t the $500-million that Governor John Bel Edwards wanted, but the budget bill headed to the Senate floor for approval this Thursday does include $300-million of seed money for a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson is thankful for the unprecedented commitment of funds for a project of this size.

Cut 10 (09) “…more dollars.”

The budget also sets aside $100-million to replace the Lake Charles Bridge. Wilson says that the legislature dedicating funds for the projects makes getting additional dollars from private sources a real possibility, which could speed up both the financing and completion of the bridges.

Cut  11 (12)  “…a traditional environment.”  

In total, the budget bill earmarks more than half a billion dollars for the construction of a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, the extension of I-49 South, and a new Lake Charles bridge, with an additional $150-million set aside for other projects. Wilson says it’s a great starting point.

Cut 12 (11) “…transportation agenda.” 

Wilson says the administration will continue to work with the legislature on securing additional funding to ensure that these critical infrastructure improvements happen.

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The House Civil Law Committee approves legislation that would make it illegal to discriminate against a person based on certain hairstyles. That would include afros, dreadlocks, braids and other styles of cultural significance. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell is the author of the bill

Cut 13 (11) “…the hair”

Newell says it’s not just African Americans who could be victims of hair discrimination…

Cut 14 (12)  “…dreadlocks” (2x)

Newell says hair color is not part of the bill, so an employer could fire an employee for having blue, purple or green hair.

The measure passed on an eight to six vote as two Republicans joined Democrats on the panel to vote for the legislation. Abita Springs Republican Larry Frieman says the bill leaves it open ended on what hair styles would be protected under this proposed discrimination law

Cut 15 (12)  “…about yet.”

The House Labor Committee defeated a similar bill earlier in the session.

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After a lost weekend for LSU baseball, the Tigers enter the final week of the regular season with plenty of unanswered questions and a tumbling RPI. Monday, Ole Miss canceled its mid-week game against Arkansas St., trying to hold on to the boost it received from sweeping LSU. Tigers coach Jay Johnson says he never considered doing the same against tonight’s opponent, Northwestern State.

Cut 16 (21)  “…gonna do that.”

The series loss to Ole Miss has LSU in jeopardy of finishing below .500 in the SEC for the first time since 2011, which was also the last time the Tigers missed the NCAA tournament. Johnson says he doesn’t want the team’s performance over the weekend to carry over into this critical week of ballgames.

Cut 17 (12) “ …wants to do.” 

The pressure to win in Baton Rouge is always there, and it has only intensified as LSU approaches 13 years since its last national championship. Jay Johnson says he gets it, and he embraces it…otherwise he never would have accepted the job.

Cut 18 (20) “ …would have that.” 

Game time at The Box is set for 6:30 pm.

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Rookie wideout Chris Olave got his first “welcome to the NFL” moments this past weekend during the Saints’ rookie mini-camp. Olave, who signed a four-year contract worth $19-point-two-million just prior to the start of camp, was considered one of the top route-runners in this year’s draft and is expected to step in seamlessly opposite Michael Thomas, who missed all of last season with injury. Olave says he’s ready for whatever the team asks of him.

Cut 19 (16) _“…I’m good.” 

Receiver was a definite area of weakness for the Saints last season. With the return of Michael Thomas, the addition of Jarvis Landry, and the drafting of Chris Olave, New Orleans hopes to have surrounded Jameis Winston with the talent to put fear into opposing defenses. Olave says his work ethic pushes him to be the very best, and as a wideout, that starts and ends with catching the ball. Every time.

Cut 20 (11) “ …on the ground.”