Legislation to prohibit minors from having transgender procedures advances from the House Health and Welfare Committee. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Bossier City Authorities have arrested the suspect involved in a shooting that killed two people and injured two others including a police officer, at a Valero gas station in Bossier City on Tuesday.   Media reports indicate the suspect is 50-year-old Cortell Burks who is also suspected of stabbing and shooting a woman and injuring four other people in Alabama on Sunday. The officer who was shot multiple times is listed in stable condition and the third victim is in critical condition.

Legislation that prevents third graders from being promoted to the fourth grade if they can not read on an average reading level was approved by House Education. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson -the author of the bill- says he birthed the bill when he realized his child could not read. Addressing the committee, Nelson’s wife, Ashley says

Cut 5 (11)   “…the water.”

The bill passed with a 7 – 3 vote and moves to the House floor.

A proposed bill that gives police the right to say ‘stay back’  and establishes a 25-foot safe zone between them and bystanders advances from the House Criminal Justice Committee. The author of the bill – Pineville Rep. Mike Johnson says it’s a safety measure for officers however, opponents say the bill will prevent witnesses from holding police accountable for their actions…:

Cut 8 (05) “…that far away.”

Violators could get fines and possible jail time. By a vote of 8-to-1, the bill moves to the House floor for debate.

Legislation to extend the state’s film tax credit incentive through 2035 passes in the lower chamber. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Natchitoches Police Department is investigating the murder of a 16-year-old who was found with multiple gunshot wounds after crashing into a tree Monday night. The vehicle was located in the 1400 block of Stella Street with heavy front-end damage. Two additional minors were also injured and transported to a nearby hospital. The investigation is ongoing. 

A proposed law that would triple the salary of members of the Louisiana legislature is being discussed in House Governmental Affairs today. In an interview on “Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster”, Gretna Representative Joe Marino – the bill’s author – says lawmakers have not received a raise since 1980 and the salary is too low for the time and commitment…

Cut 9 (11)  “…in the session.”

If the bill is approved, it will go into effect in 2024.

A measure that would prohibit drivers from using a hand-held cell phone while driving was approved by the House Transportation Committee. In opposition to the bill, John Swisher, a professional tow truck driver, says the bill will makes it harder for him to do his job…:

Cut 13 (12) “…right then and there.” 

Supporters of the bill believe passing the bill will help cut down on distracted drivers which means fewer accidents.  The panel voted 5-4 to move the bill to the House floor.

A bill that would ban drivers from using a hand-held cell phone while driving clears its first hurdle in the Legislature…:

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Minden Police are searching for two suspects who attempted to steal a car and struck a 9-year-old girl while attempting to getaway. The owner of the vehicle stopped at Love’s Truck Stop near I-20 in Minden. Two suspects approached the vehicle and attempted to steal it but the owner was able to stop the theives. The child was rushed to a Shreveport hospital where she was treated for her injuries and is now in stable condition.

Legislation to increase the salary of Louisiana lawmakers from $16,800 to $60,000 will be heard in House Governmental Affairs today. In an interview on “Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster”, the bill’s author, Gretna Representative Joe Marino says Governor Edwards is in agreeance with the bill but:…

Cut 7 (08) “…calls for.”

If the bill is approved, lawmakers will see an increase in pay in 2024. 

Legislation that would extend the state’s film tax credit program and encourage more movies and television shows to be filmed in Louisiana passes in the House on a 74-24 vote. . Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo says if the bill is passed it will continue to generate revenue for Louisiana.

Cut  16 (11)  “…gas revenues.” 

The legislation renews the current tax credit through 2035. The bill is authored by Representative Clay Schexnayder the Speaker of the House. The bill heads to a Senate Committee.

Three days after an employee was fatally shot, owners of Mandina’s Restaurant resumed business today. NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork says officers are searching for two individuals involved in the incident that killed twenty-three-year-old Hilbert Walker III and injured a female victim from Chicago who was dining inside the restaurant.

Cut 5 (04) “…active investigation.”

Mandina owners says this has impacted restaurant owners across the city.

MoneyGeek’s Top Ten List of the Most Dangerous Cities in the Country includes three of the state’s major cities.  New Orleans ranked 8^th in the study, followed by Shreveport and Baton Rouge. LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist Dr. Peter Scharf says says you have to look at the political response to crime from both the state and local governments.

Cut 8 (11)  “…been here.” 

St. Louis ranked number one on the list of the most dangerous cities.

Louisiana State Troopers are searching for a driver who hit and killed a bicyclist, on LA 93 near Sunset and fled the scene. Spokesman Thomas Gossen 59-year-old Randy Thibodeaux was located in a ditch alongside the highway Sunday by a family member who’d been searching for him…:

Cut 10 (12) “…let us know.” 

Authorities are looking for a 2 door metallic-colored or gray Honda Accord, around 2013-15 model…:

The House Appropriations Committee is taking a different approach to funding proposed teacher pay raises. Chairman Jerome Zeringue says instead of providing more money in the state budget for teacher pay raises, the panel proposes using state funds to pay down debt in the teacher retirement system, freeing up funds for local school systems to give teachers a raise

Cut 12 (04) “…those funds.” 

The House Appropriations Committee sent a proposed budget to the House floor that does NOT contain 197 million dollars in K-through-12 public school teacher pay raises

The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office released the results of the autopsy of a 6-year-old Harahan girl murdered Tuesday night.  Coroner Gerry Cvitanovich says speculations on the case are not true.

cut 12 (10) “…involved.” 

The girlfriend of Bella’s father, 43-year-old hannah landon, was seen pulling a wagon Tuesday night with a bucket inside. She was been arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

A New Orleans senior with a 4.98 GPA broke the national record after receiving 125 college acceptances and over $9 million in scholarships. 16-year-old Dennis Maliq Barnes began applying for colleges last summer.

cut 6 (12)  “…really fast” 

Barnes plans on breaking his own record by crossing the $10 million threshold in scholarships.  He will pursue a dual degree in computer science and criminal justice.

A bill to reduce the number of hours required for cosmetology students passes in the full House. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (29)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The LSU Tigers football team is expected to hire South Carolina defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey for the same position. Lindsey has been the defensive line coach at South Carolina for two seasons. He previously coached defensive ends at Illinois and Western Kentucky. LSU had an opening after former defensive line coach Jamar Cain left for the position of pass rush specialist with the Denver Broncos.

Jefferson Parish coroner has released the cause of death of a 6-year-old Harahan girl found in a 10-gallon bucket Wednesday morning.  Coroner Gerry Cvitanovich says everyone is feeling the impact of the tragic death of Bella Fontenelle.

Cut 14 (11)  “…all of us.”

Preliminary Cause of Death: Manual strangulation and multiple blunt force injuries to the head. 43-year-old Hannah Landon, the girlfriend of Bella’s father has been charged with first-degree murder.

A Louisiana high school senior has set a national record by securing more than $9 million in scholarships and 180 college acceptance letters to colleges. 16-year-old Dennis Maliq Barnes holds the Guinness Book of World Records title as the top senior accepted by the most colleges with the most scholarships. Barnes is also fluent in Spanish.

Cut 7 (09)  “…in New Orleans.” 

Barnes plans to pursue a dual degree in Computer Science and Criminal Justice and is working to top $10 million in scholarships.

A bill to cut the number of required hours for students studying cosmetology passes in the House. The author of the bill, Slidell Rep Mary DuBuisson says the bill will reduce hours but help students get employed earlier which in turn helps salon owners looking for help.

Cut 3 (09) “….seven and a half months.”

The Cosmetology Board will also be required to create a website for students to track their progress and make payments. The legislation passed on a 78 to 15 vote and advances to a Senate committee.

A Shreveport pediatrician says National Infant Immunization Week is the perfect time to make sure your baby has his or her necessary shots. Dr. Nikki Humphries is a pediatrician at Willis-Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport. She says parents should debunk the myths and follow the science.

Cut 11 (08)  “…decades and decades.”

Dr. Humphries says early vaccinations are safe and guard your baby against numerous common illnesses.

The Baton Rouge Tigerland bar that over-served an underage LSU student on the night she died has been ordered to close its doors for good. Kevin Gallagher has that story…:

Cut 2 (34)  “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

Legislations allowing schools to designate school protection officers with the authority to carry a concealed handgun on campus with proof of a valid permit was removed because the law already exist. Gonzales Representative Eddie Lambert decided to pull SB 158 after learning a current law has similar language.

A hairy measure that would reduce the required hours for cosmetology students to get a license in Louisiana from 1500 to 1200 hours passes in the House. The bill’s author, Slidell Rep Mary DuBuisson says the Cosmetology Board would continue to uphold state requirements.

Cut 5 (05) “…with this bill .”

Students will still be required to pass a national exam to become licensed in Louisiana. The bill advances to a Senate committee.

The preliminary cause of death of a 6-year-old Harahan girl who was murdered Tuesday night has been released. Jefferson Parish Coroner Gerry Cvitanovich says he wanted to stop rumors that are circulating about the shocking death of Bella Fontenelle.

Cut 12 (10) “…involved.” 

43-year-old Hannah Landon, the girlfriend of Bella’s father has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

A skull fragment found near Lake Pontchartrain in 1985 is found to be 35 hundred years old.  ST. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Cold Case Investigator Chris Knoblauch says testing shows the female fragment is dated back to 1634 to 1504 B.C.

Cut 7 (09) “… it was.”

The woman’s skull is estimated to be between 25 to 35 years of age the LSU FACES lab has possession of the fragment.

Legislation to keep reading material with adult content away from minors in public libraries was advanced by Senate Education Committee. Turkey Creek Senator Heather Cloud says formulating the measure was quite intricate…:

Cut 12 (12)    “…for this content.” 

Libraries in violation could face loss of funding. The bill moves to the Senate floor.

Legislation to provide $8.5 million in funding for bulletproof vests for peace officers across Louisiana was passed by a full House with a 98-0 vote. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds – author of the bill – says it’s about protecting those who protect us.

Cut 13 (13) “…covers them.” 

The bill was drafted due to the killing of three Baton Rouge officers in 2016.

Celebrating rich culture and heritage, art and lots of music, The New Orleans Jazz and Hertiage Festival returns – beginning today through May 7th. Festival Producer, Quint Davis says there will be 16 musical stages featuring over 580 bands covering everything from jazz, blues, Cajun, zydeco, hip-hop, funk, and more.

Cut 5 (09)   “…for everybody.”

This year’s headliners include Lizzo, Ed Sheeran, The Steve Miller Band, HER, Dead & Company, Wu-Tang Clan, and Kane Brown, and many more. Visit nojazzfest.com for the full lineup.

Get ready for two weekends full of culture, crafts, and music at the 38^th Annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival beginning today through May 7th. Festival Producer, Quint Davis says this year’s headliners include Lizzo, Ed Sheeran, The Steve Miller Band, HER, Dead & Company, Wu-Tang Clan, Kane Brown, and many more.

Cut 6 (07)  “…whose playing.”

This year’s festival will be ‘cashless’ but if there’s a need, there will be Cash Exchange booths where attendees can use cash to get a prepaid card for no fee.  Visit nojazzfest.com for the full lineup.

A bill providing funding for bulletproof vests costing nearly $8.5 million for peace officers across Louisiana was passed by a full House. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says the cost per vest is around $2,500 and guidelines would be monitored by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement.

Cut 15 (08)  “…be proper.”

The bill passed with a 98-0 vote.

A Senate bill to restrict minors’ access to adult reading material in public libraries passed its first legislative hurdle. More from Brooke Thorington…:

Cut 3 (29)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU gymnast and social media icon, Olivia Dunne will appear in the 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Dunne is the top-paid female NCAA athlete in the country earning over $4 million with NIL deals. The Sports Illustrated spread makes Dunne one of the first college athletes to be featured in print for the issue.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s has arrested and charged a woman in the death of her boyfriend’s 6-year-old daughter. 43-year-old Hannah Landon is charged with first-degree murder and obstruction of justice. Harahan Police Chief Ed LePre says the small town is shocked and saddened by the news.

Cut 4 (10)  “…for the family.” 

Bella’s body was found inside a 10-gallon bucket on her mother’s lawn.

Louisiana Entergy customers will receive refunds in the coming months. It’s part of a 36-million dollar settlement the Public Service Commission finalized with Entergy. The PSC sued Entergy for overcharging ratepayers to cover the expenses of operating the Grand Gulf nuclear plant in Port Gibson, Mississippi.

Cut 9 (08) “….not working.”

Lewis says it still has to be determined how much money customers will get back.

Legislation requiring air monitoring systems in certain permitted facilities advanced from the Senate Environmental Committee. Author of the bill – Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says companies would have to maintain monitoring data records.

Cut 12 (12) “…be warned.” 

Senate Bill 35 would also require all facilities in Louisiana that produce toxic chemicals to alert communities nearby when air quality reaches dangerous levels. The measure was passed in a 4-1 vote.