A bill seeking to repeal the state’s 2016 Raise the Age law will go to the full Senate for debate. Kevin Gallagher reports it would mean more 17-year-olds could be tried as adults…:
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow has decided not to move forward with a proposal that would allow judges to sentence sex offenders to surgical castration if they sexually assaulted a victim younger than 13. Louisiana’s law already allows judges to order certain sex offenders to undergo chemical castration.

Starting next month, Entergy will give residential and business customers the opportunity to receive some or all of their electricity usage from a clean, renewable energy generator. Director of regulatory affairs Elizabeth Ingram says customers will pay a slight surcharge depending on which tier they select…
cut 11 (09) “….per kilowatt hour”
The solar energy would come from Entergy’s Capital Region Solar site in West Baton Rouge Parish.

The largest free international music festival kicks off tonight in Lafayette and after a two-year absence organizers of Festival International are tuning up for the possibility of record-breaking crowds. Spokesperson Brad Cradeur says there’s plenty of anticipation for the five-day festival…
Cut 4 (08) “…tons of fun.”

After receiving feedback in Senate Judiciary C Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow will not move forward with a bill this session to allow judges to sentence a convicted sex offender to surgical castration if the victim is under the age of 13. Baton Rouge Senator Bodi White says he’s seen video from sex crime prosecutors where young children are raped and he can’t wait to vote for the legislation…

Cut 14 (09)  “…threw up.”

Barrow plans to research the bill and refile next year.

A bill to repeal Louisiana’s 2016 “Raise the Age” law passes a Senate committee without objection. The bill means more 17-year-olds could be tried as adults. Attorney General Jeff Landry spoke of the New Orleans carjacking last month, in which a woman was dragged to death by a group of minors…:

Cut 7 (10) “…tried as adults.

The Senate overwhelmingly approves a bill to criminalize the act of prescribing, distributing, or administrating abortion pills without an in-person visit with a doctor. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says out of the state businesses are selling the pills online to women in Louisiana to take without physician oversight…

Cut 10 (10) “…for women”

The bill moves to the House.

After 850 nursing home patients were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida, resulting in more than a dozen deaths, House Bill 291 gives LDH the ability to reject questionable evacuation plans. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says Health and Welfare members repeatedly asked who approved a plan to evacuate patients to a warehouse where patients’ bedding consisted of mattresses on the floor.

Cut 4  (04) “…and process.”

The bill advances to the House.

At the State Capital, the full Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation that would criminalize the act of prescribing, distributing, or administrating abortion pills without an in-person visit with a licensed doctor. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says she wrote the bill because the current law prohibiting such activity is unclear…:

CUT 09(12)      “…in Louisiana.”

Hewitt says her legislation would apply criminal penalties to the distributor of the abortion pill, not the pregnant woman. The bill moves to the House for committee consideration.

COVID numbers statewide are cratering. Only 38 people statewide in the hospital with the virus and no one on a ventilator. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter is happy with those numbers…:

CUT 06(06)      “…of this pandemic.”

He says another surge of a variant is almost a certainty, though.

Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow will not move forward with a bill that would give judges the authority to sentence a convicted sex offender to surgical castration if the victim is under the age of 13. Morgan Lamandre, with a group called STAR, Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response, told the Senate Judiciary C Committee that surgical castration does not serve as a deterrent…:

CUT 13(11)      “…more deadly.”

Barrow voluntarily deferred her own bill, but says she may bring it back in another form next year.

A head-on crash in Pointe Coupee Parish claims the life of a woman and leaves six people hurt – five of them kids. Police say no one is either vehicle was wearing a seatbelt. The crash is under investigation.

An eagle-eyed person out for a stroll spotted two bald eagles grabbing a snack near Lake Pontchartrain. While near the Mandeville lakeshore, Janet Wakeland managed to snap a couple of photos of the pair, stealing bait from local fishermen yesterday.

News from the legislature. After hundreds of nursing home patients were evacuated to a Tangipahoa Parish warehouse during Hurricane Ida – where many died from terrible conditions – lawmakers are responding with legislation. Brooke Thorington has more on one of those bills…:

CUT 01(34)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Hotels in Baton Rouge report they are nearly booked up solid for this Saturday night’s big Garth Brooks concert in Tiger Stadium. Believe or not, there are still SOME tickets available through Ticketmaster.

Deputies in Vernon Parish are investigating a murder-suicide in the town of Anacoco Monday. Detectives say the think 49-year-old Shawn Raines shot his 36-year-old girlfriend, Rebecca Freeney, and then himself. Three kids – all between 11 and 14 – were in the home at the time and until officers arrived.

There are some encouraging numbers from the Department of health on COVID. The latest figures show only 38 patients hospitalized statewide, with not a single patient currently on a ventilator. State Health Officer, Dr. Joe Kanter says the numbers don’t mean there’s no longer a reason to take precautions and believes another surge is likely at some point, though Louisiana is in much better shape to face that when the time comes…:

CUT 07(14)      “…is significant.”

Kanter says getting your latest booster is a good idea.

A Morgan City man is among 78 people granted clemency by President Biden this week. Terry Booty has been in prison since 2008 on numerous drug charges. Biden’s order shortens his sentence to end one year from today, with another ten years home confinement.

Encouraging news as COVID cases in the state are at an all-time low…David Grubb has the latest numbers…:

CUT 02(36)      “…David Grubb.”

Bossier City announces a new police chief. Sgt. Christopher Estess beat out four other candidates to be the successor of Bossier Chief Shane McWilliams, who announced his retirement back in January. Mayor Tommy Chandler made the official announcement this morning.

A bill that would let judges sentenced convicted juvenile sex offenders to castration is halted from progress by its own author. In a Senate committee on Judiciary matters, bill sponsor Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says she’s heard many objection to her bill –especially if that is done to a person and it’s later discovered they were innocent…:

Cut 12  (12)      “…convicted wrongly.”

She agreed to defer the bill.

After over 800 nursing home patients were evacuated to a nasty warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida, resulting in more than a dozen deaths, legislation to give the state more oversite powers have been proposed in this session. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds’ bill gives the Department of Health more enforcement…:

CUT 03(10)      “…approve the plan.”

With only one “no” vote the bill now moves to the House floor.

After 850 nursing home patients were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida, resulting in more than a dozen deaths, legislation to give the state more oversite powers have been proposed in this session. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey asked if the legislation requires nursing homes to show proof of the ability to execute approved evacuation plans, for example, their finances and contracts for supplies. The bill’s author, Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds, welcomed Ivey’s input on the legislation.

Cut 5 (06) “…sir, thank you.”

HB 291 passed in the House with only one vote in opposition. There’s also Senate legislation that charges the State Fire Marshal’s Office with inspection of evacuation plans.

—

The numbers on COVID infections in Louisiana are very encouraging. The latest figures show only 38 patients hospitalized statewide, with not a single patient currently on a chemical ventilator. LDH says vaccinations remain the best protection from COVID, and those who haven’t gotten their booster should do so.

—

The Louisiana Senate has overwhelmingly approved legislation that would criminalize the act of prescribing, distributing, or administrating abortion pills without an in-person visit with a licensed doctor. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says her legislation would apply criminal penalties to the distributor of the abortion pill, not the pregnant woman…

Cut 11 (12) “…abortion industry”

The bill moves to the House for its consideration.

—

Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow will not move forward with a bill that would give judges the authority to sentence a convicted sex offender to surgical castration if the victim is under the age of 13. Barrow says she’ll study the issue and plans to file a surgical castration bill for child rapists next year. Baton Rouge area Senator Bodi White says he’s watched video that sex crime prosecutors have where young children are raped and he can’t wait to vote for this legislation…

Cut 14 (09) “…threw up.”

After 850 nursing home patients were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida, resulting in more than a dozen deaths, legislation to give the state more oversite powers has been proposed in this session.  House Bill 291 gives LDH the ability to reject questionable evacuation plans. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says Health and Welfare members repeatedly asked who approved a plan to evacuate patients to a warehouse where patients’ bedding consisted of mattresses on the floor.

Cut 4 (09) “…and rejected.”

—

The numbers on COVID in Louisiana are very encouraging. The latest figures show only 38 patients hospitalized statewide, with not a single patient currently on a chemical ventilator. State Health Officer, Dr. Joe Kanter likes what he sees.

Cut 6 (06) “…this pandemic.”

—

The Louisiana Senate has overwhelmingly approved legislation that would criminalize the act of prescribing, distributing, or administrating abortion pills without an in-person visit with a licensed doctor. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says businesses located out of the state and the United States are selling abortion pills online and mailing them to women in Louisiana for them to take at home without physician oversight…

Cut 10 (10) “…for women”

The bill moves to the House for its consideration.

—

Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow will not move forward with a bill that would give judges the authority to sentence a convicted sex offender to surgical castration if the victim is under the age of 13. Morgan Lamandre is the legal director for a group called sexual trauma awareness and response. Lamandre told the Senate Judiciary C Committee that surgical castration does not serve as a deterrent…

Cut 13 (11) “…more deadly.”

After 850 nursing home patients were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida, legislation to give the state more oversite powers have been proposed this session. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds’s bill overwhelmingly passed in the House.

Cut 3 approve the plan :10

In the Senate there’s a bill charging the State Fire Marshal’s Office with inspection of evacuation plans.

The Senate overwhelmingly approves legislation to criminalize the act of prescribing, distributing, or administrating abortion pills without an in-person visit with a licensed doctor. Bill author, Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says current law prohibiting such activity is unclear…

Cut 9 (12) “…in Louisiana.”

The bill moves to the House.

The House approves a bill requiring insurers that offer loss of use of coverage to provide two weeks of expenses to policyholders even if a mandatory evacuation isn’t called. The legislation is in response to Ida which rapidly intensified and didn’t allow for a mandatory evacuation, Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel’s bill keeps them from denying such coverage in the future.

Cut 13 (10) “…(x2) be triggered”

A bill heading to the House floor would make it illegal under state law to refuse to rent or sell housing to a person because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Metairie Republican Representative Polly Thomas questions the need when it’s already illegal under federal law…

cut 5 (12) “….to be adequate”

The House approves a bill requiring insurers that offer loss of use of coverage to provide two weeks of evacuation living expenses to policyholders even if a mandatory evacuation is not called. Some companies did not pay expenses due to technicality over evacuations with Ida. Pollock Representative Gabe Firment worries that one area of the state could impact insurance rates in other parts.

Cut 14 (10)  “…and Monroe.”

Kenner Representative Joseph Stagni informed him it doesn’t create new coverage it only forces an insurance company to pay expenses of those who have the coverage.

A proposal to double the speeding fines on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is heading to the Senate floor after it received approval from Senate Finance. Senate President Page Cortez’s legislation needed Finance approval due to the expense of additional speed limit signs and cameras to issue tickets…
Cut 11 (04) “…speed limit.”

A New Orleans wrestler becomes the first high-school athlete in the state to sign a deal for his name, image, and likeness. David Grubb has more…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

The Pelicans are hoping for another win tonight in Game Five of the playoff series. The Pels are in Phoenix and tipoff is at 9 PM, so fans might want to work in a nap today. The series is tied at two and two and game six on Thursday returns to New Orleans.

A bill to prohibit housing discrimination based on one’s gender identity or sexual orientation advances from House Commerce. A motion was made to kill the bill and it received a terse response from New Orleans Democrat Rep. Royce Duplessis, who pointed out that not one person who filed an opposition “red card” chose to come to committee and testify against the bill.

Cut 6 (09)  “…you can kill a bill.”

The bill now goes to the House floor.

Senate Finance approves legislation to double the speeding fines on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. Senate President Page Cortez wants to use cameras to issue speeding tickets based on how fast it takes a vehicle to get from one end to the other…

Cut 10 (05) “…the exits.”

The speed limit is 60 on the 18-mile bridge and vehicles that make it across faster than 18 minutes could receive a ticket in the mail.

The House approves a bill requiring insurers that offer loss of use of coverage to provide two weeks of evacuation living expenses to policyholders even if a mandatory evacuation is not called. The legislation is in response to Hurricane Ida which rapidly intensified and didn’t allow for a mandatory evacuation. Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel’s bill will keep insurance companies from denying such coverage in the future.

Cut 13 (10) “…(x2) be triggered”

Brother Martin High School wrestler Richie Clementi is one of the best in the state and the New Orleans freshman just signed a four-figure name, image and likeness deal. His father Rich Clementi believes more student-athletes may be able to stick with sports like wrestling now because financial support is available.

Cut 9 (12)  “…overall process.”