A first-degree murder conviction against a death-row inmate has been thrown out. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The FBI said Tuesday that it continues to believe that the man who slammed a truck into revelers on Bourbon Street New Year’s Day acted alone.  That’s despite new reports that Iraqi officials arrested an alleged ISIS member for inciting the attack. In a statement, the agency said yesterday though the investigation is ongoing, they believe Shamsud Din-Jabbar acted alone in carrying out the attack that left 14 people dead and injured dozens.

——————————-

A bill that would ban the sale of kratom was approved and moves to the Senate floor. Senate Bill 154 is authored by Monroe Republican Jay Morris.

Cut 4 (12) “…and to individuals.”

Proponents of the bill say kratom is dangerous and deadly but others say a ban on the drug would hurt others who use the product medicinally and help manage pain.

Australian-based Woodside Energy Group has announced a 17-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment building a greenfield liquified natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish. The news comes as several other major companies have committed to huge Louisiana investments. Senator Bill Cassidy

Cut 12 (11) “…can be brighter.”

A senate committee advances a bill that would ban the sale of kratom. Senate Bill 154 by Monroe Republican Jay Morris seeks to ban kratom entirely.

Cut 4 (12) “…families and to individuals.”

David Lebrano supports the bill and spoke to the dangers of the drug.  Lebrano’s son died from an apparent kratom overdose, and he hopes to prevent others from experiencing this pain.

Cut 5 (11) “…gas station, headshops, anywhere.”

Critics like kratom user and advocate Wednesday Forrest-Bear say the ban would take away from people using the product medically to help manage pain.

Cut 6 (06) “…regulate.”

The House approves measures that seek to lower the payouts car accident victims receive in court. Jeff Palermo reports that supporters say the legal reforms will help drive down auto insurance rates.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Coming up tomorrow, the House is expected to take up a measure giving the insurance commissioner the power to block excessive insurance rate increases. The bill, which Governor Landry supports and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple opposes, was on the House agenda yesterday, but it was pushed back.

The Louisiana House has approved bills regarding lawsuit payouts for car accident victims. One of those measures is a medical transparency bill by Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso that would make medical costs admissible in court, so the judge and jury know exactly how much a person injured in a wreck paid in medical costs…

Cut 14 (07) “…consider it.”

The other bill says if a driver is 51-percent or more at fault for a wreck, they are not entitled to damages. Both bills now head to a Senate committee for further consideration.

More than 30,000 residents in Bossier and Caddo parishes were left without power for six hours on Saturday, prompting Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell to demand answers from SWEPCO and the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). About what happened and who is paying for it.

Cut 3 (11) “…whos gonna pay for that.”

Louisiana is once again participating in the federal SUN Bucks program. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Governor Landry announces yet another major economic development project for Louisiana.

Cut 6 (17) “…their other colleagues.”

Woodside Energy is an Australian based company and their 17-billion-dollar investment in this LNG export facility in Calcasieu Parish is the largest single foreign direct investment in Louisiana history.

A Suspected ISIS member has been arrested in Iraq for his alleged connection to the New Year’s morning terror attack on Bourbon Street that killed 14 people and injured over 50 people. The FBI says they believe Shamsud-Din Jabbar who drove his truck into the crowd, acted alone. The suspect arrested in Iraq was arrested for inciting the Jan. 2025 truck attack in the United States according to Iraqi officials and they say he will be prosecuted in Iraq under their country’s anti-terrorism laws.

The Louisiana House has approved bills that seek to reduce the big payouts car accident victims receive after filing a lawsuit. One of those measures is Baton Rouge Representative Emily Chenevert’s (SHEN-UH-VAIR) bill, which says if a driver is 51-percent or more at fault for a wreck, they are not entitled to damages. She says states with lower insurance rates have this law…

Cut 12 (12) “…claim for damages.”

Woodside Energy Group an Australian-based company announces a huge investment in Calcasieu Parish. The liquefied natural gas export facility is the first greenfield LNG export facility to advance since President Trump rolled back the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permits. Woodside Executive Vice President Daniel Kalms

Cut 7 (13) “…sector this year.”

Louisiana is participating in the federal SUN Bucks program to provide eligible school age children, 120-dollars to use on food during the summer months when they’re out of school. Tim Jenkins with the Department of Children and Family Services, says those participating in certain programs will get a new SUN Bucks card sent to them.

Cut 10 (13) “…the child’s name.”

Australian-based Woodside Energy Group is investing over $17 billion to build a new Liquefied Natural Gas facility in Calcasieu Parish It’s the first greenfield LNG export facility to advance since President Trump rolled back the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permits. Governor Landry says the project will create about 15-thousand jobs during construction and thousands more once the facility is up and running.

Cut 8 (10) “…their incomes raised.”

Louisiana is once again participating in the federal SUN Bucks program providing eligible 120-dollars to use on food during the summer months. Tim Jenkins with the Department of Children and Family Services, says

families have 122 days – about four months – to use the money and it may only be used for certain food items.

Cut 11 (09) “…nothing like that.”

The House has approved measures that seek to lower the payouts car accident victims receive in court. Jeff Palermo reports that supporters say the legal reforms will help drive down auto insurance rates…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

More than 30,000 SWEPCO customers in Bossier and Caddo parishes were left without power for six hours on Saturday. The outage, ordered by Southwest Power Pool to prevent a broader grid failure, came without warning and has raised serious concerns from residents and business owners. SPP President Lanny Nickell…

Cut 4 (13) “…from reoccurring.”

Governor Landry announces yet another major economic development project for Louisiana.

Cut 6 (17) “…their other colleagues.”

Woodside Energy is an Australian based company and their 17 billion dollar investment in this LNG export facility in Calcasieu Parish is the largest single foreign direct investment in Louisiana history.

Thirty-thousand SWEPCO customers in Caddo and Bossier Parishes want to know why their power was turned off for several hours on Saturday. SWEPCO President Brett Matison said at a press conference today that the outage was necessary because of rapidly developing voltage instability involving Southwest Power Pool…

Cut 5 (08) “…specific area”

Mattison says they can’t guarantee this will not happen again during the summer, when temperatures soar above 90-degrees.

Louisiana is once again participating in the federal SUN Bucks program. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

We’ve known for a long time that Louisiana’s energy industry is a major part of the state’s economy. A new study released finds the state’s energy industry generates 25-percent of the state’s economy, 15-percent of state employment and 19-percent of total earnings. The Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association paid for the study to get a pulse on the true value of the state’s energy sector.

Oil and gas has long been a major driver in the state’s economy, and now we know exactly to what extent. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Australian-based Woodside Energy announced today a 17-point-5 billion dollar investment on a new liquified natural gas production and export facility in Calcasieu Parish. It’s the largest foreign investment in state history.

More than 30,000 residents in Bossier and Caddo parishes were left without power for six hours on Saturday, prompting Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell to demand answers from SWEPCO and the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). About what happened and who is paying for it.

Cut 3 (11) “…whos gonna pay for that.”

Balloon releases in Louisiana are one step closer to being illegal. The House passed HB581 by Harahan Republican John Illg, sending it to the Senate. Illg says what goes up must come down; and when those balloons released into the air come down, they could have serious consequences for the environment and wildlife.

Cut 15 (06) “…into the air.”

The House advances bills that seek to reduce the big payouts car accident victims get after filing a lawsuit. Among them is Baton Rouge Republican Emily Chenevert’s (SHEN-UH-VAIR) bill, which says if a driver is 51-percent or more at fault for a wreck, they are not entitled to damages.

Cut 13 (12)  “…cover that.”

Louisiana is once again participating in the federal SUN Bucks program. The program provides eligible children between the ages of five and 18 120 dollars to use on food during the summer months when they’re out of school. Tim Jenkins, the economic stability director for the Department of Children and Family Services, says for those already receiving SNAP benefits, there’s nothing that they need to do.

Cut 9 (09)  “…household SNAP card.”

The House Transportation Committee votes down a measure that sought to eliminate the state’s vehicle inspection sticker program. The bill’s author, Stonewall Republican Larry Bagley argued that the requirement to get your vehicle inspected is government overreach.

Cut 4 (12) “…keep up with them.”

Critics argue inspections are often not properly conducted, while supporters, including inspection station owners, insist the program promotes road safety and maintains vehicle standards. Inspection station owner Kathy Slavant defended the integrity of the inspections.

Cut 7 (11) “…in what we do.”

The vote to defeat the bill was 6-to-5. Bagley says he’ll attempt to bring the bill back for another vote.

The Louisiana House approves legislation that says if a person is 51-percent or more at fault in an accident that person can not receive damages to cover the cost of their injuries. Baton Rouge Representative Emily Chenevert says it’s one of several tort reform bills that can help drive down auto insurance rates…

Cut 27 (05) “…lower rates”

Balloon releases in Louisiana are one step closer to being illegal. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The requirement for Louisiana motorists to get an inspection sticker every year or two looks like it will continue after the House Transportation Committee voted down a proposal to eliminate the program for non-commercial vehicles. Leading the effort is Stonewall  Representative Larry Bagley…

Cut 5 (04) “….has the stickers”

But Neal Underwood, who represents the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Station Inspection owners, says crashes and fatalities have increased in states that eliminated inspection sticker programs…

Cut 16 (12) “…67-percent”

The bill failed on a six to five vote, but Bagley says he’ll attempt to bring the bill back for another vote.

A vote could go down on the House floor on a bill to give Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple more authority to block excessive insurance rate increases. A vote was expected yesterday, but it was pushed back a day.

Lengthy discussion on the House floor on Monday over legislation that seeks to reduce the damages awarded in court to a car accident victim. Several bills that seek to accomplish this were approved, including House Bill 34 by state Representative Brian Glorioso. The Slidell Republican believes medical costs should be admissible in court, so the judge and jury know exactly how much a person injured in a wreck paid in medical costs…

Cut 20 (07) “….can’t consider it”

The measure passed on a 68 to 26 vote. Democrats are not convinced that lower settlements will reduce car insurance rates.

With very little debate, the Louisiana House approved a bill that bans balloon releases in an effort to protect the environment….

Cut 16 (04) 14 nays”

For anyone over 16, penalties under the proposed legislation, the fine would be 150 dollars for a first offense. The measure heads to the Senate.

We’ve known for a long time that Louisiana’s energy industry is a major part of the state’s economy. A new study released finds the state’s energy industry generates 25-percent of the state’s economy, 15-percent of state employment and 19-percent of total earnings…

Cut 9 (10) “…of the state”

That’s Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association President Tommy Fahucheux. Mid-Continent paid for the study to get a pulse on the true value of the state’s energy sector.

Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming is reminding the public to check out new K-through-12 school transparency project which gives the public a chance to see how public schools are spending their money…

Cut 13 (08) “…and abuse”

The portal can be found at the Department of Treasury’s website.