West Monroe Senator Jay Morris is accused of using a racially insensitive word during the redistricting debate last Friday. The video from media members is inconclusive on whether Morris said the word “Boy” when confronting audience members who he said were talking loudly during the debate, making it hard for him to concentrate and answer questions.

Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Caleb Kleinpeter says he spoke with several news organizations who were covering the tense committee meeting and none of them heard Morris use the word “Boy.”

Cut 8 (04) “…debunked that.”

But State Democratic Party Executive Director Dadrius Lanus says he knows what he heard.

Cut 9 (04)  “…he said”

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee will meet again on Wednesday. It’s expected it will approve a map that eliminates one, if not both, Black Majority districts from the state’s Congressional map.

Two teens were killed in a crash in Concordia Parish, and the teen driving the SUV is under arrest. Investigators say early yesterday morning, 18-year-old Gregory Steele of Vidalia lost control of the SUV and drove it off the roadway, causing it to overturn. Steele suffered minor injuries, but 19-year-old Jacob Bonnette of Vidalia and 17-year-old Michelle Baity of Natchez, Mississippi, were killed. State Police Trooper Casey Wallace says alcohol appears to have been a factor.

Cut 13 (08) “…the traffic violations.”

Another 18-year-old suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Wallace says none of the four were restrained. 

Soaring gas prices will likely not put a dent in Memorial Day travel, with a record 39-million people expected to hit the road. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says that’s because people had already made their plans before the war in Iran began.

Cut 10 (05) “…already baked in.”

The early voting numbers released by the Secretary of State’s office paint a startling picture. Of the nearly quarter-million ballots cast in the seven days of early voting, Democrats outnumbered Republicans by nearly 45-hundred. JMC Analytics Pollster John Couvillon says three factors especially motivated Democrats to show up to the polls.

Cut 3 (13) “…contentious redistricting hearings.”

Those hearings really got heated when West Monroe Senator Jay Morris allegedly used a racially derogatory term. State Democratic Party Executive Director Dadrius Lanus says Morris called him “boy” when telling him to shut up. Senate Governmental Affairs Chairman Caleb Kleinpeter told reporters he does not believe Morris directed that word towards Black people.

Cut 7 (08) “…saying.” 

Two teens were killed in a crash in Concordia Parish early Mother’s Day morning, and the teen driving the SUV is under arrest. State Police Trooper Casey Wallace says investigators believe 18-year-old Gregory Steele of Vidalia was impaired when he lost control of the SUV and rolled it over.

Cut 14 (05) “…report finalize that.” 

19-year-old Jacob Bonnette of Vidalia and 17-year-old Michelle Baity of Natchez, Mississippi, were killed. Steele and another 18-year-old were injured. None of the four were restrained.

Soaring gasoline prices won’t be keeping drivers off the roads this Memorial Day weekend, with more than 39-million people expected to venture more than 50 miles from home. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says the bigger concern is high gasoline prices putting a huge dent into holiday travel late in the year.

Cut 12 (08) “…the discretionary income.”

West Monroe Senator Jay Morris is accused of using a racially derogatory term during a heated debate over a new Congressional District map. Because tensions were running high, the meeting was briefly paused. Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Director Dadrius Lanus says when Morris got up from his seat, he told him to “Shut Up Boy”…

Cut 6 (14) “…say that.”

Morris denies using the word “boy” when he told audience members behind him to hush up.

Triple-A is expecting a record 39-point-one million people will travel to a destination by car for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says the high gas prices will not keep people home for the first official summer weekend of the year…

Cut 11 (09) “…just gasoline alone”

Registered Democratic voters seem to be more energized about voting in the May 16^th primary. Based on totals provided by the Secretary of State’s Office 45-hundred more registered Democrats than registered Republicans either early voted or turned in absentee ballots. But pollster John Covillon says it doesn’t mean a Democrat has a chance of pulling off an upset when the general election happens in November for the U-S Senate race…

Cut 5 (07) “….John Bel Edwards did”

But Covillon says a large voter turnout of Democrats for the May 16^th primary could spell trouble for the five constitutional amendments on the ballot.

Sad story out of Concordia Parish as a 19 and 17-year-old are dead as a result of single vehicle wreck over the weekend. State Police Trooper Casey Wallace says it’s believed the driver, 18-year-old Grogory Steele of Vidalia was impaired…

Cut 13 (08) “…traffic violations”

The two people who died have been identified as 19-year-old Jacob Bonnette of Vidalia and 17-year-old Michelle Baity of Natchez.

Two teenagers are dead and another teen is facing charges in a single vehicle wreck in Concordia Parish. State Police say impairment is suspected…

Cut 14 (04) “….finalize that”

That’s Master Trooper Casey Wallace who says the driver of the vehicle, 18-year-old Gregory Steele of Vidalia, has been charged with two-counts of vehicular homicide and underage driving while intoxicated. Seventeen-year-old Michelle Baity of Natchez, Mississippi and 19-year-old Jacob Bonette of Vidalia died from their injuries in the crash. Investigators say no one in the vehicle was buckled up.

Despite gas prices over four-dollars a gallon, Triple-A is not predicting a drop off in people traveling during the upcoming Memorial Day holiday…

Cut 10 (05) “…baked in”

That’s Don Redman who says AAA is predicting a record 39-million-point-one million people will travel by car this Memorial Day weekend, a slight jump over last year.

Some surprising early voting numbers were released by the Secretary of State’s office. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Unless LSU baseball does something miraculous in next week’s SEC Tournament, like winning it, the Tigers will miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. LSU suffered its 18^th SEC loss yesterday, a 12-to-1 defeat to 5^th ranked Georgia. The 18 losses tie a program high that dates back to 1978.

The Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Director Dadrius Lanus accuses West Monroe Senator Jay Morris of using a derogatory word during a racially charged debate over a new Congressional District map. Lanus says when Morris got up from the table after testifying, he turned around told audience members to Shut Up and the second time he said “Shut Up Boy.” Morris denies the allegation, but Lanus told WRKF public radio he knows what he heard…

Cut 9 (04) “…he said”

Senate Governmental Affairs Chairman Caleb Kleinpeter says he spoke with several news organizations who were covering the tense committee meeting and none of them heard Morris use the word “Boy”…

Cut 8 (04) “..debunked that”

The senate Governmental Affairs Committee will meet again on Wednesday and it’s expected they will approve a map that eliminates one, if not both, Black Majority districts from the state’s Congressional map.

Two teens were killed in a crash in Concordia Parish, and the teen driving the SUV is under arrest. Investigators say shortly after 12:30 yesterday morning, 18-year-old Gregory Steele of Vidalia lost control of the SUV and drove it off the roadway, causing it to overturn. Steele suffered minor injuries, but 19-year-old Jacob Bonnette of Vidalia and 17-year-old Michelle Baity of Natchez, Mississippi, were killed. State Police Trooper Casey Wallace says alcohol appears to have been a factor.

Cut 13 (08) “…the traffic violations.”

Wallace says none of the teenagers were buckled up.

An effort to slow down the trend of public-school districts moving to a four-day week stalled on the House floor. As the debate went on, amendments were added to exempt more school systems and charter schools. Eventually Reserve Representative Sylvia Taylor stood up and said the issue needs to be studied…

Cut 15 (10) “…more study.”

The bill was returned to the calendar and it’s unknown if it will be discussed again in this session.

West Monroe Senator Jay Morris is accused of using a racially derogatory term during a heated debate over a new Congressional District map. Because tensions were running high, the meeting was briefly paused. Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Director Dadrius Lanus says when Morris got up from his seat, he told him to Shut Up Boy…

Cut 6 (14) “…say that”

Lanus was a guest on WRKF’s “Talk Louisiana.”

Morris denies using the word boy. Senate Governmental Affairs Chairman Caleb Kleinpeter spoke with reporters and he does not believe the word “Boy” was used towards Black people in the audience…

Cut 7 (08) “…saying”

Based on returned absentee ballots and early voting totals, registered Democratic voters are energized about the May 16^th primary. According to the Secretary of State’s Office, 45-hundred more Democratic Voters have voted than Republican registered voters. Pollster John Couvillon of JMC Analytics says Black turnout was high in East Baton Rouge Parish and he suspects Amendment Two is in jeopardy of passing. That amendment would create the St. George School district…

Cut 4 (08) “…to pass it”

The deadline to file your 2025 Louisiana state income taxes is Friday. If you need an extension, you do not have to request one as state law provides an automatic six-month extension.  But Louisiana Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson says that’s not an excuse to not pay your taxes on time.

Cut 26 (11) “…this friday.”

State lawmakers are back at the capitol this morning after a heated committee debate last Friday over a new Congressional district map. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris has multiple map proposals that seek to reduce the number of Black majority districts from two to one, or even zero. Morris pushed back that racism is behind his legislation that reduces the number of Black Congressional districts or the law that abolished the job of Criminal Court Clerk in Orleans Parish after Calvin Duncan was elected to the position. New Orleans Senator Gary Carter asked Morris what is behind is intentions…

Cut 9 (09)  “…your actions.”

Congressman Cleo Fields was a guest on WRKF’s Talk Louisiana and said if he’s put in the same district as fellow Democratic Congressman Troy Carter, he will not run against Carter…

Cut 11 (11) “…I don’t”

Early voting is over and based on who voted, it appears Democrats are energized for this May 16^th primary.  Of the nearly quarter-million ballots cast in the seven days of early voting, including the absentee ballots which have been returned, Democrats outnumbered Republicans by nearly 45-hundred. John Couvillon, of JMC Analytics and Polling, says three factors motivated Democrats to show up to the polls…

Cut 3 (13) “…contentious redistrict hearings”

Legislation to make it harder for a school system to move to a four-day work week has stalled on the House Floor. Pollock Representative Gabe Firment is one of several lawmakers who supports a four-day work week…

Cut 14 (12) “….keep teachers”

The legislation was put back on the calendar.

Lawmakers return to the state capitol today after a heated committee hearing on Friday over proposed Congressional maps. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris has proposed several maps that either reduce the number of Black Majority districts to one or even zero. New Orleans Senator Gary Carter got very emotional when questioning Morris about his map bills and other legislation he says seeks to remove Blacks from political office…

Cut 10 (17) “…your work”

Senate Governmental Affairs Chairman Caleb Kleinpehter briefly stopped the meeting to let emotions subside. The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee will meet again on Wednesday and approve one or multiple Congressional district map proposals that the full Senate will consider later this week.

An effort to slow down the trend of public-school districts moving to a four-day week stalled on the House floor. As the debate went on, amendments were added to exempt more school systems and charter schools. Eventually Reserve Representative Sylvia Taylor says the issue needs to be studied before a law is passed…

Cut 15 (10) “…more study.”

The bill was returned to the calendar and it’s unknown if it has enough support to pass. Fifteen school systems have classes four days a week and 12 school districts have gone to a four day a week since 2020.

The deadline to file your 2025 Louisiana state income tax is Friday May 15. Louisiana Department of Revenue Byron Henderson says if you’ve moved since the last time you filed your taxes, use this time to provide the correct mailing address…

Cut 6 (06) “…due a refund”

The deadline to file and pay 2025 Louisiana state income tax is this Friday, May 15. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Lake Charles police are investigating a deadly hit-and-run that happened Saturday night in the 1000 block of Fourth Ave. Investigators said when officers arrived, they found a pedestrian dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing, as the driver involved left the area.

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The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee is expected to vote on Wednesday on a new Congressional map. Friday’s public hearing on the map proposals showed the racial tension. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris has proposed maps that either reduce by one or eliminate both Black-majority Congressional districts. He says the Supreme Court ruled race should not be the primary factor in drawing political lines…

Cut 7 (11) “…these maps.”

Morris was questioned by New Orleans Senator Gary Carter who pointed out that Morris is the behind several pieces of legislation that removes Black people from political office…

Cut 8 (12) “…Louisiana.”

A proposal that seeks to make it much more difficult to move to a four-day school week runs into resistance on the House floor. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A 4-year-old child died following an accidental shooting in Alexandria, that’s according to the Alexandria Police Department, which also reported the gun was stolen.  Officials say the shooting happened as a pair of 4-year-olds were allegedly playing with the gun after a birthday party on Houston Street.  We’re told the investigation is ongoing.

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The deadline to file your 2025 Louisiana state income tax is this Friday. If you need an extension on filing your returns, you do not have to request one as stat law provides an automatic six-month extension.  But Louisiana Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson says that’s not an excuse to not pay your taxes on time.

Cut 5 (11) “…this friday.”

As The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee continues to debate a new congressional map, congressman Cleo Fields is speaking out, telling host of Talk Louisiana Jim Engster, ton WRKF that he would not run against Troy Carter if there ends up being just one black majority district.  And despite the Supreme Court ruling that the state’s current Congressional map an unconstitutional, Fields believes it CAN be drawn to have two districts represented by African Americans…

Cut 12 (11) “…to do it.”