Starting today local governments can choose whether or not they’d like to maintain the mask mandate. Governor Edwards says he lifted the statewide rule because of declining case counts and increasing vaccinations, but even though he’s personally vaccinated he will continue to mask up in public settings.

Cut 5  (05)  “…to do.”

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

Houma Representative Mike Fesi decides not to move forward with his bill to require a juvenile to get written consent from both parents to receive gender therapy. Advocates, health professionals, and transgender individuals like this LSU student testified against it.

Cut 9 (10) “..denied care”

Senate Health and Welfare Chairman Fred Mills says he received 400 cards in opposition to the legislation.

A House committee passed another bill that would allow people in Louisiana 21 and older without felony records to carry a concealed handgun without needing a state permit or training. Louisiana Shooting Association President Dan Zelenka supports the bill. He says getting a concealed carry permit costs up to 325 dollars and requires attendance at a nine-hour course.

Cut 6 (12) “…defense”

Governor Edwards has signaled his opposition to the bill.

The big shocking legislative news of the day comes out of House Criminal Justice where a proposal to give Louisiana voters a chance to decide if recreational marijuana use should be legal gains passage and is headed to the House floor for the first time ever. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Governor Edwards has consistently voiced his opposition to any legalization effort for marijuana but at his Tuesday afternoon press conference says he’ll make a decision if it hits his desk.

Governor Edwards partially lifts the statewide mask mandate. Masks will still be required in government offices, schools, health centers and public transportation. Local governments can set their own mandate.

 Police reform legislation that would, among other things, end nighttime no-knock warrants, is headed to the Senate floor after unanimous committee approval. Norco Senator Gary Smith says nighttime no-knocks can result in the wrong people getting shot…

Cut 8 (10) “…situation”

A Senate committee unanimously approves a bill requiring the National Anthem be played before all sporting events at publicly funded facilities in Louisiana. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt wrote the bill. She says it’s in honor of veterans…

Cut 9 (07) “..country”

Hewitt noted there are no penalties included in the bill for facilities that do not comply.

The House Criminal Justice Committee agrees with a proposal to give Louisiana voters a chance to decide if recreational marijuana use should be legal…

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

A civilian volunteer search team scouring coastal Terrebonne Parish waterways for signs of the missing SeaCor crewmembers stumbles upon a package containing two pounds of cocaine that had washed up on Last Island. Terrebonne Sheriffs confirm the package is unrelated to the capsized vessel.

New Orleans Police are hunting for a French Quarter street performer known for wearing a Star Wars Chewbacca costume who allegedly stabbed another man after an argument Saturday night in the Quarter. New Orleans paramedic Holly Sherman from A&E’s “Nightwatch” told Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge says she first heard the call come in as saying bigfoot was stabbed…

Cut 7 (07) “.got somebody…”

A witness says the suspect’s costume head fell off during the altercation revealing a black male in his 20’s. 

A Senate committee unanimously approves a bill requiring the National Anthem be played before all sporting events at publicly funded facilities in Louisiana. State Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Joey Strickland attended the committee in support. He says as veteran, and father to three veterans…

Cut 11 (11) “…Louisianans”

2020 Census data released Monday shows the Bayou State’s population at 4.6 million, up 2.4 percent from 2010 but well below the national average  increase of 7.4 percent. Demographer Greg Rigamer says our slow growth is the result of our poor economy…

Cut 3 (05)  “…money.” 

Louisiana is ranked 25^th among states for population, the same spot it held after the 2010 Census.

This afternoon at 3:30 Governor Edwards will announce whether the state will further loosen COVID restrictions tomorrow. Currently, most businesses are allowed to operate at full capacity, but with social distancing. Edwards warns that even with progress being made locally, some of the final restrictions may have to stick for a while longer…

Cut 6 (11) “…Louisiana.”

Nursing home COVID cases are at all-time lows as evidence suggests within those facilities the vaccine campaign has created a form of herd immunity. Tulane Epidemiologist Doctor Susan Hassig says not only are those vaccines preventing new infections, but they’re also saving lives for the few who do test positive.

Cut 8 (08) “…outcome.”

Despite the success of the nursing home vaccination campaign Louisiana as a whole is third-worst in the nation for vaccination rates.

Legislation now headed to the House floor bans the OMV from putting a person’s vaccination status on their driver’s license. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says including medical information on state IDs would be a violation of privacy.

Cut 12 (10) “…matters.”

An OMV spokesperson says the office is currently not authorized by the Legislature to do this anyway.

The House gives approval to legislation that would establish a flat corporate income tax rate for in the state of six percent. Currently, there’s a tiered system wherein companies pay less than 6% on La. taxable income under 50,000 dollars.

While ultimately voting for the legislation Alexandria Representative Lance Harris noted…

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Bill author and Columbia Rep Niel Riser argued this change would pay dividends as a business grows…

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The House passed companion legislation that balanced out the revenue losses by eliminating businesses’ ability to write off federal taxes on their state tax bill. The change will need voter approval.

Your state ID won’t be turned into a vaccine passport under legislation now heading to the House floor. Gonzales Representative Kathy Edmonston’s bill bans the Office of Motor Vehicles from putting a person’s vaccine status on their driver’s license or requiring vaccination to receive an ID.

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But there’s question as to whether the bill is actually needed as a spokesperson for the OMV told a House committee that the office is currently not authorized by the Legislature to put someone’s vaccine status on a driver’s license or require vaccination to receive one.

Legislation lowering personal state income tax rates in exchange for eliminating the ability to deduct federal taxes gets temporarily shelved after hitting the House floor.

House Education will hear a bill Tuesday morning banning the teaching of what is labeled “critical race theory” in Louisiana schools.

New Orleans Senator and Democrat Troy Carter will be the next Congressman for the 2^nd Congressional District after beating fellow New Orleans Senator and Democrat Karen Carter Peterson 55-45 in Saturday’s special election. JMC Analytics Pollster John Couvillon says Peterson’s decision to accuse Carter of being a “Trump conservative” likely backfired…

Cut 5  (10)  “…the  two.”

Voter turnout for the runoff was 17-percent.

Hall of Fame Baylor women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey has accepted an offer to helm LSU’s struggling women’s program. The voice of the Lady Tigers, Patrick Wright, believes Mulkey can make LSU a winner quickly…

Cut 8 (11) “…the top again..”

Mulkey has three national titles to her name.

A large air and water search continues for the seven crew members still missing from when the Seacor Power capsized off of Louisiana’s coast nearly two weeks ago. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Tomorrow at 330 Governor Edwards will announce whether or not the state will further lift COVID restrictions when the ongoing public health emergency order expires Wednesday. This comes as just under a million and a half Louisianans have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

Tickfaw native and Hall of Fame coach Kim Mulkey has been named the LSU Women’s Basketball Team’s new head coach, leaving Baylor after winning three titles with the Bears. The voice of the Lady Tigers, Patrick Wright, says Mulkey can make the Lady Tigers title contenders again

Cut 7 (12) “…recapture that.”

Along with a distinguished coaching record, the 58-year-old has two national titles as a player at La Tech and a 1984 Olympic Gold Medal.

New Orleans Senator Troy Carter defeated fellow Democrat Karen Carter Peterson 55-45 in Saturday’s run-off to represent the state’s Second Congressional district. JMC Analytics Pollster John Couvillon says the difference-maker was the white vote breaking strongly for Carter…

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The state mails over 100,000 residents letters encouraging them to utilize a FEMA mass vaccination site in Baton Rouge that’s equipped to do 3,000 vaccinations a day, but right now is only administering about 100 a day. Governor John Bel Edwards says the low volume at the site is a reflection of the state’s rapid decline in vaccine demand. He says if you’ve been vaccinated, please encourage your friends and family to do the same…

Cut 10 (11) “…doctor.” 

As of today’s update, nearly 1.5 million Louisianans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.