A statewide poll conducted for the Times-Picayune and the Advocate finds only 21-percent of voters approve of how Governor Landry’s handling the state’s insurance crisis. UL-M political science professor Pearson Cross says the low the percentage could be that voters lack understanding of the insurance reform legislation that’s lawmakers are debating…

Cut 4 (11) “..for them.” 

On the subject of gun control, 63-percent are in favor of requiring a permit to conceal carry.

Baton Rouge Police Corporal Jason Lee has no idea when he pulled extra duty Saturday it would include delivering a baby. Lt. L’Jean McNeely with BRPD says it’s very fortunate that Lee was at the right place at the right time, and while it wasn’t Lee’s first time observing the miracle of birth.

Cut 8 (09) “…his first time.” 

Mom and baby Noah are reportedly doing well.

Waiting for the governor’s signature is a bill to allow property insurance companies to drop customers if they’ve been a policyholder for three or more years. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says by reducing regulations on insurance providers, it will result in more companies writing homeowners policies. But Ben Riggs, executive director of Real Reform Louisiana, says repealing the three-year rule will not spur on more competition among private insurance carriers…
Cut 12 (09) “…less available”

Temple says ending the three-year rule is just one of several reform measures that will help bring more insurance companies to Louisiana
Cut 13 (08) “…to Louisiana.”
New Orleans Representative Matthew Williard is also concerned the legislation will result in more homeowners being forced to use Citizens Insurance.

The legislation only gives insurers the ability to cancel up to five percent of its total policyholders in Louisiana and no more than five-percent in a single parish.

A statewide poll conducted for the Times-Picayune and the Advocate finds Governor Jeff Landry’s approval rating is 56-percent. U-L-M political science professor Pearson Cross says Landry has been busy with two special sessions and a regular session since January and voters have noticed.

Cut 3 (11) “..new governor.” 

Corporal Jason Lee with the Baton Rouge Police took on extra, extra duty Saturday, he delivered a healthy baby boy. Lt. L’ Jean McNeely says Lee was flagged down by the woman whose daughter was going into labor. Immediately after baby Noah was born, McNeely says Lee noticed he was having difficulty breathing.

Cut 7 (12) “…is history.”  

Mom and baby are reportedly doing well.

The Louisiana House’s proposed budget cut $24-million from the $87 million Governor Landry earmarked for Early Childhood Education. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 2 (32)  “I’m Colleen Crain.” 

A meeting will be held today in Shreveport to decide how to finalize the state’s congressional map after the most recent one was dismissed by a three-judge federal panel. After three years of back and forth, NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney Jared Evans is disappointed with last week’s ruling…
Cut 24 (11) “…Black districts.”
There’s a good chance the U-S Supreme Court will have to get involved.

The Senate Finance Committee will soon begin to discuss the House Approved budget. The House’s spending plan proposes to spend 24 million dollars less on early childhood education. Executive director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, Libbie Sonnier, says the reduction could be detrimental.
cut 7 (08) “….dire”

The Louisiana Senate could give final legislative approval today to a bill requiring high schoolers to pass a computer science course to graduate. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes says the requirement takes effect for the 2027-28 school year
Cut 14 (08) “…this bill.”
Hughes says the legislation would also require the passage of a computer science course to be eligible for TOPS.

When Corporal Jason Lee with the Baton Rouge Police took on extra duty Saturday, he never imagined it would include delivering a healthy baby boy. Lt. L’ Jean McNeely says Lee was driving down Greenwell Springs Road when he was flagged down by the woman whose daughter was going into labor.

Cut 6  (10) “…the baby.” 

Mom and baby Noah are reportedly doing well, and Lee has been to visit them at the hospital. Talk about protect and SERVE.

A meeting will be held today in Shreveport to decide how to finalize the state’s congressional map after the most recent one was thrown out in court. NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney Jared Evans says he and other interested parties will attend the meeting and begin what’s called the remedial process.

Cut 5 (09) “…congressional map.” 

Evans says the court only ruled on the configuration of the map, not that Louisiana shouldn’t have a second majority Black district.

$24 million was cut from the state budget in the House that would go towards early childhood education. Executive Director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, Libbie Sonnier says the program is vital towards helping students read at grade level.

Cut 8 (10) “…even worse.” 

It’s possible the Senate could restore funding.

A property insurance reform bill waiting for the governor’s signature would end the three-year rule. Louisiana is the only state that prohibits an insurer from dropping a customer that’s been a policyholder for more than three years. House Insurance Chairman Gabe Firment says the legislation allows insurance companies to manage their risks better.

Cut 10 (11) “…everybody else.”

But New Orleans Representative Matthew Willard is concerned that removing this consumer protection policy will result in more homeowners relying on Citizens Insurance, which is 10-percent more expensive than the private market.

Cut 11 (11) “…(x2) riskiest policies.”

Ending the three-year rule is one of several insurance reform bills in this session.

A status conference takes place today on what happens now after a three-judge panel rejected the Congressional map approved by state lawmakers earlier this year. NAACP legal defense fund attorney Jared Evans says there are several options on the table, including a special master being appointed to draw a new map…
cut 6 (11) “….a map”
The Secretary of State’s Office says it has a May 15th deadline for a new map to be used for this fall’s congressional elections.

The LSU baseball team missed out sweeping the top ranked Texas A-and-M Aggies as they lost yesterday 14 to 4. Coach Jay Johnson says they held down a powerful Aggies team as long as they could…
cut 16 (15) “…from us”
LSU is now 9-15 in the SEC.
Waiting for the governor’s signature is a bill that would allow property insurance companies to drop customers if they’ve been a policyholder for three or more years. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says by reducing regulations on insurance providers, it will result in more companies writing homeowners policies. But Ben Riggs, executive director of Real Reform Louisiana, says repealing the three year rule will not spur on more competition among private insurance carriers…
Cut 12 (09) “…less available”
Temple says ending the three-year rule is just one of several reform measures that will help bring more insurance companies to Louisiana
Cut 13 (08) “…to Louisiana.”
The legislation only gives insurers the ability to cancel up to five percent of its total policyholders in Louisiana and no more than five-percent in a single parish.

Today, a meeting will be held in Shreveport to decide how to finalize the state’s congressional map. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A statewide poll conducted for the Times Picayune and the Advocate finds Governor Jeff Landry’s approval rating is 56-percent. Landry received nearly 52-percent of the vote when he was elected in October. But only 21-percent of the voters approve of how he’s handling the state’s insurance crisis.

The Revenue Estimating Conference meets Thursday and groups like the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children hope more revenue is recognized to avoid a proposed cut of 24 million dollars from early childhood education. Libbie Sonnier is the executive director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children…
cut 9 (11) “…the economy”
Sonnier says if early childhood education is cut by 24-million dollars, it will mean two-thousand less kids can enroll into a early childhood program.

The Louisiana Senate reconvenes this afternoon and they could give final passage to a bill that would require high schoolers to pass a computer science course to graduate. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes says having computer skills is a necessity…
cut 15 (08) “…today’s workforce”

A property insurance reform bill waiting for the governor’s signature would end the three-year rule. Louisiana is the only state that prohibits an insurer from dropping a customer that’s been a policyholder for more than three years. House Insurance Chairman Gabe Firment says the legislation allows insurance companies to manage their risks better
Cut 10 (11) “…everybody else.”
Opponents say this will do nothing to increase availability of insurance or lower premiums.

The Louisiana Senate could give final legislative approval today to a bill requiring high schoolers to pass a computer science course to graduate. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes says the requirement takes effect for the 2027-28 school year
Cut 14 (08) “…this bill.”
Hughes says the legislation would also require the passage of a computer science course to be eligible for TOPS.

The Louisiana House’s version of the budget cut $24-million from the $87 million Governor Landry proposed for Early Childhood Education. Colleen Crain has more…
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Colleen Crain.”

Buckeye High School student Mason A has scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. Mason grew up with his grandmother in DeVille and plans to study computer science at Louisiana Tech.

Lafayette jockey Brian Hernandez Junior rode Mystik Dan to victory at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Mystik Dan is owned by Brent and Sharilyn Gasaway, who are Captain Shreve graduates.

A meeting will be held today in Shreveport to decide how to finalize the state’s congressional map after the most recent one was dismissed by a three-judge federal panel. After three years of back and forth, NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney Jared Evans is disappointed with last week’s ruling…
Cut 4 (11) “…Black districts.”
There’s a good chance the U-S Supreme Court will have to get involved.

The Senate Finance Committee will soon begin to discuss the House Approved budget. The House’s spending plan proposes to spend 24 million dollars less on early childhood education. Executive director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, Libbie Sonnier, says the reduction will result in two-thousand children from low income families from getting into an early childhood program…
cut 7 (08) “….dire”

Passing a computer science class could soon be a must to graduate high school. Jeanne Burns has the story…
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

With the Louisiana Radio Network Legislative Report, I’m Jeanne Burns.

Departing from Governor Landry’s proposal that would maintain the 87 million dollars in the budget set aside for early childhood education, the House cut 24 million dollars from it. Executive Director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, Libbie Sonnier says the cut will remove 2000 children from their programs.

Cut 7 (08) “…really dire.”

Sonnier says, access to early education is vital in preparing children to enter kindergarten on time, read at grade level by third grade and achieve overall success in school. She’s concerned about an already stressed system…

Cut 8 (10) “…even worse.” 

A property insurance reform bill waiting for the governor’s signature would end the three-year rule. Louisiana is the only state that prohibits an insurer from canceling policies that are three years old or older. House Insurance Commissioner Gabe Firment says the legislation allows insurance companies to manage their own risks better

Cut 10 (11) “…everybody else.”

The Louisiana Senate could give final legislative approval today to a bill that would require high schoolers to pass a computer science course in order to graduate. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes says the requirement take effect for the 2027-28 school year

Cut 14 (08)  “…this bill.”

Hughes says the legislation would also require the passage of a computer science course in order to be eligible for TOPS.

Louisiana Tech’s Giving Day was a big success this year. The annual campaign raised almost 2 million dollars April 18^th. This year’s them: “Fulfilling our Potential” .”LA Tech President Jim Henderson says the administration will do that by continuing growth in all its programs.

Cut 8 (09) “…focused manner.” 
Speaking of focus, The Council for a Better Louisiana is not pleased with where proposed cuts to education in Louisiana are headed right now at the capitol. As of now, early childhood education stands to lose $24 million. A solid early childhood education reduces one’s likelihood of a life of crime and after a session dedicated to crime reforms, CABLE President Barry Erwin says reducing funding for such a vital sends a mixed message.

Cut 5 (12)  “…direction.” 

——————————————-

The Rolling Stones made a big splash before a crowd of 40-thousand Thursday at the New Orleans Jass and Heritage Festival. By all accounts it was an amazing show as the British Rockers perform a two-hour, 18-song set list.  One of the highlights was New Orleans soul queen, Irma Thomas, singing “Time is on My Side” President of New Orleans and Company Walt Leger says it was a nice Jazz Fest touch…

Cut 10 (12) “..really cool.” 

A Drive by shooting in Shreveport last night sent one man to the hospital.  It happened around 8, when authorities’ say someone a red/orange Crown Victoria of Dodge charger opened fire. Over 20 rounds were reportedly shot.  We’re told the injured man  was shot in the hand and the arm so he is expected to survive.