Legislation that could see municipalities stripped of state construction funds should they defund their police departments is headed into conference committee amid some major Senate-side changes.

When it left the House HB 38 was designed to stop police department budget cuts of more than 10 percent. Now it’s up to 25 percent and includes a number of other departments…

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That’s Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux who brought the amendment, saying those other services are also vital to protect. Bill author Alexandria Representative Lance Harris opposed the changes.

The bill had some vocal detractors like New Orleans Senator Joseph Bouie…

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A Senate Committee kills a bill that would give religious leaders and their flock immunity from prosecution should they gather for in-person services against state orders during an emergency, like was banned earlier in the pandemic. The bill was brought by Oil City Representative Danny McCormick who had an animated back and forth with Shreveport Senator Gregory Tarver before the legislation ultimately failed 3-2…

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The legislation was inspired by the arrest of Central Pastor Tony Spell.

Governor Edwards not-so-subtly indicates he does not view a bill that would allow the Legislature to overturn parts of a public health emergency favorably. HB 4 is sitting on his desk and Edwards says he can’t approve of any bill that limits his ability to make lifesaving pandemic restrictions…

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The Senate Judiciary Committee rejects a House approved bill that would bar the state from penalizing churches and church-goers for gathering for in-person services against state orders during an emergency.  Shreveport Senator Gregory Tarver and the bill’s author Oil City Representative Danny McCormick had a spirited back and forth over the legislation as the committee ultimate sided against it 3-2.

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Legislative Republicans await Governor Edwards’ decision on a potential veto of legislation they passed that would allow the Legislature to overturn parts of a public health emergency. Edwards not so subtly hinted he has a blanket policy about legislation like this…

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NBA Hall of Famer and LSU Icon Shaquille O’Neal has to update his resume as he has a new job with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office. Brooke Thorington has more

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High school sports stadiums in 26 different parishes may now move to 50 percent capacity for games. That criteria is the same as for allowing bars, a requirement that an area have below a five percent positivity rate on COVID tests. This order takes effect tomorrow and increases that capacity from 25 percent.

Governor Edwards hints at the possibility that he won’t be signing HB4, a House and Senate backed effort to give lawmakers the ability to strike down certain public health restrictions on businesses. Edwards says he will not be surrendering any authority to people whose approach he finds “totally unreasonable.”

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Should Edwards veto this legislation the House would reportedly move ahead with signing a petition that would end the public health emergency wholesale, triggering a likely court battle.

The Senate Judiciary Committee rejects legislation barring the state from penalizing churches and church-goers for gathering for in-person services against state orders during an emergency. The hearing led to an animated exchange between Shreveport Senator Gregory Tarver and the bill’s author Oil City Representative Danny McCormick.

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Five people have been arrested for allegedly stealing money from the state’s unemployment trust fund via fraud and identity theft. The unemployment trust fund is now borrowing money from the feds to keep the checks coming for those out of work. Attorney General Jeff Landry says it takes money from those who need it.

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Two of those arrested, Kayla Giles and Teri Thibodeaux allegedly ran a massive fraud scheme targeting unemployment programs in multiple states using 25 stolen identities to siphon off 300,000 dollars in total. Giles was already awaiting trial on a 2nd-degree murder charge from 2018.

Senate Finance narrowly approves legislation that would allow the Legislature to strip municipalities of state construction funds should they reduce their police budgets by 25 percent. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says the bill is a response to the “Defund the Police” movement. He says the government’s most important function is providing for public safety…

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Shreveport Senator Gregory Tarver objected…

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When the bill left the House the threshold was set a ten percent reduction but Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud says in small towns…

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The House and Senate agree on legislation allowing lawmakers to strike down specific public health restrictions without overturning the Governor’s entire public health order. Erath Representative Blake Miguez says his constituents demanded action on loosening pandemic health restrictions and this bill gives lawmakers a tool to do that.

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The bill is headed to the Governor and if signed would allow certain limitations like stadium capacity to be struck down while maintaining orders like mask mandates. The Governor has previously indicated he would veto efforts to undercut his public health authority. Under the bill, the Governor would still be allowed to issue an emergency order but 30 days later when it came time for a renewal a majority vote in the House and Senate could remove certain parts of it.

The Ka’Mauri Harrison act, legislation inspired by the suspension of a Jefferson Parish 4^th grader who had a BB gun briefly visible in view of his webcamera during an online class has been approved in the Senate and House and is headed to the Governor’s desk.

Legislation has cleared the Capitol and is headed to the Governor’s desk that would allow, through a majority vote in the House and Senate, for lawmakers to essentially line-item veto certain COVID public health restrictions issued by the Governor. The Democratic Caucus voted against the bill. Laplace Representative Randal Gaines says striking at the Governor’s ability to manage the pandemic endangers public health.

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Supporters of the bill disagree saying that after 30 days the Legislature should be more involved in managing crisis restrictions.

The Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity at LSU is under investigation for an alleged hazing incident that lead to the hospitalization of a freshman with alcohol poisoning.  East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says Moore plans to meet with LSU Police tomorrow and discuss evidence and details…

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The Saints and New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell reach an agreement to allow some fans into the Superdome for gamedays. The phased plan will begin with 3,000 fans this Sunday, before increasing to 6,000 fans for the November games and as much as 15,000 fans for games in December. Coach Sean Payton says this is a great way to gradually allow fans back into the Dome.

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Only season ticket holders will be allowed in and these numbers are below the reported 35 percent capacity requested by the team in August.

It doesn’t sound like LSU quarterback Myles Brennan will play in Saturday night’s home game against South Carolina. If Brennan can’t play, LSU will start a true freshman at quarterback, either T-J Finley or Max Johnson. Coach Ed Orgeron has confidence in both guys

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Orgeron says a decision on who will start will be made later this week.

The House and Senate find agreement on legislation that would allow lawmakers to strike down select public health emergency restrictions in the Governor’s public health orders. The bill by Covington Representative Mark Wright is now heading to the Governor’s desk on a 54-30 vote.

If signed into law the legislation would allow lawmakers to surgically remove restrictions like mask mandates, capacity limits, or other limitations without rescinding an entire public health declaration on a majority vote of both chambers.

Erath Representative Blake Miguez says his constituents demanded legislative action to check the Governor’s power, and this is a good start…

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But LaPlace Representative Randal Gaines says it endangers public health…

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Governor Edwards has indicated he would veto any attempts to undercut his public health powers.

Legislation that could strip municipalities of state construction funds should they reduce their police budget has stalled amidst opposition from the Louisiana Municipal Association.

The legislation was brought in response to the “Defund the Police” movement, but LMA President John Gallagher says you have to leave these kinds of issues to local leaders…

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Bill author Alexandria Representative Lance Harris defended it saying municipal public safety issues can impact the entire state.

The legislation would require local governments that cut police budgets by at least ten percent to testify to a legislative committee. If the committee decides the reduction was political and would hurt public safety that municipality could be denied state construction dollars in the next fiscal year.

The LSU football team used its unexpected bye weekend to try and fix a defense that’s given up nearly 500 yards of total offense a game through the first three contests. Linebacker Jabril Cox says they’ve simplified the playbook in the hopes of playing closer to the LSU standard…

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LSU will also have to simplify the game plan on offense as there’s a good chance they’ll start a true freshman at quarterback this Saturday against South Carolina. Starter Myles Brennan is questionable, so T-J Finley and Max Johnson are competing in practice this week to be the starter if Brennan can’t go.

The Saints will allow 3,000 fans into the Superdome this Sunday for the game against Carolina as part of an agreement with the City of New Orleans over capacity. That number will rise to 6,000 for the November 15^th game against San Fran, and again to 15,000 for the December 20^th game against the Chiefs. This is below what the Saints were initially hoping to get, which was a reported 35 percent capacity in the Dome and comes as just last week there was open discussion about the possibility that Saints home games could be played up the road in Baton Rouge in Tiger Stadium, much like they were after Katrina.

After missing the first four games of the season, because of injuries, Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport saw his first action of the season in New Orleans last game, a 30-27 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Davenport played 21 snaps and had one pass defensed

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Coach Sean Payton hopes they can increase Davenport’s playing time.

The House and Senate are at an impasse over legislative proposals that would eliminate or heavily restrict the Governor’s ability to enforce COVID health restrictions on businesses and there’s only a week left in the special session. The House favors aggressive action against the Governor’s restirctions but the Senate is resisting those demands and LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says if a legislative agreement can’t be made before the session ends October 27^th we could see the House take unprecedented action…

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For the next six days, Airforce C-130s will mosquito spray six hurricane-impacted parishes that are seeing booming mosquito populations. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says it’s a FEMA-approved mission…

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One man is dead and three others suffered gunshot wounds after an alleged robbery Monday night near LSU’s campus. Baton Rouge Police Sgt Don Coppola says three individuals tried to rob the home but someone inside shot at them after they entered killing 20-year old Marcus Hayes Jr.

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Police say two of the six robbery victims sustained non-life-threatening gunshot injuries.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell met with Saints officials Monday to discuss the return of fans to the Superdome. Mayor Spokesperson Beau Tidwell says Cantrell had a very productive talk with the NFL franchise and the Mayor wants a phased and gradual opening of the Dome.

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Louisiana reports 685 new COVID cases today and six new deaths.