Baton Rouge Police say a four-year-old died after being forced to drink a bottle of whiskey and her relatives are behind bars. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

At the Capitol, a bill that would impose term limits on parish sheriffs was voted down. The bill, by New Orleans Democrat Rep. Mandie Landry, would limit service to 12 years. The committee voted 9-to-2 to end the bill’s progress.

Once again…where was rock & roll really born? Memphis or New Orleans? Houma Republican Rep. Tanner Magee‘s bill would establish the Crescent City as the home of the Dew Drop Inn Rock & Roll Museum, named for the famous club in New Orleans…:

CUT 07(12)      “…than just music.”

While Memphis boasts of Sun Records and the start of Elvis Presley’s career, many maintain that real rock & roll started with New Orleans artists like Hank Ballard and others. Magee’s bill moves forward for House floor debate and vote.

Looking for some festival fun this weekend? Well, you can check out the Baton Rouge Blues Festival; featuring 35 musical acts Saturday and Sunday. Or you can go really big and hit the French Quarter Festival in the Big Easy. Now in its 38^th year, the festival features numerous live stages and lots and lots of food.

Should Louisiana increase the number of medical marijuana pharmacy licenses? That’s a debate underway in the ongoing legislative session. Current law provides for the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy to issue no more than ten, but Gretna Representative Joe Marino has a bill to increase the limit to 25. It’s passed a committee and set for a House vote next week. However, Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s too soon to expand it, and unfair to those who got in on the ground floor…:

CUT 10 (10)     “…problematic.”

A Baton Rouge woman and her mother are under arrest, after a 4-year-old girl died from alcohol poisoning. BRPD’s Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says the pair became alarmed when little China Record went unresponsive, so they put her in a tub of cold water…:

CUT 03(11)      “…later die.”

Both women are held without bond and charged with murder.

Say goodbye to Lee Circle in New Orleans. The traffic circle at St. Charles and Howard Avenues has officially be renamed “Harmony Circle.” The change was coming ever since the statue of Robert E. Lee was removed from its pedestal back in 2017.

Shreveport cops say an SUV was stolen today with a baby still inside. It was jacked from a Burger King parking lot. Luckily, police quickly found the vehicle and arrested the driver. The baby girl is just fine and back with her mom.

Today marks 30 years since the multi-state, big money Powerball lottery game debuted, and Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says the estimated Powerball jackpot for Saturday night’s drawing is at just over $400-million. Chopin says ticket sales always surge when jackpots get this high…:

CUT 13(08)      “…for two dollars.”

The largest Powerball jackpot ever was $1.6-billion; given away in early 2016.

Police in Baton Rouge says a four-year-old girl is dead because her mother forced her to drink booze. The child was brought to hospital unresponsive and later died. Her blood alcohol level was .680 – more than 8 times the legal limit for an adult. BRPD Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says 28-year-old Kadjah Record is charged with murder. The child’s grandmother 53-year-old Roxanne Record was also charged. He says it’s important when citizens see this kind of abuse they contact police…:

CUT 05  (08)        “…are resources available.”

Both women are held without bond. The investigation is ongoing.

Today marks 30 years since the multi-state, big money Powerball lottery game debuted, and Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says the anniversary comes with one of the game’s top twenty jackpot amounts…:

CUT 12(09)      “…for Saturday’s drawing.”

A grim story out of St. Mary Parish, where firefighters near Jeanerette responded early this morning to a reported camper trailer on fire. Once extinguished they found a woman’s body inside. That death is under investigation.

OK, once and for all…where was rock & roll born? Memphis or New Orleans? David Grubb reports a bill designating the Crescent City with that title is moving through the legislature…:

CUT 02(35)      “…David Grubb.”

Baton Rouge Police say a four-year-old has died after being forced to consume a bottle of whiskey and her relatives are behind bars. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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A manhunt continues as multiple agencies are still looking for a Union Parish Work Release inmate. 48-year-old Bruce Causey stabbed a coworker at Foster Farms in Farmerville, Louisiana, and was last seen in Monroe yesterday around 11 am. If you have any information, contact the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-368-3124.

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Houma Representative Tanner Magee considers himself a music aficionado, and as one, something has bothered him for a very long time…the fact that the city of Memphis lays claim as the home of rock and roll. A trip to the legendary Sun Records studio years ago has inspired him to propose HB 889, which would create a rock and roll museum in New Orleans.

Cut 6 (12) “…comes to Memphis.”

The bill passed House Municipal and now heads to the floor for further debate.

—

Should Louisiana increase the number of medical marijuana pharmacy licenses? That’s a debate underway in the ongoing legislative session. Current law provides for the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy to issue no more than ten, but Gretna Representative Joe Marino has a bill to increase the limit to 25…

Cut 9 (12) “…access to it.”

After police say a grandmother allegedly forced a four-year-old Baton Rouge toddler to drink alcohol Thursday morning, Roxanne Record and the child’s mother Kadjah Record face first-degree murder charges. BRPD Spokesperson L’Jean McKneely says even though the grandmother forced a bottle of Canadian Whiskey on the child…

Cut 4  (10) “…unconscious.”

Legislators are debating if Louisiana should increase the number of medical marijuana pharmacy licenses. Current law provides for the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy to issue no more than ten, but Gretna Representative Joe Marino has a bill to increase the limit to 25…

Cut 9 (12) “…access to it.”

The House Health and Welfare Committee has approved his bill and a full House vote is scheduled next week.

“Buckle Up in Your Truck” week kicks off tomorrow as patrol officers step up enforcement of seat belt usage inside trucks. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says they are targeting pick-up trucks because they are more likely to roll over in a crash…
cut 11 (08) “…even death”
Lambert says surveys also show drivers and passengers are less likely to buckle up when they are in a pick-up truck.

Pelicans fever is spreading across the state as the NBA team will host Game 3 of its playoff series with the Suns tonight. The series is tied at one game apiece and Rel Meyers, co-founder of The Pels 12 fan group, says fans are meeting up to support the team and local businesses as well…
cut 13 (11) “….local economy”
Tonight’s game in the Smoothie King Center tips off at 8:30.

After a four-year-old Baton Rouge toddler was forced to drink alcohol and found unresponsive Thursday morning, her mother and grandmother are charged with first-degree murder. BRPD Spokesperson L’Jean McKneely…

Cut 3 (12) “…later die.”

The child’s blood alcohol content was a point-six-eight-zero. The victim’s grandmother, Roxanne Record, and mother Kadjah Record are both in custody. McKneely says the mother is charged because she did not try to intervene or call for help.

The House has yet to commit to Governor Edwards’ request to allocate half a billion dollars for a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. He says now is the time to do it, with a huge state surplus and federal infrastructure money…

Cut 7 (04) “…shining now”

The Senate has yet to weigh in on funding for a new Baton Rouge bridge.

Buckle-Up in your Truck week begins Saturday… Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says law enforcement will focus on making sure pick-up truck drivers and their passengers are buckled up….

Cut 10 (11) “…your seatbelt”

Tonight is Game Three of the Pelicans playoff series against the Suns. It’s the first NBA home playoff game in New Orleans since 2018 and Rel Myers, co-founder of The Pels 12 Fan Group, says the flock will be ready…

Cut 15 (09)  “…in that first round.”

Tonight’s game at the Smoothie King Center is sold out. Tipoff is at 8:30.

The Louisiana House approves the 38-billion-dollar budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1st. With the session reaching the halfway point it’s unclear if legislators will fund Governor Edwards request for 500-million dollars for a new Mississippi River bridge. Edwards says the half a billion-dollar commitment will show the feds the state is serious about bridge construction.

Cut 8 (10)  “…our state”

A bill to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.25 is shortchanged four to one in Senate Labor. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey says if you require businesses to raise wages, they’ll raise prices to consumers…:

CUT 22(11)      “…to live.”

The lone yes vote was from bill sponsor, Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow.

The “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign begins Saturday and runs until the end of the month. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says law enforcement will focus on pick-ups because those drivers and passengers are less likely to buckle up….

Cut 12 (12) “…65-percent.” 

The success of the New Orleans Pelicans has led more birds of a feather flocking together and Rel Myers, co-founder of The Pels 12 fan group, says the franchise contacted her and other groups to provide support for the growing fanbase.

Cut 14 (10)  “…as well.”

The Pels play the Suns tonight at the sold-out Smoothie King Center. Tip-off is at 8:30.

The Louisiana House has approved a 38-billion-dollar budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. There’s money in the budget to give teachers and college faculty a pay raise and 450-million to upgrade water and sewerage systems. The measure passed on a 94-4 vote. Erath Representative Blake Miguez is one of the four no votes because he’s concerned about a shortfall in the next couple of years when a temporary sales tax expires…
cut 5 (12) “…in the next term”
Governor John Bel Edwards is also disappointed the House did not support his proposal to give law enforcement and firefighters a 100-dollar a month increase in pay…
cut 9 (09) “…there”
The budget is now in the Senate for consideration.

The Pelicans’ success has more birds of a feather flocking together, as fan groups sprout up and meet up to watch the team. David Grubb has more…
Cut 3 (35) “…I’m David Grubb.”

Today is Earth Day and Governor John Bel Edwards, First Lady Donna Edwards and their staffs are picking up litter this morning around the State Capitol as it’s also Love the Boot Week.

The Angola Rodeo returns this weekend at the Louisiana State Penintentary. Tickets are sold out.

The Louisiana House has passed a $38-billion budget. The legislation is the state’s spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. Appropriations chairman and Houma Republican Jerome Zeringue says House Bill 1 makes good use of one-time money from the federal CARES act…:
Cut 4 (13) “…one-time expenses.”
The legislation also contains 450-million dollars to upgrade water and sewerage systems.

The search continues for a work release inmate who killed a co-worker at the Foster Farms chicken processing plant in Farmerville. Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates says 48-year-old Bruce Causey stabbed the unidentified victim to death, as the two argued…:
CUT 21(08) “…motive behind it.”
Gates says Causey could have fled to the Baton Rouge area.

Local police will increase their enforcement of seat belt use in pick-up trucks. Kevin Gallagher has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Tonight is Game Three of the Pelicans playoff series against the Suns. It’s the first NBA home playoff game in New Orleans since 2018 and Rel Myers, co-founder of The Pels 12 Fan Group, says the flock will be ready…
cut 15 (09) “….in that first round”
Tonight’s Game 3 is sold out.

The state’s $38-billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st has passed the House of Representatives. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The House has yet to commit to the governor’s request to allocate 500-million dollars for a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. John Bel Edwards says now is the time to do it, with a huge surplus of state dollars and federal infrastructure money…
cut 7 (04) “…shining now”
The Senate has yet to weigh in on funding for a new Baton Rouge bridge.

The “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign gets underway tomorrow as police officers and sheriff deputies step up enforcement of seat belt use inside trucks. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says they are targeting pick-up trucks because these vehicles are more likely to roll over in a crash…
cut 11 (08) “…even death”
Lambert says surveys also show drivers and passengers are less likely to buckle up when they are in a pick-up truck.

According to the Louisiana Survey, only 51-percent of the respondents say they trust the information they get from local news organizations. Doctor Michael Henderson, director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, says that’s a 27-percentage drop from four years ago…
cut 28 (11) “…Independents drop”
Republicans’ trust in local news fell by 31-percent, Democrats’ trust fell 23 percentage points.