The Louisiana House approves a bill that would set up a 300-million dollar grant program for small businesses. The money would come from federal coronavirus relief aid that the governor would like to use to help local government agencies who have experienced losses during the pandemic. The Senate’s version of this bill called for 200-million for small businesses, so River Ridge Representative John Illg asks why the extra 100-million…
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New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell slammed the legislation, saying it yanks away desperately needed funds from local governments.

Today the full House will discuss a controversial tort reform bill that supporters say will lead to lower auto insurance rates by making changes to the state’s legal system. Opponents argue it will not lead to lower rates and it will make it harder for people to get their cases resolved if involved in a car accident.

LSU researchers say autopsies performed on ten African Americans who died from COVID-19 had blood clots in their lungs which also significantly contributed to their death. Director of Pathology Research at LSU Health New Orleans Doctor Richard Vander Heide…
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The LHSAA is investigating at least a dozen schools for holding workouts before the June 8th summer start date…
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The Louisiana House approves legislation that would create a 300 million dollar grant program for small businesses who did not receive federal assistance. Matt Doyle has the story…
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This proposal still needs Senate approval as the upper chamber approved this measure already, but their version calls for a 200-million dollar small business grant program, not 300-million dollars.

Today, the House votes on a Senate-backed tort reform bill that aims to lower auto insurance rates.

State Trooper George Baker, who died from injuries sustained when he was hit by a Hammond Police car during a police chase, was laid to rest yesterday. The 33-year-old also served in the military and with the Greensburg Police Department and St. Helena Sheriff’s Office. At Baker’s memorial service, Governor Edwards called Baker a true public servant…
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LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says his office is looking into complaints that 12 schools are holding summer workouts, even though the association has said schools can not have student-athletes gather until at least June 8th. Bonine says it’s disappointing some schools are not following the rules…
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Bonine says schools and coaches who are holding summer workouts now could be fined and suspended.

The Louisiana House has approved a bill that would create a 300 million dollar grant program for small businesses by using money provided to the state from the federal CARES Act. The measure passed on a 72-26 vote, but New Orleans Representative Gary Carter argued the governor would rather send this money to local governments …
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But supporters of the measure, that still needs Senate approval, say without small businesses, local governments lose out on more tax revenue.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is investigating at least 12 schools for allegedly holding summer workouts prior to the June 8th start date. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says they were notified about the possible violations by other schools and…
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Bonine says possible punishment could be announced next week.

LSU researchers make a new discovery that helps healthcare providers understand what can make COVID-19 so deadly, especially among African Americans. Matt Doyle has the story.
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COVID-19 deaths in Louisiana increased by 18 yesterday to 2,635. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, 55-percent of the victims were black. 58-percent of the people who have died from COVID-19 also battled hypertension, 35-percent had diabetes.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is investigating at least 12 schools for allegedly holding summer workouts prior to the June 8th start date. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says they were notified about the possible violations by other schools and…
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Bonine says he’s disappointed there are schools who could not follow the June 8th start date. He says possible punishment could be announced next week.

In NFL news, former Saints cornerback Eli Apple has signed with the Carolina Panthers. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is hopeful coaches will be able to return to team facilities next week. Also, the NFL owners tabled a proposal that would have allowed teams a chance to convert on fourth-and-15 instead of going for an onside kick.

Louisiana Tech plans to begin voluntary football workouts on June 8th. Athletic Director Tommy McClelland says players are allowed back on campus next week…
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McClelland says players will be screened daily for coronavirus symptoms and that includes answering a questionnaire and temperature checks. He says masks will also be required during meetings.

ULM athletic director Scott McDonald tells the Monroe News-Star that student-athletes may begin using the weight room inside Malone Stadium on June 1st and Ragin Cajuns athletics director Bryan Maggard says their football players will begin voluntary workouts on June eighth.

Autopsies on African American COVID-19 victims by LSU researchers identify blood clots as a key factor in deaths. LSU Health New Orleans head of Pathology Research Dr. Richard Vander Heide says they performed 26 autopsies and examined the victims’ lungs…
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Vander Heide says they found heart disease, obesity, and other comorbidities in nearly all of those studied which may have produced the blood clotting.

Fallen State Trooper George Baker was laid to rest yesterday following a private memorial service at the University Center on the Southeastern Louisiana campus. Baker was killed at the age of 33 while assisting in the chase of a suspect in Hammond last week. His sister, Stephanie Smith, spoke on behalf of the family…
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The suspects involved in the chase are facing several charges.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is investigating 12 schools for allowing sports teams to begin training before the summer start date. Brooke Thorington has more.
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Busy day at the Capitol Thursday as lawmakers plowed through a series of controversial bills.

A Senate Committee hosted a debate about legislation allowing a concealed handgun permit holder to bring a gun into a church without informing the congregation. Louisiana Shooting Association President Dan Zelenka says it will make churches a safer place.

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But Church Attorney Andrew Wilson spoke out against it…

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That bill is headed to the Senate floor for final passage.

Three bills are also heading to the Governor’s desk. One of them, if signed, creates a fall ballot question asking voters if they would like sports betting to be legalized in their parish. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry says this will help make full legalization easier to pass next year…

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Another bill removes most restrictions on what conditions doctors can prescribe medical marijuana to patients for. New Iberia Senator Fred Mills says is not an effort to legalize recreational marijuana…

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And finally legislation is headed to the Governor’s desk that would create a 300 million dollar grant program for small businesses. The money will be drawn from an 800 million dollar CARES Act payment sent to Louisiana. New Orleans Representative Gary Carter says this money was supposed to help save local governments…

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Proponents argue the grants will be crucial to saving businesses with fewer than 50 employees who did not receive federal assistance.

Governor Edwards says the current slowed pace of new infections, deaths, and hospitalizations is encouraging news for the possibility of entering Phase Two in June. Edwards says we are making progress, but its no reason for people to slack off on wearing a mask due to the risk of asymptomatic transmission.

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A House-approved bill allowing a concealed handgun permit holder to bring a gun into a church without informing the congregation heads to the Senate floor for final passage. Lake Charles Senator Mark Abraham began the hearing by addressing one of most commonly cited concerns related to the bill…

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Legislation is heading to the governor’s desk that will ask voters on November 3rd if sports betting should be legalized in their parish. An effort to legalize sports betting failed in the legislature last year. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry say by putting the issue before the voters, lawmakers can then decide how they should vote when the sports betting and taxation bills come before them in 2021…

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A bill that removes many restrictions on who can be prescribed medical marijuana is nearing final legislative passage. New Iberia Senator Fred Mills says the treatment has helped many, including former Governor Kathleen Blanco. Mills says Blanco’s daughter said the medical cannabis gave her mom a few more good days before she died…

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Governor John Bel Edwards is encouraged by the state’s recent COVID-19 numbers, but as for a decision on Phase Two reopening that will have to wait. Edwards says the data is still being analyzed, but it is encouraging to see the number of hospitalizations has fallen below 800

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He hopes to make the announcement on June 1^st on possible movement to Phase Two.

Legislation is heading to the governor’s desk that will ask voters on November 3rd if sports betting should be legalized in their parish. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry says if a parish approves the referendum, then lawmakers will vote next year on the regulation and taxation of sports wagering, which will be controversial

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A bill that removes many restrictions on who can be prescribed medical marijuana is nearing final legislative passage. Under current law, cannabis can only be used to treat a specific diagnosis such as cancer, seizures, Parkinson’s, and PTSD. New Iberia Senator Fred Mills says this legislation removes those restrictions…

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Before the bill goes to the governor, the House will need to approve Senate changes.

A House-approved bill allowing a concealed handgun permit holder to bring a gun into a church without informing the congregation heads to the Senate floor for final passage. Church Attorney Andrew Wilson spoke against the bill. He says the measure would call for anti-carry churches to post large “no gun signs”, ruining church atmospheres.

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Voters will have a chance to weigh in on whether or not sports betting should be legalized if the Governor signs off on legislation that won final approval today in the Legislature.  Metairie Senator Cameron Henry says the ballot question will ask voters if sports wagering activities and operations should be permitted in your parish. He says lawmakers will determine next year where sports bets can be taken

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Opponents say legal sports betting will produce more problem gamblers, which ends up costing taxpayers.

A bill that removes many restrictions on who can be prescribed medical marijuana is nearing final legislative passage. New Iberia Senator Fred Mills assured the Senate this was not an effort to legalize recreational marijuana…

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On a 28-to-six vote, the Senate approved the measure.

A House-approved bill allowing a concealed handgun permit holder to bring a gun into a church without informing the congregation heads to the Senate floor for final passage. The legislation still requires people who concealed carry to get their pastor’s permission first, and Louisiana Shooting Association President Dan Zelenka says it will make churches a safer place.

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Churches can currently allow concealed carry, but the congregation must be informed who is carrying. Bill sponsor Representative Bryan Fontenot says that requirement made carriers a target.

Reverend John David Andrew, speaking on behalf of the Episcopal Dioceses of Louisiana, says this bill endangers the safety of students going to schools attached to churches…

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The Senate Judiciary C reported the bill to the floor on a 4-1 vote.

Governor John Bell Edwards says the most recent COVID-19 numbers are encouraging but as for a decision on Phase Two reopening that will have to wait. Edwards says the state has made great progress going from number two in the country to number nine of COVID-19 cases per capita because so many have cooperated with guidelines, but we must continue to do so.

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A bill that removes many restrictions on who can be prescribed medical marijuana is nearing final legislative passage. New Iberia Senator Fred Mills says the treatment has helped many, including former Governor Kathleen Blanco. Mills says Blanco’s daughter said the medical cannabis gave her mom a few more good days before she died…

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A Senate Committee approves legislation allowing people to concealed carry in houses of worship with the pastor’s permission, but without having to inform the congregation. Matt Doyle has more.

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The smallest ever baby to born in Louisiana made history this week by being discharged from the hospital.  Dionna Ambrielle  Miracle Taylor was born January 27^th weighing just 11 ounces at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport. She left the hospital yesterday and currently weighs 4 pounds and 13 ounces.