A bill limiting the amount of time the state can keep someone behind bars before filing criminal charges narrowly escapes from House Criminal Justice. Bill sponsor, Representative Ted James says currently a person can remain in jail for up to 120 days for capital offenses, 60 days for felonies, and 45 days for misdemeanors.

Cut 13 (10) “…without charge.”

The bill would shorten the period to five days for most offenses and 30 for more serious charges.

Representative Tony Bacala opposed it saying this could result in District Attorneys filing charges on everyone before the fifth day before cases can be thoroughly investigated.

Cut 14 (11) “…come back.”

The vote was 5-4 in favor.

The prospects of expanding the state’s medical-marijuana program to include the raw smokable form are looking pretty bright with a bill clearing House Health and Welfare 12-1. Chairman Larry Bagley says his deeply conservative district supports this…

Cut 12 (07) “…now.”

Governor Edwards says he is inclined to support that expansion of the medical marijuana program. One thing he’s not inclined to support: an effort to remove the requirement that Louisianans get a state permit to carry a concealed handgun…

23

Lieutenant Terrance Pleasant of the Winnsboro police was booked into jail last night on allegations that he solicited sexual favors and money from a woman who was involved in a two-vehicle crash in exchange for a favorable insurance report. State Police Trooper Michael Reichardt says a grand jury has indicted Pleasant on one count of public bribery and one count of abuse of office. He says police officers are not above the law…

Cut 5  (07)  “…we have”

Pleasant was a 15-year veteran of the department.

The Cajun Navy is asking for donations to help pay for fuel in the ongoing civilian search efforts for missing members of a capsized SeaCor lift boat. Ronnie Adams of Swamp People fame made the plea…

Cut 11 (11) “…kids”

Despite the ongoing sexual misconduct scandal at LSU the school’s list of eight finalists for the job of LSU System President only includes one woman. LSU Professor and famed political consultant James Carville says that’s highly unusual in 2021…

Cut 13 (07)“….list”

The one woman on the list is University of Maryland professor and former Provost Mary Ann Rankin.

Bossier City Police arrested a 30-year-old man for first-degree murder in connection with the shooting and vehicle crash that claimed the life of 29-year old Hannah Sheffield earlier this month.  Bossier City Police spokesperson Traci Ponder says Demetrius McCoy was already in jail on other charges when investigators served him a warrant.

Cut 6 (10) “..shooting”

Legislation long sought after by the state’s business community centralizing the state’s sales tax collection system wins House approval 96-4. Speaker Clay Schexnayder brought the bill…

Cut 13

The bill moves to the Senate.

A Senate Committee clears a minimum wage increase on a narrow 3-2 margin. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter’s legislation would increase the minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour next year. Carter says we owe this to frontline workers.

21

The legislation is expected to face an uphill battle in the full Senate.

The Senate is also set to take up legislation inspired by the ongoing sexual misconduct scandal at LSU. A sweeping piece of legislation was approved unanimously in committee that does everything from mandating higher ed employees properly report known incidents of “power-based violence”, to requiring the chancellor of a Louisiana higher education institution must submit public reports of those incidents.

LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan says the legislation has the higher ed community’s full support…

Cut 5  (09)  “…safe”

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s bill eliminating the state income and franchise taxes makes it out of House Ways and Means. Nelson says to make up for an estimated four billion dollars in lost revenue, local governments can raise property and sales taxes

Cut 13 (08)“….income tax rate”

And legislation requiring all five years olds attend kindergarten clears Senate Education 5-1. The bill was opposed by Homeschool Louisiana…

Cut 11 (09) “…happy about”

Legislation inspired by the LSU sexual misconduct scandal mandating higher ed employees properly report known incidents of “power-based violence” is headed to the Senate floor. LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan says this legislation is vital…

Cut 5  (09)  “…safe”

Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed also spoke in favor of the bill.

The House Ways and Means Committee advances a proposal that would eliminate the state’s income tax on residents and a tax on businesses known as the corporate franchise tax. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson says to make up for an estimated four billion dollars in lost revenue, local governments can raise property and sales taxes…

Cut 13 (08)“….income tax rate”

Senate Education votes 5-1 in favor of a bill that would make kindergarten mandatory in Louisiana. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields’ bill would require all children to start school at the age of five. Homeschool Louisiana Government Affairs spokesperson Jesse Leger spoke in opposition. She says five-year-olds should be outside playing, not limited to a classroom setting…

Cut 11 (09) “…happy about”

A Senate bill to raise the state minimum wage to $15 an hour beginning in 2021 advances from Senate Labor 3 to 2. Bill author, New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says the top five occupations with the greatest number of workers earning less than $8.25 an hour are cashiers, waiters, food prep workers, home healthcare aides, and fast-food workers. Carter says these are all essential.

21

Legislation inspired by the LSU sexual misconduct scandal mandating, among other things, that higher ed employees properly report known incidents of “power-based violence” is headed to the Senate floor. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow…

Cut 3 (08)  “…existed” 

Power-based violence is defined as dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking.

A bill mandating five-year-olds to go kindergarten is headed to the Senate floor as well. Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Legal Director Sarah Vandergriff says early education increases student literacy rates.

Cut 10 (06) “….is supported.” 

The organization known as Homeschool Louisiana argues five-year-olds should be outside playing and not limited to a classroom setting and this is an overreach of government.

Louisiana elected officials react to a jury convicting former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin of the murder and manslaughter of George Floyd. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

UL and LSU system students won’t have to be vaccinated to attend on-campus classes in fall, joining a strong majority of other American universities that have adopted the policy. UL System President Jim Henderson says vaccines are safe and effective, but he has concerns about mandating students take a vaccine that is still under FDA emergency use authorization.

Cut 12 (07)   “..vaccine” 

Full biological licensing for vaccines may not be available until 2022.

Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. The incident occurred last during May where Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for about nine and a half minutes. The murder triggered explosive worldwide anti-racism protests and put the Black Lives Matter movement front and center throughout the summer of 2020.

The Edwards administration announces it’s using 216 million dollars in federal coronavirus stimulus money on road and infrastructure projects. The federal money replaces the lost gas tax revenue the state experienced in 2020 when fewer people traveled due to the pandemic. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says 50-million dollars will go towards extending I-49 from Lafayette to New Orleans…

Cut 7 (12) “..to construction”

LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan withdraws his name from being named permanent President. Galligan, who served as Dean of LSU’s Law School, was named to the post of interim President in January of 2020. Galligan says he feels teaching is what he does best, and the role of president limits his ability to instruct.

Cut 4 (05) “…classroom.” 

Galligan will remain interim until the board names his replacement.

Legislation allowing a statewide amendment vote on expanding the size of the State Supreme Court to nine from the current seven is headed to the Senate floor. Along with expanding the size bill author and Covington Senator Patrick McMath says it also calls for a redistricting of the State Supreme Court to be conducted after every census.

Cut 10 (08) “.problem” 

If approved by voters the amendment would become effective in 2025.

Students at UL and LSU system schools will not have to be vaccinated to attend classes in fall. UL System President Jim Henderson says it’s mostly due to an ethical concern with mandating vaccine use for non-fully licensed vaccines. That being said he says you should still get one.

 Cut 13 (08)“….campuses”

LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan withdraws his name from being named permanently to the post. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

A Lafayette couple has been cited for allegedly possessing a live grey wolf. It’s illegal to possess a wolf in Louisiana and 47-year-old Andrew Hill and 49-year-old Jill Kramer are the alleged owners of the wolf, which has been sent to a K-9 training facility. LDWF began investigating after someone complained they saw a person walking a wolf in front of an elementary school in Lafayette.

Major tax reform legislation advantaged out of committees in both the Senate and House that would lower state income tax rates but eliminate state tax deductions for federal taxes. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says non-partisan groups have backed this reform for years…

Cut 4 (09) “…more fair PM

The change would need two-thirds backing in both chambers and approval from voters.

On a 3-2 vote, a bill allowing Louisianans to carry concealed handguns without a concealed carry permit is headed to the Senate floor. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter asked bill author, Senator Jay Morris, about the specifics…

27

20 states have so far adopted Constitutional Carry laws.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he will reject legislation to be considered impacting transgender sports participation and healthcare access for teens.

Cut 11 (09) “…individuals” AM

On a slim 4-3 vote a bill authorizing a parish-wide vote in St. Tammany Parish over allowing a casino to be built in Slidell moves to the Senate floor. Louisiana Baptist Convention President David Cranford opposes allowing the vote…

Cut 5 (11)“…wolves.” AM

But bill author and Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt countered…

22

The proposed casino would be built by P2E, who seeks to relocate DiamondJacks from Bossier to the waterfront in Slidell.

With no opposition, a Senate committee approved a bill that would task the Louisiana Department of Health with creating a comprehensive grading system for state water systems by 2023. The bill author says the list could be used to map out a series of municipal water system consolidations.