Today is the last day of the special session and a number of tort reform bills aimed at lowering auto insurance rates are trying to cross the finish line by six o’clock tonight. LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says there are two bills with real traction…
Cut 4 (08)_ “…right now.”

Also, lawmakers have to put the finishing touches on a 34-billion dollar budget. Republican lawmakers are also looking to pass tax breaks for businesses in order to keep employees. But Democrats say the state is not doing enough to help individual citizens. Republican Senator Sharon Hewitt of Slidell…
cut 30 (11) “…light bills”
The House convenes at 10 AM, while the Senate is set to return to their chamber at 10:30.

The US Supreme Court overturns a 2014 Louisiana law requiring abortion clinics to have admitting privileges. Matt Doyle has a reaction from a local advocate and a Congressman…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Caddo Parish District Attorney James Stewart has called a virtual news conference for 11 AM to discuss returns from a grand jury. Shreveport TV stations are reporting eight Shreveport police officers have been indicted for allegedly using excessive force against two men at the conclusion of a traffic chase in January. Six of the officers have been accused of malfeasance.

The special session ends at 6 PM today and lawmakers are still scrambling to pass a tort reform bill aimed at lowering auto insurance rates…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Jefferson Parish president Cynthia Lee Sheng says starting tomorrow everyone inside a business, must wear a mask or face covering. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says she’ll shut down grocery stores who don’t require masks. And if you are heading to Florida for the Fourth of July holiday, several beaches are closed.

Louisisana released a jobs report for May and it shows that 320-thousand residents were receiving unemployment benefits. Now there’s word that the trust fund the state uses to pay out unemployment could run dry in 14 weeks. Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director Ava Dejoie…
cut 8 (12) “…is what’s left”
If the state runs out, they’ll have to borrow from the federal government, like other states do.

The C-D-C is now saying pregnant women are more likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19 than women who are not expecting. But CEO of LSU’s Healthcare Services Division, Doctor Rebekah Gee says pregnant women are no more likely to die from the virus…
cut 10 (09) “….are not pregnant”

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports over half of the money in the state’s unemployment trust fund has been spent during the coronavirus pandemic. LWC Executive Director Ava Dejoie says there is growing concern the fund, which was at one time just over one billion dollars, will run dry within 14 weeks
Cut 7 (05) “…state unemployment benefits.”
If the fund runs out of money, Dejoie says the state will have to borrow from the federal government to pay out unemployment benefits.

The C-D-C says pregnant women are at an increased of suffering from severe illness of COVID-19 than women who are not expecting. Doctor Rebekah Gee, CEO of LSU Healthcare Services Division, says pregnant women are five times more likely to be hospitalized and nearly twice as likely to be put on a ventilator…
Cut 11 (10) “…be more careful.”

Louisiana abortion providers will not need admitting privileges as the US Supreme Court has struck down a state law passed in 2014. Congressman Mike Johnson, who served as co-counsel for the state when the law was argued before a federal judge, says the law was designed to protect women from unsafe abortion procedures.
Cut 13 (09) “Louisiana”
Civil Rights attorney S.Mandisa Moore-O’Neal says the ruling makes it clear requiring privileges is an undue burden.
Cut 15 (08) “…that”

Tort reform aimed at lowering auto insurance rates has taken center stage through most of the regular and special session and now lawmakers have until 6PM Tuesday afternoon (this afternoon) to pass their last ditch efforts before the session ends.

LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says legislators are still considering everything from resolutions temporarily suspending portions of current tort law, to new bills by a freshman and the House Speaker…

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House Speaker Clay Shexnayder’s bill, which is less expansive than legislation vetoed by Governor Edwards, is in conference committee. Alford says one of the most interesting new developments is a bill by Mandeville freshman Representative Richard Nelson that includes items like a lower jury trial threshold, but also…

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Outside of the central battle over tort lawmakers have a number of other issues to finalize.

Legislation shielding public and private schools from suits related to potential COVID outbreaks on their campuses is one vote away from final passage. The now 35 billion dollar budget still needs to be finalized. A number of tax breaks and credits for COVID impacted businesses are still being considered as well, but are finding opposition from Democrats who say the state doesn’t have the revenue to do that right now.

The US Supreme Court overturns a Louisiana law authored by Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson in 2014 requiring abortion clinics to have admitting privileges. Senator Jackson spoke about the ruling this morning…

Cut 3 (10) ”…deeply saddened  

Opponents say the law was an effort to subvert Roe vs. Wade, and if it remained law, it would have shut down two of the state’s three remaining abortion clinics. 

The U-S Supreme Court has ruled against an abortion law passed in Louisiana requiring admitting privileges at a nearby hospital for abortion doctors. If the measure became law, it would have shut down two of the state’s three remaining abortion clinics. Associate Director for the Louisiana Right to Life Angie Thomas says Louisiana law requires admitting privileges for many doctors who perform outpatient surgeries, but not abortion providers…
Cut 4 (10)_ “…abortion industry.”
The decision was 5-4 against Louisiana’s law.
Health officials believe that recent demonstrations over the killing of George Floyd by police have not resulted in a significant addition of new COVID-19 cases. Assistant state health officer Dr. Joseph Kanter says that’s probably because the virus doesn’t spread well outside and protestors were wearing mask, but adds no matter what other mitigation efforts are taken, it is still always best to avoid large crowds.

Cut 12 (07) “…for their family.”

The special session ends at six o’clock tomorrow night and lawmakers are debating several different tax break bills for businesses. Republicans say it will create jobs during a time of high unemployment for COVID-19. But New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson says individuals are struggling too

Cut 13 (11) “…helping people”   (2x)

Shreveport Senator Barry Milligan says COVID-19 has put several businesses on the brink of going out of business and they need the state’s help…

Cut 14 (12) “…our people”

Any tax breaks approved would result in less revenue and fewer dollars available for the state.

A Louisiana abortion law authored by Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson in 2014 is struck down by the Supreme Court. If upheld the law would have required abortion clinics to have admitting privileges, which pro-choice advocates say would have closed two of the state’s three clinics. The Supreme Court also struck down a similar law out of Texas in 2016. The Center for Reproductive Rights filed suit preventing Louisiana’s law from going into effect. C-P-R CEO Nancy Northup is delighted with today’s ruling…

Cut 5 (08)  “…against Texas”

The decision was 5-4 against Louisiana’s law.

 Assistant state health officer Dr. Joseph Kanter says recent police brutality protests are not responsible for the new wave of COVID cases impacting the state. Kanter says they may be large gathering, but…

Cut 11 (07) “…be wearing masks.”

The special session ends at six o’clock tomorrow night and lawmakers are debating several different tax break bills for businesses. Shreveport Senator Barry Milligan says COVID-19 has put several businesses on the brink of going out of business and they need the state’s help…

Cut 14 (12) “…our people”

Any tax breaks approved would result in less revenue and fewer dollars available for the state. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow believes the state should consider many of these tax breaks in a fall special session…

Cut 15 (12) “…a informed decisions” 

Louisiana tacks on another 845 cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the grand total to just over 57,000. 46% of those new cases are among those 29 and younger.

A bill requiring Louisiana abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at a local hospital will not go into effect due to a ruling this morning by the US Supreme Court, who deemed it unconstitutional. Monroe Senator and Democrat Katrina Jackson authored the 2014 legislation and says the nation’s highest court struck down a law that would have protected the health of a pregnant woman

Cut 3 (10) ”…deeply saddened  

The Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport and the Baton Rouge Delta Clinic would have closed if Louisiana’s admitting privileges law went into effect. Director of the Hope Medical Group Kathleen Pittman says the closing of additional clinics would have been a hardship for low-income pregnant women…

Cut 6 (08) “…total despair”

Chief Justice John Roberts joined liberals on the Court for the 5-4 decision. 

The state health department reported 845 new COVID-19 cases today as the state surpasses 57,000 cases.

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Governor Edwards says he will consider a New Orleans lawmaker’s request to place regulations on visitors to Louisiana entering from COVID hotspots, but says his public health experts haven’t said it is necessary.

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The U-S Supreme Court rules against a Louisiana law requiring admitting privileges at nearby hospitals for abortion doctors. Jeff Palermo has reaction from both sides of the issue…

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Louisiana tacks on another 845 cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the grand total to just over 57,000. 46% of those new cases are among those 29 and younger. Hospitalizations are the highest they’ve been in over a month, increasing by 22 to 737. Total deaths, 3,091, up by 5.

Health officials believe that recent demonstrations over the killing of George Floyd by police have not resulted in a significant addition of new COVID-19 cases. Assistant state health officer Dr. Joseph Kanter says enough time has passed to get a good idea of what has happened where protests were most prevalent.

Cut 10 (09) “…with New York.”

Kanter believes other layers of protection have likely factored into the protests to make them a bit safer.

A measure providing grocery store workers, bus drivers, law enforcement personnel, and healthcare workers with a 250-dollar check gains final legislative approval in the House and is heading to the Governor’s desk. Monroe Senator Jay Morris says federal coronavirus relief dollars will pay for the tax credit…

Cut 14 (12) “…of our state”

Front line or essential workers will be eligible for this 250-dollar check if they make less than 50-thousand dollars a year.

845 new cases of COVID-19 are being reported in the state taking our total number of positive tests over 57,000, along with another jump in hospitalizations, and five additional deaths. 42,000 people are believed to have recovered from the disease, making for roughly 15,000 known active cases in the state.

Louisiana’s law requiring abortion clinics to have admitting privileges is deemed unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court. Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson authored the 2014 legislation and supporters of the law say it made clinics operate under the same law as other outpatient surgical centers. The Center for Reproductive Rights filed suit preventing Louisiana’s law from going into effect. C-P-R CEO Nancy Northup is delighted with today’s ruling…

Cut 5 (08)  “…against Texas”

The decision was 5-4 against, with Chief Justice John Roberts, a Bush appointment, joining the court’s liberal justices in the decision.

New Orleans Senator Troy Carter calls for regulations on travelers coming into Louisiana from hotspot states like Texas as cases rise nationally. Carter says Louisiana residents went through great pains to follow spread mitigation efforts during the stay at home order and feels the state should protect its borders from areas that did not and are seeing the result.

Cut 8 (12) “…our people were.”

Texas and Florida had previously put regulations on visitors from Louisiana.

Legislation that would provide grocery store workers, bus drivers, law enforcement personnel and healthcare workers with a 250-dollar check gains final legislative approval. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau…

Cut 13 (08) “…this is about.” 

Front line or essential workers will be eligible for this 250-dollar check if they make less than 50-thousand dollars a year.

The US Supreme Court shoots down a Louisiana law requiring abortion clinics to have admitting privileges on a narrow 5-4 vote. The law was authored in 2014 by now Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson, and opponents argued if it became law it would have shut two of the state’s three clinics and was an attempt to subvert Roe Vs. Wade. Associate Director for the Louisiana Right to Life Angie Thomas says Louisiana law requires admitting privileges for many doctors who perform outpatient surgeries, but not abortion providers…

Cut 4 (10)_ “…abortion industry.”

New Orleans Senator Troy Carter is suggesting Louisiana should put some regulations into place for travelers coming into the state from Texas and other hotspots following an uptick in COVID-19 cases.  Carter says the state needs to take every necessary precaution.

Cut 7 (10) “…them at ours”

It may not be an inoculation to the coronavirus, but could a vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella help prevent the most severe complications of COVID-19? Kevin Barnhart explains.

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Louisiana is up over 56,000 total positive COVID tests after a busy weekend capped by 15-hundred total new cases being reported over Saturday and Sunday. Governor Edwards says 43 percent of those new cases are people under 29-years-old, a new national trend.