Matt Doyle spoke with Capitol expert Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com about what to expect in this historic veto override session…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

___________________________________

A 17-year-old Zachary teen faces murder charges after a shootout with the father of a 14-year old girl he was caught visiting after sneaking into their home. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

_________________________________________

It appears likely there will be a vote today to overturn Governor Edwards’ veto of legislation barring transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports teams. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

_______________________________

Lawmakers will be creating precedent today when the historic veto-override session kicks off at noon.

LaPolitcs.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says this override session will certainly be full of spectacle as legislators only have until the end of Saturday to finish their business, with all of the action taking place in only two places…

Cut 4 (09) “…and Senate.”

Alford added that if lawmakers fail to find the votes today to override the Governor’s veto of legislation involving transgender athletes the session could be over in a matter of hours.

Alford says to override a veto first a motion will be made to present a bill. That motion can pass on a simple majority. Then a motion will be made for final passage, that motion needs two-thirds support.

Cut 5 (09) “…final vote.”

Bills will begin in the chamber where they were first introduced, meaning both the transgender athlete ban and concealed carry bill will open the session in the Senate.

Alford says there are a few major questions about veto session procedure that don’t appear to have easy answers, the biggest one being…

Cut 6 (11) “…aren’t right.”

28 bills were vetoed this year by the Governor but it does not appear that lawmakers will attempt to override all 28.

_______________________________

All eyes are on the state capitol as Louisiana lawmakers convene for the first veto session since the state’s new constitution was adopted in 1974. Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says he has no doubts the bill to protect women’s sports from transgender athletes will be overridden in the House.

Cut 7 (05) “…act bill.” 

The transgender legislation is one of 28 that Governor Edwards vetoed. The other high-profile bill that legislators are expected to address is constitutional carry. Schexnayder says the process of an override session is not a familiar one but he expects the process to be expedient.

Cut 8 (13) “…do that.”

Lawmakers are targeting to override the vetoes of the concealed carry and transgender athletes bills. Schexnayder says he’s heard from lawmakers on a few other pieces of vetoed legislation.

Cut 9 (09) “…about them.”

Schexnayder says vetoed bills will be brought up in the chamber where it originated by its author and if it receives a majority vote, it will go to the floor. Then if it has two-thirds majority support it goes to the opposite chamber for a vote.

_____________________________________

After attempting to climb into the second-story window of a home, to visit a girl Sunday morning, 17-year old Nichols Mcquirter of Zachary is now facing second-degree murder charges in the death of the girl’s father 34-year old Dezmon Hamilton. Zachary Police Chief David McDavid says when Mcquirter was caught in the home things escalated.

Cut 10 (12) “…were fired.”

Hamilton died as a result of several gunshot wounds and once released from the hospital, Mcquirter will be booked for second-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon, and possession of a stolen firearm. Both men were armed, and investigators say it’s unclear who fired the first shot.

McDavid says they’ve seen an alarming increase in violent juvenile crime.

Cut 11 (11) “…drugs.”

It was a week ago when teens were involved in a shooting outside of a Zachary barbershop after calling each other out on social media. McDavid says parents need to get involved in an effort to curb the violence.

Cut 12 (10) “…resolution.”

_____________________________________

Lawmakers appear set to vote today on overriding Governor Edwards’ veto of legislation barring transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s K-12 and college sports teams.

Franklin Republican Senator Beth Mizell says she did not anticipate her legislation would end up taking center stage in a historic veto session…

Cut 13 (09) “…or not.”

Mizell says based on conversations she has had she is confident there are enough votes to override the veto in the Senate. Speaker Shexnayder indicated the same is true in the House. A supermajority of lawmakers in both chambers, 78 in the House and 29 in the Senate, approved the bill in the regular session. Should those votes hold lawmakers could override the veto.

Most analysts agree that the groundswell of energy that propelled lawmakers into today’s veto session was the result of this veto. Mizell says she’s certainly heard a lot about it from her constituents…

Cut 14 (06) “…the bill.”

Baton Rouge Democratic Representative Ted James says the veto session is a waste of taxpayer money.

Cut 15 (07)“…represent.”

The NCAA has warned passing this legislation may violate their anti-discrimination policy and jeopardize New Orleans’ hosting of the Final Four in 2022.

James opposes overriding the veto because there are no transgender athletes currently playing on girls’ and women’s teams in the state, and largely because of current Louisiana High School Athletic Association policy.

Cut 16 (08) “…athletic association.”

___________________________

At SEC Media Days, LSU Football  Coach Ed Orgeron is looking forward to the battle for starting quarterback between Myles Brennan and Max Johnson…

Cut 17 (12) …what happens.” 

Orgeron would not comment on the scandal involving the previous mishandling of the sexual assault complaints by the school and the athletic department. He also says most of the players are vaccinated against COVID and he encourages players to profit off of their name, image, and likeness, but it should not be a 24-7 venture

Cut  18 (13)”..football and academics.”

LSU is coming off a 5-and-5 season. The Tigers didn’t have the chemistry as they did when they won the national championship in 2019. Orgeron believes this team is more together and the lines of communication are open

Cut 19 (25) “…this year.” 

___________________________

Lawmakers will begin a historic veto override session Tuesday at noon. The event has brought in attention from around the country, particularly from gun rights groups that want concealed carry without a permit overturned. Matt Herriman with the NRA says the bill had supermajority support in the regular session and he’s confident that support is still there…

Cut 5 (11) “…the house”

It will take a two-thirds majority vote, 70 in the House and 26 in the Senate to overturn the governor’s veto of the legislation.

More than 10 months home Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says the city is growing increasingly upset about the Congressional failure to a disaster relief bill…

Cut 8 (07) “…Louisiana”

The state reports almost 4,000 new COVID cases and more than 700 hospitalizations. LDH says 75-percent of new cases are people less than 50 years old and 25-percent are young adults 18 to 29. Only 22-percent of young adults are vaccinated in Louisiana.

A new report finds the state has seen a 15-percent decline in construction jobs since the pandemic started. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo”.  

Gun rights groups are hoping a last-second push will help get a veto override of legislation that would remove the need to get a permit to concealed carry over the finish line when the veto override session begins tomorrow. Matt Herriman with the NRA says they’re trying to convince skeptical lawmakers that this won’t lead to increased gun violence…

Cut 4 (09) “…particular crime”

Bill author West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says the override effort is a “50/50” right now.

Louisiana’s construction industry is now down 21 thousand jobs from February of 2020.  Louisiana Associated General Contractors C-E-O Ken Naquin says the President’s moratorium on new oil and gas lease sales is playing a big role in the slow recovery…

Cut 9 (07) “…rebounded since.”

Nearly eleven months after southwest Louisiana was struck by Hurricane Laura, still no disaster aid funding from Congress Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington” 

The state is now enduring a fourth surge in COVID cases, this time propelled by the more virulent Delta variant. Hospitalizations are up nearly 500 from the start of the month and positivity rates are back over ten percent for the first time since the winter surge. Despite this dramatic rise the Governor says he has no plans, as of now, to reinstitute COVID restrictions.

A historic veto override session kicks off Tuesday at noon and gun rights advocates are hoping lawmakers will overturn the Governor’s rejection of legislation that would allow Louisianans 21 and older without a record to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Matt Herriman with the NRA…

Cut 3 (09) “…get started” 

The legislation passed in the regular session with supermajority levels of support.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter voiced his frustration and made pleas for help on “Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster” Monday morning. Hunter says it’s been nearly eleven months since Hurricane Laura demolished parts of the city, but the federal government has yet to approve a federal disaster aid bill.

Cut 6 (10) “…not yet”

A new report shows 21-thousand fewer construction jobs in Louisiana compared to February 2020. The 15-percent loss is the second-highest in the country. Louisiana Associated General Contractors C-E-O Ken Naquin is grateful the Legislature made plans to dedicate more state dollars for road, bridge, and drainage construction, but the construction industry is a long way from full recovery…

Cut  11 (10) “…those materials.” 

38 people have lost their lives due to home fires this year in Louisiana, four more than at this same time last year. Most of these home fires appear to be related to cooking, smoking, or electrical issues. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says many of the electrical fires have been linked to people overloading outlets by connecting extension cables to each other…

Cut 14 (10) “…these” 

Nearly eleven months after southwest Louisiana was struck by Hurricane Laura, still no disaster aid funding from Congress Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington” 

____________________________________

 A new report finds the state has seen a 15-percent decline in construction jobs since the pandemic started. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo”.  

______________________________________

The Veto Override session begins tomorrow and there are 28 vetoes that could be potentially overturned. Including the constitutional carry bill, which would allow non felons to conceal a gun without a permit.  Matt Herriman with the NRA believes this bill has a good shot at being overturned.

Cut 3 (09) “…get started” 

The bill is Senate Bill 118 by West Monroe Senator Jay Morris. It will take a two-thirds majority vote, 70 in the House and 26 in the Senate to overturn the governor’s veto of the legislation.

Opponents of the legislation say it could lead to an increase in gun violence and Governor John Bel Edwards believes the training needed to obtain the permit is important. But Herriman says other states that have passed Constitutional carry legislation have not seen an increase in any particular crimes.

Cut 4 (09) “…particular crime”

The bill passed the Senate on a 27-9 vote during the regular session, while the House approved the legislation on a 73-28 margin. So supporters of the legislation can’t lose too many votes in order to override the veto. Herriman believes the support is still there for this legislation.

Cut 5 (11) “…the house”

___________________________

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter voiced his frustration and made pleas for help on “Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster” this morning. Hunter says it’s been nearly eleven months since Hurricane Laura demolished parts of the city, but the federal government has yet to approve a federal disaster aid bill.

Cut 6 (10) “…not yet”

Hunter says he’s trying to hold his emotions in check but it’s difficult when the city he represents continues to be ignored. Hunter also reminded listeners the southwest Louisiana city has not only endured two major hurricanes without federal assistance but in less than a year also a major winter storm…

Cut 7 (12) “…disaster aid.”

Hunter says federal aid was issued 10 days after Katrina, 34 days for Hurricane Andrew, and 98 days for Super Storm Sandy, but it’s been 320 days since Hurricane Laura.

After a year of unprecedented pandemic relief funding from the Federal government, Hunter says there is no excuse for the federal government not to help those who lost homes and do not have flood insurance…

Cut 8 (07) “…Louisiana”

Hunter says the city also needs to demolish as many as 1,000 uninhabitable homes but they don’t have the funds to do so. Due to the lack of assistance, Hunter stated they are about to launch a campaign to remind lawmakers and citizens of their ongoing unaddressed needs.

_____________________________

A new report shows 21-thousand fewer construction jobs in Louisiana compared to February 2020. The 15-percent loss is the second-highest in the country. Louisiana Associated General Contractors C-E-O Ken Naquin says the pandemic slowed down the chemical industry and the oil and gas industry is reeling from the President’s executive order that prohibits new oil and gas exploration

Cut 9 (07) “…rebounded since.”

Naquin says there are plenty of construction projects that can be completed, but supply chain challenges are impacting firms’ ability to hire new workers…

Cut 10 (11) “…that work.”

Naquin is glad that the Legislature made plans this year to dedicate more state dollars for road, bridge, and drainage construction, but the construction industry is a long way from full recovery…

Cut  11 (10) “…those materials.” 

________________________________________________

38 people have lost their lives due to home fires this year in Louisiana, four more than at this same time last year. Most of these home fires appear to be related to cooking, smoking, or electrical issues.

State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says when it comes to cooking-related fires they’re finding most of those incidents come from people who are either impaired, tired, or distracted…

Cut 12 (11) “..forgetting”.

Rodrigue says smoking really needs to be done outdoors and not inside of a home, and when you smoke outside make sure you safely discard whatever is left…

Cut 13 (10) “…over time”

Rodrigue says many of the electrical fires have been linked to people overloading outlets by connecting extension cables to each other…

Cut 14 (10) “…these” 

Rodrigue says the number one most common factor all of these fatal home fires shared was the lack of a functioning smoke detector.

Lawmakers will gavel in the historic veto override session tomorrow at noon. The soon-to-be-spectacle has brought in attention from around the country, particularly from gun rights groups that want Governor Edwards’ veto of legislation allowing permit-less concealed carry overturned. Matt Herriman with the NRA says the bill had supermajority support in the regular session and he’s confident that support will remain…

Cut 5 (11) “…the house”

It will take a two-thirds majority vote, 70 in the House and 26 in the Senate to overturn the governor’s veto of the legislation.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says the city is growing increasingly peeved about the Congressional failure to approve a Hurricane Laura disaster relief bill…

Cut 8 (07) “…Louisiana”

Louisiana has seen a 15 percent drop in construction jobs since last February, the second-worst decline in the country. Louisiana Associated General Contractors C-E-O Ken Naquin says that’s 21-thousand fewer jobs, mostly due to supply chain woes…

Cut 10 (11) “…that work.”

Naquin says another factor is the ongoing moratorium on new oil and gas lease sales.

The state has seen a dramatic increase in COVID community spread since the start of July. We’re now up to 711 COVID-related hospitalizations after beginning the month at only 259 and positivity rates on tests statewide have now crossed the 10 percent mark. The cases are disproportionally involving younger people, 25 percent of the nearly 4,000 cases reported over the past few days were those aged 18-29. Only 22 percent of those in that age group are fully vaccinated. 

The state reports less than 4,000 new COVID cases and more than 700 hospitalizations. LDH says 75-percent of new cases are people less than 50 years old and 25-percent are young adults 18 to 29. Only 22-percent of 18 to 29 young adults are vaccinated in Louisiana.

A new report finds the state has seen a 15-percent decline in construction jobs since the pandemic started. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo”.  

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter voiced his frustration on “Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster” this morning. It’s been nearly eleven months since Hurricane Laura, but the federal government has yet to approve disaster aid. He reminded listeners in addition to two major hurricanes without federal assistance, they’ve also had a  major winter storm…

Cut 7 (12) “…disaster aid.”

38 people have lost their lives due to home fires this year in Louisiana, four more than at this same time last year. Most of these home fires appear to be related to cooking, smoking, or electrical issues. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says smoking should be done outdoors and be sure you safely discard whatever is left…

Cut 13 (10) “…over time”

Tomorrow at noon lawmakers will return to the Capitol for a historic veto override session. Gun rights groups are hoping that means Governor Edwards’ veto of legislation removing the need to have a concealed carry permit will get overturned despite objections from law enforcement groups who say it will lead to more gun violence. Matt Herriman with the NRA…

Cut 4 (09) “…particular crime”

A supermajority of lawmakers approved the bill in the regular session.

The State Fire Marshal reports a slight uptick in home fire fatalities compared to last year. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says that’s partially been linked to a rise in distracted cooking-related fires…

Cut 12 (11) “..forgetting”.

Close to 11 months after southwest Louisiana was struck by Hurricane Laura, the City of Lake Charles has yet to receive supplemental disaster aid. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington” 

A historic veto override session kicks off tomorrow at noon and gun rights advocates are hoping lawmakers will overturn the Governor’s rejection of legislation that would allow Louisianans 21 and older without a record to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Matt Herriman with the NRA…

Cut 3 (09) “…get started” 

That legislation passed in the regular session with supermajority levels of support.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter made pleas for federal help on “Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster” this morning. Hunter says it’s been nearly eleven months since Hurricane Laura but the federal government has yet to approve a federal disaster aid bill.

Cut 6 (11) “…not yet”

LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Clinical Medicine Dr. Catherine O’Neal says the new Delta variant of COVID that’s now circulating through the state poses a bigger threat to unvaccinated individuals because it features a mutation that allows it to hide in your body for longer before it is detected.

Cut 16 (12) “…alive” 

Despite this new threat Governor Edwards says he is not considering reinstating previous COVID restrictions.

A new report shows 21-thousand fewer construction jobs in Louisiana compared to February 2020. The 15-percent loss is the second-highest in the country. Louisiana Associated General Contractors C-E-O Ken Naquin says the pandemic slowed down the chemical industry and the oil and gas industry is reeling from the President’s executive order that prohibits new oil and gas exploration

Cut 9 (07) “…rebounded since.”

Louisiana said goodbye to a legendary figure as former four-term Governor Edwin Edwards was laid to rest in Baton Rouge yesterday. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The man who shot and killed a Doyline Police Officer on July 9^th passed away from his injuries from a shootout when police responded to a disturbance. 59-year old Mahlon Taylor of Doyline died Saturday evening at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport. William Earl Collins Jr, the Doyline police officer who was killed ten days ago, was buried on Saturday.

A historic veto session begins tomorrow. The legislature could override as many as 28 Republican-sponsored bills that Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed. House Republican Caucus Chairman Blake Miguez says the highly conservative legislature should be able to counter when Edwards pushes a liberal agenda.

Cut 10 (11) “…disagree with.”

Governor Edwards says he stands by his vetoes. To override an individual veto, it will take a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.

Health officials say the latest surge in COVID cases has undone over four months of progress the state made in the fight against coronavirus. LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Clinical Medicine Dr. Catherine O’Neal says because the virus has mutated so extensively, anyone who was infected by last year’s version does not have immunity to the new Delta variant.

Cut 15 (09)“..killing us.”