The latest campaign finance reports show Attorney General Jeff Landry has a clear financial advantage in the governor’s race with $6 million on hand for his campaign. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
______________________________________
Heading to the Senate floor is a bill that mandates stronger penalties for those convicted of producing fentanyl Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “….I’m Jeff Palermo.”
______________________________________
The latest campaign finance report shows Attorney General Jeff Landry at the top with $6.3 million on hand in his bid for governor. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landry’s finances and endorsements make him the frontrunner.
And Landry is launching a statewide TV ad campaign tomorrow, six months before the primary.
Pinsonat says Schroder’s off to a good start in second place with $2.4 million in his account. He says it allows Schroder’s campaign to operate, however…
The next campaign finance report, which is due mid-July, Pinsonat says will be an indicator of who’s Landry’s main competitor.
With Shawn Wilson as the only Democrat in the race, Pinsonat says his campaign funds aren’t as imperative compared to the other Republican candidates in the race.
______________________________________________
A resolution to create a Task Force to review protocols and safety for officers involved in high-speed police pursuits was approved today by a Senate Committee. Port Allen Senator Caleb Kleinpeter says many law enforcement officers agree guidelines are needed to set policies for chases.
The resolution is in response to a high-speed chase on New Year’s Eve in West Baton Rouge parish where 42-year-old David Cauthron, an Addis Police Officer, ignored a red light and slammed into a vehicle killing 17-year-old Maggie Dunn and 16-year-old Caroline Gill and seriously injuring Maggie’s brother. The Republican lawmaker says there needs to be a determination of “is it worth a life?’.
Task force members would include legislators, law enforcement representatives, a prosecutor, and a defense attorney.
In this particular case, officers were chasing a suspect who stole his father’s vehicle. Kleinpeter says the task force would produce guidelines on when a high speed chase is appropriate.
Members of the Dunn and Gill family attended the meeting. The measure heads to the Senate Floor.
_______________________________________________
The Senate Judiciary C Committee approves legislation that increases the penalties for individuals convicted of producing drugs containing fentanyl. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says the current penalty of 5 to 15 years in prison is not enough
Cut 9 (11) “….your first conviction”
A second conviction calls for a minimum sentence of 30 years and third conviction will result in at least a 99 year prison sentence. Hewitt says decades ago penalties were increased for those convicted of making heroin and that significantly decreased the amount of heroin on the streets…
Cut 10 (08) “…some place else.”
None of the lawmakers on the panel opposed the legislation, but a member of the public Bruce Riley testified against the legislation. Riley questioned whether longer prison sentences is the right solution for addressing the fentanyl crisis
Despite Riley’s opposition, the measure heads to the Senate floor for more discussion.
_______________________________________________
Louisiana has received 44-million dollars in tax revenue from sports betting since it became legal in Louisiana 17 months ago. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says that’s a little more than what they expected…
Cut 12 (09) “…sports betting revenue”
Johns says gamblers have placed three-billion dollars worth in legal sports bets in the last 17 months. He says mobile sports betting has been around in 14 months and so far it seems like legalized sports betting is good for Louisiana…