Haughton Representative Dodie Horton’s bill that would forbid school teachers and staff from classroom discussion of gender identity and sexual preference topics clears its first legislative hurdle. The House Education Committee approved the bill on a seven to five vote, but Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Frieberg believes Horton’s bill is not necessary…:
Cut 4 (09) “…shouldn’t control this.”
Horton says local school districts tell her the policy would be more defensible from a legal standpoint if it is was a state law.

After exhausting all other options, St. Charles Parish files a lawsuit against FEMA seeking transparency of the Risk Rating 2.0 calculations. Parish President Matthew Jewell says property owners in his parish have seen their flood insurance increase more than 200 percent.
Cut 11 (08) “…about 752%.”
Jewell says FEMA’s new rate pricing methodology has not been made public and even members of the state’s congressional delegation have been denied access.

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 rate payers to cover the expenses of operating the Grand Gulf nuclear plant in Port Gibson, Mississippi.

A Louisiana teen has received one-point-two million dollars in college scholarships. Teiko Foxx has her story…
cut 2 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

A House bill, criticized as “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, clears its first legislative hurdle. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 1 (34) “I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The House Education Committee has also approved House Bill 81, which would require public school employees to use names and pronouns on students’ birth certificates unless parents provide written permission to do otherwise. That legislation by Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews heads to the House floor.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services receives approval to issue a fourth round of Pandemic EBT benefits. DCFS Economic Stability Director Tim Jenkins says they will begin disbursing payments in early May….
cut 15 (10) “…for the summer”
Schools will report to DCFS which students meet the criteria for eligibility. A family is eligible for the benefits if a child is already approved for free or reduced-price meals or if there school operated on reduced attendance or hours for at least five straight days.

Kelsie Tillage, a senior at Southern Lab High School in Baton Rouge, has secured one-point-two million dollars in academic and merit scholarships. Tillage says the best way to get a scholarship is to apply…
cut 10 (11) “….the day”
Tillage will attend Spelman College in Atlanta.

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A bill that would forbid schoolteachers and staff from classroom discussion of gender identity and sexual preference topics clears its first legislative hurdle. Bossier Parish Republican Representative Dodie Horton sponsors the legislation. In the House Education Committee, Baton Rouge Rep. Barbara Frieberg tells Horton her bill is not necessary…:

Cut 4 (09)  “…shouldn’t control this.”

Horton says local school districts tell her the policy would be more defensible from a legal standpoint if it is set into state statutes…:

Cut 5 (11)   “…a policy around.”

By a vote of 7 “yeas” and 5 “nays”, the bill moves to the House floor for debate. Horton filed the same bill last year but withdrew it due to lack of support.

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt’s legislation to increase the penalties for manufacturing fentanyl passes in the Senate on 33 to 2 vote and advances to a House committee. The Republican Senator says the bill has the support of sheriffs, district attorneys, and coroners in Louisiana.

Cut 15 (05) “…neighborhoods.”

If passed a first offense would carry a 10-to-40-year prison sentence, ten years without parole, and up to a $50,000 fine.

Legislation to prohibit insurance carriers from using gender as a factor when setting auto insurance rates advances from Senate Insurance. The only female on the committee Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson says it’s a very simple gender shouldn’t be used to determine whether or not she’s an at-risk driver, especially when insurance companies have access to one’s driving record.

Cut 11 (10)  “…down to.”

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon argued the legislation would increase rates for females.

At the State Capitol, a bill to keep auto insurers from setting premium rates based on gender narrowly passes in committee and is heading to the Senate…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Thorington.”

A House bill to legalize recreational cannabis use in Louisiana was killed in committee, when they voted to involuntarily defer the bill. 6 of the nine committee members who voted to shelve the measure gave no reason for their opposition. Bill sponsor Candace Newell, of New Orleans, says she’ll try again next year.

An ATV crash in Slidell claims the life of a 14-year-old girl and leaves another girl injured. St. Tammany Sheriff’s spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says it’s a parent’s worst nightmare…:

CUT 06(10)      “…a tree.”

The victim is identified at Samia Rogers. The injured girl is in the hospital but will recover.

More than 150 new jobs are coming to Shreveport as Prolec GE will invest 28-million dollars to expand its Caddo Parish facility to manufacture electrical transformers used in wind farms, solar parks and renewable energy applications. Prolec’s Sergio Fernandez says construction on the new line will begin in June…:

CUT 05(13)      “…June 2024.”

He says they’ll need to hire machine operators, maintenance personnel, supervisors and engineers.

Lawmakers at the State Capitol are hoping to address the ever-growing problem of drug overdose deaths. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt’s Senate Bill 49 in essence doubles the current penalties for those who manufacture fentanyl in clandestine labs…:

CUT 14(11)      “…with fentanyl.”

A first offense would carry a 10-to-40-year prison sentence, ten years without parole, and up to a $50,000 fine. It passes the full Senate by a 33-2 vote, and moves now to the House.

Rapides Parish Sheriff Deputies have arrested two men in the death of an Alexandria man found in a ditch on LA Highway 1 North last week. Sheriff’s spokesman Tommy Carnline says they’ve arrested 32-year-old Donald Ray Sias, Jr. and Othey Lee Tatum, Sr. for the death of 42-year-old Rochaune Prenell. He says Tatum was also arrested for obstruction of justice and criminal conspiracy…:

CUT 09(05)      “…degree murder.”

Legislation to prohibit insurance carriers from using gender as a factor when setting auto insurance rates advances from Senate Insurance. Bill author Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says women are often charged a higher premium than men even if they have an identical driving record…:

CUT 10(12)      “…charged more.”

But Insurance Committee Chairman Senator Kirk Talbot opposes the legislation; saying it would cause insurance rates for male drivers to increase…:

CUT 13(06)      “…young woman.”

The legislation passed narrowly on a five to four vote and moves to the Senate floor.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival opens up Friday for two full weekends of major musical entertainment, plus all the great food, arts and crafts. You May be able to find tickets on a resale site, like StubHub.

At the Capitol, a Senate bill to keep auto insurance rates from using gender as a factor when determining premiums narrowly passes in committee but moves forward…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Thorington.”

Renters, a proposed House bill before the legislature would allow you to break your lease if you find you are in a high crime area. The bill would permit backing out of a lease if two or more criminal instances were reported within a half mile, within 6 months. It has yet to see a committee review.

An ATV crash near Slidell last night killed a 14-year-old girl and injured another 14-year-old girl. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says both girls were ejected from the ATV, and neither were wearing a helmet, which is essential for minors…:

CUT 07(05)      “…very dangerous.”

The victim is identified as14-year-old Samia Rogers of Slidell. The other girl’s name has not been released. She is in the hospital.

More than 150 new jobs are coming to Shreveport as Prolec GE will invest 28-million dollars to expand its Caddo Parish facility to manufacture electrical transformers used in wind farms, solar parks and renewable energy applications. Prolec GE Business Unit Director Sergio Fernandez says the additional jobs will add to the 282 they currently have..:

CUT 03(06)      “…very excited.”

They hope to be at full capacity within about 14 months.

Legislation that would prohibit insurance companies from using gender as a factor in determing auto insurance rates was approved today by the Senate Insurance Committee. The lone female on the panel, Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson, voted “Yes”….
cut 11 (09) “…down to”
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says insurance providers are not discriminating against female drivers. He says predictive modeling is used to determine rates of female and male drivers.

An ATV crash near Slidell last night killed a 14-year-old girl and injured another 14-year-old girl. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says this is any parent’s worst nightmare…
Cut 6 (10) “…a tree”
The teenage girl who died has been identified as 14-year-old Samia Rogers of Slidell.

The top ranked LSU baseball went down in defeat last night as the Nicholls Colonels pulled off a dramatic upset victory over the Tigers. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (32) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”

Our next severe weather event is upon us. Scattered severe storms will move into northwest Louisiana tonight. The severe weather threat shifts to south Louisiana tomorrow from about 5 AM until mid-afternoon on Thursday. Damaging winds and isolated tornadoes are the biggest threats.

Rapides Parish Sheriff Deputies have arrested two men in the death of an Alexandria man found in a ditch on LA Highway 1 North last week. 42-year-old Rochaune Prenell of Alexandria was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds by a mowing crew. Spokesperson Tommy Carnline says authorities were able to close in on two individuals.

Cut 8 (09)  “…was identified.” 

Authorities arrested 32-year-old Donald Ray Sias, Jr. and O-tha Lee Tatum, Sr. both of Alexandria. Sias was in jail for unrelated charges and rearrested for carjacking, second-degree murder, criminal conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. Tatum was also arrested for obstruction of justice and criminal conspiracy.

Prolec GE  will invest $28 million to expand its Caddo Parish facility in Shreveport and create new jobs.  Prolec GE Business Unit Director Sergio Fernandez says construction on the new line will begin in June and is expected to reach full production capacity in June 2024.

Cut 5 (13) “…June 2024.”

The company manufactures products for electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.

The Senate Insurance Committee advanced a bill that would prohibit insurers from using gender as a factor when setting auto insurance rates. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau – the bill’s author – says female drivers are often charged more than men.

Cut 10 (12) “…charged more.” 

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says insurance carriers are not discriminating against females. He says companies refer to it as predictive modeling that differentiates between young women and men, and older women and men.

Cut 12 (12) “…of Louisiana.” 

Chair of the Insurance Committee, Senator Kirk Talbot opposes the legislation for fear that it would cause insurance rates for male drivers to increase.

A bill to legalize recreational marijuana is nipped in the bud. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A 14-year-old girl died and another 14-year-old was injured in an ATV crash that occurred last night near Slidell. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says the ATV crashed into a tree and the girls were not wearing a helmet…
cut 7 (05) “…very dangerous”
14-year-old Samia Rogers of Slidell succumbed to her injuries.

Legislation that would chop off the minimum hours required to obtain a cosmetology license in Louisiana from 1,500 hours to 1,200 hours has been approved by the House Commerce Committee. All students would still be required to pass a national exam to become licensed. An opponent of the bill – Pineville Salon Owner Vivian Green says fewer training hours means a less qualified hair stylist…
Cut 15 (14) “…wrong, period.”
The debate will continue on the House floor.

Good economic development news for Shreveport, as Prolec GE, announces plans to add 153 new jobs so they can manufacture electrical transformers used in wind farms, solar parks and other renewable energy applications…
cut 4 (03) “…is booming”
That’s Prolec GE Business Director Sergio Fernandez.