A survey conducted by LSU finds two-thirds of Louisiana residents believe the state is headed in the wrong direction. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

—

The House Criminal Justice Committee approved legislation to allow non-felons 21 and older to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Baton Rouge Rep. Denise Marcelle voted against the bill.

Cut 12 (13) “…poor people.”

—

More than three years after the shooting death of LSU basketball player Wayde Sims, 23-year-old Dyteon Simpson of Baker has been convicted of second-degree murder. Video of the shooting was critical to the case, as jurors saw the fatal confrontation from multiple angles. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore applauded his prosecutors for their work and thanked the jury for reaching a guilty verdict.

Cut 3 (12) “…actually was.”

Simpson did not testify in his own defense and faces a mandatory life sentence.

—

66-percent of the adults who participated in an LSU Public Policy Research Lab poll say the state is heading in the wrong direction.  LSU Manship School associate professor Doctor Michael Henderson says only 26-percent say the state is heading in the right direction…
cut 9 (06) “…2004”
Just over 600 adults participated in the online survey.

A University of New Orleans research poll shows falling approval numbers for Governor John Bel Edwards. UNO political science professor Dr. Ed Chervenak says 38-percent of persons surveyed said they approve of the job Edwards is doing…:
Cut 10 (12) “…the death of Ronald Greene.”
A similar poll in 2020 had Edwards’ approval rating at 56-percent.

On a ten to three vote, the House Criminal Justice Committee approved legislation to allow non-felons 21 and older to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Baton Rouge Rep. Denise Marcelle voted against it and says issuing gun permits is vital to know who has the legal right to carry.
Cut 12 (13) “…poor people.”
Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is the author of the measure and says people should not have to pay for a permit to conceal carry.

Cleco announces the company will invest 900-million dollars to reduce carbon emissions at the largest of its nine electric generation units in Louisiana. CEO Bill Fontenot.…
Cut 4 (12) “…economic development.”
Cleco calls the project Diamond Vault and estimates it will create up to 40 direct jobs and over one-thousand construction jobs.

Two bills to allow non-felons to conceal carry a gun without a permit in Louisiana are in legislative committees today. Last year Governor Edwards vetoed the legislation because it omitted training. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris’ legislation requires an online hour course on gun safety, but Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s legislation removes training and the entire permit process.

Cut 9 (10)  “…those rights.”

McCormick’s bill is currently being heard in House Criminal Justice and Morris’s is scheduled in Senate Judiciary C.

A one-vehicle accident in East Baton Rouge Parish involving 11 children results in the driver, Leticia Brothers, who is also the mother of all the children, facing cruelty to juvenile charges. Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran says when officers arrived on the scene Sunday night, they noticed an SUV had flipped several times.

Cut 13 (09) “…by AirMed.”

No major injuries were reported.

A new University of New Orleans research poll shows fewer than 40-percent of persons approve of the job Governor Edwards is doing, a similar poll conducted in 2020 showed a 56-percent approval rating. UNO political science professor Dr. Ed Chervenak says it’s not uncommon for a governor to see approval numbers wane as the years wear on, however…:

Cut 12 (13) “…magnitude of the drop.”

Cleco will invest nearly one billion dollars to reduce carbon emissions at their plant in in Lena. CEO Bill Fontenot says they have already secured $9-million in federal monies to help pay for the project and consumers won’t see rate changes.

Cut 5 (12) “…sequestering carbon.”

A nearly one billion dollar investment in clean fuel is being made in central Louisiana. David Grubb has more.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.”

Much of the state is under a slight risk for severe weather today and the threat becomes more severe tomorrow, especially for the northern half of the state, which is under an enhanced threat for severe weather tomorrow afternoon. We Already seeing scattered showers in south Louisiana this morning.

An SUV with eleven children inside flipped over several times in East Baton Rouge Parish, but none of the children were seriously injured. Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran says it’s a miracle no one was killed…
cut 14 (11) “….back of the vehicle”
The driver of the vehicle and mother of the children, 34-year-old Leticia Brothers of Baton Rouge, faces eleven charges of cruelty to a juvenile, driving with a suspended license and no insurance.

We are less than a week away from the federal tax deadline, which is April 18th. Catherine Rowe who is a member of the Louisiana Society for CPAs says most filers dealing with only W-2s don’t need much tax advice, but with payments and credits that you may have received over the past year, you might need the help of CPA…
cut 21 (12) “….loss of a refund”

A University of New Orleans telephone poll of 325 registered voters puts Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating at 38-percent, down from 56-percent in a similar poll conducted in 2020. Pollster Ed Chervenak says 31-percent of whites approve of Edwards, compared to 55-percent of blacks and age appears to influence perceptions of the governor’s performance…
cut 11 (08) “…18 to 44”

Last year, Governor Edwards vetoed a bill that would allow non-felons to conceal carry a firearm without a permit. That legislation is back this year and Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s constitutional carry bill will be heard today in the House Criminal Justice Committee…
cut 7 (11) “..amemdnent rights

Cleco announces the company will invest 900-million dollars to reduce carbon emissions at the largest of its nine electric generation units in Louisiana. CEO Bill Fontenot says the work done at the Brame Energy Center in Lena will remove and compress 95-percent or more of the C-O-two emitted and store it in geological formations under the site. Fontenot says nearby private industries can also take advantage…
Cut 4 (12) “…economic development.”
Cleco has named the project Diamond Vault and estimates it will create up to 40 direct jobs and an average of 11-hundred construction jobs in cenla over a three-year period.

A Baton Rouge mom faces 11 counts of cruelty to a juvenile after the S-U-V she was driving flipped over several times. 34-year-old Leticia Brothers had all eleven of her children in the vehicle, but none of them were seriously injured. Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran says the kids were not buckled up…
cut 15 (05) “…can happen”
The Advocate reports that in 2015 the state removed Brother’s nine children from her home after they were found with little food and no beds.

A new University of New Orleans research poll shows falling approval numbers for Governor John Bel Edwards. UNO political science professor Dr. Ed Chervenak says fewer than 40-percent of persons surveyed said they approve of the job Governor Edwards is doing…:
Cut 10 (12) “…the death of Ronald Greene.”
A similar poll in 2020 had Edwards’ approval rating at 56-percent.

One of the governor’s goals is for Louisiana to be a net-zero emission state by 2050. Cleco is helping the state reach that goal by announcing a 900-million dollar emissions reductions project at a power-generating facility in Rapides Parish. Cleco CEO Bill Fontenot says they are also committed to reducing emissions
cut 6 (12) “….by 2050”

Bills to allow non-felons to conceal carry a handgun in Louisiana without a permit are scheduled to be heard in committees today…
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

An East Baton Rouge Grand Jury has found 23-year-old Dyteon Simpson of Baker guilty of killing former LSU basketball player Wayde Sims. Simpson faces a mandatory life sentence for fatally shooting Sims who prosecutors say was intervening in a fight just off of Southern’s campus in September 2018.

A new UNO survey shows Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval numbers have taken a nosedive. More from Kevin Gallagher….:
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Gas prices keep falling. According to Triple-A, the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is down to $3.88, which is eight cents cheaper than a week ago and 27-cents lower than a month ago, when the state hit a record high of $4.15 a gallon.

The House Criminal Justice Committee is scheduled to debate a bill this morning that would remove the need to have a permit in order to conceal carry a firearm. Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed this bill this year because he believes strongly in the current law that requires training in order to get a concealed carry permit. But Oil City Representative Danny McCormick disagrees…
cut 8 (11) “…..be a problem”

A one-vehicle accident in East Baton Rouge Parish involving 11 children results in the driver, Leticia Brothers, who is also the mother of all the children, facing cruelty to juvenile charges. Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran says when officers arrived on the scene Sunday night they noticed an SUV had flipped several times.
Cut 13 (09) “…by AirMed.”
The children’s ages range from 4 to 16 years old, but they are expected to be okay.

Two bills to allow you to conceal carry a gun without a permit in Louisiana will be heard in legislative committees Tuesday. Last year Governor Edwards vetoed the legislation citing public safety concerns because the bill did not call for gun training. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says he’s not giving up on constitutional carry in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (11) “…amendment rights.”

West Monroe Senator Jay Morris’ legislation, requires an online hour course on gun safety, McCormick’s legislation removes the requirement that a person must possess a permit issued by the state.  McCormick says he trusts citizens of the state and their right to bear arms.

Cut 9 (10)  “…those rights.”

McCormick’s bill will be heard in House Criminal Justice and Morris’ bill in Senate Judiciary C Tuesday.

A new University of New Orleans research poll shows falling approval numbers for Governor John Bel Edwards. UNO political science professor Dr. Ed Chervenak says fewer than 40-percent of persons surveyed said they approve of the job Governor Edwards is doing…:

Cut 10 (12) “…the death of Ronald Greene.”

A similar poll conducted in 2020 showed Edwards with a 56-percent approval.

Governor John Bel Edwards was in Rapides Parish Monday for Cleco’s announcement that they’re investing 900-million dollars to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Reducing the carbon footprint is part of Edwards’ Clean Air Initiative by 2050. Edwards says Cleco will not ask ratepayers to help fund this project.

Cut 15 (07) “…important.” 

The federal income tax deadline come this year on April 18^th, instead of the 15^th. That’s because the 15^th is Good Friday. Good news, if you need that couple extra days to get your taxes together. Catherine Rowe, with the Louisiana Society of CPAs says remember filing an extension doesn’t mean you do not have to pay the IRS anything, if you think you’re going to owe…:

CUT 10(12)      “…that tax due.”

If you do file an extension, your taxes must be paid by October 15^th.

A Lafayette city police officer is in critical condition after a crash Sunday on the I-10 Basin Bridge in Iberville Parish Sunday. State Police Trooper Taylor Scrantz says LPD Lt. Todd Alcorn was off-duty and in his personal vehicle when he hit a bridge rail and lost control…:

CUT 12(07)      “…Chevrolet Malibu.”

Scrantz says it’s believed Alcorn WAS impaired at the time.

The murder trial of the man accused of killing LSU basketball standout Wayde Simms is now in the jury’s hands. Dyteon Simpson is accused of shooting Simms outside a North Baton Rouge sandwich shop in September of 2018. Prosecutors and the defense made closing arguments this morning.

A pre-pandemic report indicates 57 percent of Louisiana’s children live in working poor households; those below the ALICE threshold. What is that? Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 01(34)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

The deadline for filing your federal income tax return is just days away.  David Grubb has more on what you can do if you’re feeling that pressure…:

CUT 02(35)      “…David Grubb.”

After nearby gunfire forced lawmen to shut down the Ponchatoula Strawberry festival early Saturday night, police in the Tangipahoa Parish town say they are close to making one or more arrests. A dozen or more shell casings were found within a block of the festival crowd, but no one was reported hurt.

If you’ve bought groceries lately, you know the impact of inflation on your wallet. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says, yes, increased motor fuels costs are a big part of that … but also an outbreak of avian flu that’s hit 24 farm states and killed millions of chickens; forcing poultry and egg prices skyward. Dr. Strain says guidelines are in place to hopefully stem that tide and avoid a much bigger outbreak…:

CUT 08(12)      “…100 million birds.”

The Centers for Disease Control say don’t worry about GETTING avian flu; it does not infect people.

A study done before the COVID outbreak shows well over half of Louisiana kids live in what can only be called “working poor” conditions. Edy Addison with the Capital Area United Way says many don’t have a PC or internet to file for aid…:

CUT 05(11)      “…their household.”