Louisiana’s workforce sets a new record for March with a record 2-million 30-thousand 553 gainfully employed in the state. An increase of almost nine thousand from February. The unemployment rate is 3.6 percent, the lowest rate for March and tied for the second lowest in the state’s history.

Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s “Buckle Up In Your Truck” campaign gets underway Saturday, Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

The House Education Committee has approved legislation that would require colleges to waive tuition costs for disabled veterans. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox…

Cut 13 (07) “…deserve this.” 
There are 300,000 veterans in Louisiana and about 20% receive disability compensation.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about your Celtic roots or you’re a fan of plaid, Minden is the place to be Saturday for the 2023 Scottish Tartan Festival.  The festival which began in the 90s, for the first time is being held downtown, and organizer Shelia Hoh (Hoe) there’s plenty of music to suit anyone’s taste.

Cut 12 (06) “…of course.” 

Along with American bluegrass music that was created by early immigrants from Scotland and Ireland.

The festival gets underway at 10 AM and the final bagpipe will play at 6 PM.

A bill that would make breaking into someone’s home when no one is there a crime of violence was approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee. Kenner Representative Debbie Villio says her house was broken into and the perpetrator left a butcher knife on her bed and stole her gun…
cut 6 (10) “….a property crime”
But Criminal defense attorneys say a violent act is not committed when a burglary occurs at an inhabited dwelling.

The House Criminal Justice Committee also passed legislation to keep nonspecific murder ballad lyrics from being submitted as evidence in a criminal trial. Houma Representative Tanner Magee wants to preserve artistic expression but at the same time recognizes that one might describe an actual murder in a song.
Cut 8 (08) “…come in.”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

The House Education Committee has approved legislation that would create the Louisiana National Guard Patriot Scholarship Program.
Cut 11 (10) “…the tuition.”
Vacherie Representative Ken Brass filed the bill as a result of rising fees that college students have to pay.

Louisiana law enforcement will participate in the Buckle Up in Your Truck enforcement campaign for the next week as they will look for anyone in pickup trucks who is not wearing a seat belt. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer says pickup trucks are more prone to rolling over in a crash, so drivers and passengers need to be buckled up…
cut 16 (13) “…that crash”
A first offense ticket is 50-dollars.

Legislation to make general criminal song lyrics inadmissible in court advances from House Criminal Justice. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Five people are dead after four separate shootings in the span of four hours across New Orleans last night. Police the first shooting occurred in the Lower Garden District around 7 pm where a man had been shot several times and pronounced dead. An hour later two men with gunshot wounds were found in the Lower Ninth Ward – one died from his injuries. A teenage male was also found shot dead in New Orleans East and one person was pronounced deceased near Louisa. The investigations are ongoing.

House Criminal Justice Committee passed legislation to make simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling a crime of violence. Kenner Representative Debbie Villio says victims of burglary feel violated and unsafe after the act has taken place.

Cut 4 (07)  “…anger and frustration.”

Villio says burglary deserves stronger punishment because she has been a victim of burglary. Meghan Garvey, with the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, says an offense cannot be considered a “violent crime” if violence has not occurred.

Cut 5 (09)   “…this is not.”

Villio says the perpetrator that entered her home stole her handgun and left a kitchen knife on her bed after. The committee advanced Villio’s HB 65 to the House floor.

Kenner Representative Debbie Villio wants to make burglary of an inhabited dwelling a crime of violence, which would lead to a harsher punishment. Villio says her home was broken into and she considers it a violent offense. But Meghan Garvey with the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys believes the current sentencing guideline is sufficient..
cut 7 (11) “…..a serious crime”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

Lyrics talking about murder or violent crime should not be allowed as evidence in a criminal trial, according to a bill heading to the House floor. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says the proposed law has one exception…
cut 9 (07) “….as evidence”
Magee’s legislation is in response to appeals that have occurred in convictions of rap artists and lyrics from their songs are considered questionable evidence.

The House Education Committee has approved a bill that would waive student fees at state colleges and universities for a Louisiana National Guard soldier. Major General Lee Hopkins says guard members already get free tuition, but fees are also getting very costly..
cut 12 (05) “…exemption program”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

Top ranked LSU begins a three-game series tonight against Ole Miss, the defending champs of college baseball. Swayze Field in Oxford is known to be hostile for visiting teams, but Tigers starting pitcher Paul Skenes is ready…
cut 18 (17) “…really cool”
First pitch tonight is at 6:30.

A House Committee advances a bill to crack down on home burglars, by classifying that as a crime of violence. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

St. Mary Parish deputies arrest a Houma man they say was involved in nearly 60 auto burglaries in just one night. 20-year-old Collin Tribe and an unnamed second suspect – also from Terrebonne Parish – broke into the cars during the overnight hours in the Patterson area on Tuesday.

Song lyrics that talk about murder or a violent act would not be allowed to be submitted as evidence in criminal trials, unless the those lyrics are talking about a specific criminal act. The situation has come up in trials involving rappers and appellate courts have ruled it as questionable evidence. Rap lyrics are not the only songs with violent lyrics. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says the first murder ballad written and recorded dates back to 1727.
Cut 10 (09) “…rap lyrics.”
The legislation heads to the House floor for more discussion.

The House Education Committee has approved legislation that would require colleges to waive tuition costs for disabled veterans. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox…
cut 13 (07) “…..deserve this ”
There are 300,000 veterans in Louisiana and about 20% receive disability compensation.

A bill that would make breaking into someone’s home when no one is home a crime of violence has received approval in the House Criminal Justice Committee. Kenner Representative Debbie Villio says her house was broken into and the perpetrator left a knife on her bed and stole her gun…
cut 6 (10) “….a property crime”
But Criminal defense attorneys say a violent act is not committed when a burglary occurs at inhabited dwelling.

Legislation to keep nonspecific murder ballad lyrics from being submitted as evidence in a criminal trial advances from House Criminal Justice. Houma Representative and attorney, Tanner Magee wants to preserve artistic expression but at the same time recognize that one might describe an actual murder in a song.
Cut 8 (08) “…come in.”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

The House Education Committee has approved legislation that would create the Louisiana National Guard Patriot Scholarship Program.
Cut 11 (10) “…the tuition.”
Vacherie Representative Ken Brass filed the bill as a result of rising fees that college students have to pay.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission initiative – “Buckle Up in Your Truck” aimed at saving the lives of pick-up truck drivers kicks off tomorrow and runs through the 29th. Spokesperson Greg Fischer says the state’s seat belt law will be enforced.
Cut 14 (10) “…their seatbelts.”
In 2021, 144 pickup truck riders in Louisiana died in crashes and 66% were not wearing seat belts according to the latest available data.

A House bill to make simple burglary a violent crime in Louisiana clears its first legislative hurdle in House Criminal Justice. Bill author Kenner Representative Debbie Villio, says burglary victims feel violated, even if they were not home when the crime occurred. She says it affects one’s trust and feeling of safety..:

AM Cut 24 (08)  “…anger and frustration.”

The bill would add simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling to the list of violent crimes and punishable as such.

A measure mandating statewide screening for dyslexia for kindergarteners is headed to the House floor. Gretna Representative Joe Marino the bill author says it’s time to change the educational narrative for students in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (08) “….the school.”

The tests only cost $1.50 per student.

Legislation to keep nonspecific murder ballad lyrics from being submitted as evidence in a criminal trial advances from House Criminal Justice. Houma Representative and attorney, Tanner Magee wants to preserve artistic expression but at the same time recognize that one might describe an actual murder in a song.

AM Cut 25 (08) “…come in.”

Magee referred to a list of 25 Louisiana court cases where song lyrics were admitted as evidence, and more than half of the convictions were appealed based on the admittance of questionable evidence.

A bill to make operating rooms safer advances from Senate Health and Welfare. Bill author, Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux says heat-producing equipment used in surgeries can create a smoke plume that could obscure a physician’s view.

Cut 3 (10) “…other things.”
It requires facilities to adopt policies to address the issue.

A huge drug bust in Rapides Parish, as deputies find over a hundred pounds of cocaine in a big rig carrying fruit. Rapides Sheriff’s spokesman Tommy Carnline tells LRN a drug dog was brought in on a routine pullover for improper lane usage, and alerted on the cargo. Inside they found 108 pounds of powdered coke…:

CUT 13(06)      “…been a part of”

Estimated street value? Up to $3-million. The driver of that rig, Jose Calderon of Edinburg, Texas, is being held on $500-thousand bond.

At the State Capitol, a bill that would require all kindergarten age kids in the state be tested for dyslexia has advanced out of a House Committee. It’s sponsored by Gretna Representative Joe Marino, who says nearly 1-in-5 kids have dyslexia and this will help get them early help in their education…:

CUT 11(12)      “…to succeed.”

He says early detection leads to better education outcomes.

Legislation to require surgical facilities to mitigate smoke plumes advances from Senate Health and Welfare. Brooke Thorington reports on what that is about…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Thorington.”

Be alert for potentially heavy weather coming in this evening, and staying with us through Friday. Expect periods of heavy rain, thunderstorms and even hail. Flash flooding is possible, so stay alert for weather updates. The forecast for Saturday looks good.

Deputies in Rapides Parish seized over 108 pounds of powder cocaine during a traffic stop on LA Highway 28 East of Pineville. Sheriff’s spokesman Tommy Carnline says deputies assigned to the RADE Unit Highway Interdiction Team conducted a traffic stop on a big rig for improper lane usage…:

CUT 12(07)      “…criminal activity”

A drug dog located the coke amongst a shipment of fresh mangoes. The driver is being held pending a half-million-dollar bond.

Legislation to mandate dyslexia screening for all kindergarten kids in the state moves out of a House Committee. Bill sponsor and Gretna Rep. Joe Marino says children would get tested in the second semester of their kindergarten year…:

CUT 10(07)      “…at risk.”

He says 1-in-5 kids have dyslexia and early detection leads to better outcomes. That bill now goes to full debate on the House floor.

St. Mary Parish deputies arrest a Houma man they say was involved in nearly 60 auto burglaries in just one night. 20-year-old Collin Tribe and an unnamed second suspect – also from Terrebonne Parish – broke into the cars during the overnight hours Tuesday. They face 57 counts of motor vehicle burglary and are being held on bond.

A team of researchers from UL-Lafayette will design and build a small solar-powered satellite that will be used by NASA to help keep astronauts and the public safe from radiation. ULL students have done this before; putting satellites in orbit back in 2007, 2013 and 2021. Team leader Dr. Jared Tessier…:

CUT 08(12)      “…this satellite.”

The satellite will orbit the earth at least twice a day and will gauge radiation in space through measurements taken with a neutron radiation detector.

Legislation that would require Louisiana operating rooms to adopt policies to have equipment to remove harmful surgical smoke plumes advanced from Senate Health and Welfare. Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux, the author of the bill, says surgical smoke in operating rooms can be a hazard but he has met with medical associations regarding the bill.

Cut 5 (08) “…address those.”

Student researchers of UL Lafayette’s CAPE team will design and build a solar-powered satellite that will be used by NASA to gauge radiation levels for astronauts. Electrical and Computer Engineering Instructor, Dr. Jared Tessier (Tess-see-yay) says although the students have participated in this initiative three times previously – this is a new experiment.

Cut 7 (09)  “…in space.” 

The satellite is expected to go into space between 2024 and 2027.

A measure mandating statewide screening for dyslexia for kindergarteners is headed to the House floor. Gretna Representative Joe Marino the bill author says it’s time to change the educational narrative for students in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (08) “….the school.”

Marino says screening would begin with students in the second semester and tests are only $1.50 per student.

Authorities seized a little over 108 pounds of powder cocaine during a traffic stop on LA Highway 28 East of Pineville. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tommy Carnline says deputies assigned to the RADE Unit Highway Interdiction Team conducted a traffic stop on a semi-tractor trailer truck for improper lane usage.

Cut 12 (07) “…criminal activity” 

56-year-old Jose Calderon of Edinburg, Texas was charged with several offenses including possession with intent to distribute cocaine.