The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crash that killed a teenager and injured another after crashing into a tree near Slidell. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says when deputies arrived they found two minors at the scene.

Cut 6 (10)  “…a tree” 

Both girls were ejected from the ATV and neither was wearing a helmet.

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…

Cut 3 (06) “….very excited”

Construction on the new line begins in June.

Legislation to legalize recreational marijuana was snuffed out in House Criminal Justice before it could even be voted on Tuesday. Bill author, New Orleans Representative Candace Newell says fear-mongering is how cannabis was criminalized to begin with.

Cut 4 (13)  “…marijuana illegal.”

The committee voted to defer the bill, which basically removed the bill from consideration this session.

The 37^th Annual Festival International De Louisiane begins today through Sunday in downtown Lafayette. Marketing Director Carly Viator (vee-ah-tore) Courville says this year’s opening ceremony will celebrate Lafayette’s bicentennial year.

Cut 13 (12) “…event off.” 

Visit festival-international-dot-org for more info.

The House Criminal Justice Committee voted nine to four to kill a proposal to legalize marijuana in Louisiana. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell was upset she didn’t have the chance to voluntarily defer the bill, with the hopes of bringing it back before the session ends…
cut 7 (10) “….very much”

We were expecting a debate this afternoon in the Senate Labor Committee on a bill to increase the state’s minimum wage to ten dollars an hour starting on January 1st. But the proposal was removed from today’s agenda late yesterday afternoon. Jeremy Alford of La Politics-dot-com says there’s strong opposition to raising the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour…
cut 10 (06) “…the capitol”
No word on when the bill will be heard.

The House Commerce Committee has approved legislation that would cut the minimum number of training hours down from 15-hundred to 12-hundred to a get a cosmetology license. Jeremy Aydell, who owns several Sport Clips, says he has 25 job openings at this site and this legislation could help…
cut 14 (10) “…minorities”
But there were salon owners who testified against the bill, claiming 15-hundred training hours is needed to produce a professional haircut. More debate will take place on the House floor.

The 37th Annual Festival International De Louisiane begins today and runs through Sunday in downtown Lafayette. Marketing Director Carly Viator Courville says there will be great art, food, and its a cultural melting pot of diverse music
Cut 11 (10) “…in Louisiana.”
One of the headline acts is Louisiana’s own Lauren Daigle.

A bill to raise the state’s minimum wage was set to be heard this afternoon in the Senate Labor Committee, but the legislation was removed from today’s agenda late yesterday afternoon. Jeremy Alford of La-Politics-dot-com says the propsoal does not have much of a chance at passing…
cut 9 (07) “…in Louisiana”
Simliar minimum wage hike bills have failed in the past, despite support from Governor John Bel Edwards.

There’s growing support from the public to legalize recreational marijuana use, but a bill to do that in Louisiana was killed by the House Criminal Justice Committee. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell tried to make the case that legalization could benefit the state by taxing the sale of the product. She says the legalization in DC has been profitable…
cut 5 (11) “…tax funding”
Despite that argument, the bill was defeated nine to four.

A proposal to clip required training hours for a cosmetology license in Louisiana was approved by the House Commerce Committee but opponents were vocal..
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Proposed legislation to sentence fentanyl dealers to life behind bars passed out of the House Criminal Justice Committee. Crowley Representative John Stefanksi is the author of the legislation…:
CUT 29 (07) “…how I feel.”
The bill would impose life without parole for distributing an ounce or more of fentanyl. Approved by a 12-to-1 vote, the bill goes to the House floor.

A bill to legalize recreational use of marijuana died in the House Criminal Justice Committee yesterday. Will Hall of the Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy spoke in opposition…

cut 6 (09) “….financially”

This afternoon, Senate Labor will consider a bill to raise the state’s minimum wage…
cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher”

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. Slidell Representative Mary Dubbison –the bill’s author- says less time would mean less financial obligation.
Cut 14 (04) “…must repay.”
All students would still be required to pass a national exam to become licensed in Louisiana. A very vocal opponent to the bill – Pineville Salon Owner Vivian Green says less time means fewer qualified students.
Cut 15 (14) “…wrong, period.”
The debate will continue on the House floor.

Big upset in college baseball last night as Nicholls knocked off top ranked LSU six to five.

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

The Louisiana Senate has passed legislation that significantly increases the penalty for a person convicted of producing fentanyl, which is a deadly opioid. Current law calls for a five to 15 year sentence, Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt’s legislation increases the penalty for a first offense to 10 to 40 years.

The House Commerce Committee approves legislation that cuts down on the number of hours in order for a person to earn a cosmetology license. Under the legislation proposed by Slidell Representative Mary DuBuisson the number of training hours would go down from 15-hundred hours to 12-hundred…
cut 16 (06) “…gainful employment sooner”
But one salon owner told the committee that less time means fewer qualified students. The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

Festival International De Louisiane, the largest international music festival in the U-S gets underway in downtown Lafayette today. Marketing Director Carly Viator Courville says there are musical acts from France, Africa, Belgium and one of the headliners is a Grammy award winner from Louisiana…
cut 12 (12) “…the Wailers”
And the festival is free to the public.

A bill to legalize recreational marijuana is nipped in the bud. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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At the Capitol, a bill to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana is scheduled for committee review today. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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A proposal to clip required training hours for a cosmetology license in Louisiana was advanced by the House of Commerce Committee but opponents were vocal during the session. More from Teiko Foxx.

Cut 3 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Legislation to legalize recreational marijuana was snuffed out in House Criminal Justice before it could even be voted on. Bill author, New Orleans Representative Candace Newell says fear-mongering is how cannabis was criminalized to begin with.

Cut 4 (13)  “…marijuana illegal.”

Newell says Louisiana shouldn’t continue to criminalize individuals for a substance that in other states the economy has flourished. The Democrat says the legalization in DC has been profitable for the nation’s capital.

Cut 5 (11)   “…tax funding.”

State sheriffs, district attorneys, and chiefs of police in Louisiana oppose the legislation as a public safety issue and its potential to harm children. Will Hall of the Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy spoke in opposition to the bill.

Cut 6 (09)  “…financially.”

A call to vote on the measure was pre-empted by a motion to involuntarily defer the bill by Chalmette Rep. Ray Garofalo. Newell voiced her displeasure over the 9 to 4 vote to in essence remove the bill from consideration this session.

Cut 7 (10) “…very much.”

Newell filed two other marijuana bills this session as well, one to allow for the cultivation and sale of cannabis products and another on the taxation of cannabis.

_______________________________________________

A bill to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana goes before the Senate Labor Committee today. Democrat New Orleans Senator Gary Carter’s measure would raise the minimum hourly wage to $10 for January 1^st of next year. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says similar bills have been filed for every session since Governor John Bel Edwards took office, but none have passed…:

Cut 8 (07) “…something different.”

Carter’s bill would also provide for periodic raises in the minimum wage; eventually taking it up to $14 an hour by 2028. The fiscal cost to the state of Louisiana would be slight at first; less than $ 200 thousand…but by 2028 that would grow to nearly $3-million. Alford says it’s interesting to note lawmakers are discussing pay raises for teachers, first responders and especially themselves…:

Cut 9 (07)  “…in Louisiana.”

Alford says bills to set a higher minimum wage within the state have failed repeatedly in the past…:

Cut 10 (06) “…at the Capitol.” 

Alford says, even if the committee approves the bill, he doubts it has enough legislative support to reach the governor’s desk.

____________________________________________________

The 37^th Annual Festival International De Louisiane begins today through Sunday in downtown Lafayette. Marketing Director Carly Viator Courville says there will be great art, food, and a cultural melting pot of diverse music

Cut 11 (10)  “…in Louisiana.”

Festival International – the largest international cultural celebration in the country – draws over 300,000 people over the five-day period and organizers are expecting higher numbers this year. Courville says the lineup is a cultural exchange of music with over 20 musical acts from France, Africa, Belgium, Louisiana, and beyond.

Cut 12 (12)    “…the Wailers.” 

Courville says this year’s opening ceremony will celebrate Lafayette’s bicentennial year and the city is excited.

Cut 13 (12) “…event off.” 

The festival is free to the public. Visit festivalinternational.org.

________________________________________

Legislation that would chop off the hours required to obtain a cosmetology license in Louisiana from 1,500 hours to 1,200 hours was advanced by the House of Commerce Committee Monday. Slidell Representative Mary Dubbison –the bill’s author- says less time would mean less financial obligation.

Cut 14 (04)  “…must repay.”

The measure would not require all cosmetology schools statewide to reduce course hour requirements over seven months. All students would still be required to pass a national exam to become licensed in Louisiana. A very vocal opponent to the bill – Salon Owner Vivian Green says less time means fewer qualified students.

Cut 15 (14)  “…wrong, period.”

The reduction in required hours also raised concerns with schools about financial assistance for grant recipients. Dubbison says New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Florida decreased hours to 1200 and other states like Oregon, Vermont, Texas, California, New York, and Massachusetts require less than 1,200 hours.

Cut  16 (06)  “…employment sooner.” 

House Bill 470 would also require the Board of Cosmetology to create a website through which students could apply, pay fees and see their progress toward a license.

______________________________________________

After getting swept by a red-hot Dallas Baptist team, Louisiana Tech baseball returns to action tonight as they face Southern Miss in Hattiesburg. The Bulldogs are 20-21 overall, nine and nine in Conference USA action. Tech Coach Lane Burroughs is hoping for a strong finish and a deep run in the league tournament…

Cut 17 (20) “…get in that tournament” 

Tech was picked to win Conference USA in the preseason, but they find themselves in fifth place in the league with 12 more conference games left. Burroughs says a lack of effort is not why this team has not performed to expectations…

Cut 18 (18) “…the case.”

Burroughs getting a win tonight would be great, but making sure they are among the eight teams that make the Conference USA Tournament is more important…

Cut 19 (14) “…conference tournament.”

______________________________________

Cut 20 (21)  “…speed”  

A person convicted of distributing 28 grams or more of fentanyl would receive the same sentence as a person convicted of murder, life in prison without the possibility of parole with the passage of a bill by Crowley Representative John Stefanski. Opponents say some people who sell or distribute drugs are unaware of fentanyl if is inside the drug. But Stefanski says that’s not a valid defense…

Cut 8 (06)  “…face the consequences.” 

The bill heads to the House.

Legislation that provides an incentive payment of $5,000 to newly employed law enforcement officers was approved by a House Committee Monday. Houma State Representative Jerome Zeringue says the bill mirrors legislation implemented in Florida.

Cut 9 (09) “….this program.”

The bill now heads to the House Floor.

Legislation to legalize recreational marijuana was snuffed out in House Criminal Justice before it could even be voted on. Bill author, New Orleans Representative Candace Newell says fearmongering is how cannabis was criminalized to begin with.

Cut 4 (13)  “…marijuana illegal.”

The bill was involuntarily deferred on a vote of 9 to vote, thus killing the bill for consideration this session.

Legislation to lower the number of signatures needed to prompt a recall election advances from House Governmental Affairs. Instead of a calculation from the number of registered voters, the threshold of 30 percent is based on voter turnout from the election in which the official in question won.  Eileen Carter spearheaded the No-Latoya recall in New Orleans…

Cut 12 (07) “…not exist.”  The bill heads to the House.

Cracking down on a deadly drug. Proposed legislation to sentence fentanyl dealers to life behind bars passed out of the House Criminal Justice Committee today. Crowley Representative (and candidate for Attorney General) John Stefanksi is the author of the legislation…:

CUT 06(07)      “…how I feel.”

The bill would impose life without parole for distributing an ounce or more of fentanyl. Approved by a 12-to-1 vote, the bill goes to the House floor.

A bill to make it easier for local voters to get a recall election for officials they’re unhappy with moves forward. It proposes requiring only 30-percent of the number of voters who turned out to elect the official in question. Sulphur Representative Les Farnum likes the bill…:

CUT 14(11)      “…your job properly”

A 9-to-3 vote sends the bill to the House floor.

Police in Breaux Bridge are investigating a shooting incident that left a 4-year-old child with a bullet wound…on the child’s birthday. Little is known about the circumstances of the shooting, be we know the toddler was sitting in a car that was hit by gunfire. An investigation is underway.

New Orleans Police say the man who fell from the 45-story Plaza Tower downtown to his death was one of a group of homeless people squatting inside the vacant office space. Just hours before, a trash fire inside the building – presumable set by squatters – was put out by city firemen.

President Joe Biden announced today he will run for another term in the White House. If re-elected he’d be 82 and the oldest president ever. UL-Monroe political science professor Joshua Stockley says Biden will also face a strong Republican challenge – whoever the nominee will be…:

CUT 05(09)      “…for sure.”

Stockley says a growing number of Democrats want someone else from their party to be the nominee.

At the State Capitol, legislation to make it easier to have a recall election advances from the House Governmental Affairs Committee…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Thorington.”

House Civil Law advances a bill that would grant protection from criminal liability to teachers who try to break up student-on-student violence. Proponents say it should lead to more teachers being willing to step in on violent clashes between students. It passed committee unopposed.

President Biden made his intention to run for another term official today; asking voters to allow him to “finish this job.” Biden’s platform is one of abortion rights, voting rights and defending social security. However, UL-Monroe political science professor Joshua Stockley says a surprisingly large number of Democrat voters would prefer someone else have the party nomination…:

CUT 04(12)      “…clear answer.”

Biden is the oldest person to ever serve as president. He will be 82 when the next election comes around.

A bill to give newly employed Law enforcement officers a $5000 one-time bonus moves forward for House debate. Houma Representative Jerome Zeringue says it does not apply to any elected lawmen, and funding is limited..:

CUT 11(09)      “…basis.”

The House floor will debate the bill next.

At the Capitol, the House Governmental Affairs Committee approves legislation that would result in a life sentence for a person convicted of distributing more than an ounce of fentanyl…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Palermo.”

The SEC is considering harsh new penalties for teams whose fans rush the field after a big win. LSU fans did it twice last year; at the Ole Miss game and again after beating Alabama. One punishment under discussion is making teams that break the rule forfeit home games. The idea will be discussed when the SEC meets next month.

Legislation to lower the number of signatures needed to prompt a recall election advances from House Governmental Affairs. Founder of the southern Louisiana grassroots group, Home Defense Foundation, Mike Weinberger, tells the committee the current recall system is broken…:

CUT 13(05)      “…elected official.”

Under the bill, instead of basing needed recall signatures on the number of registered voters, it would require 30-percent of the number of voter turnout from the election in which the official in question won. It moves to the House floor.

President Biden officially announced he will run for another term today. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says it is unlikely Biden will face any serious challenge from a fellow Democrat…:

CUT 03(11)      “…party challenge.”

Stockley says republicans however will pose a strong fight to retake the White House, whoever the nominee may be.