House Speaker Clay Schexnayder forms a committee to investigate the 2019 fatal State Police arrest of Ronald Greene and if there was a cover-up. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Governor Edwards issued a statement in regard to the committee, saying he welcomes any and all legislative oversight and hopes it will be a productive nonpartisan discussion on how to continue ongoing reforms at State Police, so what happened the night of Greene’s death will never happen again.

Alliance Compressors is expanding its Natchitoches facility with a $45-million investment. Chairman of Alliance Compressors, Brent Schroder says the investment allows them to add a third assembly line to the plant, which will create 78 direct new jobs with an average annual salary of $47,000.

Cut 3 (06) “…in the area.”

Schroder says the expansion allows them to continue to support their partners, Emerson, Trane Technologies, and Lennox Industries.

More than a million people suffer burns annually and half go to an ER or are treated at a burn care center. LSU Health New Orleans professor of surgery Dr. Jeffrey Carter has been working on a more advanced way to assist burn victims with a type of spray-on-skin and speed up recovery.

Cut 14 (12)  “…few weeks”

The spray-on-skin also generates the same pigmentation.

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder creates a special legislative committee to look into the death of Ronald Greene, a Black man who died in 2019 after he was beaten by State Troopers following a high-speed chase. Houma Representative Tanner Magee will serve as the committee’s chairman and hopes to bring some closure to Greene’s family…

Cut 10 (07)  “…this committee.” 

Schexnayder says the truth must come out and no cover-up will be tolerated.

Covington Senator Patrick McMath is proposing bills to protect citizens from discrimination based on their COVID vaccination status. One bill allows those who may be immune to not have to prove they’ve been vaccinated.

Cut  11 (10)  “…step in the process.”  

The bills have been filed for the upcoming session in March.

More details about the law firm involved with redistricting maps before the Louisiana legislature. Republicans, House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, and Senate President Page Cortez reportedly hired the firm of BakerHostetler in December. It’s unclear how many lawmakers knew of the relationship and the firm will be paid $10,000 a month for advice and $60,000 monthly should litigation ensue.

At a time when the nation continues to struggle with its history with race, U-S Congressman Troy Carter asks Louisiana’s youth to look to the future.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m David Grubb.”

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder has created a special legislative committee to look into the death of Ronald Greene. a Black man who died in 2019 after he was beaten by State Troopers following a high-speed chase that ended in Union Parish. There are accusations of a cover-up and allegations the governor was involved. Houma Representative Tanner Magee will serve as the committee’s chairman

Cut 9 (09) “…four democrats.”

Governor John Bel Edwards denies that he tried to cover up Greene’s death.

Covington Senator Patrick McMath is proposing bills to protect citizens from discrimination based on their COVID vaccination status for the March session. McMath feels there isn’t enough regard for real scientific data in the pandemic discussion and policies…:

Cut 12 (07) “…the vaccine mandate.”

The next time you get a COVID test you can have your results sent to your LA Wallet. Just request that your PCR test be sent to Orion Laboratories and be sure they have your driver’s license number. Rachel Slaughter, President of Orion Laboratories says the new feature will simplify displaying results.

Cut 7 (07) “…your negative test.”

Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Second Congressional District Congressman Troy Carter announced the Black History Month Essay Contest. He encourages students of all backgrounds to enter and have their voices heard.

Cut 6 (13)  “…of the process. “

It’s open for 10^th and 11^th graders in the 2^nd Congressional District.

A St. Tammany Parish state Senator proposes two bills to protect citizens from discrimination based upon their COVID vaccination status. Senator Patrick McMath, of Covington, says his Senate Bill 1, is a proposed Constitutional Amendment; adding vaccine status to the list of things one cannot be discriminated against…:
Cut 10 (10) “…a very basic example.”
McMath says Senate Bill two would allow acceptance of a COVID-19 antibody test result in the satisfaction of any requirement for proof of vaccine.

The phone app, LA Wallet, can now display negative COVID test results. Orion Laboratories President Rachel Slaughter says after you are tested, ask that the test results be sent to Orion…
cut 9 (07) “…download the app”
For more information visit orion-dot-healthcare.

LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine professor Doctor Jeffrey Carter has helped develop a spray-on skin that lowers the mortality rates from burns. Carter says they use a small portion of a person’s healthy skin to make a spray that can quickly create new skin. He says the spray-on skin has cut recovery times and hospital stays and there’s an added benefit…
cut 15 (10) “….looks like”
Carter says he’s working to make sure first responders around the state have these burn kits.

Congressman Troy Carter is encouraging 10th and 11th graders in his Second Congressional District to submit an essay for his first annual Black History Essay Contest. He says reaching young people is as important as ever to truly start to realize Dr. Martin Luther King’s vision.
Cut 5 (12) “…not repeating history.”
the contest will close on March 8th.

Two proposed bills for the regular legislative session in March seek to establish boundaries in the pandemic and its policies. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

At the redistricting session, the House Governmental Affairs Committee approved a redistricting plan for the Louisiana House. It moves a district from the Natchitoches area to New Orleans. The full House could debate a new Congressional District map today. The Senate has already approved its version which has just one majority-minority district.

You can now have your negative COVID test results show up on your LA Wallet app. Orion Laboratories is making this possible and President Rachel Slaughter says it’s convenient for those who have to show proof of negative test results…
cut 8 (09) “….schools do testing weekly”
The feature is currently available for PCR tests performed at Orion Laboratories, which has facilities across the state.

Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Second Congressional District Congressman Troy Carter announced his first annual Black History Month Essay Contest. The contest is open to 10th and 11th graders throughout the district. Carter asks students to share their dreams for a “stronger, more inclusive America.”
Cut 4 (12) “…Black History Month.”
The contest will close on March 8th.

The number of COVID hospitalized patients fell by another 103 yesterday according to the state health department. There are now 1,423 individuals hospitalized with COVID across Louisiana. COVID deaths increased by another 51 and the death toll stands at 16,066.

If you ever wanted to be able to show your COVID test results like you present your ID on LA Wallet well now you can. Brooke Thorington explains
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A redistricting plan for the Louisiana House received approval from the House Governmental Affairs Committee. It moves a district from Natchitoches to New Orleans because of population growth in the Big Easy. But a group of high school students have an issue with this majority-black district being moved. House Governmental Affairs Chairman John Stefanski grilled the teens about the opposition…
cut 24 (11) “….moved it”
The measure heads to the House floor for more debate.

LSU Health New Orleans professor of surgery Dr. Jeffrey Carter has been working on a more advanced way to assist burn victims with a type of spray-on-skin that significantly increases their survival rates.
Cut 13 (12) “…accelerate healing.”
Carter is working with the state health department on delivering burn kits to first responders, so people with minor burns, including fire fighters, can get immediate treatment.

The state Senate approves a new Congressional district map that maintains one majority-minority district. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields authored an amendment to create a second-majority Black district by taking voters from Representative Julia Letlow’s 5th district…

Cut 12 (11) “…with the law”.  

Fields amendment failed on a party-line vote.

House Governmental Affairs Committee approves a new state House map that keeps the number of majority-minority districts at 29. Opponents say the new map prevents more blacks from being elected. House Governmental Affairs Chairman John Stefanski asked teenagers if they knew the definition of gerrymandering…

Cut 5 (15) “..gerrymander.”

State Police are investigating two officer-involved shootings, one in Lake Charles the other in New Orleans. A Lake Charles officer shot a man who hit a police car with his vehicle early Wednesday morning. And in New Orleans an officer shot a man just north of the Superdome Tuesday evening. Police were searching for an armed robbery suspect; the man was hit three times in the leg. Injuries are considered nonlife-threatening injuries.

He’s a Lafayette native, a political science major at LSU, and is the second quarter-final winner of Jeopardy’s National College Champions for 2022. Who is Steven Privat. (Pre-vot). Privat was a guest on Talk 107.3 in Baton Rouge this morning, and even though he wasn’t able to discuss anything beyond Tuesday’s episode he says been a great experience.

Cut 9 (11) “…some questions.”

The Jeopardy College Championship continues tonight at 7 pm on ABC.

Dennis Allen was introduced as the new head coach of the New Orleans Saints yesterday. Allen believes he is the right man at the right time to continue the Saints winning tradition. One of the keys to doing that will be revamping the offense. After a year in which everything went wrong for New Orleans on that side of the ball, Allen was very direct in saying what he expects their offensive identity to be.

Cut 6 (14) “…situationally.”

Former Saints assistants Doug Marrone and John Morton are being considered as additions to Allen’s staff. Current offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael will stay with the team but in a lesser role.

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The LSU men’s basketball team ended its three-game slide with a 76-68 victory over Texas A&M. The Tigers led by 20 at the half but had to hold off the Aggies in the second to earn Will Wade’s 100^th win at LSU. Tari Eason led the way with 25 points and 12 boards. Next up for the Tigers, Mississippi State at home in the P-MAC on Saturday night.

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The New Orleans Pelicans have acquired CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr., and Tony Snell from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tomas Satoransky, Didi Louzada and picks. Oleh Kosel, editor of The Bird Writes-dot-com, says that a move like this shows that the Pels are serious about making a run now, and in the seasons ahead.

Cut 18 (10) “…a lot higher.”

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College baseball is just around the corner, and Louisiana players continue to grab preseason honors. Southeastern dominated the Southland Conference’s Preseason All-Conference team with eight players, including five on the first team. Northwestern State and UNO had four selections each, McNeese two, and Nicholls one. Southern placed four players on the Preseason All-SWAC team, two on the first team.

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Burrow-mania continues to sweep across Cincinnati in the lead-up to the Super Bowl. The Cincinnati Zoo has named a five-week-old penguin chick after the Bengals QB. A spokesman for the zoo says little Joe will wear orange and black ID bans when he joins the rest of the penguin colony in the spring.

The state Senate has approved a new Congressional district map that maintains the status quo and that’s just one majority-minority district. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields authored an amendment that created a second-majority Black voting district, but Republican Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says Fields’ proposal would actually dilute the black vote in both districts…:

CUT 13(10)      “…minority representation whatsoever.”

Black lawmakers argue that 33-percent of the state’s population is African-American, therefore two of the state’s six congressional districts should be majority-minority, if not it violates the Voting Rights Act. A federal consent decree from decades ago, mandates the state have “at least one” majority black district.

COVID hospitalizations keep dropping in Louisiana. The state Department of Health today reports 1435 patients under care; a drop of over 100 in just one day.

In a new 60-second online ad, U-S Senate candidate Gary Chambers sets a Confederate flag on fire, while talking about systemic inequalities in criminal justice, economics, and voting rights. The ad is getting attention, but ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley doesn’t see it improving Chambers’ chances at winning…:

CUT 06(13)      “move the needle too much.”

Stockley says unless Chambers can raise a lot of cash AND appeal to at least SOME non-black voters, he doesn’t stand a chance.

New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson is suing a neighbor over the death of one of her dogs. Benson’s lawyer says the neighbor’s dogs got out unrestrained and left the Yorkie “literally torn apart.” Another dog was badly injured, but lived. The neighbor’s dogs have been euthanized. Benson says, if she wins the suit, she’ll give the money to a pet charity, and match it out-of-pocket.

At the State Capitol redistricting session, A House committee advances a state House district map that keeps the number of majority black districts At its current number; 29. Opponents of the proposed map, says it is gerrymandered to assure no MORE blacks get elected to the legislature. One of those was Shreveport high school student Autumn Summers…:

CUT 03  (14)        “…remove you from office.”

Despite that, the bill was approved by a 13-to-4 vote, and goes next to the House floor.

U.S. Senate candidate Gary Chambers sets a rebel flag on fire in his latest campaign video, while talking of systemic racism, race-based voter rights infringement and more. U.L.-Monroe political science professor Joshua Stockley says those are good issues to talk up, but he must also show he can raise money AND appeal to more than just black democrats…:

CUT 08  (04)        “…very Republican state.”

The man accused of killing a Slidell mom and stuffing her dismembered body in a cooler will remain in jail until his trial. An Orleans Parish magistrate ruled this morning there was probable cause the Benjamin Beale might be a flight risk, if let out on bond. He’s accused of murdering 36-year-old Julia Dardar AND with running a meth lab.

He’s a poli-sci student at LSU and winner of the second quarter-finals in Jeopardy’s College Champions. Brooke Thorington has more on Steven Privat…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Brooke Thorington.”