Members of the Jewish community were stunned after the House Criminal Justice Committee voted against a bill to remove gassing as a form of execution in Louisiana. Jacquelyn Stern with Jews Against Gassing says it was as if the committee ignored their testimony altogether.
Cut 7 (13) “…and listening.”
Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala, a member of the committee, argued the state is executing convicted murderers not innocent women and children like they did in the Holocaust.

The Louisiana House has rejected legislation that called for all public school buses to have heating and air conditioning by 2032. Republicans argued it’s an unfunded mandate for local school systems. Pollock Representative Gabe Firment…
Cut 11 (11) “…thank you.”
The bill failed on a 57-42 vote.

Louisiana is poised to become the first state to classify two pills that can induce an abortion as controlled dangerous substances. Opponents of the legislation say this could cause delays in women receiving the proper reproductive care, but the bill’s author, Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly, says the bill does not present any barriers to accessing the medication for legitimate medical purposes other than abortion.

Two species of Cicadas are emerging together for the first time since 1803. But one species might not make an appearance in Louisiana.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The Louisiana House has put the brakes on a bill requiring all public school buses to have heating and air conditioning by 2032. The proposal would also mandate all buses bought after August 1st would be equipped with heat and air. Amite Representative Robby Carter doesn’t see how anyone would vote against a safety measure…
Cut 10 (10) “…in the afternoon.”
But opponents say this is an unfunded mandate on local school systems.

Despite pleas from the Jewish Community, the House Criminal Justice Committee rejected a Senate approved measure that would take nitrogen suffocation off the table as a method to execute a death row prisoner. John Sinquefield with the Attorney General’s Office said the use of nitrogen hypoxia is not comparable to the poisonous gas used during the Holocaust. But Jacquelyn Stern says Sinquefield missed the point…
cut 8 (12) “…as jews”

The LSU Tigers improved its NCAA Tournament resume with a solid nine-to-one win over Georgia in the opening game of the SEC Tournament.
Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The Conference USA Tournament begins today in Ruston. Top-seeded Louisiana Tech takes on Middle Tennessee at around 4 PM. Director of Marketing and Communications for Experience Ruston, Tori Davis, says they are excited to welcome the seven other teams to Lincoln Parish…
cut 15 (09) “…in Ruston”

Legislation requiring all public school buses to have heating and air conditioning by 2032 fails to receive the support of the Louisiana House.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Also at the capitol, the Louisiana Senate approves legislation that removes the requirement 16 and 17-year-old employees must take a break if their shift lasts more than five hours.

And the House approves a bill that classifies two drugs that induce abortions as dangerous controlled substances.

For the first time since 1803 two species of cicadas are emerging at the same time. One species every 17 years and another called, the Great Brood every 13 years. The problem is in 2011 there were no sightings for the Great Brood in Louisiana. LSU Ag Center Insect Diagnostician, Christopher Carlton says that could be due to a few reasons from migration to extinction in the area.
Cut 4 (07) “…reliable emergence.”
Carlton says they are asking the public to take pictures of cicadas and load them on an app called the I Naturalist so they can see if the Southern Brood is still in Louisiana.

Two conference baseball tournaments get underway today in Louisiana, one in Ruston, the other in Hammond as Southeastern Louisiana hosts the Southland Conference tournament. S-L-U A-D Jay Artigues says it’s a nice economic boost for Tangiaphoa Parish…
cut 13 (14) “…Hammond, America”

Members of the Louisiana House Criminal Justice Committee failed to pass a bill that would remove gassing as a form of execution due to perceived similarities to execution methods used during the Holocaust. John Sinquefield with the Attorney General’s office spoke in opposition saying nitrogen hypoxia differs from what was used in Nazi Germany.

cut 9 (10): “…to death.”

Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans Aaron Bloch, who spoke in support of the bill says execution by gas is triggering for the Jewish community.

cut 10 (10): “…their name.”

The bill failed in committee on a 3 to 8 vote and will not advance to the House floor.

On an eight to four-vote, House Education approved legislation to create the Gator Scholarship Program that one day would allow parents of all income levels to receive taxpayer dollars to pay for private tuition. Louisiana Federation of Teacher’s President Larry Carter expressed his concerns…

Cut 7 (11) ” accountability.”  

The bill heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

The Louisiana House has put the brakes on a bill requiring all public-school buses to have heating and air conditioning by 2032. The proposal would also mandate all buses bought after August would be equipped with heat and air.  Pineville Representative Mike Johnson was one of the no “votes…”

Cut 12 (07) “…local school.” 

The bill failed on a 57-42 vote.

A measure to expand the state’s voucher program so parents of all income levels could be eligible to use public dollars to pay for private school tuition receives approval from another legislative committee. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (28)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Despite appeals from the Jewish community, the House Criminal Justice Committee members failed to pass a bill to remove gassing as a form of execution. Former CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Arnie Fielkow (Fill-co) urged the committee to support the bill because there are other methods of execution for death row inmates in Louisiana.

Cut 12 (09) “…light of day.” 

The bill failed in committee on a 3 to 8 vote and will not advance to the House floor.

State Police says an investigation prompted by video on social media of individuals driving ATVs recklessly through New Orleans resulted in the arrest of the three suspects, who were booked into St. James Parish jail. Though ATV and dirt bike takeovers pose a problem for New Orleans, Troop Nola Major Donovan Archote (R sho t) says the problem isn’t indicative of organized crime.

Cut 5 (05)  “…culture.”

The incident is still under investigation with more suspects and charges expected to come later.

State Police is offering an accelerated training program for Louisiana POST certified officers. The 14-week program begins in October and Trooper William Huggins says for those local officers that are interested in applying, the deadline is July 24^th

Cut 15 (10) “…State Police Commission.”

Applicants for Cadet Class 105 must have a Louisiana Level 1 POST certification at the time they apply.

State Police says thanks to video on social media they’ve arrested three people and recovered several stolen items as part of an investigation into lawless street takeovers by off road vehicles like ATVs. Troop Nola Major Donovan Archote says these individuals blatantly broke traffic laws…

Cut 3 (11) “…public safety.” 

State Police is offering an accelerated training program for POST certified police Officers. Trooper William Huggins says during the 14-week program, cadets receive advanced State Police training in firearm proficiency, de-escalation techniques, lawful use of force and LSP Core Values.

Cut  14 (12) “…shorter academy.” 

The deadline to apply for this October class is July 24^th.

House Criminal Justice Committee members voted against a bill to remove gassing as a means of execution despite pleas from the Jewish community. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

On an eight to four vote, the House Education Committee approves the legislation that creates the Gator Scholarship Program that one day would allow parents of all income levels to receive taxpayer dollars to pay for private school tuition. Baton Rouge Senator Rick Edmonds is the author of the legislation…

Cut 6  (11) “…education. ” 

State Police says an investigation prompted by video on social media of individuals driving ATVs recklessly through New Orleans resulted in the arrest of the three suspects, who were booked into St. James Parish jail. Though ATV and dirt bike takeovers pose a problem for New Orleans, Troop Nola Major Donovan Archote (R sho t) says the problem isn’t indicative of organized crime.

Cut 5 (05)  “…culture.”

The incident is still under investigation with more suspects and charges expected to come later.

The House Education Committee approves the legislation that creates the Gator Scholarship Program that eventually provides taxpayer dollars to pay for private school tuition. There are concerns about the cost of the Program. One estimate has it as much as 500-million dollars. Bill author, Senator Rick Edmonds says there are safeguards in the legislation to make sure the expenses of the program do outgrow available state dollars…

Cut 8 (11)  “…responsibility” 

The measure has already received Senate approval.

In the House Criminal Justice Committee members failed to pass a bill to remove gassing as a form of execution. They heard from John Sinquefield (Sink-field) with the AG’s office who spoke in opposition. He says nitrogen hypoxia differs from what was used during the Holocaust.

Cut 9 (10) “…to death.” 

Aaron Bloch Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans says execution by gas is extremely triggering for the Jewish community.

State Police is looking for local police officers that want to participate in an accelerated training program that will begin in October. Trooper William Huggins says this program is designed specifically for Louisiana POST certified applicants.

Cut 13 (09) “..Louisiana State Trooper.” 

The deadline to apply is July 24^th.

In House Criminal Justice members voted against a bill to remove gassing as a form of execution. They heard from John Sinquefield (Sink-field) with the AG’s office who says nitrogen is already a gas we breathe daily and changing the law to remove the use of nitrogen hypoxia to carry out the death penalty executions is unwarranted.

Cut 11 (08) ” …would die.”

Former CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Arnie Fielkow (Fill-co) urged committing members to support the bill because there are other methods of execution for death row inmates in Louisiana besides gassing.

Cut 12 (09) “…light of day.” 

The bill failed in committee on a 3 to 8 vote and will not advance to the House floor.

On an eight to four-vote, House Education approves legislation to create the Gator Scholarship Program that one day would allow parents of all income levels to receive taxpayer dollars to pay for private tuition. Louisiana Federation of Teacher’s President Larry Carter expressed his concerns…

Cut 7 (11) ” accountability.”  

The bill heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

Thanks to social media pots, State Police say they’ve arrested three people and recovered several stolen items as part of an investigation into street takeovers by ATVs. After searching their residences in St. Bernard, St. James and East Baton Rouge Parish, Troop Nola Major Donovan Archote says they uncovered more illegal items.

Cut 4 (10) “…marijuana.” 

Members of the Louisiana House Criminal Justice Committee failed to pass a bill that would remove gassing as a form of execution due to perceived similarities to execution methods used during the Holocaust. John Sinquefield with the Attorney General’s office spoke in opposition of the bill to the House, saying nitrogen hypoxia differs from what was used in Nazi Germany.

cut 9 (10): “…to death.”

Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans Aaron Bloch, who spoke to the House in favor of the bill, said execution by gas is triggering for the Jewish community.

cut 10 (10): “…their name.”

The bill failed in committee on a 3 to 8 vote and will not advance to the House floor.

On an eight to four vote, the House Education Committee approves the legislation that creates the Gator Scholarship Program that one day would allow parents of all income levels receive taxpayer dollars to pay for private tuition. Baton Rouge Senator Rick Edmonds is the author of the legislation…

cut 6 (11): “…education.”

The measure has already received Senate approval and it looks poised to reach the governor’s desk.

State Police announced three arrests and several stolen items recovered thanks to video on social media in an investigation into street takeovers by road vehicles like ATVs in New Orleans. After searching the suspects’ residences in St. Bernard, St. James and East Baton Rouge Parish, Troop Nola Major Donovan Archote says police uncovered more than just careless driving.

cut 4 (10): “…marijuana.”

The three suspects were arrested after police found a YouTube video from May 2023 in which the suspects drove their ATVs recklessly through New Orleans. They have been booked in St. James Parish jail with more charges and suspects expected later.

Louisiana State Police announced several arrests and recovery of stolen items in an investigation into ATV takeovers in New Orleans, which Major Donovan Archote says is a problem for NOLA.

cut 3 (11): “…public safety.”

Three suspects have been booked in St. James Parish jail with more charges and suspects expected later.

44-year old John Michael Thibodeaux of Belle Rose faces a theft charge for running an alleged Ponzi scheme that saw him steal thousands of dollars from his friends. Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lonny Cavalier warns people to be cautious of too-good-to-be-true opportunities…

cut 12 (11): “…not a realistic number.”

Cavalier says Thibodeaux promised several of his friends they would receive high investments through E-Trading, but was found to have no E-Trade account.

Last year saw an increase in tourism and tourist spending for Louisiana. The Louisiana Office of Tourism announced the state saw 43 million visitors in 2023, an increase of 420 thousand from 2022. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says though international visitation isn’t expected to recover until next year, Louisiana’s 17% increase in international tourists from 2022 to 23 shows the state is coming back strong.

cut 6 (12): “…to Louisiana.”

Visitor spending generated almost 2 billion in taxes, saving each household in Louisiana over a thousand dollars a year.

The Shreveport Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting early Monday morning. A 19 year old female sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and an 18 year old female suffered life-threatening gunshot wounds and died at a local hospital. Though officers detained the individual identified as the shooter at the scene, no arrests have been made yet.