After several attempts, a bill that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of someone’s hair has advanced from the House to the Senate. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 02(36)      “…David Grubb.”

National weather forecasters predict an “active” hurricane season again this year, and for the 7^th year in a row. Experts say as many as 21 named storms could develop, with several strong storms expected.

A House-passed bill that would prohibit using a hand-held cellphone while driving makes it out of a Senate committee today. Bill author and Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval says the fines have been amended down to a reasonable $50-to-$100, and one will not be arrested for a violation; only ticketed. He says other concerns it could lead to racially profiling motorists have also been addressed…:

CUT 08(11)      “…use of this bill.”

Under the bill, if your car doesn’t have Bluetooth technology, you CAN use headphones plugged into your phone; so long as you’re not holding your phone while driving. The full Senate takes it up next, and it has but two weeks to reach final passage.

A Franklin parish man is arrested for running from a traffic stop, then bailing out of his moving pickup…with his 7-year-old daughter still inside. Deputies say 38-year-old Jonathan Brooks tried to escape on foot. He was apprehended later in Richland Parish. The little girl was not hurt.

After years of presenting legislation to ban handheld cellphone use, Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill is finally closer to becoming law.  Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Firefighters in Bossier City say two people were found dead inside an apartment home, after they’d gotten a fire under control. An investigation is now underway to determine if they died in the fire, or because of something else.

NOAA, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, predicts another “active” hurricane season this year, with possibly up to 21 named storms & several big hurricanes. The hurricane season begins next week, and FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell says we should all get ready now…:

CUT 04(13)      “…nine states.”

A House Bill known as the CROWN Act, is on its way to the Senate, after winning overwhelming House votes. New Orleans Representative Candice Newell’s bill prohibits discrimination against a person because of how they wear their hair. She says that she hopes people in Louisiana are finally becoming aware of an issue that has been on the national radar for a while…:

CUT 13(12)      “…has been introduced.”

Studies show that Black people – and Black women in particular – with afros, braids, or twists are seen as less professional which can lead to bias.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration is predicting an above-average hurricane season with as many as 21 named storms and several major storms. The NOAA says their models predict between six and 10 hurricanes this season. Administrator Rick Spinrad says several climate factors give them confidence we’ll see an active hurricane season, including the ongoing La Nina and warmer than average sea surface temperatures…

Cut 5 (10) “…do now.”

Hurricane season officially begins on June 1^st.

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After years of presenting legislation to ban handheld cellphone use, Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill is finally closer to becoming law.  House Bill 376 passed on a 55 to 38 vote. The amended legislation removes the possibility of arrest for the violation and reduces the proposed fine in half. While the bill’s intent is to improve highway safety, it’s received criticism that it could be used to racially profile motorists. Huval says the bill has also been amended to address that concern.

—

A Senate committee approved a House-backed measure today that would allow non-felons over the age of 21 years to conceal carry a weapon without needing a permit or the training to obtain a permit. The measure passed on a four to two vote and heads to the Senate floor for final legislative passage. Louisiana Shooting Association President Dan Zelenka says requiring gun holders to get a permit costs as much as 325-dollars, while criminals are carrying guns without a permit.

Cut 11 (11) “…illegal carrying”

—

House Bill 1083, also known as the CROWN Act, is on its way to the Senate floor after receiving overwhelming passage in the house. The bill, authored by New Orleans Representative Candace Newell, prohibits discrimination on the basis of hair texture, natural hairstyles, and protective hairstyles. It passed in under a minute by a 74-24 vote.

Cut 12 (10) “…beyond excited.”

A Senate committee approved a House-backed measure today that would allow non-felons over the age of 21 years to conceal carry a weapon without needing a permit or the training to obtain a permit. Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed a similar bill last year and Tom Costanza, executive director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops also opposes it…

Cut 9 (09) “…workplaces.”

But Louisiana Shooting Association President Dan Zelenka says allowing for concealed carry without a permit will not lead to more gun violence…

Cut 10 (10) ” ….few issues” 

The measure passed on a four to two vote and heads to the Senate floor for final legislative passage. The current legislative session ends June 6^th.

After years of presenting legislation to ban handheld cellphone use, Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill is finally closer to becoming law.  House Bill 376 passed in the House on a 55 to 38 vote. Current law in Louisiana bans the use of handheld devices in school zones, this bill expands that to public roadways in the state. Huval says the fine for his bill is reduced to $50 to $100.

Cut 7 (07) “…paying a fine.” 

The bill has less than two weeks to pass in the Senate.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration is predicting an above-average hurricane season with as many as 21 named storms and several major storms. NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad says their outlook is predicting between six and ten hurricanes…

Cut 3 (11) “..111 miles per hour”

The hurricane season begins June 1st.

After years of presenting legislation to ban handheld cellphone use, Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill is finally closer to becoming law.  It passed in the House on a 55 to 38 vote. Huval says a number of lawmakers helped amend the legislation to improve its chances, for example…

Cut 6  (12) “…goes away.” 

It has just under two weeks to receive Senate approval.

For the second straight year, the governor will have to decide whether to veto a bill prohibiting transgender females from competing in organized female sports. John Bel Edwards vetoed it last year, but the bill was amended to remove the ban from intramural sports. Political Analyst Pinsonat says Edwards has said the amendment makes a difference.

Cut  11 (05)  “…better bill.” 
Louisiana will elect a new governor in about 18 months, but there are virtually NO officially announced candidates at this time. New Orleans political analyst Ron Faucheux (pronounced: FO-shay) says, in years past, prospective candidates would have announced their intentions by now to maximize campaign fundraising…:

Cut 7 (07) “…than they used to.”

So far Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and Attorney General Jeff Landry have announced their intent to run.

LSU Ag Center entomologist Nathan Lord says based on the reports he’s getting there’s an increase in hammerhead worms, especially in south Louisiana. He says the head of the worm is shaped like a hammerhead and they’re not good for your garden, because they prey on earthworms and while not harmful to humans…

Cut 15 (12)  “…on humans.”

The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act is on its way to the Governor’s desk after the Senate voted 32-6 to concur a House amendment. The lower chamber voted for it last week. The bill which bans transgender females from competing in female sports was vetoed by Governor John Bel Edwards last year. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat on what’s next for the bill.

Cut 10 (09) “…sign it.”

The bill was amended to remove the ban from intramural sports.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports unemployment in Louisiana has reached a record low. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows the not-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate for April 2022 at just 3.5-percent. LWC Secretary Ava Cates says that’s the lowest rate since 1976 and very good news for Louisiana…:

Cut 4 (07)  “…we’ve ever experienced.”

Louisiana will elect a new governor in about 18 months, and so far NO one has officially announced their candidacy. Attorney General Jeff Landry and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser have mentioned a possible run and New Orleans political analyst Ron Faucheux (pronounced: FO-shay) says state senators Rick Ward and Sharon Hewitt are also possibilities…

Cut 9 (14)  “…giving it some thought..”

You might have seen something that looks like a worm but isn’t quite one in south Louisiana recently. These so-called “hammerhead worms” are attracted to high temperatures and humidity. LSU AgCenter entomologist Nathan Lord says the hammerhead is a predator, and its prey unfortunately is the common earthworm.

Cut 14 (10)  “…those ecosystems.”

Lord says hammerheads aren’t easy to kill either.

The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act is on its way to the Governor’s desk, but will Governor Edwards sign it this year after he vetoed it last year. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana House has approved a bill that would prohibit the use of a handheld cell phone while driving. The vote was 55-to-38 in favor. It goes to the Senate, but there are just under two weeks to go in the legislative session.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports the state’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April was a record low three-point-five percent as the state has added 200-thousand jobs over the last two years…
cut 5 (10) “…better jobs”
Over the last year, the leisure and hospitality industry added 16 thousand jobs and the number of construction jobs is up by nearly seven thousand.

If you’ve been out in the garden or the backyard in South Louisiana, you may have seen a worm with a hammerhead. Hammerhead worms make themselves at home where they can find high temperatures and humidity. LSU AgCenter entomologist Nathan Lord says they are an unwelcome sight…
Cut 13 (09) “…gardens and forests.”
The problem is that the hammerhead worm is a predator, and its prey is the earthworm.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports unemployment in Louisiana has reached a record low. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows the not-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate for April 2022 at 3.5-percent. LWC Secretary Ava Cates says that’s the lowest rate ever recorded and their data goes back to 1976 …:
Cut 4 (07) “…we’ve ever experienced.”
Louisiana has gained over 200-thousand jobs in seasonally adjusted non-farm employment since April 2020.

The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act is on its way to the Governor’s desk after the Senate voted 32-6 to concur with a House amendment. The bill which bans transgender females from competing in female sports was vetoed by Governor John Bel Edwards last year. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat on what’s next.
Cut 10 (09) “…sign it.”
The bill which bans transgender females from playing female sports in K-12 and college competitions was amended to remove the ban from intramural sports.

Louisiana will elect a new governor in 18 months and we still do not have a single declared candidate. It’s expected Attorney General Jeff Landry and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser will run. Congressman Garret Graves and Senator Bill Cassidy are possibilities and political analyst Ron Faucheux says if Senator John Kennedy got in that would be a real surprise…
cut 8 (12) “…for the senate”
Kennedy is up for re-election this year.

LSU Ag Center entomologist Nathan Lord says based on the reports he’s getting there’s an increase in hammerhead worms, especially in south Louisiana. He says the head of a hammerhead worm is shaped like a hammerhead and they are not good for your garden, because they prey on earthworms. Lord says they are not harmful to humans but…
cut 15 (12) “….on humans”

For the second straight year, the governor will have to decide whether to veto a bill that prohibits transgender women and girls from competing in organized female sports. John Bel Edwards vetoed the bill last year and it’s heading to his desk again after the Senate gave final legislative approval yesterday. The bill was amended to remove the ban from intramural sports. Political Analyst Pinsonat says Edwards has said the amendment is significant.
Cut 11 (05) “…better bill.”

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports the state has added 200-thousand jobs since April 2020, which was the height of the economic shutdown due to COVID. L-W-C Secretary Ava Cates says in the last year, the leisure and hospitality industry gained more than 16-thousand jobs…
cut 6 (05) “….back from New Orleans”
The state’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of three-point-five percent history is the lowest in recorded history which dates back to 1976.

With about a year & half until the next governor’s race in Louisiana, where are all the declared candidates? Kevin Gallagher has that…:
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

U-S Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is in Louisiana to take a tour of the G-E wind turbine blade test center at Michoud in New Orleans East. Secretary Granholm will also tour the Strategic Petroleum Reserve site at Bayou Choctaw which is located in Iberville Parish, 12 miles southwest of Baton Rouge.

Heading into their series against Vanderbilt, LSU baseball was up against the ropes. So the Tigers came out swinging and delivered a three-game knockout of the Commodores, scoring 42 runs. Dylan Crews, the newly crowned SEC Co-Player of the Year says that the Tigers understood the assignment and came through at the right time.
Cut 16 (17) “…needed to do.”
Crews, who leads the SEC in home runs, runs scored, and ranks in the top four in nearly every major offensive category, is the first Tiger to be named Player of the Year since Raph Rhymes in 2012.

ULM faces Georgia State in the Sun Belt Tournament at noon today in Montgomery, Alabama. It’s a single-elimination game with the winner advancing to the double-elimination bracket. The Warhawks took two of three from the Panthers this season and have won 10 of the last 13 meetings.

The Ragin Cajuns are the four-seed in the Sun Belt Tournament. U-L Lafayette will play South Alabama on Wednesday afternoon after taking two of three from Little Rock last weekend.

Louisiana Tech is the two seed in the Conference USA Tournament and will play Charlotte on Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs just two took of three from the 49ers.

Louisiana Tech forward Kenneth Lofton Junior says he’s 100-percent committed to staying in the NBA draft. The Port Arthur, Texas native participated last week at the NBA G-League Elite Camp and has received an invitation to the NBA Combine.