LSU expects all its football players will be registered to vote by tomorrow.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

The first round of Pandemic EBT cards are set to arrive in mailboxes this week but they will be in plain white envelopes, so the state is warning recipients to be on the lookout so they won’t be accidentally tossed out. The original filing deadline for the cards was June 8th and it is been extended to the 15^th for recipients of free or reduced-price lunches at schools. The benefits amount to $285 per child.

State health officials are concerned about rising COVID numbers in the Lake Charles, Alexandria, and Monroe regions. Assistant Health Secretary Alex Billioux says there’s evidence that a worrying level of community spread is occurring in those three regions, and it’s backed up by data from their contact tracing program…

Cut 6 (09) “…card games.”

In the Lake Charles region, Billioux notes the number of new COVID hospitalizations in many hospitals has jumped from just a few to roughly 20 new cases as of last week.

A Greater New Orleans Foundation study indicates nearly three-quarters of nonprofits throughout southeast Louisiana have suffered a financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. G-N-O-F CEO Andy Kopplin says most nonprofits have been hurt financially by canceled fundraisers and fee-for-service programs.

Cut 7 (10) “…extraordinary financial challenges.”

There will be no concrete action taken in this special session to address policing reforms in Louisiana, but advocates have begun laying the groundwork to tackle the issue in a potential fall special session or next year’s regular session.

One of those efforts came today in a House committee where a resolution was introduced seeking to create a study group to analyze policing policy in Louisiana. The resolution sparked a fiery debate amongst members of the committee due to it including language mentioning George Floyd and the killing of black men by white police officers. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton called it offensive…

Cut 30

But resolution sponsor Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says people should instead be insulted by ongoing issues of police brutality.

Cut 15 (06)“  actions” 

The resolution passed after members agreed to remove language mentioning George Floyd. A similar resolution also passed in a Senate committee.

The House approves a 34 billion dollar budget for the fiscal year starting July 1st.

Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says it’s a four billion dollar total means of finance increase, and part of the increase is due to an influx of federal dollars from the CARES Act…

Cut 10 (10) “…expenses.”

Harris says 13 months from now the state will, if current spending levels hold, be faced with a 731 million dollar deficit.

During the regular session, lawmakers passed criminal justice reform measures that advocates say will cut down on recidivism. One bill allows parolees to check in with their officers virtually. Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer says this saves parolees from taking off from work to meet their parole officer.

Cut 3 (08)  “…work.”  

Another bill celebrated that passed required the Department of Corrections to issue ID cards with work certifications to those leaving prison.

A resolution calling for more study into policing practices leads to a tense argument in a House Committee. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

COVID-19 numbers released from the state today show an increase in cases by 418, bringing the total case count to 44,030. This is the seventh of the last ten days where the state has reported 400-plus cases. Total fatalities… 2,855, an increase of 11. Hospitalizations 549, down by 19. Vent usage sees an uptick, increasing by 5 to 72.

An attorney for Thomas McGlothen, a black man who died in April while in the custody of Shreveport police disagrees with a coroner’s report that said the 44-year-old died from excited delirium. Lawyer James Carter calls that junk science…
Cut 10 (06) “…all that is.”
Carter points to a newly released video that shows officers beating McGlothen shortly before he died.

During the regular session, lawmakers passed criminal justice reforms that advocates say will cut down on recidivism. Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer pointed to one of the reforms, a resolution continuing a commission dedicated to studying criminal justice system funding. He says right now much of the funds come from fines and fees on poor people…

Cut 5 (11)  “…ago.”

That resolution was brought by Houma Representative Tanner Magee. The commission was first formed in 2019.

Fiery debate in a House committee today as legislators argue over whether or not a resolution to study policing policy should mention race or George Floyd. The resolution mentioned the killing of black men by white police officers and questioned the treatment of minorities by law enforcement. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton called it racist.

Cut 14 (07) “…elected”

But resolution sponsor Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says people should instead be insulted by ongoing issues of police brutality.

Cut 15 (06)“  actions” 

The resolution ultimately passed but was amended to remove any mention of George Floyd. It moves to the House floor.

Louisiana records its 44,000th confirmed COVID-19 case today.

A lawyer representing the family of Thomas McGlothen, a 44-year-old black man who died in police custody, says the four police officers shown in a video beating him, should be fired and charged with murder. McGlothen died April 6th, and the coroner says McGlothen’s death could have been preventable if officers reacted to his medical condition he experienced during the incident. Attorney James Carter says that’s enough proof the responding cops should be fired…

Cut 11 (10) “…McGlothen.”

During the regular session, lawmakers passed criminal justice reforms that advocates say will cut down on recidivism. Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer pointed to one of the reforms, a resolution continuing a commission dedicated to studying criminal justice system funding. He says right now much of the funds come from fines and fees on poor people…

Cut 5 (11)  “…ago.”

A lawyer representing the family of Thomas McGlothen, a 44-year-old black man who died in police custody, says the four police officers shown in a video beating him, should be fired and charged with murder. The four officers are on leave, but attorney James Carter says their badges should have been stripped immediately
Cut 9 (04) “…happen here.”
McGlothen died April 6th, but a Shreveport TV station released the video of his encounter with police this week. Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma says McGlothen died from excited delirium.
New Orleans moves into phase two of economic reopening on Saturday.  CEO of New Orleans and Company, the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau, Mark Romig says the easing of regulations will see restaurants and attractions from 25% to 50% capacity.
Cut 6 (09) “…zoo is open.”
Romig says Bourbon Street will see a bit more life as additional bars will be allowed to reopen.

During the regular session, lawmakers passed criminal justice reforms that advocates say will cut down on recidivism. One bill requires the Department of Corrections to issue ID cards to those leaving prison. Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer says the ID is tailor-made to help those recently released find employment.
Cut 4 (11)_ “…job”
SB 354 was brought by Covington Senator Patrick McMath.

COVID-19 numbers released from the state today show an increase in cases by 418, bringing the total case count to 44,030. Total fatalities… 2855, an increase of 11. Hospitalizations 549, down by 19. Vent usage sees an uptick, increasing by 5 to 72.

After a short break waiting for Cristobal to pass Monday the House got back to work Tuesday pushing a series of tax relief bills for Louisiana businesses worth millions of dollars out of House Ways and Means and onto the House floor.

Chairman of the Louisiana Economic Recovery Task Force Jason Decuir says the state owes it to these businesses to lend a helping hand after many were ordered closed or limited for months.

Cut 13, 8 seconds, safe

Those relief bills took many forms including a suspension of the franchise tax. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson, speaking on behalf of the Edwards Administration, says passing and maintaining these tax cuts could unbalance the state budget for years to come.

Cut 14, 10 seconds, session

Cities and states nationwide are taking up police reforms in the wake of massive George Floyd protests. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says it’s a bit late for legislators to file new bills with the special session in full swing so he’s aiming to introduce legislation next year or in a potential fall special session using recommendations from a 15-member task force he hopes to have created…

Cut 4 (07) “…so to speak.”

Fields says his legislation will also call for a statewide ban on the use of chokeholds by law enforcement, psychological testing for both prospective and current officers on a routine basis and new regulations for body cameras.

Governor Edwards signs legislation ending the auto insurance “Patriot Penalty” where military who were deployed overseas would return home to higher auto insurance rates. Anyone who is uninsured for six months or more must pay a higher rate upon reinsuring. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says that hammered the armed forces…

Cut 10 (09) “…rates.”

The University of Louisiana Monroe takes action following racist comments made online by faculty members, as a letter of termination has been sent to an instructor, and steps for termination have started with the other individual. ULM didn’t name the employees but according to the Monroe News Star assistant nursing professor, Mary Holmes referred to former President Barack Obama as a monkey and biology instructor Dennis Bell used a racial slur on his Facebook page.

Governor Edwards says Memorial Day weekend did not result in a significant increase in the transmission of COVID-19. Edwards has a few thoughts as to why…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma says a 44-year-old man died of natural causes while in the custody of the Shreveport Police Department on April sixth, but his death could have been preventable. Authorities say police officers used tasers, mace, and nightsticks to control Tommie McGlothen, who also fought with another citizen before law enforcement arrived. Thoma says McGlothen’s death could have possibly prevented, but he was left in the back of a patrol vehicle for 48 minutes…

Cut 4 (10)_ “…medical care”

Accused serial killer Ryan Sharpe will get a new trial as an East Feliciana Parish judge has voided his conviction, because it was not unanimous. Authorities say Sharpe fatally shot three people and injured another person during a 2017 shooting spree. Sharpe’s Attorney Tommy Damico believes Sharpe was insane at the time…
Cut 13 (13) “…insanity”  

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma says a 44-year-old man died of natural causes while in the custody of the Shreveport Police Department on April sixth, but his death could have been preventable. Thoma says Tommie McGlothen Junior died from excited delirium.
Cut 3 (09)  “…stimulant use.”  
Authorities say police officers used tasers, mace, and nightsticks to control McGlothen.
A third person has died from complications of a drowning incident on Grand Isle on Sunday. Over the last two weeks, there have been eleven calls for water rescues. In addition to larger crowds, Grand Isle Police Chief Laine Landry believes there are three other contributing factors to the dangerous conditions.

Cut 7 (12) “…for beach protection.”

It’s been two weeks since Memorial Day weekend and Governor Edwards says he’s heartened to see the state did not experience a significant surge in COVID transmission as a result of the holiday. An LSU poll that showed 62 percent wear a mask always or often when leaving the house, up from just 48 percent in April. Edwards thanked residents for being responsible and masking up…

Cut 11 (07) “…as well.”

The poll indicated that 76 percent of people agree that wearing a mask is the responsible thing to do.

An East Feliciana Parish judge has voided the first-degree murder charge of accused serial killer Ryan Sharpe as the result of a recent US Supreme Court decision that bans non-unanimous convictions. Sharpe’s Attorney Tommy Damico says his client was convicted by jurors 11 to 1 last December…

Cut 12 (12) “motion”

The Caddo Parish coroner rules that a 44-year-old man died of natural causes while in the custody of the Shreveport Police Department, but his death could possibly have been prevented…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

A White Opelousas police officer has been charged with five counts of Malfeasance in Office for an incident where he allegedly entered a black teen’s hospital room and beat him. 49-year-old Sgt. No explanation has been provided as to why Andrepont was in the room.

A third person has died from complications of a drowning incident on Grand Isle on Friday. 33-year-old Terrell Miller of Houma died in a hospital following his attempt to rescue his fiancé’s children, 9-year-old Dalvin Richardson and 8-year-old Davon Richardson. Grand Isle Police Chief Laine Landry says a day of celebration turned tragic in an instant.

Cut 6 (05) “…was Davon’s birthday.”

Over the last two weeks, there have been eleven calls for water rescues, with four fatalities in Grand Isle.

An alleged East Feliciana Parish serial killer has his 2019 1^st degree murder conviction voided by an East Feliciana Parish judge due to it being non-unanimous. Ryan Sharpe is accused of killing three people in 2017 and was convicted in one of the killings 11-1. Sharpe’s Attorney Tommy Damico says non-unanimous jury verdicts are unjust and he’s glad the High Court’s ruling will give his client another chance.

Cut 14 (08) “…justice”

Sharpe still faces charges related to the other alleged murders.