Governor Edwards says pretty soon he’s expecting the state will begin offering incentives for people to get vaccinated. He didn’t offer any details about what it may look like but other states are trying everything from free beer to Alabama allowing vaccinated people to drive two laps on the Talladega Superspeedway. Edwards says whatever incentive program they come up with will be on top of ongoing outreach efforts to all communities in the state…

Cut 5  (11)  “…ongoing”

There’s a now medium chance that a tropical depression develops in the Gulf of Mexico and lands somewhere in Texas or southwest Louisiana and forecasters also have their eye on a system in the Atlantic that could begin to strengthen. Lake Charles meteorologist Alex Donato says it’s just another reminder…

Cut 10 (4) “…average this year”

Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s met with a key member of the Biden Administration in hopes of convincing the feds to authorize additional assistance to hurricane and storm battered southwest Louisiana. Cassidy says he still sees plenty of standing water in Lake Charles and is aware of the possibility of more flooding in the immediate future. When asked who is against sending aid to the area and what the hurdles are…

Cut 7 (10) “…the need.”

Governor Edwards announces a $30-million buyout program for  Greinwich Terrance Terrace in Lake Charles, a neighborhood that has flooded on multiple occasions. Police Jury President Brian Abshire says the buyout program is completely optional and while he understands relocating and leaving your home is extremely emotional…

Cut 15 (09) “…repair your home.” 

The neighborhood has approximately 300 homes.

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 seconds, vaccinated

While adults may end up getting incentivized to take a shot the state says it’s going to take a robust information campaign aimed at parents to get the vaccination rate for children to increase. Kids 12 and older are now eligible and Our Lady of the Lake Pediatric Immunologist Dr. Theron McCormick says you shouldn’t be too worried about potential side effects for those kids…

Cut 9 (10) “…the trials.” 

Lafayette Representative Stuart Bishop’s tax reform bill finally clears the House. The legislation would lower state personal income tax rates in exchange for eliminating the ability to deduct federal income taxes on your state taxes. If approved by the Senate voters will have a chance to vote on it on the November 2022 ballot. This is what the language will say…

Cut 12 (12) “…individual income taxes.”

Tomorrow marks the start of Safe Boating Week and before you head out on the water the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries wants you to check and make sure you have enough personal flotation devices for everyone you take aboard. LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck says even if you are a strong swimmer…

Cut 4 (10)“…afloat.”

Anyone 16 or younger must wear their flotation device at all times.

On a 98 to 2 vote the House passes a bill that would put a tax reform constitutional amendment on the November 2022 ballot. Lafayette Representative Stuart Bishop’s proposal would lower state personal income tax rates in exchange for eliminating the ability to deduct federal income taxes. Bishop says this effort is decades in the making…

Cut 10 (07) “…an answer”

Bishop says this bill will streamline our tax code.

Cut 11 (07) “….those people”

The bill, considered to be the priority piece of legislation for Republicans this session, was almost tanked due to the controversy over comments about slavery made by former House Education Chairman Ray Garofalo. Those comments led the Legislative Black Caucus to threaten to block the bill, saying they’d withhold support if Garofalo was not removed as chairman. Ultimately Garofalo was removed.

Legislation banning the handheld use of a cellphone while driving passes the House 76-21. Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval says you can still make phone calls and send texts while driving, you’d just need to use a Bluetooth device to do it…

Cut 3 (11)  “…make a call” 

The bill heads to the Senate.

Legislation that would have increased state unemployment insurance payments starting next year is defeated in the House after it came under assault from lawmakers on the left and right. Conservatives were concerned it would incentivize people to stay home and collect instead of working. Democrats took issue with an addition to the bill that would have created a thousand dollar “return to work” bonus for those currently collecting unemployment insurance in Louisiana. The catch was that those who accept the bonus would be ineligible to collect unemployment for 24 weeks.

NOAA is predicting yet another above-average Atlantic Hurricane season with 13 to 20 named storms and six to ten hurricanes projected by the Climate Prediction Center. NOAA’s lead season hurricane forecaster Matthew Rosencrans is concerned about the possibility of a La Nina forming later in the hurricane season…

Cut 11 (11) “…predicted ranges”

A record 30 named storms formed in 2020.

Housing prices have been brutal for prospective first-time buyers this year and a part of that has to to do with the near quadrupling of lumber prices between now and last year. LSU Forestry Economist Joseph Chang says as of May 18^th lumber was up to 1,264 dollars per thousand feet…

Cut 7 (07) “…buying”

A bill prohibiting the handheld use of a phone when driving finally makes passage out of the house. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Governor Edwards asks residents who sustained damage from the last few days of severe weather to being documenting that damage and report it to damage-dot-la-dot-gov by May 25^th. Edwards says if we can document enough damage we could receive federal assistance.

A bill prohibiting the handheld use of a cellphone when you’re behind the wheel makes passage out of the House. Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill would impose a $25 fine for the first offense and $50 for a second violation.

Cut 3 (11)  “…make a call” 

The vote was 76-21 and the bill now heads to the Senate. 

After a surprisingly robust attempt to legalize marijuana ultimately failed to pass in the House Governor Edwards admits his personal views on the issue are changing. As recently as earlier this year he stated his opposition to legalization, but now admits it’s likely going to happen but before we do it here we need to study other state’s who have legalized it…

Cut 13 (06) “…benefits.”

Governor Edwards made the comments on this monthly talk show Ask the Governor.

Business groups are calling on Governor Edwards to stop enhanced unemployment benefits so more people will reenter the workforce. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Louisiana Department of Health was joined by a number of pediatricians from across the state in urging Louisiana parents to get their children vaccinated. Currently, kids 12 and older can receive the Pfizer vaccine and there are indications that could be extended to kids five and up in the near future. 

The House approves legislation increasing the cost of hunting and fishing licenses. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is going broke and the average sportsmen’s license will not go up by more than 10-dollars. On the commercial side…

Cut 5  (09)  “…state resource”

If the Senate approves Bacala’s bill, half of the rate increases would start on June 1, 2022.

Black lawmakers in a House committee raised objections to legislation that would do away with the need to get a permit to carry a concealed handgun for those over 21 who aren’t felons. Representative Frederick Jones says passing this bill would put law enforcement on edge and result in more police shootings of Black people.

Cut 9 (09) “…a gun”

The final vote was 6-4 in favor. The bill heads to the House floor for final passage.

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry is pushing for Governor Edwards to stop federally enhanced unemployment benefits to force residents on unemployment back to work as the economy reopens. LABI President Stephen Waguespack says the state economy is very dependent on these service industry personnel. He says business owners are hurting…

21

But While neighboring states like Arkansas, Texas, and Mississippi are opting out of federally enhanced unemployment, Governor Edwards says he does not want to react too quickly, and he’s concerned about the slow rebound of the tourism industry.

22

The current enhanced $300 unemployment benefits are scheduled to end on September 6^th.

A House committee advances Senate-approved legislation that would do away with the need to get a permit to carry a concealed handgun. The bill is opposed by the Louisiana Chiefs of Police Association, but West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says not all law enforcement are against his bill, including his chief of police…

Cut 6, 8 seconds, criminals

The bill also includes language requiring the state to offer a free-of-charge 60-minute online training course teaching concealed carry basics including use of deadly force, interaction with law enforcement, and firearm-free zones. This training would be optional.

Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says this will only result in more untrained gun owners carrying in public…

Cut 7, 9 seconds, this bill

The final vote was 6-4 in favor.

This session’s marijuana legalization effort is dead after the House rejects legislation establishing taxes on the sale of recreational pot. Despite public polling showing over two-thirds of Louisianans backed legalization the bill just could not overcome opposition by the Sheriffs’ Association. Thibodaux Representative Brian Fontenot says before legalization is considered it should be studied…

Cut 14 (09) “…the answer (x2).”

The House did vote last week to decriminalize possession of a small quantity of weed.

The Revenue Estimating Conference estimates the state will bring in an additional 677 million dollars in revenue over current projections by the end of the next fiscal year. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says lawmakers are likely to suggest those funds be used for everything from teacher pay raises to infrastructure

Cut 9 (04) “…has.”… AM

The surprise march of marijuana legalization through the Legislature is over for the session after the House rejects a bill that would set the tax rate for recreational pot sales. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson says his legalization effort would have generated a lot of revenue for the state that will now remain in the hands of drug dealers and the cartels.

Cut 13 (12) “..that.”

Nelson attempted to win over skeptical law enforcement 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 (06) “…vote no.”

Despite the failure the House did vote last week to decriminalize possession of a small quantity of weed. That legislation awaits a hearing in a Senate committee.

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo is out as House Education Chairman following preassure from the Legislative Black Caucus after he said in committee that students should study “the good, the bad, the ugly,” of slavery. The statement went viral and Garofalo says the Legislative Black Caucus wanted him removed for a bill he brought, not his comments, but says he was removed so tax reform would pass.

Cut 11 (09) “….as chair”

Garofalo says his comment was taken out of context and there’s nothing for him to apologize for.

And effort to increase hunting and fishing license fees to cover a budget shortfall in the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries falls short on the House floor by just two votes.

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields legislation mandating kids attend kindergarten when they turn five advanced out of house Education.

Governor John Bel Edwards says severe weather yesterday and early this morning is suspected to be responsible for four deaths so far in the Baton Rouge area and damage to large numbers of homes in parts of southwest Louisiana and southeast East Baton Rouge and upper Ascension Parish. While devastating Edwards is optimistic this prolonged weather event won’t turn out like the 2016 Floods…

Cut 16 (12) “…quickly” 

State Representative Ray Garofalo says he’s out as House Education Chairman. The Legislative Black Caucus asked for Garofalo’s removal after he said there was good with slavery to go along with the bad and ugly. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Garofalo made his controversial comment about slavery on April 26^th and since then racial tensions have been high when that committee meets and Garofalo has tried to keep a low profile…

Cut 14 (10) “…come back in” 

Lake Charles recorded its heaviest amount of rainfall on Monday according to the National Weather Service, Brooke Thorington has more from Mayor Nic Hunter as the city is still rebuilding after two hurricanes.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The National Transportation Safety Board releases a preliminary report outlining an early idea of what happened to the capsized SeaCor Power. The report notes as the weather quickly turned dangerous crewmembers attempted to lower the vessel’s legs into the sea floor and turn the vessel into the wind. Before that maneuver was completed the vessel capsized.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says many residents are now facing a third renovation of their home in less than eight months after over a foot of rain was dumped on the city yesterday.

Cut 8 (08) “…for citizens”

It was 264 days ago that the city was hit with Hurricane Laura, then just over a month later Delta.

That deluge resulted in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries needing to rescue 110 people in southwest Louisiana and over 300 calls for rescues were fielded in East Baton Rouge Parish by local authorities. State Fire Marshal’s spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says marshals were deployed in rescue boats to both locations and have rescued nearly 100 themselves…

Cut 10 (08) “..people” 

13 inches of rain was recorded in the southeastern portions of East Baton Rouge and upper Ascension Parishes.

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo is out as House Education Chairman. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo.”