The Jefferson Parish town of Harahan is shocked at the murder of a young girl; her body found stuffed in a bucket. Brooke Thorington reports…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Thorington.”

Entergy Louisiana agrees to refund some $36-million to customers they overcharged, to settle a lawsuit filed by the Public Service Commission. Here’s PSC member Mike Francis…:

CUT 10(07)      “…accountable.”

Legislation requiring air monitoring systems in certain permitted facilities advanced from the Senate Environmental Committee. Author of the bill – Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says companies would have to maintain monitoring data records. Testifying for the bill, retired Army Lt. General Russell Honore says man chem plants have such or similar systems in place, but don’t necessarily alert communities nearby when they detect a leak…:

CUT 14(11)      “…community knows.”

Installing systems would costs plants less than $20k. The bill goes now to the Senate floor for debate.

Also at the Capitol, a Central Louisiana lawmaker’s bill to make the substance kratom a controlled substance advances out of committee, and is scheduled for House floor debate next week. Kratom is also known as mitragyna speciosa, and can have an intoxicating opioid-like effect.

A Wednesday fire at the West Carroll Parish Police Jury barn is expected to be declared a total loss. The early morning blaze caused extensive damage. No one was reported hurt.

43-year-old Hannah Landon of Harahan has been arrested and charged in the death of her boyfriend’s six-year-old daughter who was found Wednesday morning in a 10-gallon bucket on her mother’s lawn. Jefferson Parish Coroner Dr. Jerry Cvitanovich says the manner of death is homicide.

Cut 5 (07) “…fluid investigation.”

Sheriff Joe Lopinto says the suspect lives with the victim’s father and the child’s mother lives in the same neighborhood one street over, video footage of Landon pulling the bucket in a wagon Tuesday night led to her arrest.

Legislation requiring air monitoring systems in certain permitted facilities advances from Senate Environmental. Retired Army Lieutenant General Russell Honore says a recent chlorine leak near Iberville Parish sent residents to the hospital.

Cut 13 (11) “…the people.” 

The Tigerland bar where 19-year-old LSU student Madison Brooks visited before she was allegedly raped and hit by a car which led to her death has had their liquor license revoked. The owner of Reggie’s Bar, Darin Adams, has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine and agree to never manage an alcohol establishment again.

Lady Tigers basketball coach Kim Mulkey says it’s time for an improved basketball arena on LSU’s campus. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “….I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s has arrested and charged a woman in the death of her boyfriend’s 6-year-old daughter. 43-year-old Hannah Landon is charged with first-degree murder and obstruction of justice. Harahan Police Chief Ed LePre says the small town is shocked and saddened by the news.

Cut 4 (10)  “…for the family.” 

Bella’s body was found inside a 10-gallon bucket on her mother’s lawn.

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

Cut 9 (08) “….not working.”

Lewis says it still has to be determined how much money customers will get back.

Legislation requiring air monitoring systems in certain permitted facilities advanced from the Senate Environmental Committee. Author of the bill – Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says companies would have to maintain monitoring data records.

Cut 12 (12) “…be warned.” 

Senate Bill 35 would also require all facilities in Louisiana that produce toxic chemicals to alert communities nearby when air quality reaches dangerous levels. The measure was passed in a 4-1 vote.

43-year-old Hannah Landon of Harahan has been arrested and charged in the death of her boyfriend’s six-year-old daughter. The father reported Belle Fontenelle missing Wednesday morning and she was found inside a 10-gallon bucket on her mother’s lawn that afternoon. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says Tuesday evening video footage from the neighborhood led them to arrest Landon.

Cut 3 (06) “….that wagon.”

Landon was located at the hospital Wednesday afternoon and is charged with first-degree murder and obstruction of justice.

The USDA approves a fourth round of Pandemic-EBT for Louisiana. Department of Children and Family Services Economic Stability Director Tim Jenkins DCFS will issue benefits to school-aged children; K-12, along with zero- to five-year-olds who are currently receiving SNAP.

Cut 15 (10)  “…for the summer.”

The Bayou State is among more than 25 states that received the approval.

LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey has won a national championship for the university and, now she wants a updated basketball arena. The Pete Maravich Assembly Center lacks revenue generating suites. After winning the school’s first national championship in basketball, Mulkey told WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge its time to start talking about a new arena

Cut 7 (12)  “…it’s time” 

Mulkey says she doesn’t have a preference on whether a new arena is needed or should the school complety renovate the PMAC.

A Louisiana High School Senior has secured $1.2 million in academic and merit scholarships for college. Kelsie Tillage, a senior at Southern University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, was accepted into several top universities including Tufts, Spelman, UNC, Rhodes, and more. She also found time to participate in several volunteer ventures.

Cut 9 (10)  “…grew to.”

Tillage is a John Hopkins CTY scholar and was awarded the Gold Medal Congressional Award in 2022, the highest honor a youth civilian can achieve through the US Senate and House of Representatives.

Legislation that would prohibit school faculty and staff from discussing gender identity and sexual preference topics in the classroom clears its first legislative hurdle. Bossier Parish Republican Representative Dodie Horton sponsors the legislation. In the House Education Committee, Baton Rouge Rep. Barbara Frieberg believes this is not a matter for the legislative.

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…:

Women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey brought a national championship to LSU, now she wants a new or remodeled basketball arena.  Mulkey made her demand during a speech in front of the Baton Rouge Rotary Club…

Cut 6 (12)  “…dangerous in there” 

The Pete Maravich Assembly Center is actually 51 years old and 2009 was the last time major work was done to the facility.

A Louisiana High School teen has earned $1.2 million in scholarships for college. Kelsie Tillage, senior at Southern University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, says when she applied she wasn’t sure if she qualified.

Cut 8 (10) “…this feat.”

Tillage already has 30 college credit hours at Southern University with a 4.25 GPA. She will attend Spelman College this fall.

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  the new pricing system has not been shared.

Cut 12 (07)    “…this model.” 

The federal lawsuit is filed on the basis of being denied a public document under the Freedom of Information Act.

A bill that would prohibit a public school teacher, employee or presenter from discussing sexual orientation or gender in front of a classroom is heading to the House floor, after receiving approval from the House Education Committee. However, Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says her legislation would allow these topics to be discussed between teacher and student in a one-on-one setting…
cut 7 (02) “…absolutely”

Legislation that would prohibit insurance companies from using gender as a factor in determing auto insurance rates was approved by the Senate Insurance Committee. The lone female on the panel, Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson, voted “Yes”….
cut 24 (09) “…down to”
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says insurance providers are not discriminating against females. He says predictive modeling is used to determine rates of female and male drivers.

The USDA approves a fourth round of Pandemic-EBT benefits for eligible children. Department of Children and Family Services Economic Stability Director Tim Jenkins says this is welcome news for recipients.
Cut 14 (11) “…public health emergency.”
Students who attended schools that were shut down for five consecutive days as a result of COVID are eligible for the funding also children who receive free or reduced price meals.

Upset over the lack of transparency when it comes to setting flood insurance rates under Risk Rating 2.0, St. Charles Parish has filed suit against FEMA seeking details on the new pricing methodology. Parish president Matthew Jewell says instead of using a model to create rates, the rates were calculated in reverse…
cut 13 (06) “……justify that”

The House Education Committee approves on a seven to five vote Haughton Representative Dodie Horton’s legislation that would ban discussion in public school classrooms about gender and sexual identity. Some on the committee believes this policy should be left up to local school boards, but Horton says it would be more defensible from a legal standpoint if it was a state law….
cut 5 (10) “….a policy around”
And Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson worries the bill would mean students can no longer seek advice from teachers…
cut 6 (09) “….have a question”
But Horton says a student can still have a one-on-one conversation with a teacher about gender and sexual identity issues. The legislation heads to the House floor for more discussion.

St. Charles Parish files a lawsuit against FEMA over Risk Rating 2.0.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The federal government has approved a fourth round of Pandemic EBT benefits. DCFS Stability Director Tim Jenkins says students who participate in the National School Lunch Program or saw their schools close for five consecutive days due to COVID are eligible…
cut 16 (07) “….statewide”
Schools will advise DCFS of the children who are eligible.

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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