Senate Judiciary C narrowly advances house-backed legislation that would decriminalize possession of up to 14 grams of marijuana. Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover says cops have better things to do than to spend time processing minor possession cases…

Cut 12 (10)    “…felon” 

The bill heads to the Senate floor for final passage.

The House passes legislation mandating schools spend more time teaching about World War Two and the Holocaust but the legislation saw opposition from Black lawmakers who were frustrated after the chamber rejected an amendment that would have required more instruction on famous Black Americans as well. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James proposed the amendment…

Cut 11 (10) “…as well”

James’s amendment failed on a 45-51 vote.

Teachers’ unions are not happy about the Legislature’s decision to only back an 800 dollar teacher pay raise as opposed to the 1000 dollar teacher pay raise that was being considered. Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey says even with recent pay raises we’re not keeping track with the ever-rising southern regional average for teacher pay…

Cut 3 (08)  “…to stay.” 

Louisiana schoolteachers are, on average, paid $4-thousand below the southern average.

House Ways and Means green lights a three-year extension of the state’s 180 million dollar film tax credit, pushing the program out to 2028. Supporters say the industry supports ten thousand jobs in the state but Eunice Representative Phillip Devillier is not a fan…

Cut 8 (12) “…concerns me.”

Governor John Bel Edwards announces starting tomorrow nearly all of the remaining restrictions on building capacity and social distancing will be lifted. After this semester ends students will no longer need to wear masks at schools.

It appears pay raises for the next fiscal year will be $800 for teachers and $400 for support staff. Union leaders say lawmakers claim they want to invest in education, but their actions show otherwise. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

By a narrow 3-2 vote Senate Judiciary C approves legislation that would decriminalize possession of up to 14 grams of marijuana. Only one person spoke in opposition, Louisiana Baptist Convention Office of Public Policy Director Dr. Will Hall. He says these days 14 grams of marijuana can be very dangerous…

Cut 14 (09) “..THC” 

The legislation already cleared the House and is headed to the Senate for final approval.

The state House passes a bill that would require Louisiana public high schools to spend more time teaching students about the Holocaust and World War Two. Several Black lawmakers voted against the bill after Baton Rouge Representative Ted James tried to amend the bill to also include the required instruction of significant figures in Black history.

Cut 11 (10) “…as well”

James’s amendment failed 45-51.

The budgeted amount for K-12 teacher pay raises in Louisiana appears to be on track for $800 and not $1000 as previously discussed by lawmakers. Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey says the effort to push state teachers towards the southern regional average got sidetracked…

Cut 4 (08) “…again.” 

The state House passes a bill that would require Louisiana public high schools to spend more time teaching students about the Holocaust and World War II. Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges says students and young adults know very little about the Holocaust…

Cut 9 (12) “…died”

The bill passed on a 66-32 vote with many Black lawmakers voting against it after the chamber rejected an amendment that would require instruction on significant Black figures in history.

A bill that would extend the state’s 180-million dollar film tax credit program for another three years to 2028 is headed to the House floor for final legislative passage. Jeff Palermo has the details…

Cut 2 (29) …I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

A Senate committee narrowly approves legislation decriminalizing possession of a small amount of marijuana.

House-approved legislation decriminalizing possession of up to 14 grams of marijuana is set to be heard Tuesday in a Senate judiciary committee. Chairman Franklin Foil says he is sympathetic to the legislation…

Cut 7 (07)  “…society”

Under the bill by Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover, those found with up to 14 grams of marijuana can be fined up to 100 dollars.

One of Governor Edwards’ priority pieces of legislation, a bill that would mandate children who turn five on or before September 30th attend kindergarten, is headed for the House floor after being approved in Appropriations. Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews was the lone no vote…

23

The bill already has Senate approval.

Legislation offering nurse practitioners more independence to practice without needing a collaborative agreement with a doctor is set to be heard on the Senate floor. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (34)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The House votes 63-28 in favor of a resolution that would create a committee dedicated to studying the potential impacts of legalizing marijuana. The committee would include representatives from the law enforcement community and DAs along with lawmakers, community leaders, and members of the business community.

Legislation mandating children who turn five on or before September 30^th attend kindergarten passes out of House Appropriations 19-1. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says 54,000 students are already doing kindergarten every year, so it’s clear nearly all parents understand it is an important step.

Cut 10 (11) “…they need”

Opponents say this time would be better spent with the family and not in an educational setting.

Doctors and starting to see a gradual increase in the number of airborne transmissible illnesses like the flu and colds as more people drop their masks and ditch social distancing. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Infectious Diseases Dr. Julio Figueroa says hopefully the number will stay low now that people are used to pandemic era healthy habits..

Cut 8 (07) “…coming year.”

Cotton farmers are having a rough go of 2021 due to the overly wet May we’re experiencing and the cooler than normal nighttime temperatures we’ve endured this year. State Cotton Specialist Matt Foster says it’s getting bad enough that some farmers are thinking of starting their crop over again…

Cut 13 (11)“…replanting”

The Louisiana Insurance Department says it has recovered 41 million dollars related to 1,500 complaints filed against insurers for issues stemming from last year’s three hurricanes. Commissioner Jim Donelon says the complaint process saves residents the effort of having to take their insurer to court over claim delays and underpayments…

Cut 3 (10)  “…lives” 

 77 percent of complaints were related to homeowners policies.

LSU Chief of Infectious Disease Dr. Julio Figueroa says we’re starting to see an uptick in transmissible diseases that saw a major decline in the last year as mitigation practices like masking and social distancing are relaxed…

Cut 6 (11) “…in May.”

Figueroa says the results aren’t exactly surprising but they are a good reminder that folks should maintain some of the healthy habits they built up during the pandemic.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon touts the results of the Insurance Department’s complaint process, saying it resulted in 41 million dollars recovered related to 1,500 complaints filed against insurers for mishandling 2020 hurricane claims…

Cut 4 (09) “…instances” 

Insurers received 311,000 total claims related to last years’ hurricanes.

State Police has released nine videos from the 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene, showing the 49-year-old unarmed black man being dragged out of his vehicle after a car chase in Union Parish, and repeatedly beaten and tazed before he died in police custody.  Superintendent Col. Lamar Davis says the videos are in the hands of state and federal criminal investigators

Cut 10 (09) “…investigation.”

The three troopers involved have been identified as Chris Hollingsworth, Dakota DeMoss and Kory York. Hollingsworth died from a car crash after learning he would be fired. Davis says he intends on firing DeMoss and York received a 50-hour suspension but remains on leave pending state and federal investigations.

41 million dollars was recovered by the Louisiana Department of Insurance related to 1,500 complaints filed against insurers for issues stemming from last year’s three hurricanes. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the complaint process saves residents the effort of having to take their insurer to court over claim delays and underpayments…

Cut 3, 10 seconds, lives

Of the 41 million recovered 38 million was related to Hurricane Laura.

Two cases of a COVID-19 variant that first was spotted in India have been discovered in Louisiana.  LSU Health Shreveport Virologist Dr. Jeremy Kamil (Camille) says the two cases were detected in Caddo Parish.

Cut 13 (06) “…out there.”

There’s concern this strain is more transmissible than what we currently have, but vaccines appear to be effective against it.

Today through Friday job seekers can attend virtual job fairs featuring over 100 employers hosted by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Erik Piccoli has more

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Erik Piccoli”

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is mourning the death of a deputy shot in the line of duty in January of 2016. Detective Stephen Arnold worked on a DEA Task Force and was shot multiple times while serving a warrant in New Orleans. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says Arnold was under intense medical care until he died. The suspect is serving 35 years in federal prison.

Governor Edwards says the state is considering implementing a vaccine incentive program similar to efforts in other states. The number of new vaccinations per week has fallen precipitously from a mid-March high. Edwards says they’re looking into ways to get skeptical Louisianans off the fence…

Cut 3 (10)  “…vaccinated” 

Ten states have so far adopted incentive programs.

Breeze Airways will begin offering cheap direct flights out of Louis Armstrong in New Orleans into ten mid sizes cities across the Midwest and South. Flights to Charleston will begin July 8^th with flights to Louisville, Fayetteville, Richmond, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Akron, Columbus, and Huntsville beginning July 15^th and 16^th. CEO David Neeleman…

Cut 13 (10)“…much”

A $30-million buyout program to assist a Lake Charles neighborhood is now underway. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (32) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

The Alexandria Medical Region is seeing a concerning rise in the number of new reported syphilis cases. While the region only contains six percent of the state’s population it’s hosted 13 percent of all early syphilis cases in 2020 in Louisiana. Alexandria also was home to more cases of new female early syphilis cases than any other region in the state.