Today, the Senate Education Committee is scheduled to discuss a transgender athlete ban. Franklinton Republican Senator Beth Mizell brings the bill again after it was vetoed by Governor Edwards last year. An attempt to override that veto failed. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says Edwards nixed the bill because he saw it as a “solution looking for a problem”, however…:
Cut 4 (15) “in Louisiana”
He says GOP majorities in both chambers are anxious to send the bill to the Governor’s desk again.

Officials in Lake Charles are slated to hold a news conference this morning to discuss a rise in crime in the area, including the shooting of 6-year-old Draya Michelle Guillory who was killed during a drive by. Police have confirmed one arrest in connection with Guillory’s death.

On the House Floor Wednesday, Metairie Republican Representative Laurie Schlegel continued to make her case for HB 234, which would prohibit smoking or vaping marijuana while driving or riding in a motor vehicle on public highways…:
Cut 14 (10) “while it’s operating”
The bill passed the House on a 66-31 vote and now heads to the Senate for more discussion.

Gas prices continue their slow but steady decline. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is 3.93, down from $4 a week ago.

With COVID cases in a lull, the Department of Corrections is bringing back visitation; and a beloved Louisiana rodeo…:
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Louisiana now as its own version of the controversial Florida bill called “Don’t Say Gay,” which seeks to prevent school workers from discussing sexual orientation in classrooms. Republican State Representative Dodie (“Doe-Dee”) Horton of Haughton’s measure filed Thursday would also keep teachers from talking about their own sexual orientation to students through grade 12.

New Orleans Representative Kyle Green says he’s not moving forward with his bill to rename the Crescent City Connection in New Orleans after late former Governor Edwin Edwards. According to the Advocate Newspaper, the bridge is named the Crescent City Connection as a result of a publicly-voted contest and the person who proposed the name objected to naming it after Edwards.

LSU takes to the court tonight in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, its third appearance in the last four years. It will do so without its head coach and with a very young roster. Senior Darius Days says they just have to get back to doing the things that helped them start the season 15-1…:
Cut 14 (16) “early in the game”
Tipoff is 6:20pm.

Authorities are still looking for one of five juvenile offenders who escaped from the Bridge City Detention Center for Youth Thursday morning, and one state lawmaker is not happy with the Office of Juvenile Justice. Senator Heather Cloud of Turkey Creek says the department has consistently failed at both rehabilitating young offenders and protecting its employees, and taxpayers demand better…:
Cut 9 (12) “in the wind”
She hopes other lawmakers will get on board with asking for reform within the OJJ.

Gas prices continue to inch down. AAA reports the statewide average for a gallon of regular fell another 2 cents from yesterday to $4.08 — that’s still 78 cents higher than just one month ago.

A Grant Parish lawmaker proposes legislation to prevent minors from receiving transgender medical procedures. Pollock Republican state Representative Gabe Firment says sexual reassignment is a major undertaking and a decision best not left to juveniles to decide…:
Cut 4 (15) “serious side effects”
Opponents of the measure contend the bill is a scare tactic to discriminant against a population that some don’t want to accept.

With Covid cases falling, state prisons are bringing back contact visitation.
Cut 11 (11) “incarcerated”
That’s Department of Corrections Spokesperson Ken Pastorick. For requirements and hours, visit doc.la.gov.

As COVID cases remain in a lull, Louisiana State Prisons are bringing back contact visitation and they are also set to bring back the Angola Prison Rodeo next month. Department of Corrections Spokesperson Ken Pastorick…:
Cut 10 (12) “fully vaccinated”
And the Angola prison rodeo will return April 23rd and 24th.

The Livingston Parish Sherriff’s Office says the hitchhiker walking down I-12 in Walker who allegedly stabbed a kind person who offered him a ride, then stole the truck has been arrested. They say the suspect 29-year-old Alex Bradley of Fenton will be booked on charges of carjacking, attempted first-degree murder, and theft of a motor vehicle.

A Grant Parish lawmaker seeks a ban on gender reassignment surgery for minors. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
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The NCAA says less than 2% of brackets remained perfect on the second day of the men’s basketball tournament, where LSU will make its third appearance in the last four years later this evening. The Tigers will face Iowa State at 6:20pm.

A Baton Rouge lawmaker unloaded on his colleagues in the Louisiana House after his proposal to add a second majority-Black district to the state’s Supreme Court map was tabled without debate. Republican Barry Ivey says he’s learned if legislation doesn’t have the backing of deep pocketed special interest groups it will not pass…:
Cut 3 (10) “all the time”
Alexandria Republican Lance Harris says life does not give you what you want, it gives you what you deserve.

The yo-yo weather pattern continues in Louisiana as another cold front approaches bringing rain and possible severe weather today before we wake up to frigid temps tomorrow and this weekend. State Climatologist Barry Keim on the rollercoaster weather year it’s been so far…:
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He says it’s a good idea to monitor local radio today should severe weather impact your area.

Louisiana continues to attract companies that specialize in developing and producing sustainable materials. David Grubb has the story:
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We’re in the thick of Carnival season and State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter encourages revelers to mask indoors at events and outside when in crowds…:
Cut 7 (09) “their safety”
He doesn’t predict this Mardi Gras being any type of Super Spreader Covid event.

We’re almost at the height of carnival season and health officials offer some advice to protect revelers from COVID. Brooke Thorington explains.
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The State House kills a bill to give Louisiana a second majority Black Supreme Court district and the measure’s sponsor is not happy about it. Baton Rouge Republican Representative Barry Ivey said the legislature is the laziest group of people he’s ever worked with in a speech after the vote in favor of tabling the bill.

On his monthly radio show, Governor John Bel Edwards once again denied he was involved in an alleged cover up of the death of Ronald Greene in 2019. The AP has suggested Mr. Edwards knew the circumstances surrounding Greene’s death, but wanted it kept quiet during the re-election campaign. The Governor says that’s a lie…:
Cut 5 (14) “what the truth is”
He says he looks forward to the results of the feds investigation.

Big news out of Ascension Parish as a major California-based manufacturer has committed to investing a $750 million biomass facility there. John Bissell, Co-CEO of Origin Materials says the state’s workforce was a major factor in choosing Louisiana:
Cut 10 (13) “absolutely world-class”
The project is expected to result in over 1,000 new jobs.

Governor John Bel Edwards reiterates there was no cover-up of the death of Ronald Greene to aid his re-election campaign. Brooke Thorington has more…:
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The Coast Guard is searching for a woman who reportedly went overboard a Carnival cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico, about 150 miles offshore SouthWest Pass, Louisiana. The USCG has not said how the 32-year-old woman ended up in the water, but reports from passengers on social media say there was a disturbance that caused security to detain her with handcuffs when she jumped off the deck hitting the side of the ship before hitting the water. The ship was set to dock in New Orleans this morning.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to head to Louisiana over the next couple weeks in the state’s first massive Mardi Gras celebration in almost 2 years. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter is optimistic this Carnival won’t be a super spreader event like it was in 2020…:
CUT 9 (12) “our downswing”
Kanter recommends using an N95 mask when in large crowds.

A cold front is moving into Louisiana and behind some storms and possibly severe weather today, temps tomorrow morning will cause a light freeze along the I-20 corridor…:
Cut 14 (10) “…along the coast.”
That’s State Climatologist Barry Keim.