The Coast Guard is ending its search for eight missing crewmembers from the Seacor Power lift boat. Don Molino has the story…

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Don Molino”  

A 12-year-old’s birthday in LaPlace got shot up Saturday resulting in injuries to nine juveniles. Two juveniles remain in the hospital in stable condition. The shooting allegedly began after two groups of juvenile men met at the party, got into an argument, and began firing. No witnesses have so far come forward with information about the shooting.

Committees in the Upper and Lower Chambers approve legislative that would lower state income tax rates in exchange for removing state income tax deductions for federal taxes paid. House Ways and Means Chairman Stuart Bishop brought the lower chamber bill…

Cut 3 (08)  “…right direction.” 

The proposed tax swap plan has a lot of support among legislative leaders and will need a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate and also voter approval

Legislation that would task the Department of Health with creating a statewide grading system for all water systems is headed to the Senate floor. Bill author, Parks Senator Fred Mills says the grading system would give local communities a roadmap for potential future water system consolidations.

Cut 10 (12) “.merge” 

The first grades would be required by 2023.

The US Coast Guard announces they are suspending the search for the eight crewmembers from the Seacor Power lift boat that capsized last week eight miles south of Port Fourchon. Captain Will Watson says suspending a search is one of the toughest decisions the Coast Guard has to make

Cut 12 (08)   “…still” 

Seacor Marine President John Gellert says 17 divers will continue to search the capsized lift boat as they remain committed to recovering all of the missing.

House and Senate committees approve a tax reform that would remove the ability to Louisiana taxpayers to deduct taxes paid to the federal government on their state tax returns, but lower individual income tax rates. Senator Brett Allain of Franklin calls it good tax policy…

Cut 5  (06)  “…we have now.”

Legislation that would task the Department of Health with creating a statewide grading system for all water systems is headed to the Senate floor. Bill author, Parks Senator Fred Mills says the A through F grading system will be based on past violations, the system’s financial sustainability, infrastructure violations, and customer satisfaction.

Cut 11 (10) “..public”

Three people, including a child, are dead after a suspected road rage incident in Jefferson Parish Saturday ends in a fatal wreck. 49-year-old Paul Ferrara of New Orleans alleged spun out of control after feuding with another driver and struck another car, resulting in his death and the deaths of 31-year-old Raish-Nia Wright of Tennessee and 11-year-old Dezerra Wright of Tennesee. Trooper Monroe Dillon says if someone is threatening you with road rage, try not to engage them.

Cut 8 (11) “…location”

Six people have been rescued and four bodies have been recovered of crew members from the Seacor Power, which capsized on Tuesday due to hurricane-force winds.  One of the bodies was that of of 63-year-old David Ledet, the captain of the lift boat, along with 69-year-old Ernest Williams.  There are nine crew members that remain missing, search and rescue efforts are still ongoing.

There’s strong early momentum in the Legislature for the legalization and taxation of raw, smoke-able medical marijuana in Louisiana. Matt Doyle has more

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The first of three major SWEPCO wind projects is underway to deliver low-cost renewable energy for their customers in northwest and central Louisiana. SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says this is the largest renewable energy project ever for a Louisiana utility and will impact 225,000 customers.

Cut 6 (06) “facilities”

The projects are actually in north-central Oklahoma and the windmills are connected to the power grid for Louisiana.

Two bills aimed at lowering drug prices authored by Senator Bill Cassidy are set to be signed into law by President Biden.  The first bill provides educational material to doctors and patients educating them about “biosimilar” alternatives to expensive name-brand treatments.  The second bill counters a recent court ruling that would have made it harder for much cheaper generic medications to be created after patents on expensive name brands lapse…

Cut 10 (08) “fall”

The bodies of four members of the Seacor Power have been recovered and six of members have been rescued.  The Seacor Power capsized on Tuesday due to hurricane-force wind.  Two of the bodies have been identified as captain David Ledet of Thibodaux and 69-year-old Ernest Williams.  Nine crew members still remain missing as search and rescue efforts continue.

The state’s unemployment rate is now the lowest it’s been since the start of the pandemic, but new job growth remains a bit sluggish. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Covington Representative Mark Wright is working with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to pass a bill that would require drivers convicted of a first-offense DUI to install an in-car interlock device system in their vehicle for at least 180 days. Wright says the interlock device will not let the car start unless it knows the driver is sober.

Cut 4 (10) “the car”

Legislation setting up a tax structure for “raw” smoke-able medical marijuana gets unanimous approval from House Ways and Means.  Houma Representative Tanner Magee says there’s been a big shift in public perception of pot and while he doesn’t expect to see recreational marijuana legalized this year, he thinks it will happen soon.

Cut 14 (06) “Louisiana”

Six people have been rescued and four bodies have been recovered of crew members from the Seacor Power, which capsized on Tuesday due to hurricane-force winds.  One of the bodies was that of of 63-year-old David Ledet, the captain of the lift boat, along with 69-year-old Ernest Williams.  There are nine crew members that remain missing, search and rescue efforts are still ongoing.

There’s strong early momentum in the Legislature for the legalization and taxation of raw, smoke-able medical marijuana in Louisiana. Matt Doyle has more

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The first of three major SWEPCO wind projects is underway to deliver low-cost renewable energy for their customers in northwest and central Louisiana. SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says this is the largest renewable energy project ever for a Louisiana utility and will impact 225,000 customers.

Cut 6 (06) “facilities”

The projects are actually in north-central Oklahoma and the windmills are connected to the power grid for Louisiana.

Two bills aimed at lowering drug prices authored by Senator Bill Cassidy are set to be signed into law by President Biden.  The first bill provides educational material to doctors and patients educating them about “biosimilar” alternatives to expensive name-brand treatments.  The second bill counters a recent court ruling that would have made it harder for much cheaper generic medications to be created after patents on expensive name brands lapse…

Cut 10 (08) “fall”

Search and rescue efforts continue for missing crew members of the Seacor Power, a lift boat that capsized when hurricane-force winds struck the vessel in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.  Six people have been rescued and four bodies have been recovered so far. One of the bodies is that of 63-year-old David Ledet of Thibodaux, he was the captain of the Seacor Power. Nine crew members still remain missing.

The first of three renewable energy projects are underway for SWEPCO customers, Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Legislation setting up a tax structure for “raw” smoke-able medical marijuana gets unanimous approval from House Ways and Means. The bill, by Houma Representative Tanner Magee, is part of a two-piece legislative effort to allow the sale of raw medical marijuana in Louisiana.

Cut 12 (10) “Mississippi”

Two bills aimed at lowering drug prices authored by Senator Bill Cassidy are set to be signed into law by President Biden. The first bill provides educational material to doctors and patients educating them about “biosimilar” alternatives to expensive name-brand treatments. Cassidy says they do the same thing at a fraction of the cost…

Cut 9 (09) “thing”

Cassidy says his next healthcare affordability push will focus on Medicare drug prices.

The first of three renewable energy projects are underway for SWEPCO customers…

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

The National Geological Survey reports parts of northwest Louisiana along the border with Texas experienced earthquake shockwaves after a 3.1 magnitude quake was reported around 7:43 PM last night six miles west of Blanchard. It’s the third minor quake reported in the area this month.

The LaFourche Coroner reports the body of a second SeaCor Power crewmember has been found in the Gulf. That leaves 11 crew members still unaccounted for and family members like Marion Cuyler, the fiancee of one of the missing men, say the hope is that they are surviving in an air bubble in the capsized ship…

Cut 3 (10)  “…in there.” 

The Legislature seems to be on track to further expand the medical marijuana program to include raw or smoke able marijuana, but Houma Representative Tanner Magee says despite that progress he doubts full legalization will come this year. He is optimistic though it will happen soon…

Cut 14 (06) “..Louisiana.” 

Magee says one of the most frequent requests he gets from constituents is for the full recreational legalization of marijuana.