A House Committee advances a bill to crack down on home burglars, by classifying that as a crime of violence. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
_______________________________________________
A bill to make general criminal song lyrics inadmissible in court advances from House Criminal Justice. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
_______________________________________________
Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s “Buckle Up In Your Truck” campaign aims at bringing awareness and saving the lives of not only pick-up truck drivers in Louisiana but everyone. Teiko Foxx has more.
_____________________________________________
At the Capitol, a House bill to make simple burglary a violent crime in Louisiana clears its first legislative hurdle. The bill comes from Republican Kenner Representative Debbie Villio, who tells the House Criminal Justice Committee that burglary victims feel violated, even if they were not home when the crime occurred. She says it affects one’s trust and feeling of safety..:
Cut 4 (07) “…anger and frustration.”
Her bill would add simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling to the list of violent crimes and punishable as such. She says she wants to make this crime a crime of violence partly because it would remove probation as an option and it would change the good behavior calculations. Testifying in opposition to Villio’s bill was Meghan Garvey, with the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, says if no one is threatened or hurt, how can it be a “violent crime”…?
Villio says she herself is a burglary victim twice over. In one of the burglaries, the perpetrator left a kitchen knife on her bed after finding and stealing her handgun. She says these are the things that make burglars deserving of stronger punishment…:
Cut 6 (10) “…a property crime.”
However, Garvey argued that burglary suspects who have committed no violent acts would be deprived of benefits available to non-violent offenders, like time off for good behavior. She acknowledges the pain of homeowners, but says the current law is sufficient…:
Cut 7 (11) “…a serious crime.”
By a 9-2 vote, the committee advanced Villio’s HB 65 to the House floor.
_______________________________________________
Legislation to keep nonspecific murder ballad lyrics from being submitted as evidence in a criminal trial advances from House Criminal Justice. Houma Representative and attorney, Tanner Magee wants to preserve artistic expression but at the same time recognize that one might describe an actual murder in a song.
Magee referred to a list of 25 Louisiana court cases where song lyrics were admitted as evidence, and more than half of the convictions were appealed based on the admittance of questionable evidence. These particular cases were linked to rap music.
The Republican lawmaker says basically if a song has criminal lyrics in general, they aren’t admissible as evidence.
Rap lyrics aren’t the only songs with criminal lyrics. Magee says the first murder ballad written and recorded dates back to 1727.
House Bill 475 is supported by the Louisiana Association of District Attorneys and was approved in House Criminal Justice on a 7-3 vote.
____________________________________________________
Two bills to make college more affordable for military veterans advance without any opposition in the Louisiana House. Vacherie Representative Ken Brass is the author of House Bill 785, also known as the National Guard Patriot Scholarship Program.
Louisiana National Guard members are already exempted from paying tuition at colleges and universities in Louisiana. Brass says fees at Louisiana colleges have increased more than 150% in the last decade.
Maj General Lee Hopkins, Assistant Adjutant General for LANG says the Patriot Scholarship would provide a significant incentive for an individual to join and serve in the Guard.
Cut 12 (05) “…exemption program.”
And House Bill 167, authored by Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox, provides tuition waves for disabled veterans.
There are approximately 300,000 veterans in Louisiana and around 20% receive disability compensation.
____________________________________________________
The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission initiative – “Buckle Up in Your Truck” aimed at saving the lives of pick-up truck drivers kicks off Saturday, April 22 through 29. LHSC Spokesperson Officer Greg Fischer says the seat belt law will be enforced across the state.
Cut 14 (10) “…their seatbelts.”
In 2021, 144 pickup truck drivers in Louisiana died in crashes, and 95 of those drivers, or about 66% were not wearing seat belts according to the latest verified data from the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU. Fischer says more Louisiana drivers choose pick-up trucks.
Seat belt usage among pickup truck front-seat occupants was 80.7% compared to 86.1% for occupants in all vehicles. Fischer says wearing seat belts remains the most effective action you can take to avoid being seriously injured or killed in a crash.
A first-offense ticket is $50 and subsequent tickets are $75.
________________________________________
The top-ranked LSU Tigers face the defending champs in college baseball last season as the Bayou Bengals begin a three-game series tonight against Ole Miss. The Rebels are 3-12 in the SEC, but Coach Jay Johnson says they have plenty of talent…
Swayze Field is known to be a hostile environment for opponents. Tonight’s starting pitcher for LSU Paul Skenes is looking forward to it…
______________________________________________________
Spring football comes to an end on Saturday for the LSU Tigers as the team will scrimmage in front of fans inside Tiger Stadium. Coach Brian Kelly says they got through it without any major injuries and the newcomers learned how to prepare the right way for a season in the SEC…
Cut 19 (19) “…were outstanding.”
Jayden Daniels exits the spring as the starting quarterback heading into the 2023 season. Kelly says Daniels is bigger and stronger and his comfort level with the offense is at another level…