Using a hand-held cell phone while driving will soon be illegal in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
____________________________________________
A Bossier Parish woman is living proof that you’re never too old to chase your dreams. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
____________________________________________
Louisiana received a “C” grade on R Street’s insurance regulation report card, ranking 39th in the country. Kace Kieschnick (KEESH-nick) has the story…
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”
____________________________________________
A ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving is headed to Governor Landry’s desk. This, after the House gave its final approval on a vote of 94-to-1, with Oil City Republican Danny McCormick casting the lone “no” vote. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says this is something that the auto club has been pushing for for years. He says making phone calls has practically become a secondary use of cell phones while in vehicles.
Cut 4 (10) “…conference calls, shopping.”
Redman says cell phone use while driving has become a major problem – not just in Louisiana, but everywhere.
Cut 5 (15) “…a huge distraction.”
It’s important to note that being caught handling a cell phone while driving will be a secondary offense, meaning that an officer will not pull you over for that offense alone. But if he notices a driver handling a cell phone while committing another moving violation, such as speeding or running a red light, that would be an additional fine. Redman says it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
There will be a getting-used-to period before officers start issuing fines after the first of the year.
________________________________________________________
A Bossier Parish woman is living proof that it’s never too late to fulfill your dreams. Loretta Wiley walked across the stage at Louisiana Tech to receive her master’s degree in counseling and guidance – at the age of 75. Faculty and fellow graduates gave Wiley a standing ovation as she walked across the stage at graduation, and Wiley says she’s very grateful.
Cut 7 (11) “…me their support.”
Wiley started the program back in 2006, but life circumstances forced her away from the classroom two years later. Her desire to complete the program never wavered; and she went back to school following the death of her husband.
In all, Wiley’s gap in her Master’s program lasted more than ten years. As such, while she was able to carry over a small handful of credit hours she had previously earned, she had to take most of her core courses over again.
Cut 9 (09) “…the courses over.”
The whole time, Wiley was serving as a substitute teacher at Bossier Parish Schools. She plans to continue substitute teaching while exploring new opportunities through counseling or mentoring.
________________________________________________________
Louisiana earned its highest grade and rank since 2013 on the R Street Institute’s annual report. Louisiana received a “C” on its report card evaluating the effectiveness of the state’s regulation and property and casualty insurance, ranking 39th in the nation. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the improvement shows regulatory reforms made last legislative session are working.
Cut 10 (07) “…on the ranking.”
Temple and the report credited reforms to the process for rate changes as well as the ongoing Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. The program helps to provide fortified roofs for Louisiana homeowners, limiting insurance claims.
Cut 11 (07) “…the resiliencies.”
In addition to showing that the state is trending in the right direction, Temple says the grade can influence insurance companies in the future.
_________________________________________________________
The House Criminal Justice Committee votes against legislation that would have allowed a girl under 17 to seek an abortion if her pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. Republicans and Democrats voted “no” on the bill, including Monroe Democrat Patricia Moore.
Moore says this issue weighs heavily on her, because her own mother was 14 when she gave birth to her and the pregnancy was the result of a rape.
New Orleans Democrat Alonzo Knox gave passionate testimony for the bill. He says government should not be making the decision for a teenager who is pregnant because of a sexual assault.
Cut 14 (10) “…monster’s child.”
New Orleans Democrat Delisha Boyd is the author of the legislation, and it’s the third time she’s brought this bill before state lawmakers. It’s personal to Boyd as well, because her mother was raped as a minor and gave birth to her.
The bill was defeated in committee on an eight to three vote.
_______________________________________________________
LSU will host West Virginia in the Super Regional round of the NCAA baseball tournament this weekend. The Mountaineers went 3-and-0 in the Clemson regional with a 9-6 victory over 11-seed Clemson and two narrow comeback wins against Kentucky. Voice of the Mountaineers Andrew Caridi says it’s an experienced group.
Cut 16 (16) “…pretty good season.”
WVU shares the load offensively with five players batting over .300. A tight-knit group, Caridi says the team was excited for the atmosphere in Clemson, and a trip to Baton Rouge will be another step up.
Cut 17 (12) “…get to competing.”
West Virginia is 44-and-14 under first-year head coach Steve Sabins, who spent nine years as an assistant in Morgantown. LSU Coach Jay Johnson says he considered targeting Sabins for his own coaching staff, and he isn’t underestimating the Mountaineers.
After 7 of 16 hosts failed to advance to Super Regionals, LSU is the betting favorite to win a College World Series title. The SEC sent a record 13 teams to the NCAA tournament this year, but only four have made it to the second weekend. Johnson, though, doesn’t doubt the quality of the nation’s top teams.
Game one of the best-of-three series is set for 1:00 Saturday.