Legislation that would give parishes the option to increase the homestead exemption for property owners clears its first legislative hurdle. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

In other legislative action, the Louisiana Senate rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed voters to decide if the state should remove the mandatory retirement age of 70 for judges. And the House overwhelmingly approved a bill that would ban handheld cell phone use while driving. The measure heads to the Senate.

SkyWest Airlines, the largest regional airline in the U.S., has chosen Shreveport Regional Airport as its 13th maintenance base, supporting its fleet of nearly 500 aircraft.  Louisiana Economic Partnership CEO Justyn Dixon says the new facility is expected to create 150 direct jobs, averaging 70-thousand-dollars annually

Cut 10 (12) “…power plant.”

The airline expects the base will be operational in the second half of 2025.

Addis native and Brusly High graduate John Foster has made it to the Top 7 of American Idol. Brusly High Principal Walt Lemoine says the world is seeing the real John Foster.

Cut 4 (08) “…model human being.”

Foster, now a freshman at LSU, has impressed the judges with his growth during the show..

One of the bills in the legislature getting the most attention is the one that would give the insurance commissioner the authority to reject rates he or she deems to be excessive, regardless of market conditions. It has passed in the full House and is now awaiting debate in a Senate committee. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple opposes it, saying he has already rejected insurance rates that he has deemed to be too high – several times, in fact.

Cut 10 (09) “…I exercise it.”

A bill that would make kratom illegal in Louisiana moves to the House. The Senate passed S-B 154 on a vote of 26-to-11, split right down party lines. The author, West Monroe Republican Jay Morris, says kratom – sometimes known as “gas station heroin” – has already been banned in several places.

Cut 7 (09) “…grown in Asia.”

Voters are one step closer to deciding whether to increase the homestead exemption. The House Ways and Means Committee Approved House Bill 271, which would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot for voters to decide whether to increase the homestead exemption from 75-hundred dollars to 12-thousand-500 dollars in assessed value. The vote was 9-to-5. The bill’s author, New Orleans Democrat Matthew Willard, says since the homestead exemption has not increased since 1980, people are getting priced out of their homes.

Cut 13 (10)  “…it’s not affordable.”

Jim Patterson with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry spoke out against Willard’s bill. He says if you increase the homestead exemption to lower property taxes, the government will need to make up that tax revenue somehow.

Cut 15 (09) “…taxes to others.”

A Louisiana Tech Football player has been arrested, charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Ruston police say 20-year-old junior defensive back, Jacob Fields was chaperoning two brothers during a Louisiana Tech recruiting visit. Fields allegedly took the two boys, ages 15 and 17 to an apartment where the 15-year-old smoked marijuana and when he began have an adverse reaction, Fields returned the young man to the hotel where the boys were staying with their mother. Their mother called an ambulance when she noticed the boy’s paranoia.

One of the bills in the legislature getting the most attention is the one that would give the insurance commissioner the authority to reject rates he deems to be excessive, regardless of market conditions. It has passed in the full House and is now awaiting debate in a Senate committee. Governor Landry supports it, but Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple – also a Republican – opposed it. Temple says he has rejected rates because they’re either too low or too high.

Cut 9 (06)  “…the drawing board.”

Much of Louisiana including Shreveport, Monroe, Natchitoches, Alexandria, Opelousas, DeRidder, Lake Charles and Lafayette is under a tornado watch until 9 PM tonight and the entire state is under a flood watch. Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin

Cut 14 (15) “…into tomorrow.”

Bogue Chitto State Park in Washington Parish is undergoing significant expansion with the acquisition of over 800 adjacent acres. Office of State Parks Assistant Secretary Brandon Burris says the newly acquired acres may need some restoration projects in the future to maintain the quality and standards for Louisiana State Parks.

Cut 8 (10) “…studying the ecosystem.”

The Rayne Police Department is grieving over the loss of one of its officers who was killed by friendly fire. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The reason the officer discharged their weapon is still unknown

It’s a busy day at OMV offices across the state as people are scrambling to get their REAL ID. Today is the last day you can fly on a commercial airline without either a REAL ID or a passport. One woman says one Denham Springs Express OMV was so busy that their computers couldn’t handle it.

Cut 5 (07) “…say that yet.”

Last month, the OMV and Public Tag Agents processed more than 97-thousand REAL ID applications.

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple does not support a bill awaiting debate in a Senate committee that would give the commissioner the authority to reject rates he deems excessive, regardless of market conditions because he says, he already rejects rates.

Cut 11 (11) “…we exercise it.”

It has already passed in the full House and Governor Landry supports it.

A large portion of Louisiana is under a tornado watch until 9 PM tonight. The watch area covers Shreveport, Monroe, Natchitoches, Alexandria, Opelousas, DeRidder, Lake Charles and Lafayette. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says a few tornadoes are possible, plus there are other severe weather threats…

Cut 12 (06) “…large hail”  

Jacquemin says a flood watch also remains in effect for the entire state…

A horrific scene in Caddo Parish, as four people are dead in a murder-suicide in Keithville. Sheriff’s Deputies arrived at the home at around seven yesterday morning, and gunfire erupted in the house a few minutes later. It’s not yet clear what led to the shooting. A family member has set up a GoFundMe for the youngest victim, 2-year-old Adalyn Mae.

A bill awaiting debate in a Senate would give the insurance commissioner the authority to reject rates deemed to be excessive, regardless of market conditions. Governor Landry supports it, but Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple does not. Temple says he has rejected rates because they’re either too low or too high.

Cut 10 (09) “…I exercise it.”

OMV offices across the state are jammed with people getting their REAL IDs on this deadline day. Andrew Greenstein is at the Express OMV office in Denham Springs.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Office of State Parks has big plans for Bogue Chitto State Park in Washington Parish with the acquisition of over 800 adjacent acres. State Parks Assistant Secretary Brandon Burris says preliminary plans for the expanded portion of Bogue Chitto State Park include additional equestrian trails, mountain biking trails, and hiking trails.

Cut 7 (10) “…utilization we can.”

Starting tomorrow, your regular driver’s license won’t be enough to board a commercial flight – you will need a REAL ID. As such, OMV offices across the state are jammed with people trying to get one. One woman who showed up at the Express OMV office in Denham Springs has no immediate travel plans but needs a REAL ID for work. She says if you don’t have immediate travel plans, you can wait.

Cut 4 (08) “…at the moment.”

One of the bills in the legislature getting the most attention is the one that would give the insurance commissioner the authority to reject rates he or she deems to be excessive, regardless of market conditions. It has passed in the full House and is now awaiting debate in a Senate committee. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple opposes it, saying he has rejected rates because they’re either too low or too high.

Cut 9 (06)  “…the drawing board.”

The Rayne Police Department is grieving over the loss of one of its officers who was killed by friendly fire. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A horrific scene in Caddo Parish, as four people are dead in a murder-suicide in Keithville. Sheriff’s Deputies arrived at the home at around seven yesterday morning, and gunfire erupted in the house a few minutes later. At this time, it’s unclear what led to the shooting.

OMV offices across the state are jammed with people getting their REAL IDs, as regular driver’s licenses will no longer be adequate to board commercial flights starting tomorrow. As such, people are waiting a long time, even those who are there for something other than REAL ID.

Cut 3 (09) “…minutes at best.”

Last month, the OMV and Public Tag Agents processed more than 97-thousand REAL ID applications.

Independent Marshall Simien was elected as mayor of Lake Charles on Saturday, defeating two-term Republican incumbent Nic Hunter. Simien says he’ll look to bring the city together once he’s sworn in on July 1^st…

Cut 11 (11) “…tent for everybody”

Simien will be the first Black mayor in Lake Charles history.

If you’re unemployed, you might soon be required to increase your work searches and keep your job interview appointments to keep your benefits. The House has passed House Bill 153 by a vote of 73 to 24. It’s written by Lafayette Republican Troy Hebert, who says he’d heard from employers who have been stood up for job interviews.

Cut 13 (13)  “…there with unemployment.”

The legislation heads to the Senate for more discussion.

Bogue Chitto State Park near Franklinton is undergoing a significant expansion with the acquisition of over 800 adjacent acres, increasing the park’s total area by 45-percent to nearly 2,600 acres. Office of State Parks Assistant Secretary Brandon Burris….

Cut 6 (07) “…has to offer.”

Burris says the newly acquired acres will need some restoration projects in the future to maintain the quality and standards for Louisiana State Parks.

OMV offices across the state are jammed with people getting their REAL IDs on this deadline day. Andrew Greenstein is at the Express OMV office in Denham Springs.

Cut 1 (35) “…Andrew Greenstein”

The Rayne Police officer killed while investigating a stabbing a home has been identified. Rayne Police chief K-P Gibson says 47-year-old Allen Noochie Credeur was shot by friendly fire while executing a search warrant related to a violent crime. Gibson calls it a devastating accident.

JMC Analytics has released a poll conducted by the Fleming campaign that shows a very tight U-S primary election between John Fleming and incumbent US Senator Bill Cassidy next year. Fleming is challenging Cassidy, claiming he’s the more conservative candidate. Pearson Cross teaches political science at ULM…

Cut 4 (08) “…support too”

Cassidy’s campaign has also released its own poll, which shows the Senior Senator with a double digit lead over Fleming.

The entire state is under a flood watch. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the highest rainfall totals are projected for the Acadiana area…

Cut 8 (12) “….to four days’

The flood watch for south Louisiana extends into Thursday.

A year from now we could be experiencing a runoff in the Republican U-S Senate primary. Incumbent Bill Cassidy and challenger John Fleming each have released their own polls which show different results. Sean Richardson spoke with a ULM professor that teaches political science…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson”

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a murder-suicide where four people ended up dead. Deputies were called to a home in Keithville and while on the scene they heard a gunshot inside the home. A drone search of the interior of the home found four people dead.

At the state capitol, The Louisiana House approved a bill that would require those on unemployment to do more work search actions in order to keep their unemployment benefits….

Cut 14 (10) “…a job quicker”

That’s Lafayette Republican Troy Hebert. The bill passed on a 73-24 vote and heads to the Senate for further discussion.

Marshall Simen has a new job. He was elected as mayor of Lake Charles on Saturday, defeating two-term Republican incumbent Nic Hunter, receiving 52-percent of the vote to 48-percent. Simien says he’ll look to bring the city together once he’s sworn in on July 1^st…

Cut 11 (11) “…tent for everybody”

Simien will be the first Black mayor in Lake Charles history.

If you expect to keep collecting unemployment benefits, you may soon be required to up your weekly job searches and keep your job interview appointments. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Rayne Police Department in Acadia Parish is mourning the loss of one of its officers. KLFY-TV is reporting the shooting occurred while officers were investigating a domestic dispute at a home in Rayne. And according to sources, the Rayne Police officer was accidentally shot. The officer has been identified as Lt. Allen Credeur.

State Treasurer John Fleming’s Senate campaign released a poll showing the race between him and incumbent Bill Cassidy is a statistical tie. The two are expected to square off in next spring’s Republican Senate primary. Pearson Cross teaches politics at ULM and says Fleming has released the poll in the hopes he can catch up to Cassidy in fundraising…

Cut 6 (04) “…has an advantage”

On July first, Independent Marshall Simien will take over as Lake Charles mayor. He’s replacing two-term Republican Nic Hunter, who he defeated in a close election on Saturday. Simien says one of his biggest challenges will be leading Lake Charles during a time of economic growth, because of a growing energy sector…

Cut 12 (14) “….to stay here”

Economist Loren Scott’s economic forecast has Lake Charles as the fastest growing area in the state, adding about 81-hundred jobs in 2025 and 2026.