A state audit finds that prisoners received unemployment checks last year. Don Molino has the story…
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Don Molino”

Governor John Bel Edwards was in Acadiana this morning to announce that Safe Source is investing 150-million dollars into the construction of two manufacturing facilities that will produce personal protection equipment. The facilities will be located in Lafayette and St. Martin Parishes and officials say they will bring more than 22-hundred new jobs to the area.

The House Criminal Justice Committee is scheduled to hear a bill tomorrow that would decriminalize prostitution. Bill author, New Orleans Representative Mandi Landry, says the intent of her legislation to protect sex workers and reduce human trafficking, but the National Center of Sexual Exploitation CEO Dawn Hawkins opposes the legislation…
cut 15 (12) “….in the area”
The House Criminal Justice Committee meets at 9 AM tomorrow.

Motorists who have State Farm could see a slight increase in their premiums. The Louisiana Insurance Department has approved a statewide rate increase of four percent. Last June, State Farm lowered rates by an average of 10-percent. So what changed? Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says more vehicles on the road…
Cut 3 (09) “…as well”
The adjusted auto rates in Louisiana went into effect on April 5th.

The state Health Department has confirmed two cases of the Brazilian COVID-19 variant in Louisiana. Eric Picolli has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Eric Picolli”

The Senate Select Committee on Women and Children, which has been critical of LSU over their failure to act on cases on sexual harassment and assault, will be on campus Saturday to hear from students.  The hearing will begin at 1 p.m. in room 329, on the third floor of the LSU Student Union.

Governor John Bel Edwards has given his take on how one-point-six billion dollars in federal coronavirus aid should be spent.  Edwards says 230-million dollars would go toward repaying loans from the federal government to pay jobless claims after the Unemployment Trust Fund went bankrupt. The governor says he’s also proposing to use 400-million dollars to pay for road and bridge construction…

Cut 4 (09) “has lagged”

The Saints stayed put at 28 in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft and selected Houston defensive end Payton Turner, who played in 40 games for the Cougars, racking up 115 tackles and 10 sacks. Coach Sean Payton says Turner is a player they’ had their eye on.

Cut 12 (12) “was good”

Governor John Bel Edwards has provided his input on how one-point-six billion dollars in federal coronavirus aid should be spent.  Edwards says 400-million dollars should go towards refilling the unemployment trust fund, which is bankrupt, and the only other way to re-fill it is by taxing businesses.

Cut 3 (09) “a pandemic”

Edwards another 230-million dollars would go toward repaying loans from the federal government to pay jobless claims after the Unemployment Trust Fund went bankrupt.

The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed two cases of the COVID-19 Brazilian variant in Louisiana. LDH detected the cases in the New Orleans area and Southwest Louisiana.  The CDC says the Brazilian COVID-19 variant is more transmissible and carries a higher risk of severe disease. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says it’s likely there are other variants to be discovered.

Cut 11 (07) “more variants”

The State Fair is underway in Shreveport and having the event in the spring is a first for the Bayou State staple. State Fair President Chris Giordano says due to COVID they postponed last year’s fall event and instead of canceling the 114^th edition, they opted for both a spring and fall fair this year. So far feedback is positive.

Cut 6 (10) “families”

The Saints stayed put at 28 in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft and selected Houston defensive end Payton Turner, who played in 40 games for the Cougars, racking up 115 tackles and 10 sacks.  While the team still has holes to fill on the roster, Payton says they couldn’t pass up on Turner’s potential.

Cut 13 (11) “in our league”

Louisiana’s Legislative Black Caucus has asked for the removal of Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo as House Education Chairman over a comment he made about slavery.
A video of Garofalo making the comment has gone viral. Garofalo says the slavery comment was taken out of context and blames the media of inflammatory reporting…
Cut 4 (11) “…accused of.”

State officials have confirmed two cases of SARS-CoV-2 otherwise known as the Brazil variant. The cases were located in New Orleans and Southwest Louisiana and the state health department says it is likely that there are additional undetected cases circulating. Current Covid-19 vaccines are effective against the variant strain. But, recent data suggests the Brazil variant may also be associaterd with higher risk of severe disease.

Former LSU wide receiver Ja’marr Chase should hear his name called early in tonight’s NFL draft as he’s projected to be a top-10 pick. Chase’s high school head coach and Rummel athletic director Jay Roth says he knew Chase had a chance to be great.

He was one of the big-time college players to opt-out of the 2020 season due to the uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic. While Chase hasn’t played football in a year, he’s still considered the top receiver in this draft class. Roth says it’s a credit to his hard work.
Cut 9 (10) “..NFL draft”
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries had to make a difficult decision to put down a black bear after it became a threat to public safety in Port Allen. LDWF Biologist Supervisor Scott Durham.
Cut 15 (11) “…first”

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo is facing backlash and calls for his removal as House Education Chairman as a result of a comment he made about slavery. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo”

LSU is working to undo its title IX public relations disaster of late by revising its Title IX policy regarding sexual misconduct. The policy revision states that any employee who is required to report instances of power-based trauma and fails to promptly report it without good cause or knowingly makes a false report, shall be terminated.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife of Fisheries had to make a difficult decision to put down a black bear after it became a threat to public safety in Port Allen. LDWF Biologist Supervisor Scott Durham says after relocating the bear in the woods over the weekend it returned to the West Baton Rouge Parish town.

Cut 13 (07)“…this case”
Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff deputies say a homeowner used a pair of scissors to fight back against an armed robber who got inside his home.
Twenty-six-year-old Devin Mitchell of Hammond died from his injuries.
The four subjects behind bars are facing several charges, including first-degree murder, since their actions led to the death of Mitchell. Travis says the couple that owns the home, arrived at their house while the home invasion was in progress. He says the suspects began aggressively attacking and beating the couple

Cut 12 (06) “…their children”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries was forced to euthanize a black bear after it became a threat to the public in Port Allen. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32) …I’m Brooke Thornigton”
Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff deputies say a homeowner used a pair of scissors to fight back against an armed robber who got inside his home. Chief Jimmy Travis says Twenty-six-year-old Devin Mitchell of Hammond died from his injuries. Travis says the homeowner will not be charged…

Cut 11 (11) “…bodily harm”
Louisiana’s Legislative Black Caucus has asked for the removal of Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo as House Education Chairman over a comment he made about slavery. While discussing his bill to ban “divisive concepts” Garofalo said there were some good components of slavery…

Cut 3 (11) “…maybe.”
Former LSU wide receiver Ja’marr Chase should hear his name called early in tonight’s NFL draft as he’s projected to be a top-10 pick. Chase’s high school head coach and Rummel athletic director Jay Roth thinks Chase might be the best receiver he’s coached.

Cut 8 (10) “..in the NFL.”

Constitutional Carry laws continue their steady march through both chambers of the Legislature, with a House committee approving one such bill removing the permitting requirement to carry a concealed handgun 8-4. Louisiana Shooting Association President Dan Zelenka supports the bill, he says currently it can cost 325 dollars and takes nine hours of training to get a concealed carry license.

Cut 6 (12) “…defense”

Governor Edwards opposes the bill.

A Houma Senator shelves a legislative attempt to require a juvenile to get written consent from both parents to receive gender therapy amidst submission of over 400 opposition cards. Mike Fesi says he was trying to make sure parents are involved in the process of gender transition…

Cut 11 (11) “…Louisianans”

It’s the first full day since Governor John Bel Edwards partially lifted the statewide mask mandate. Edwards says he altered the mask mandate for a number of reasons, among them the continued downward trend in COVID cases and fatalities. However, he still advises the use of face masks.

Cut 3 (10)  “…an unvaccinated.” 

The statewide mask mandate went into effect on July 13, 2020.

State health officials celebrate the progress that’s been made in addressing racial disparities in vaccination rates in Louisiana. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says our predicted rate of vaccination for Black residents is 17 percent higher than the national average.

Cut 13 (07)“…to do

Louisiana still has the third-lowest overall vaccination rate in the nation.