New Orleans Democrat Karen Carter Peterson has resigned from the Louisiana Senate, ending a 23-year career in the legislature. Peterson says she needs to focus all of her energy on her struggles with depression and gambling addiction. On Thursday, she spoke about her recovery on the Senate Floor
Cut 11 (10) “…for a long time”
But the Advocate newspaper reports Peterson’s abrupt resignation is because she’s under a federal investigation due to financial issues linked to her gambling.

Senate President Page Cortez files legislation in an effort to reduce wrecks on the 18-mile long Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. Cortez says he’s seen multiple 18-wheelers fail to drive in the righthand lane even though signs are posted and other vehicles are traveling at high speeds.
Cut 8 (03) “…do something.”
The Lafayette Republican’s bill will increase speeding penalties to up $2,500.

The chairman of a House committee looking into the circumstances of Ronald Greene’s State Police custody death supports the decision to place L-S-P’s second in command, Lt. Colonel Doug Cain, on administrative leave. Cain is under an internal investigation for having his state-issued cell phone wiped clean of data. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says Cain could not answer any questions regarding the sanitizing of the phone because of the investigation. Magee says Cain should have been put on administrative leave as soon as the investigation started….
cut 16 (06) “…hide the ball”

A package of school choice bills has cleared the House Education Committee. Key among them, bills to create Education Savings Accounts to help parents with funding for school options other than public school. Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer says ESAs are already benefitting thousands of families around the country…:
Cut 4 (11) “…to that opportunity.”
But opponents of the legislation say it means less money for public schools.

State Police leader Colonel Lamar Davis has placed the agency’s second in command Lt. Colonel Doug Cain on administrative leave. It comes one day after a special House committee looking at the 2019 fatal arrest death of Ronald Greene grilled Davis about why Cain was still working day-to-day even though he was under investigation for having his state-issued phone cleared of data. Houma Representative Tanner Magee told Davis you can’t have a legitimate investigation into Cain’s actions if he’s in the building every day…
cut 17 (06) “…hide the ball”
Cain could not answer questions about why his phone was sanitized because of the investigation.

A State Police criminal investigator is accused of a hit-and-run in his state-issued unmarked car in St. Tammany Parish…and falsely reporting a separate hit-and-run in Orleans. 19-year veteran Lt. Chad Lacoste is facing multiple charges including Malfeasance.

Several school choice bills began moving in the Louisiana House this week. The legislation would give parents the option of using state dollars from an education savings account to get their children out of a public school and attend a private school or receive special tutoring or services. CEO of the Pelican Institute Daniel Erspamer is behind the idea of public education funding following the child; not the school. He says the bill would give parents – on average – an extra $5500 yearly for kids’ education choices…:
Cut 6 (13) “…to every family.”
But Louisiana School Superintendents Association executive director Michael Faulk says there are financial uncertainties with the legislation…
cut 7 (08) “….gonna do it”
The House Appropriations Committee is set to discuss school choice funding in their meeting on Monday.

The second in command at State Police is on administrative leave as an internal investigation looks into why his cell phone was cleared of data as facts of the 2019 in-custody death of Ronald Greene began coming out. Kevin Gallagher has more from a special House committee looking into Greene’s death…:
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson has resigned, after 23 years in the legislature. Peterson says she is stepping down to focus on her mental health and well-being. She has struggled with depression and a gambling addiction

Senate President Page Cortez files legislation in an effort to reduce wrecks on the 18-mile long Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. Cortez says he’s seen multiple 18-wheelers fail to drive in the righthand lane even though signs are posted and there are also vehicles weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds.
Cut 8 (03) “…do something.”
The Lafayette Republican’s bill will increase speeding penalties to up $2,500 for those going over the legal limit and increase speed limit signage and signs for truckers to drive only in the righthand lane.

A bill heading to the Senate floor puts Louisiana in line with other states’ name, image, and likeness laws. Louisiana approved a law last year that allowed college athletes to receive cash for endorsing products, businesses, or individuals. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says his bill this year will allow university board members and boosters to participate…:
CUT 12(12) “…to act.”
Connick says colleges in states with expanded NIL laws find it easier to recruit big talent.

Houma Representative Tanner Magee, who chairs a special House committee investigating the 2019 State Police custody death of Ronald Greene, says it was an appropriate decision by Colonel Lamar Davis to put L-S-P’s second in command on administrative leave. Magee says Lt. Colonel Doug Cain should not be actively working if he’s under investigation for having his cell phone data cleared…:
Cut 15 (07) “…all day long.”

Former chairwoman of the Louisiana Democratic Party Karen Carter Peterson has resigned from the Louisiana Senate, ending a 23-year career in the legislature. Peterson says she needs to focus all of her energy on her struggles with depression and gambling addiction. On Thursday, she spoke about her recovery on the Senate Floor
Cut 11 (10) “…for a long time”

The Senate Education Committee approves a bill that brings Louisiana’s law for name, image and likeness deals in line with other states, that are using NILs to recruit the best players in the country.
Cut 2 (30)…I’m Michelle Southern”

Big win for the LSU baseball team last night as they scored four runs in the ninth inning to beat Mississippi State five to two. The rally started with the Tigers down by a run, with two outs and nobody on base. Tre Morgan had a go-ahead two-run single and Dylan Crews clobbered a two-run homer. La Tech and the Cajuns were also winners last night, but ULM lost to Troy.

State Police place Lt. Doug Cain on administrative leave. Superintendent Col Lamar Davis issued a statement that Cain is on paid leave pending the ongoing administrative investigation of removing data from his cellphone. Cain is second in command at LSP, and Davis says this is in the best interest to eliminate any question of the integrity of the investigation. Cain was a high-ranking officer during the fatal arrest of Ronald Greene and subsequent investigation.

A State Police officer faces charges after allegedly committing a hit-and-run in St. Tammany Parish and falsely reporting one in Orleans. LSP spokesman Sgt. Dustin Dwight says Lt. Chad Lacoste is charged with Malfeasance in Office and Injuring Public Records…:

CUT 10  (10)        “…St. Tammany Parish crash.”

Lacoste is on administrative leave.

A Baton Rouge man, arrested for child abuse, will now be charged with murder after the death of his own daughter. Police says 23-year-old Aaron Hawkins was being held on cruelty to a juvenile, after his 5-year-old child was brought to an ER unresponsive. The investigation is ongoing. BRPD spokesman L’Jean McKneely says it could have been prevented and asks that we all call law enforcement if we suspect abuse.

CUT 08  (10)        “to investigate.”

Marrero Senator Patrick Connick’s bill to put Louisiana in line with other states name, image, and likeness laws heads to the Senate Floor. When NIL legislation passed last year, they thought the NCAA would establish nationwide regulations, but that never happened. Connick says Louisiana needs to have its NIL laws match other SEC states…

Cut 14 (04)  “..same folks.”

New Orleans firebrand state Senator Karen Carter Peterson has resigned from the legislature, after 23 years of service. Her resignation was effective today. In a written statement, Peterson says she is stepping down to focus on her mental health and well-being. She has struggled with depression and a gambling addiction for several years. A special election will be called to replace Peterson in the Senate.

That is one less vote on the Senate floor for a bill to bring Louisiana’s one-year-old Name, Image & Likeness endorsement law into line with other states, and make it easier for Louisiana to recruit top athletic talent. Bill sponsor Patrick Connick, of Marrero, says Texas A&M landed the nation’s number one football recruiting class because their boosters negotiated NIL deals for recruits as a way to get them to sign with the Aggies…:

CUT 13(09)      “…to participate”

Connick’s bill will make Louisiana NIL law match other SEC states.

A Baton Rouge man faces murder charges for the death of his 5-year-old daughter. BR Police says the little girl was brought to an ER this week unresponsive, but later died. An autopsy determined she died from blunt force trauma. The father, 23-year-old Aaron Hawkins in behind bars; charged with Murder One.

The second-in-command at State Police has been put on administrative leave as he’s under an internal investigation for erasing data on his state-issued cell phone. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 01(35)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

Longtime New Orleans area state Senator Karen Carter Peterson has resigned her seat in the legislature – effective immediately. Senate President Page Cortez confirmed this with LRN this afternoon. Often fiery and not shy with opinions, Carter served in the state House before being elected to the Senate in 2010. She is considered a Power Player at the Capitol. Peterson has struggled with an addiction to gambling for several years, and took personal privilege on the Senate floor recently to talk about it. She says it’s for this reason she is stepping down.

An Orleans Parish State Police criminal investigator is in trouble; accused of a hit-and-run in his state-issued unmarked car in St. Tammany Parish…and with falsely reporting a hit-and-run in Orleans. 19-year veteran Lt. Chad Lacoste is accused of Malfeasance and Injuring Public Records … plus the Hit-and-Run charge in St. Tammany. Spokesman Sgt. Dustin Dwight says LSP commander Lamar Davis supports his people, but…:

CUT 11(05)      “…for our actions.”

A bill heading to the Senate floor puts Louisiana in line with other states’ name, image, and likeness laws. Louisiana approved a law last year that allowed college athletes to receive cash for endorsing products, businesses, or individuals. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says his bill this year will allow university board members and boosters to participate…:

CUT 12(12)      “…to act.”

Connick says colleges in state’s with healthy NIL laws find it easier to recruit big talent.

Louisiana is under a “red flag warning” today for fire conditions. State Climatologist Barry Keim says that means conditions are ideal for small fires to get out of control. He says high winds and low humidity are the reason, and it’s odd to see air tis dry this time of year…:

CUT 05(09)      “…perhaps Arizona & New Mexico”

He advises we burn nothing outdoors for the near future.

A State Police officer faces charges for after allegedly committing a hit-and-run in St. Tammany Parish and falsely reporting one in Orleans. LSP spokesman Sgt. Dustin Dwight says Lt. Chad Lacoste is charged with Malfeasance in Office and Injuring Public Records…:

CUT 10  (10)        “…St. Tammany Parish crash.”

Lacoste, who’s been with LSP since 2003, is on administrative leave.

The Number Two man at State Police is now on administrative leave, while an internal investigation looks into the erasure of data on his state-issued cellphone. Lt. Colonel Doug Cain’s phone was wiped in 2020, as facts about the 2019 roadside of death Ronald Greene began to surface. LSP commander Colonel Lamar Davis says he did it (quote) “in the best interest of the department to eliminate any questions into the integrity of the investigation.”

The Senate Education Committee approves a bill that brings Louisiana’s law for name, image and likeness deals in line with other states who are using NILs to recruit the best players in the country. Michelle Southern has more…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Michelle Southern.”

Many fans of the Foo Fighters were saddened at the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins last month. His death is the reason the band cancelled their show at New Orleans Jazz Festival this year. Today, officials announced the Red Hot Chili Peppers will replace Foo Fighters in the lineup; on Sunday, May 1^st.

The second-in-command at State Police has been put on administrative leave, as he’s under an internal investigation for erasing data on his state-issued cell phone. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 01(35)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

We’re under a “red flag warning” for potential fires and wildfires. State Climatologist Barry Keim sasy that’s because the winds are high and humidity is low…:

CUT 04  (07)        “…really dry.”

A Baton Rouge man, arrested for child abuse, will now be charged with murder after the death of his own daughter. Police says 23-year-old Aaron Hawkins was being held on cruelty to a juvenile, after his 5-year-old child was bright to an ER unresponsive. The investigation is ongoing, but Hawkins charges have been upgraded. BRPD spokesman L’Jean McKneely says it could have been prevented, and asks that we all call law enforcement if we suspect a child is being beaten..:

CUT 08  (10)        “to investigate.”

State Police arrest one of their own after Lt. Chad Lacoste falsely claimed damage to his vehicle last September. LSP Sgt. Dustin Dwight says Lacoste reported he was involved in a hit and run crash in his unmarked department vehicle in Orleans Parish, but investigators found his car was involved in a separate incident the day before in St. Tammany…:

CUT 09(11)      “…in Orleans Parish.”

State Police place Lt. Doug Cain on administrative leave. Superintendent Col Lamar Davis issued a statement that Cain is on paid leave pending the ongoing administrative investigation of removing data from his cellphone. Cain is second in command at LSP, and Davis says this is in the best interest to eliminate any question of the integrity of the investigation. Cain was a high-ranking officer during the fatal arrest of Ronald Greene and subsequent investigation.

Charges against 23-year-old Aaron Hawkins of Baton Rouge have been upgraded to first-degree murder after the coroner ruled the death of his five-year-old daughter was consistent with bruising and trauma on her body.  BRPD Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says the case remains under investigation.

Cut 7 (11) “…additional arrests.” 

Louisiana is under a “red flag warning” today for fire conditions. State Climatologist Barry Keim says that means conditions are ideal for small fires to get out of control. Keim says our current weather conditions have produced an increased risk of fire danger

Cut 3 (12) “.higher gusts”

Keim says advises against outdoor burning today due to the low humidity and windy conditions.

The 50^th Annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is underway. After a two-year absence because of COVID organizers are expecting record-breaking crowds.