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.”

Two bills aimed at lowering drug prices authored by Senator Bill Cassidy are set to be signed into law by President Biden. One 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.”

The other bill counters a recent court ruling that made it harder to create generics.

Efforts continue in the search for the 12 missing crewmembers of a SeaCor lift boat that capsized seven miles off the coast of Port Fourchon. Six people have been rescued and one body has been recovered. The dead crew member recovered has been identified as 63-year-old boat captain David Ledet of Thibodaux. Marion Cuyler, the fiancee of Chase Morales, who remains missing hasn’t given up…

Cut 4 (05) “…faith alive.” 

One million Louisianans have now completed their full vaccine series. All Louisianans aged 16 and older are now eligible to get vaccinated and Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says we’ve hit a point where if you want a vaccine you really won’t have a hard time finding one.

Cut 11 (07) “….surpassed it.”

The New Orleans region leads the state in completed series at 27 percent of the population. Lake Charles and central Louisiana have the lowest rates at about 15 percent each.

The session continues to heat up the LSU sexual misconduct scandal. A line of questioning from Representative Denise Marcelle in Ways and Means led to an admission by LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan that LSU still has not written a mandatory reporting policy requiring employees to properly report sexual misconduct cases or be terminated.

23

Representative Aimee Freeman pointed out the University of Louisiana System has already written and implemented that policy…

Cut 10 (12) “..over.” 

The sexual misconduct scandal is now spreading across the LSU system leading to Shreveport Medical School Chancellor Dr. G.E. Ghali being placed on leave after allegations of sexual misconduct. Shreveport Senator Greg Tarver says Ghali has already been cleared by a probe and this may be dirty politics by the Baton Rouge campus ahead of an upcoming Legislative fight over medical school funding for Pennington Research Center…

Cut 8 (09) “…move forward”

An effort to further expand the state’s medical-marijuana program has some early success. Legislation that would set up a system of taxation for smoke-able medical marijuana clears a key committee and is headed to the House floor. Under the proposal, inhalable medical marijuana would be taxed at the state sales tax rate.

The effort would still require a separate piece of legislation allowing the use of “raw” medical marijuana in the state to pass.

LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan reveals that the school still has no written policy mandating that any employee who fails to report sexual misconduct incidents be immediately terminated. Given that information, Galligan was asked if he is comfortable with how the students are perceiving the school’s handling of Title Nine…

Cut 11 (12) “…happy” 

Many north Louisiana leaders are expressing concern over the decision to have Shreveport Medical School Chancellor Dr. G.E. Ghali on leave over allegations of sexual misconduct. Shreveport Senator Greg Tarver believes LSU Baton Rouge could be shifting the focus of the scandal to Shreveport in an effort to increase funding for medical facilities at the main campus.

Cut 8 (09) “…move forward

Crews are continuing their search today for 12 workers aboard a lift boat that capsized in the Gulf of Mexico just south of Port Fourchon Tuesday. Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Carlos Galarza says a dive team has been brought in, but stormy weather has delayed their efforts

Cut 12 (08)   “…have commenced.” 

Six people from Seacor Power were rescued alive and one person’s body was recovered from the Gulf of Mexico yesterday.

LSU says the body found in the Mississippi River in St. John the Baptist Parish on Tuesday is that of missing student Kori Gauthier of Opelousas.  The 19-year-old disappeared on April 7th and her car was found on top of the Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. Her uncle Spencer Gauthier posted a video on social media asking everyone to listen to Stevie Wonder’s song “These Three Words”….

Cut 5  (08)  “…those words.”

A Legislative committee discovers LSU still has not written a mandatory reporting policy requiring employees to properly report sexual misconduct cases. The discovery was made after Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle questioned LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan…

Cut 9 (13) “…policy.”

Shreveport Senator Greg Tarver is calling out LSU Baton Rouge amidst allegations that Shreveport Medical School Chancellor Dr. G.E. Ghali covered up sexual misconduct. Tarver says but the chancellor at the New Orleans has received more complaints than Ghali but was not placed on leave.

Cut 7 (12) “…different.”

Ghali was placed on leave after allegations of sexual misconduct.

A national transportation research organization says road and bridge conditions in the Bayou State are costing motorists $7.6 billion annually. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The House Civil Law Committee approves legislation that would allow victims of sexual assault to break their rental leases early.

Tigers Against Sexual Assault Co-President Angelina Cantelli says the legislation, by New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman, is vital for assault survivors…

Cut 13, 10 seconds, flashbacks

In this case a survivor would have to provide adequate documentation of the situation to their landlord, documentation certified by a qualified third party.

Abita Springs Representative Larry Freiman asked what about lessees who had home invasions, or were victims of other crimes at a rental unit…

Cut 15, 10 seconds, box

Lawmakers will consider whether the state needs to increase the gas tax to help secure soon-to-be additional federal funds for road and bridge repair. TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, has new data supporting that push indicating the poor conditions of roads in Louisiana is costing motorists in the state $7.6 billion a year. Erich Ponti with Louisiana Coalition to Fix Our Roads says the state is long overdue for more funding.

Cut 10 (08) “..since 1984.”

The 2021 Louisiana Survey finds most residents support investing in early childhood education and childcare. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson says when respondents were asked about different programs such as childcare or early childhood education for low-income families…

Cut 7 (12)  “…all these.”

12 crewmembers of a lift boat that capsized seven miles from Port Fourchon remain missing more than 24 hours after the vessel first took on water. Six of the ship’s original 19 crewmembers have been rescued so far, along with one confirmed death. Coast Guard Captain Will Watson says once news broke civilians started calling offering to help…

Cut 3 (09)  “…folks.” 

Efforts to find those missing will be complicated by the bad weather the state is currently enduring. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for all of southern Louisiana, and as far north as Alexandria until noon Thursday.

Cut 7 (11) “…Friday.”

Congresswoman Julia Letlow was sworn into office this morning to represent the state’s 5^th Congressional District. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Brooke Thorington”  

A 26-year-old Covington woman who fell off of her jet ski in the Tchefuncte River and spent over 12 hours in the water has died from her injuries. Family members of Laura Thomas shared the heartbreaking news on social media. Her sister-in-law said on Facebook that Thomas fought hard but the injuries are too much for her to survive.

The Coast Guard is calling for civilian help in locating 12 missing crewmembers of a SeaCor lift boat that capsized seven miles off Port Fourchon yesterday around 4:30. Coast Guard Captain Will Watson says the vessel is believed to have started taking on water around 4:30 PM Saturday as it encountered a “microburst” of unexpectedly bad weather.

Cut 4 (10) “…circumstance.” 

Six crewmembers were rescues, one has died.

If you do want to help out the search efforts know you could be in for some nasty weather. State Climatologist Barry Keim says flash flood watches are in effect across south Louisiana till noon Thursday so you need to remain alert…

Cut 8 (10) “…hand and hand”

Julia Letlow was sworn in this morning as the Congresswoman for the sprawling 5^th Congressional District…

Cut 14 (06) “…and for yours.” 

Letlow won the seat last month in special election landslide. Her husband, Luke Letlow, won the seat in December but died just weeks later of COVID triggering the special election. Julia’s two children along with the other members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation were present for the ceremony.

Alexandria Police have made an arrest in the murder of 19-year-old Courtney Coco, who was killed in 2004. Coco was last seen at her home two days before her body was discovered in an abandoned building in southwest Texas. Alexandria Police Sergeant Josh Peppers says Detective Tanner Dryden was assigned to the case in 2018

Cut 9 (09) “..the case.”

It’s another day of severe thunderstorms, hail, and flash flooding for the Bayou State. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a slow-moving cold front is responsible for the April showers and they’ll stay with us for the remainder of the week.

Cut 6 (12) “.. of Louisiana.”

An arrest has been made in the 2004 cold case murder of a 19-year-old in Alexandria. 45-year-old David Burns of Boyce has been charged with the second-degree murder of Courtney Coco who was last seen at her home two days before her body was discovered in an abandoned building in southwest Texas. Alexandria Police Sergeant Josh Peppers hopes the arrest is a relief for those who knew Coco

Cut 10 (06) “..the family.” 

Burns’s bond has been set at 500-thousand dollars.

The state halts the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until the CDC and FDA review data concerning six women who developed blood clots within days of the vaccine. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The Coast Guard is accepting offers from southeast Louisiana marine and air operators who are willing to help in the search for the 12 missing crewmembers of a Seacor lift boat that capsized seven miles off the coast of Port Fourchon yesterday afternoon.

There were some early signs of positive momentum for legislation long sought after by the business community Tuesday in the House. A bill by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder that would centralize local and sales tax collection using a single board received a 14-1 approval from a House Committee crucial to the bill’s passage….

Cut 6 (10) “.. our job.”

Currently, sales tax is collected by the state as well as individual cities and parishes.

Governor Edwards continues to beat the drum on raising the minimum wage. With hopes of a Congressional increase all but dead Edwards says it’s up to lawmakers to reward essential workers who kept the state going during the pandemic…

Cut 10 (09) “..needs.” 

The minimum wage is currently 7.25 an hour.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is backing legislation to be filed later this week that would increase hunting and fishing license costs. LDWF Secretary Jack Montoucet says they’re facing an imminent budget deficit because recreational fees haven’t increased in 20 years, commercial fees in 35 years, and…

Cut 4 (09)“…last year”

The requested increase would cost the average sportsman about ten dollars extra a year.

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt files legislation requiring the National Anthem to be played before all sporting events at state-funded facilities. Hewitt says young people are losing the spirit of patriotism and this is an opportunity to reeducate the youth.

Cut 13 (10) “…freedoms.”

The Chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport, Dr. GE Ghali, has been placed on administrative leave as a result of several federal EEOC complaints filed against the school alleging discrimination and sexual misconduct towards female employees by administrators and cover-ups and retaliation for reporting. Ghali says he strongly denies those allegations.

Johnson and Johnson vaccine usage in Louisiana has been put on hold after the CDC and FDA recommended pausing use after several incidents of blood clots were linked to use of the vaccine. Tulane School of Medicine Professor Doctor Lisa Morici says six women were diagnosed with blood clots six to thirteen days after their injection.

Cut 3 (10)  “…age of 50.” 

According to the Louisiana Department of Health 85,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in Louisiana.

Lawmakers appear to be warming to a proposal to centralize sales tax collection. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder brought the proposal to a House committee where it received positive reviews. Schexnayder proposes using a single board to collect local and sales taxes, which would make it easier on small businesses and assure the right amount of taxes is collected…

Cut 6 (10) “.. our job.”

The City of New Orleans will be the backdrop for the first movie production to leave the state of Georgia amid protest of the state’s new voting laws. Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s spokesperson, Beau Tidwell, says this could be the first of many productions leaving Georgia and relocating to Louisiana.

Cut 13 (09)“…have them.”

Emancipation will be the second Apple TV production filmed in Louisiana. The Tom Hanks feature Greyhound was shot in Baton Rouge in 2019