Louisiana’s tourism industry apparently has made a healthy bounce back, after taking a huge hit from the COVID pandemic. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Louisiana’s longest serving state fire marshal is retiring. Governor John Bel Edwards announced Wednesday that State Fire Marshal Butch Browning has accepted the position of executive director of the National Association of State Fire Marshals. State Fire Marshal Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel H. Wallis has been named as Browning’s successor.

The House Criminal Justice Committee approves legislation that would make abortions in Louisiana a crime of homicide. New Orleans Attorney Gwyneth O’Neil spoke in opposition calling the measure a reckless, bad law. She says the way it’s written in vitro fertilization would be illegal..:
Cut 6 (09) “negligent homicide”
The legislation heads to the House floor.

In the same committee room, the bill aimed at cracking down on theft of catalytic converters continued to move through the legislative process. Under this proposal, prison terms for the crime would be based on the value of the parts stolen. Lafayette Representative Jonathan Goudeau made the motion to report the bill favorably…:
Cut 13 (11) “a problem”
The measure heads to the house floor.

Nick Tullier, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Deputy who was shot in an ambush targeting law enforcement in 2016, has died.

The House Criminal Justice Committee approves legislation that would make abortion a crime in Louisiana. Executive Director of the Foundation to Abolish Abortion Bradley Pierce says medical and scientific research has determined that human life begins at the moment of fertilization…:
Cut 5 (10) “our lives”
Opponents say the way the bill is worded some forms of birth control, IVF and miscarriages would also be illegal. The legislation heads to the House floor.

The state’s tourism industry is seeing a good surge following the Covid lockdowns. Lt Governor Billy Nungesser’s office oversees the Department of Tourism. He says over 41 million people visited Louisiana in 2021 and as people are ready to get out and vacation again, we stand ready to welcome them…:
Cut 10 (10) “coming back for more”

Tyrann Mathieu is officially a Saint, and the All-Pro Safety and former LSU star is thrilled. It’s been an incredible journey for the New Orleans native, who went from undiscovered gem to Heisman Finalist to being kicked off the LSU football team. The Honey Badger says he’s proud of where he is in life…:
CUT 15 (10) “in my life”

Catalytic converter thefts have been a massive problem in our state and under a bill approved in House Criminal Justice the act would be considered a crime with a sliding scale of prison terms depending on the value of the parts stolen. Objecting to the bill was committee chair Joe Marino who said it’s already illegal to steal…:
Cut 11 (10) “are committing”
The measure heads to the house floor.

A House committee approves a bill that would allow law enforcement to charge a mother who has an abortion, and also those who help her…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Natchitoches woman accused in the 2018 burning death of her infant son has been sentenced as part of a plea bargain. Hannah Barker will serve about 30 years on the charges of conspiracy to commit first degree murder and manslaughter. Barker’s girlfriend, who actually killed the infant, has already been convicted and will be sentenced later this year.

The Honey Badger is home, and he’s as excited as Saints fans. Tyrann Mathieu and New Orleans made it official on Wednesday as the All Pro signed a reported 3 year $33 million dollar contract to join the team. A reporter mentioned Mathieu is about to turn 30, and to that the Honey Badger said…:
Cut 16 (10) “some more”
Though he doesn’t have an official number yet, the Saints are taking pre-orders for Mathieu’s jersey and the website crashed almost instantly. It’s back up now.

The state’s tourism industry is bouncing back nicely from the COVID pandemic lockdowns and restrictions. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, whose office oversees the Department of Tourism, says over 41-million people visited the Bayou State in 2021, which isn’t bad…
Cut 8 (11) “coming out of COVID”
Tourism is the state’s fourth-largest employer; supporting over a quarter-million jobs.

The House Criminal Justice Committee approves legislation that would make abortion a crime in Louisiana. Under Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s proposal, the mother and those assisting in the termination of a pregnancy can be charged with homicide:
Cut 4 (09) “not yet born”
Opponents of the bill say the measure would criminalize in vitro fertilization.

The New Orleans Saints and safety Tyrann Mathieu made it official Wednesday, as the three-time All-Pro signed a reported three-year, $33-million contract to join the team. The “Honey Badger” says he’s still pinching himself…
Cut 14 (12) “take advantage of it”
Mathieu said he is excited to join a Saints defense under new head coach and former coordinator Dennis Allen.

The bill aimed at cracking down on theft of catalytic converters continues to move through the legislative process. Under the proposal, a person convicted of stealing auto emissions systems worth over 25 grand could be sentenced to 10 to 20 years. Prairieville Representative and retired Ascension Sheriff’s deputy Tony Bacala says Louisiana needs this law…:
Cut 12 (10) “growing trend”
The Senate has already moved the bill and so has House Criminal Justice.

Governor John Bel Edwards has announced the retirement of State Fire Marshal Butch Browning; who has accepted the position of executive director of the National Association of State Fire Marshals. Browning’s 14 years serving Louisiana is the longest tenure for the position in the state’s history.

Attorney Lewis Unglesby says it’s an unreasonable response for state lawmakers to hold former State Police leader Kevin Reeves in contempt for not handing over a certain journal entry. Jeff Palermo has the story..:
Cut 3 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Ahead of the start of hurricane season on June 1st, Governor John Bel Edwards is slated to hold a news conference this morning with other emergency preparedness officials to discuss how the public should get ready for a potential storm.

Abortion will become illegal in Louisiana if the leaked Supreme Court opinion stands. Chief Justice John Roberts has confirmed the leaked draft IS authentic, and Tulane University law professor Keith Werhan (pronounced “WER-han”) feels – IF there are enough votes to reverse Roe V. Wade – that will eventually happen. He says the Supreme court more often seeks to narrow precedent rulings..:
CUT 12 (08) “opinion was drafted”
He points out the draft has preliminary support but it’s not a done deal.

Louisiana’s so-called version of what opponents call the Don’t Say Gay bill was halted in a House Committee. The bill drew opposition from several witnesses, like Brenna Wells, with the LSU School of Social Work and LGBTQ Studies, who feels the bill is mean-spirited…:
Cut 8 (12) “…and their future.”
The committee voted 7-to-4 to reject the bill.

Louisiana’s version of what opponents call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill has been killed for this legislative session. House Education voted 7-to-4 to reject the measure. Bossier Parish Republican Dodie Horton wrote the bill…:
Cut 7 (12) “state standard-slash-curriculum”
Some in opposition argued the measure is too broad.

The committee investigating the deadly 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene wants to hold former State Police Head Kevin Reeves in contempt for refusing to hand over a journal entry on the matter, but Reeves’ lawyer says members already have what they need. Attorney Lewis Unglesby says anything in the journals kept by Reeves pertaining to the Greene case has been given to lawmakers..:
Cut 16 (11) “the committee”

The draft opinion indicating the US Supreme Court might be poised to overturn Roe v Wade would immediately make abortions illegal in Louisiana. Tulane University law professor Keith Werhan (pronounced “WER-han”) says having a justice’s draft opinion leaked to the press is rare and the Supreme Court will not take lightly…:
Cut 13 (08) “a vigorous one”
Abortions would be illegal here, under a 2006 “trigger bill”; written to kick in if the Justices ever took that action.

The FBI is warning parents about a sextortion scheme going around in Louisiana which tricks minors into sending inappropriate photos which are then used to extort them into sending money, or else. Spokesperson Connor Hagan offers this to parents who believe their kid is a victim..:
CUT 6 (12) “contact the FBI”

A House committee rejects Louisiana’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill…:
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

After a long stretch of falling gas prices, we’re starting to see them slowly inch back up. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $3.89 which is down 7 cents from a month ago — but up nearly a nickel over the week.

The New Orleans Saints are expected to make the signing of former LSU star safety Tyrann Mathieu official today.

The lawyer for the former head of State Police, Kevin Reeves, says the committee investigating the deadly 2019 arrest of Ronald Green has what they need from his client. The members believe Reeves is acting in contempt for refusing to provide a particular journal entry. But Lewis Unglesby says it’s not relevant…:
Cut 15 (08) “interested in”

The FBI is warning parents of a rise in sextortion schemes targeting children in Louisiana. The crime-fighting agency says it has received several reports in the Monroe, Alexandria, and Shreveport areas of predators posing as children and coercing minors into sending them sexually explicit materials for the purpose of extorting money. Spokesperson Connor Hagan…:
Cut 4 (11) “that they are”
Hagan says an underage person should never send intimate or explicit photos or videos over the internet.

The emergence of a leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion indicating the 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision might soon be overturned has implications for Louisiana. Tulane University law professor Keith Werhan (pronounced “WER-han”) says the draft has preliminary support, but it’s not yet a “done deal”…:
Cut 11 (11) “gonna want that”
If the High court reverses Roe v. Wade, abortions would become illegal in Louisiana immediately.

The House Education committee rejects a measure prohibiting teachers from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation in classrooms. Opponents call it the Don’t Say Gay Bill. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman says its too broad…:
Cut 9 (09) “…cannot support this bill”
The matter is dead for the session.

The lawyer for former State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves says a legislative committee investigating the fatal arrest of Ronald Greene has the information they need from the journals kept by Reeves. Houma Representative Tanner Magee has threatened to charge Reeves with contempt, but attorney Lewis Unglesby says that is an unreasonable response..:
Cut 14 (10) “confusion there”
Magee met with Unglesby on Monday to make copies of pages in the journal pertaining to anything written about the Greene case.

State Police have changed the status of the case of Ella Goodie, the 33-year-old ride share driver from Scott who vanished in March, from missing person to homicide. No body has been found and no suspect charged, but troopers say the transition is based on investigative techniques and witness statements.